Great result,a more open side like Coventry makes it much easier for us .Clean sheet against such a free-scoring team is also a real bonus. Just hope we can follow it up with a good showing on Wednesday. COYB!!!
I'll take that! We are much more effective against teams that actually want to attack. Just need to find a way to get early goals against those teams that want to sit back so the game opens up. Still stand by my prediction that we will be top 2 by Christmas.
Still lots of areas to improve on in terms of performance but a better 2nd half after we rode our luck in a pretty awful first half. Thought apart from a few misplaced passes and catching the ball outside of his box, Walton was superb and has to keep the shirt whether Palmer is fit or not. I think Palmer is a better shot stopper but Walton's all round game is better. CBs were both okay, Kipre particularly in the 2nd half. The rest of the team had good and bad moments throughout the match. Really pleased that Hirst scored after missing another 1vs1 credit to him for it not getting in his head and great to see us finally finding him with some of his runs rather than him playing with his back to goal which isn't his strength. I think both him and Azor are good players that forward line just haven't got the best out of them yet. Of course part of the fact we we able to get Hirst and others in was because Coventry were commiting men forwards but what was pleasing was we seemed much better at actually trying to get the ball forwards quicker. That pass by Nunez with his weaker foot was superb but what the hell were Coventry CBs doing. There still lots of room for improvement in performance, we made it a scrappy affair partly to stop Coventry playing but also partly because we were sloppy. Even in the latter stages of the game when we were getting breaks on them, there were some really poor simple passes we werent able to make. I also thought our discipline was pretty poor with Hirst should really have been sent off, Kipre also kicking the ball away and even Walton grabbing the ball outside his box, there's clearly not top levels of confidence or a togetherness quite there yet. Still need to find the balance in those forward positions, Nunez got better second half and he's definitely an option in the 10, I also think Cajuste would be but then that leaves us extremely short in midfield. I also think Egeli looks like a 10 and I thought actually Clarke looked better on the right when he came on, being much more direct rather than constantly checking back and running into trouble. Hopefully this is really now an opportunity to build on and start getting results to remain in touching distance of the top 2 before 'clicking' in the new year.
The young lads behind me at Blackburn were so negative and abusive to the team. I couldn’t believe my ears. Already, some people that have got on the bandwagon have only known the great success of the last few years and think it will always be that way!
A great result. McKenna seems to have Lampards number. Glad we did take the opportunities we had, should be the latest confidence boost. Engine is not yet humming as sweetly as it has done but the Tractor keeps spluttering to life.
I think it’s the best defensive unit we’ve had at the club so although the midfield and attack is not where it needs to be, they also don’t have to score four goals to win a match.
First game I’ve missed (in Malta) so only seen the highlights. From what I’ve seen, 1st goal was crucial - not sure how we would have responded had we gone behind but happily we didn’t. Lots of debate about whether Hirst should have been sent off - especially from lampard but funnily he didn’t mention his own players surrounding the referee (I though the new rules stated that only the captain was allowed to approach the ref). 2nd half seemed much more assured but we do play better against teams that are willing to have a go at us rather than playing the low block. Anyway, fantastic result but we could do with a run of these - need to string some wins together
Second best defensive record in the league - averaging a goal a game. It’s certainly looking like the best defensive unit for a McKenna team, both in terms of quality and stats. Strangely, despite the misfiring attack against teams that sit back, we also have the second best goals scored record in the division. Walton’s is making a notable difference in goal, although I still have massive concerns over that position if we get promoted. O’Shea and Kipre look like the best centre back partnership, I’ve particularly been impressed with O’Shea this season. Davis has improved defensively. Furlong is flying under the radar - as right backs tend to do playing the McKenna system - but I think he’s our best right back option. The mid-week match against Stoke will be another tricky one. The only team in the league to have conceded fewer goals than us. Gaffer - my superstitious side is hoping you’ll do the matchday thread for that one too!
I don’t think we can say with certainty it’s Walton proving the difference because Kipre has also come in at the same time and O’Shea’s performances are unrecognisable from last season and the start of this season. Certainly feels like it though. Walton tends to be a bit quicker with his distribution, which means we are finding space and getting up the pitch more easily relieving defensive pressure.
