Weird team selection today. No Egan. No Oshilaja. Were they injured - I hope not. The defence certainly didn't look comfortable when the ball came at some height. Loft won nothing in the air - and although he played a few good balls out of defence - I never felt at total ease. I can only think that Egan & Oshilaja were injured - or did JE think that Doncaster's lack of height up front meant he could experiment in our defence - if so - we just about got away with it - and JE didn't have Plan B just in case - because ( if those two were fit ) - surely at least ONE of them would have been on the bench. Another point of confusion - I can just about accept that McDonald was replaced - because he might have been tiring after an injury 'lay-off' ( although he looked fit to me ) - but at THAT time, Norris had already been suffering from cramp or another muscle injury. He was clearly struggling - and certainly not as mobile as normal - WHY did JE not take off Norris - has that decision compounded the injury which ultimately forced him off ? I'm not impressed with the above situations - and that's me 'happy' after a win that puts us back on top !
Oshilaja and Dickenson picked up injuries in the match against Peterborough and Egan picked up a thigh injury on Friday training. He did give Oshilaja and Dickenson fitness tests but they both failed them according to KentOnline.
Thanks patchy70 - THAT explains it - although it would have been nice to see that information on the Official Site. Under the circumstances we did OK - but I think that the absence of two of the best three players, thus far, this season, shows that we may struggle to maintain our dizzy heights position if these two cannot play. With respect to those players today, we were lucky that the opposition were not a little stronger.
No pleasing some people. If Norris was already injured he would not have taken the free kick later on or not had the fantastic shot brilliantly saved by the keeper. The make shift defense did brilliant today as the normal centre half's must have been injured. Think he played Garmston instead of Dickenson at left back as he has more experience in that position.
gioblues I'm ALWAYS pleased with a win. But I try to take a 'deeper' look at things. Whilst Dickenson has done very well at LB - I have always said that Garmston is a more 'natural' defender- so I didn't have a problem with his inclusion. On the point of Norris - I was surprised that he stayed on as long as he did - He normally works a lot harder than he was capable of doing today. If I could see THAT, then surely JE must have observed the same - and with Norris 'cramping up' - why take a chance when Donnolly was available. I think the free kick situation is irrelevent - IT wasn't ever going to trouble the keeper. I accept that he had another attempt afterwards - but I feel that HE could have made the decision to come off ( for the 'good' of the team - and HIS long term health as regards to aggravating the injury ). We did have most of the play today - the stats make us look more comfortable than 'really' existed - I am pleased to get ANY win - we have played a lot better many times and LOST - so I am thankful for small mercies -- perhaps I shouldn't try to analyse the game as much as I do !