Sorry to have to keep repeating myself but another disappointing performance even if it was an improvement from the Swindon game. At least we had a goal to cheer with Clark's jinking run being the one piece of real quality we produced all game. After that in the first half we were struggling against that fierce wind but unfortunately Fleetwood managed quite well against it in the second half and had many qualities we did not, such as accurate passing and pace and trickery in wide areas. Smith in particular had a torrid time against Bell and Co and I think it is very unfair on a young player to be played out of position - fair play to the lad for sticking at it. Gerrard looks quite good when the ball comes into the box but there are a couple of times every match when he is further up and the pitch the quick ball over the top leaves him floundering. Halstead is keeping us in games at the moment and I prefer him to Leutwiler as Halstead dominates the box from corners. We may even have held on for a win if Brown had not been injured but one simple ball down out left saw both Sadler and Lawrence (who had just come on) out of position. Our midfield needs desperate attention in the transfer window - the shape is just not working either defensively or attacking-wise. It goes to show the muddled thinking at the moment how Vernon has gone from persona non grata to an ever-present despite being several yards too slow for the position he is playing in (though to be fair he is still playing better than some). I always have a brilliant game sitting in the stands but I did wonder why we did not take off Collins (who was having little joy up front) and play one up and a five man midfield in the last ten minutes to protect our lead. I will not be at Crewe but will be going to Chesterfield and we need to win one of the games to keep away from the relegation zone. How we are going to do that with a team that is so off form and being outplayed in every game is another matter.
No pace anywhere on the pitch which has been evident since day one of this season. As said, the crucial moment was losing Brown. Sadler had already been caught out even before the goal. The strikers were given sufficient to feed on by the midfield but, without exception, they were woeful and clueless.
It was just frustrating to watch our team kick high balls up the pitch against the wind in the first half and not learn from it. We are supposed to be a passing football team, yet we continually play HoofBall. Any keeper should recognise early on that their usual goal kick cannot be used if the wind sends it out of play or back towards themselves again. In the second half we were hoping to see us having the advantage of the wind, yet we failed to do that. Fleetwood also seemed to cope with the wind by passing and lower lobbed passes. We need to start playing what mm promises - passing football. We need more pace, less predictable ponderous football that doesn't peter out in the final third. Let's hope for a better result on Monday.
