Hazard, Mumba, Houghton, Pleguezuelo, Szucs, Hardie, Obafemi, Bundu, Randell, Katic, Sorinola Subs Grimshaw, Ogbeta, Edwards, Wright, Puchacz, Gyabi, Tijani, Issaka, Palsson.
2-1...F/T Hardie...24 & 29 mins. Sargeant 46mins. Oxford win.....Hull win.....Cardiff draw One final played...6 more to come....as they say...it's the hope that kills you.
Well my nerves are thoroughly wracked after that. As in mid week, this was a bit better from Argyle. We did well for the first 5 minutes or so but then fell under the cosh for 20 frantic minutes. Then out of the blue we got into their final third and Ryan Hardie did what Ryan Hardie does and it was 1-0. I said to the bloke next to me - a fellow Cornishman - that it was what the papers would describe as “somewhat against the run of play”. Then I’m buggered if he didn’t go and do it again for 2-0 at half time. I can’t describe either of the goals in detail as they were at the other end. We kicked off the second half in the expectation of a cruise to the final whistle. That lasted all of 60 seconds and then we were suddenly back on the cliff edge. I’m going to have a lie down in a darkened room now.
I have just watched the highlights. Coolness personified for Hardie for both. Almost catching the ball over the top with his right foot and then slotting so deliberately past the keeper for the first. Bundu was retreating from a previous foray into the Norwich 6 yard box and miles offside as Randell loops the ball behind the advancing defence but he isn't interfering with play or in the keeper's line of sight. His presence might have distracted the lineman as to whether Hardie was offside but I don't think he was - but by millimetres. That's what good strikers do though, lurk just on the brink of offside. For the second one comes from Bundu. Following up a crafty flick from - Ryan Hardie - Bundu is tackled as he advances on goal, he loses the ball. Who's there to collect it? Hardie of course who calmly bends it into the far side of the goal. Stone cold killer.
Went to a quiz night last night and didn't get home till nearly midnight so no computer time. Number one son and I were talking about how the game was going and my view was that it was never going to be a 0 - 0 draw. The only team that looked like scoring was Norwich due to the fact we didn't have the ball for more that a couple of touches at a time. However, despite all of the possession they weren't exactly knocking on the door and the ball seemed to go endlessly back and forth between defenders. My son said we could win this and he figured a goal would come for us via a cockup as their defence didn't look that sharp. A few minutes later and they kicked it out long and we put it back in over the top with Hardie playing Mr Cool. I did get a told you so. Then not long after it was poor defending number two. My view of it was that if Hardie didn't slot it home it would have been a penalty to us anyway due to Bundu being brought down. Would we have got a pen off that Ref? Hmmm not sure. He is a strange little man isn't he. Let so much go yet blew for very soft stuff at the same time. Seemed obsessed with throw in placement but not until he had ignore 20 throws from totally wrong places. I did think at the start of the second half that we were going to be under the cosh given they scored almost from kick off. One hell of a power shot from their No.9. Don't think anyone was stopping that. To be honest though I don't think we were even hanging on to our lead. Norwich just aren't that good and I think their season is done now. Wasn't surprised at the stats on possession. Believe it was 76% to 24%. As we always say it's what you do with it that counts.
Muslic has dropped the idea of playing like Barcelona in their pomp. What we’re doing now isn’t pretty but our results since he arrived over a whole season would put us safely in lower mid-table. How much that is him making best use of the players he’s got or the way he’d actually like to play given a full summer transfer window remains to be seen. Ultimately, I don’t think the fans care as long as we succeed. I think his choice of wing backs on Saturday was informative in the short term . He clearly likes Sorinola and he is playing well. But Mumba instead of Puchacz presumably says that draws are no good and it’s wins or nothing.
