Phew! This whole squad needs a proper rest. We knew it would be a bit bonkers, bottom of league performance, physical, historically a poor ref apparently, but hey we come away with 3 pts while others around lose their heads! We have had a grueling 3 games in 6 days, one awful soggy strength -sapping pitch, and a huge amount of travelling. This squad has been full on for nearly two seasons now, with so many important games since the end of 2021-22. It's perhaps not surprising they're feeling it! Hladky, time for a change? I now think perhaps yes. Since Xmas he’s really looked off his game, several shocking decisions like last night - so maybe at this stage of the season, the calm and steadying influence of Walton outweighs Hladky’s superior ability with his feet. Did I say feet? Their second goal was farcical. Complete rush of blood. While it was a performance very out of character and we never looked in control, we did score 4 goals and win! I would love to have been a fly on the wall in the dressing down post match. KM "Now, lets run thru our defense tonight, what defense?!" But I cant see him getting angry. It was not an enjoyable game to watch. Credit to the Millers, but as we know, these players don't stop....ever. We dug out a win and at times our attacking play, especially Burns in 1st half, ran rings around them. Saints have lost two of their past three games. I said there will be more surprises! Roll on Brum, and then a bl....dy holiday for a week!
A comment on Rotherham, to be fair to them I thought they played well, but just didn’t have the players. They were well-coached to disrupt our rhythm. They had two lads up top who were pressing our defence and meant we couldn’t play out from the back with any fluency. Certainly contributed to Woolfenden and Clarke having notable off days. Before people think I might be misty eyed for a return to two up top - I better caveat by saying Rotherham have now lost five in a row and are miles off escaping the relegation zone. Wouldn’t be surprised if they can string some results together down the home stretch, but don’t think it’ll be enough.
They certainly gave us a game at their place. I don't think they are that bad on the ball or in attacking areas - although they don't have that little bit of quality that a player like Hutch or Chappers will give you - but they concede far too many goals to give themselves a chance.
I wasn't that worried going in at the break even though we hadn't been at our best (the 3-1 scoreline might have helped) because whilst they put us under pressure and were stopping us playing our natural game, we weren't conceding many chances, and everytime we managed to get the ball in their final third we were creating good chances. Usually even against the Leicesters of this world second half teams seem to tire and we step it up, with Morsy usually dominating but Rotherham just kept going and Morsy was pretty anonymous all match which is rare, I know he played a slightly different role but even when Luongo came on it made no difference. I thought McKenna made all the right subs at the right times but didn't really change the flow of the game. I thought when Luongo and Hutchinson came on the game would turn in our favour as it allowed Morsy to be in the deeper role and take control of the game, also Burns was getting so much joy down the right hand side and I though bringing on Hutchinson would expose that more with us double up down there (as they did against Millwall) and could've been dangerous for them with their LB on a yellow card but it made no real difference. They subbed their LB and then Burns looked knackered. Perhaps we needed a tactical change of formation, not sure to what exactly but changing personnel didn't make any difference. Amazed at the intensity Rotherham managed to keep playing with all match, they barely gave the ball away, even though it was very direct, they were still passing the ball around well. It reminded me a bit of how we used to play under Royle but without the same quality in the forward positions. To be fair they also passed it around fairly well at the back, our press wasn't that effective, it was just when we had the ball in their final third they looked rubbish.
They really didn't look like a relegated side (but then again we didn't look fit for promotion either on that display!)
Had to leave the game at 3-2 in order to make it home (3 trains and 2 replacement buses). Gutted when it went 3-3 followed by joy at 4-3. My thoughts on the game - defensively Wolfy and Clarke bring out the worst in each other although Clarke is good going forward. The injury to the Rotherham player when he clattered into the advertising hoardings definitely disrupted our play but we should have been good enough to get going again. Burns had their left back on toast the whole game, we just weren’t getting the ball to him enough. Knowing how Rotherham were going to play - high balls into our box at every opportunity, I was a little surprised that Edmundson didn’t start (maybe alongside Burgess) as he along with Moore are our best headers of the ball. Sarmiento gave away a lot of silly free kicks 1st half and wasn’t surprised to see him subbed, although Broadhead offered little when he came on. Travis did ok but he hasn't (yet) got the understanding with Morsy that Luongo has. Overall, delighted to get the win, think Hutchinson has to start on Saturday - maybe in 1 of the number 10 roles as Burns would be very unlucky to be dropped after last night. Also would like to see Al-Hamadi get a start with Moore as he has looked decent on his sub appearances. We now just need Leeds to lose a few games
Another splendid summary Royston! I rely on those who get to matches, you all capture the character of the game.
After the horror show by Woolfy and Clarke in the first minute, when both of them stood looking at each other each expecting the other one to clear the ball so neither of them did we played some scintillating stuff and quickly went 3 1 up, at this point i was expecting us to go on and score 5 or 6 goals. But as the second half wore on we got steadily worse with tired looking players unable to play the simplest of passes to a team mate, and as has been said before i think the reason for this is the fact that we had played 3 games in 6 days including a long trip to Wales and back just 3 days previously. A lot has been made our defence being suspect on the right hand side and i think thats a valid point as our goals against column is not good, but Hladky was badly at fault for their second goal by coming out for a high ball and missing by a country mile giving Rotherham a simple goal, couple to that a penalty that nobody appealed for and certainly nobody but the referee saw it all adds up to a defencively poor night and against a better team we would have lost that game. On the plus side we scored 4 good goals against a side with nothing to lose and with Southampton losing at home we moved up a place to go level with Leeds in the table. So serious questions to be asked about our defence including Hladky whose sodding around playing out from the back has almost cost us dearly a few times, maybe its time for Walton to return who commands his area so much better than Hladky and almost certainly would have stopped their second goal by claiming the ball out of the air.
I think we are all wary of Hladky's tippy tappy playing the ball out and causing team mates and us heart-attacks! Wouldnt be surprised if Walton is given a run sometime soon.
Feel free to pop over, and wish us luck https://www.not606.com/threads/leeds-utd-v-leicester-city-match-thread.411383/#post-17361370
