Pretty decent performance against a team who were a few points behind us and
came looking to get something from the game by hook or by crook. The main thing
it does is keep the momentum in the league rolling despite what happens to our
second XI's in various cup competitions.
I presume they won the toss as we were attacking the Kop in the first half -
and I hate that. Swindon opened for 10 minutes or so by pinging the ball about
and looking quite tasty. It didn't come to much and after that spell we began
to get the upper hand. Mainly, for once this season, to the graft and quality
of our midfield - Howson and Hughes - were excellent yesterday, with Howson
getting my vote for MOTM. These two being ably supported by Prutton and to a
lesser extent by Carole, who had a bit of an in and out kind of game.
It wasn't long before was started having efforts on goal - Kandol had a couple
of headers, the first of which he maybe could have done better with, came after
a good run and cross by Beckford. Howson whipped in another thunderous drive
with his left foot from 25 yards that just flew over the bar. One of their
defenders screwed up a clearing header and had the keeper back peddling to
touch over...and so it went. Eventually Prutton out on the right wing, shaped
to cross, the defender jumped in front of him with his arms raised. Penalty.
Captain Hughes grabbed the ball and thrust it decisively into Beckford's hands.
Beckford thumped it into the roof of the net. A few more chances came and went
before half-time but little to write home about.
Straight out from the second half starting and they released the ball down the
left - where was Clapham? - leaving Heath one on one with the forward out on
the flank - Heath stepped wrong side and the guy ran around him and away,
leaving Heath trailing as he ran into the box, Caspar came forward, the guy
squared it to a teammate who finished being 8 yards out and unmarked. It was a
shabby goal to give away. Played plain and simple by Swindon at pace...and we
fell for it.
For a few minutes they pressurised again without conjuring too much up. Slowly
again our midfield regained control. Eventually Howson played a 30 yard
forward, cross-field ball to Kandol who took it down and flicked it between the
2 CHalfs into the path of Beckford who was charging into the box have burned
off his marker, one touch on his thigh and then a flying volley to lash the
ball home. Keeper had no chance.
For the last 15 or 20 minutes there was lots of huff-and-puff from both teams -
some scandalous decisions after a couple of reckless tackles by Swindon players
- they can count themselves very lucky not to have had someone sent off.
Beckford had another decent chance as did Kandol. They had their scrambled
"goal" which was plainly handled over the line by the forward but I reckon the
ref bottled sending him off, giving a free kick for an offside instead.
ANKERGREN - couple of decent saves - fairly routine game for him
RICHARDSON - another decent game, linking well with Prutton
CLAPHAM - more of a fading away than a glorious last hurrah in the league - I
really hope we give Parker a run in the team
MARQUES - a muted performance
HEATH - steady-ish except for the cock-up out wide that was a gift
PRUTTON - put in some good work, decent in possession
HUGHES - covering and tackling everywhere - always fills in when someone else
has got caught out of position -
HOWSON - tackling, covering, passing and excellent support play - caught cold
once or twice but all in all as good a midfield performance from him (and
Hughes) as we've had all season
CAROLE - intermittent threatening - at other times anonymous
KANDOL - worked hard - unlucky in front of goal - gem of a lay-off to Beckford
BECKFORD - couple of good finishes - some other good stuff in terms of
positioning and link play - plus some god awful control that he needs to work on
subs
Kishishev - great to see him back - ring rusty no doubt - but couple of quality
balls and some decent battling reminded what we'd been missing
De Vries - big lump
Constantine - keen, but limited
------------
27,000+ - decent crowd on a cold day
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DELETE THE FOOTERS WHEN REPLYING YOU LAZY SODS!!!!
DELETE THE FOOTERS WHEN REPLYING YOU LAZY SODS!!!!
