Another 1-1. The stats would suggest we had more chances and probably deserved the draw. I just saw the og and you can't get any more lucky than that. Cracking goal by Lewis, the ground must have errupted with that one! I mis the mini match reports and player ratings out of 10- if anyone can give us a heads up that would be great. A good point gained or not enough? What are your thoughts?
deserved 3 points - carlisle didnt even have a shot on target... However we had some very poor parts ofthe game. eastmond was fantastic again but lewis and carlisle player should have beenoff for a scuffle in the first half.
thought waddock should have been better with subs today though : mcnamee was shockingly bad when he came on, it really should have been ainsworth instead. Mclure came on but too late
I would prefer McClure to start than Strevens,what was the point in only bringing him on in the88th minute?
Rockinchairboy - as requested - here are my ratings / comments for today :- Bull 7 - Didn't have a great deal to do today - Carlisle had no shots on target - no chance with the shot that led to their goal McCoy 6 - Difficult one to score - had some good moments, but also made a few mistakes - lost the ball easily on a few occassions and caught out of position early on Basey 6 - solid enough performance - really unlucky with the OG - strong shot came back off the bar and hit him. Doherty 8 - another leading performance - ran the back line - nothing much got past him. Stewart 9 - my MOM - really assured performance again - I think we've got a good'un here - I'd pick him over Winfield and Johnson on recent performances. Strong and stood up well against experienced / physical striker - Lee Miller. Great recovery in first half when he slipped and gave ball away on halfway. Lewis 8 - Actively involved throughout the game as usual - great goal at the end. Maybe lucky not to be red carded as for retaliation in first half. Bloomfield 6 - Lots of running and challenging - subbed after around 70 mins. Hackett 7 - Starting to show his ability - linked up well with McCoy - I do think that there is more to come from him. Eastmond 8 - Makings of a really good player - really got involved today - made a good chance for himself late on but hit it over bar - Official MOM Strevens 7 - Must admit not a big fan due to his lack of goals - but today had a good game and won alot of ball in midfield = made the goal for Lewis. Beavon 6 - As ever 100%+ effort but did not get much service and had to try to make his own chances. Subs McNamee 3 - came on for Bloomfield - other than a missed back header so no real contribution from him. McClure - not rated - brought on with a couple of mins left - no chance to get involved.
A few observations from today.. Firstly - always a great feeling to get something out of a game at the death - we do need to start winning again though as we are not closing the gap on the teams above us - despite this three good results over teams in or around the play-offs and in each case, on the day we were at least as good as them - real shame we didn't get some of the players that we got in recently earlier in the season or in place of the Aldershot rejects signed over the summer. As noted above I think that Stewart is a real gem - having seen him last week and this he does look the real deal. He is strong & makes his presence felt - also reads the game well. Complement's Doherty and is probably learning a lot from him. I will be most disappointed if he is dropped when Winfield is fit again. Finally - Beavon is suffering from not having a strike partner - look at what happened when he had Hayes here. Today he did look isolated and although Strevens put in a good shift today I do not think he is the player to provide this. As has been said many times on this Board McClure should be given a shot - really cannot understand why he wasn't brought on instead of McNamee.
would like to see one change to the team : strevs out (no offence to him) and mclure in to give beaver a better strike partner. would rather see grant on the bench than mcnamee tbh if he is avaliable. agree with the ratings but i think eastmond was a fair man-of-the-match. also think you were a bit generous to mcnamee!
I do not see Paul Hayes in that little list of players - where was he? and do you suppose his absence made a significant difference?
paul hayes has been recalled by charlton thai and we definately do miss him,he was our main link between midfield and attack and scored six goals in six games for us
Really sorry he has gone back! always the problem with loan players. Unless someone can replace the link he provided and the quality he has, it's going to be a close call. Lets hope Walsall lose today, you have a great chance of going above them on Monday
And Charlton aren't even playing him. Don't think he's been in their squad lately either. Ridiculous.
