Is this performance an anti-Knapper display? Match stats NCFC shots 14 on target 6, with 1 goal Birmingham City shots 16 on target 6, with 4 goals.
Birmingham are an in form team having scored 4 goals in their last 3 games, including this one, but our only consolation is that we are the only ones who scored against them in those three games. Not much of a straw to grasp but it is Kvistgaarden's 4th goal in 4 starts and 6 sub appearances.
I still think Manning was the wrong choice I’m afraid, but Knapper is surely in real trouble after that. We need the transfer window and a proper break for players to reset
Manning was the wrong choice as was Knapper. The main difference is that Knappers wrong choices get the sack - Knapper doesn't. He must have the photos as they say. We need a proper experienced SD in place by the window if we are to have any chance of survival so Knapper needs sacking now!!
This is going to take time, It’s going to take several weeks before Clement can raise the fitness levels of these players, if that’s possible.
Yes, it will take time as PC emphasised in his post match interview, but he knew that was the case when he took the job. With over a third of the squad out injured (Jurásek being added because of illness), choices are stretched thin, but there were some positives as well. Sargent and Kvistgaarden linked well again and Matthias got his 4th goal in 4 starts and 6 sub appearances. Rated 7.3 by WhoScored for his 60 minutes, he can make a big difference for the rest of the season. Surprisingly Marcondes, who replaced him, scored 6.9 in his 30 minute stint. As PC emphasised, our performance in the second half was for once better than the first half as these stats show:
