The first half was similar to many home games. From the start, City pressed them very high up the pitch and created numerous chances. We could easily have scored three or four. Yet at the same time by pressing them so far up the pitch, we left them with two good opportunities that they tamely wasted. Second half we dropped off them but not as deep as we have been doing. They had much more possession in the middle third of the pitch but we held the line high enough that they rarely got into the final third. We gave them only one chance all the second half, the piledriver saved by Fielding after we had scored. It seemed to me that we were trying to play the role of the away team and by doing so, were much tighter in defence, and using the pace we have in Agard, Little, Bryan and Freeman to hit them on the break. Also, I know many will disagree, but there were at least three occasions last Saturday when Fielding launched lower driven quick clearances aimed at Agard and Bryan. The margin for error over 60 to 70 yards is very small but one went directly to Agard leaving him with only one defender to beat some 40 yards from the Oldham goal. He got tackled but it could so easily have been a one on one with the keeper. Does anyone else agree with my view? Is this Cotterill's reaction to conceding two goals per game? Is this how we will beat Swindon?
The Maestro at work… As long as we don't start moaning about 1-0 wins like with some did with Johnson I think we will beat Swindon
1-0 wins especially a way from home, are the bread and butter of championship winning teams. Why? Because a season that lasts nine months is physically and mentally draining and while 3-2 and 4-3 games are more entertaining for the fans, those games take much more from the players than many realise. So we have had plenty of goals scored and conceded so far this season. I would happily take three 1-0 wins in November, continuing through to April in similar vein with the odd high scoring game thrown in. Result? League One Champions.
I think it could well be- I saw us starting to go deeper in the second half and my first impression was that it was far too early to be doing that, but we never sat too deep. We saw out a 1-0 well and Fielding's save was an excellent one. Its good to see what a run in the side has done for his confidence and I hope it continues
I'll be delighted if we do an 'Arsenal' and win the remainder of our home games 1-0, and with it win the title. However, this division and the teams in it really isn't geared to many 1-0 results.
I still think that playing deep does not suit us, however I think it's good that we are trying to adapt to our weakness.
