Not being wise after the event, by the way. AHLL and I agreed at half time that Morro had to come off before the ref sent him off. I was sure The Doctor had this in mind when he made Dervite warm up for several minutes before half-time. I can only assume that he had a chat with Morro, who assured him that he would be a good boy in the second half. If Cort and Dervite play as well as they did against Millwall Morro will have to wait for his chance now. I'm also gutted that I didn't hear Kish's Kenneth Williams impersonation.
Looking at the team sheet before the match my missus said to me that "Win lose or draw this is a team that will put in a proper Charlton performance" and I don't think she was proved wrong. This was much of the determination and for honour of the club that was evident in the team last season and that is because it was largely a team that played last season. That Morrow was sent off was a likely outcome because the ref either had history with him or didn't like his aftershave. The first yellow card looked exceedingly soft and after that their players backed into him and fellover a couple of times. At the wrong end for the penalty but heard that he actually got the ball. The ref was one of the worst I have seen bottled two decisions to send off their no 6 before sending off Morro. The foul on Wilson by what appeared to be the last man was pretty typical of a ref who allowed several clear hand balls to go unpunished (two in their box). Stopped play after BP had restarted with a throw in to allow a substitution and was genuinely poor. I am afraid my language deteriorated as he continued to be unaaccountably one sided and I apologise now to those sitting around me in the North West. I hope CP's report on the match is appropriately critical - I am sure it will be, but it must be accompanied by video evidence. Hamer 9 man of the match and genuinely the most improved player of the season Solly 8 Solid performance after a shakey start Morrison 7 Took a positive view on the ref and was dissappointed Cort 7.5 reliable and took no prisoners Evina 6.5 playing his way back into contention but a shakey first half Wilson 8 showed that he has bought into the CP ethic Pritchard 8 I believe we may have another inked in name on the team sheet Stephens 6 I didn't notice him apart from corners and his attempt on goal Jackson 6 the pace has gone and he didnt use his imagination much always trying to chip the oppostion Kermorgant 7.5 Getting back to his best his link up with BWP was on a couple of occasions a joy to see again Haynes 7.5 What a goal - if only we can keep him fit Subs BWP 7.5 squandered one or two but showed why we need to play him Dervite 7.5 a more than adequate replacement for Morro Fuller 7 selfish in the way that a striker has to be but still not certain he is a team player for us?
Superb game to watch. Great to see our team from last year stepping up to the plate. Feared the worst for 20 mins as we were being taken apart and making no forward progress. Took Haynes's "worldly" to get us going from which point we played some good stuff. Could easily have lost, probably should have won. Hamer a revelation and BwP terrific. The downsides - 1. Haynes is made of glass. He clearly has a problem with his hamstrings that we cannot solve. Depressing. 2. SCP got it badly wrong leaving Morrison on. I know there is an argument that you should not let a dodgy ref influence your selection but this was so obvious that he should have dealt with it. Morrison was not playing that well in any case. He clearly thought about it as Dervite was sent to warm up so he either faffed until hT unable to decide or he though Morro was going off - the ref did appear to reach for the card and then change his mind. The ref is getting slated on CL. I thought he was clearly out to make himself the centre of attention but I didn't see too many decisions that I thought were technically wrong. Them again I know nothing about football! With the benefit of about 15 watches in slow motion replay I think Morro just got his toe to the ball in the penalty tackle but he cleared the derby player out in the process. Red card was harsh but it was clearly going to happen. Thought Stephens had a better game than most other reviewers/ people next to me thought. Evina was better than seaborne but still has some developing to do. Jacko best game in yonks. Kermit yet to persuade me that he can adapt to this level.
Two questions for those who were there Did Morrison get a straight red or two yellows? Know he got a yellow early on, but BBC saying straight red for the penalty. How did people rate the Derby right back? Any good? Better than Solly?
I thought two yellows but had my head in my hands at the time. Didn't really notice their right back as was too busy watching right winger who was mustard. They had lots of tidy players. Very easy on the eye. Wasn't wildly impressed by the young blonde lad who all the fuss is about.
It was a second yellow for Morrison. As for their right back, didn't notice him when he had possession etc, but Old Man Jackson went past him about 10 times doing step-overs and everything, so definitely not better than Solly
2 Yellows and Solly was solid their RB was dirty, bootiful rugby tackle on pritchard in the 2nd half just outside the box
I thought it was two yellows. Doubt a straight red because we would have a chance to appeal it. I thought overall the Derby team had the first twenty minutes sewn up but then their lack of fitness in the conditions started to show that they had started to fast. Even when we were down to ten men our fitness levels were better than theirs which is why we managed to hold on for the draw..
Thanks for the responses Hoped it was two yellows. Their right back, Brayford, hit the post with a header today (I think when it was 1-1). I asked because he's being linked with a £750k move to Cardiff. Just on the off chance there are some sales in January.
I think he played centre half in the second half IA, they switched him with James O'Connor as, and this may not be technically true, he was struggling to direct his headers due to the wet ball/slaphead combo.
After all the hype in the past couple of months I was eagerly looking forward to seeing The Infant Phenomenon play, expecting no less than a cross between Beckham and Fabregas, but apart from dumping Pritchard on his a*se in the first five minutes, I can't think of a single thing he did. At seventeen I suppose he's still a work in progress... I see The Good Doctor took my advice - lol - and dropped Frimpong and indeed all the loaners. Well done and it almost paid off. My MoM was Leon Cort - steady, decisive and omnipresent. Pritchard was tremendous although the chance that hit the bar was unfortunate and possibly decisive, it can't have helped that he was standing in the worst possible part of the pitch when the ball came to him - if he'd sidefooted it, it would have stuck in the mud, he had to lift it. The sight of Danny Haynes in tears after his hamstring went again was desperate, he'd been playing so well and the goal was an absolute cracker. I think the physios have done all they can now and it may be time to turn to the surgeons in the close season. Such a shame. The referee was an absolute bloody disgrace, not fit to ref an U11 game. That was a second yellow for Morro - an accident waiting to happen. Had an outstanding 'Upper West' moment today - when Hamer punched to a Derby player for the umpteenth time in the latter stages, I leapt up and shouted 'Why don't you catch the bloody thing?' Upon turning around to sit back down, the silence was only broken by the steady slurping of Bovril.
Hamer 9.5 Solly 8 Morro 4 Cort 8 Evina 8 Wilson 8 Stephens 7 Pritch7.5 Jacko 7 Kermo 6.5 Haynes 9 Bwp 8 Dervire 8 Fuller 6 Gave away too many fouls Morro should have been subbed off way earlier. Had an awful game as well . I wouldn't have started him anyway. Bwp and Haynes gave us much needed pace Haynes go all was better than Fullers We were awful until the goal.
