My thoughts for what they are worth, plus a genuine question.
I've not seen any replays, so could someone confirm that the Mackie goal crossed the line?
IMO 'Boro were the best side to have played at The Bush this season & deserved to win. However, like Beth, I feel cheated (provided my question has a yes answer). How any official, let alone a professional one, could make such an error is beyond comprehension. I can only assume he was certain that the ball was going out & took his eyes off the ball. Thus making an assumption.
In defence we were woeful. not helped by the lack of cover from our two wide players. Phillips shirked every challenge & deserved the sending off he received from the crowd (I didn't join in but came close to doing so). I really wouldn't mind if he never plays for us again!
'Boro pressed us fromn the start & closed us high up the pitch. We didn't cope with this, but ater their goal they withdrew five yards & allowed Faurlin a little space to play in. This was why we came back into the game.
After half time they resumed their pressing game & took full control of the match. Two more poor goals to concede, but it's funny that when your side lets in goals from dead balls it is down to the defending, while if your side score them it is due to the delivery & movement!
We then improved after the subs were made. Junior was a big improvemennt & Connor Washington showed once more that he can play. In particular I like his link up play with Polter. Please start him in the next few matches!
The most pleasing aspect of the game for me, is that we never stopped trying & pushed as hard as we could to gain an unlikely point. It also helps when you have the best 'keeper in the division though!
So overall, the game left me a little bitter but reasonably happy witgh our further development.
BTW, unlike some of you, I thought the ref had a good game but was badlylet down by his colleagues.
Watch the highlights on Skysports.com, they show the ball clearly over the line (Mackie) and on the line (Hoilett/Polter).
I thought Rhodes' goal was one of the luckiest at LR this year, with a dodgy bounce beating Hall, then when he tried to take it round Smithies he shinned it. Had he hit it properly Smithies would have saved easily, or Hall would have been back. As it is, his miskick took it into the only place neither could get to.
Defending for both of their second half goals was very poor. Definitely culpable for them both.
Mackie got a reward that his effort deserved. I'm neither a lover or a hater, but you can't doubt his effort, and there's clearly some skill there to be able to score that goal.
Chery? Well, we all know he's capable of strikes like that, and it's great that he's doing it for us rather than anyone else.
As the highlights clearly showed, Hoilett stopped the ball going out (with a massive effort leaving him lying in the bottom of the camera pit) and the linesman made a howler there. Terrible decision not to give the goal.
Smithies was excellent, Onuoha and Phillips very poor. Henry showed why he needs to be in the side, anchoring that midfield well - a job that was extremely important given the shoddy defending behind him.
All in all, a 'good' loss, if such a thing exists, because it showed who's up for it and who clearly isn't.