Great result, not our finest performance - but we keep winning. As others have said - Hdlaky, Williams (who got man of the match on the day), Morsy, and Hirst had really good games. I thought Edmundson put in a poor performance and was lucky to stay on the pitch (how he didn’t get a card for that last ditch lunge when Plymouth broke through I don’t know!) Chaplin couldn’t really get in the game attacking wise. Plymouth still look a dangerous club on the break, I’m sure they’ll stay up comfortably. An out of form Birmingham side next. Definitely winnable.
I think we’re far enough into the season that we can start to talk about the reality of the situation - sides that amass this many points generally are promoted (but there are not usually two sides in such great form) - we have a buffer that could see us lose ALL those tough games in December (Leeds, Leicester, Middlesbrough) and still hold second spot. The buffer might shrink a bit before then, but with a game in hand and Leicester to face Leeds it could grow even further. - the football is breathtaking - the support is phenomenal - the club and the ground are being cared for - we are still improving - we can strengthen in January
Glad you watched the game Nuggets! Here is the Gaffer's take-away: Not our best performance but we keep on winning - a mark of the best teams perhaps. Plymouth probably the best we have played - strong defense and very quick coming forward, which posed a threat throughout the match. Whittaker's goal was top class, but a defensive error to let him go to his strong left foot. We played well the first 60 mins, and could have scored more. We then were messy and error strewn. Hutch flattered to deceive and they needed 2 to mark him - his crossing wasnt up to Burnsy - we miss him. The Leif Davis Hirst combo is superb - a match-winning goal- started again by great Haldky distribution. Hladky was massive again, a tower in our at times weak defense. Will Walton get back in?! That Leif opens up the game with pinpoint passes is a gift. Edmundson played well at times, but several costly errors and many say he would have deserved a Red; equally, others swear he didnt touch the player and got a toe to the ball. The ref on our side for a change! I love Williams power play, surging runs and amazing tackles - needs to watch it some times! But surprised that Hladky didnt get the MOM. Harness came on and showed us how he can play, and played the last 10 intelligently. So, not at our best but another great win, and one in the eye for the nastier Pilgrims who seem to have it in for us!
Harness may have just won it for us - not with his goal but with his pointing to the corner flag. Even if they get another chance, if they have lost a few minutes the pressure and frustration has been heaped on that chance.
Hladky definitely MOM for me. Full backs were both decent but Edmundson turns too slowly for this level. He’s the best headerer of the ball at the club and I would be happy for him to play against any team that played the long ball game but against any team that plays little give and goes, he would be found out. Despite being nowhere near our best, we scored 3 goals and won the game so can’t complain about that.
