Almunia has to punch clear, then go full length to the shot that comes back at him. Matej Vydra is getting ready to come on for Geijo.
A very lucky draw as it turned out. Almunia kept us in it made 3 or 4 good saves. We lacked penetration up front, lost the ball in the midfield too much and looked exposed on the break several times. However at times we looked very good.... passing the ball etc. Dyche had done his homework though and they relentlessly hounded us when we had the possession. Great reception for Dyche from our fans
From what I could hear from Allan Smart, who hadn't seen them play before today, the passing game was almost totally missing. A few times you could hear that the ball was going from player to player, but then there would be a bad pass. Heyho he thought was poor, making little flicks over his head with no idea where the ball would go. The two up front had little service from mid-field and the defence looked very rocky some of the time. Good atmosphere by the sound of it, but the fans there are very quick to turn. Maybe for that reason it was good for both sides to get a point.
He was absolutely murdered from behind yet the ref did nothing. They just bullied us and beat seven shades out of us. I dont think it was a pen, I couldnt see any contact! If their keeper was not guilty when he shoved Hogg off the ball from behind, then this was not a pen. The ref lost it! Austin placed the ball and walked back to start his run up, Manu stood on his line, then Austin walked back to the ball and re-spotted it, Almunia then was pointing out that the ball was not on the spot. How is he delaying it any longer than Austin??? He looked most likely to score. Exactly this, three teamw have played 3-5-2 or similar, twice we drew and one defeat. Thats exactly what Tony Loughlan and Sean Dyche said to me after the game.
Yes true........ a draw was good for us...... and yes great snap shot from Ekstrand.... Almunia kept us in it....
