I have only just got back from holiday so have missed the last few games. I would be grateful for any insight on what went wrong against Doncaster though it seems a bit odd looking from afar that the team that did so well against Colchester second half did not get to start. Saturday is a big game if we are to stop the rot at home so I am hoping for something approaching last year's home performance against Bury (though a scrappy 1-0 would do!). We really need to sort out the defence as letting in two goals in several home games gives us a mountain to climb to get three points. Can anyone see any rays of hope out there?
First goal was a case of not clearing a ball that on the third shot rolled into the goal... We had several shots after the equaliser including two that rolled tantalising close along the goal line past the far post. The second half saw our midfield over ridden and we were sitting deeper and hoofing it out only for it to repeatedly return. Black went off and was replaced with Clark but that did not improve matters. JLAA was stuck up front by himself with Kaikai sat behind him. It would be better to have had Barnett or Collins up with him. there was a equaliser disqualified at the end as deemed offside, but it was well worked and good header by Tootle. We had an odd setup with four at the back, two holding midfielders, Lawrence, Cole and Kaikai, and JLAA. If one of the two rolling balls had crossed the line we would have won that game. The lino and ref were erratic in their whistles too.
Thanks Matster. I think we all knew this could be a difficult season but I must say I have been really disappointed by all the chopping and changing both in terms of personnel and systems even after a good performance. Even so we have only ever only really been well beaten (at Coventry) so with a little improvement there has to be potential within this team to climb the table. Come on MM sort it out for Saturday.
A very pleasing three points in a game which could have gone either way. Bury had a lot of chances but it just was not their day and we always threatened, mainly on the break. It was a great first goal with crisp passing using Kaikai's pace to get clear. He was a big miss for us second half as we had many chances to break but did not make the most of them until Ogogo's well-controlled shot. It was more a battling team performance than a day for individuals though I thought Whitbread was steady at the back and Lawrence was influential in midfield. However, I would give Man of the Match to Junior Brown who had some good moments and more importantly put in a tremendous shift for the team.
I was not feeling like we'd get any points as we approached the ground. The first 10-15 minutes didn't settle that feeling either, their players were regularly making runs down the left wing and passing the ball through to Clarke or another forward. Thankfully our defense managed to sort most of their attacks and the lino saved us with an offside. Bury looked a well organised side because once one of their wingers received the ball three players ran at our goal with equal spacing, this in comparison to our squad (in the past) sometimes running around in a slightly less organised way. Town only seemed to be able to attack through counter attacks but started to get hold of the ball a bit more then a well worked pass by Ogogo through to Kaikai set up town with a goal. We then had to defend a load more attacks with a few of our own spliced in between and after the break Kaikai was subbed for JLAA due to an injury in the first half, with JLAA playing on the wing it provided some energy to the team. The second goal came from a ball from the wing that was cleanly volleyed into the back of the net. Tootle was taken off and Gerrard (a surprise sub listed due to press comments in the week) was brought on. Smith was moved to RB and looked a bit lost for a while. Whitbred looked fairly calm and although had a couple of mistakes at the start got into the game and did a good job. Gerrard was being chanted at by the Bury fans for being on the portly side, but although not fully fit did some good defending and clearances. Brown worked his socks off all game and should definitely have got the MoM award if Lawrence hadn't of worked so hard and also if Ogogo hadn't of played so well, got an assist and a goal! Barnett worked hard most of the game and even near the end made a chase towards the corner flag, then to the keeper and bombed back to try to get the ball from the central defender. Hopefully Kaikai is okay and available to score against Port Fail on Saturday.
Looking at Bury's results they have one of the best away records and you can see why from the first twenty minutes. All credit to our team for not conceding during that tricky period and then finding a way to win. It looks like we will have to be a bit more direct than we were last year to score goals in League 1 but that is OK with me if it helps us consolidate while we are rebuilding our defence.
