Another game with us having lots of possession little penetration and a
vulnerable defence - these match reports are starting to write themselves !!
A small crowd -just under 10K - were treated second half to the most one sided
game I can remember - it was similar to the old "attack and defence" we used to
play as kids where you only use one net, so much were we camped in their half.
It started badly when Becks appeared on stage in the Pavilion to say that he
had "tweaked his groin" and though it was something and nothing it was enough
to keep him out of the team. No matter we thought they have lots of players out
and Becchio was in a rich vein of form. How wrong we were and how much we
missed Beckford.
Things got worse when with the game just settling down - the only thing of note
a deadful tackle by Coke on Parker that was almost a red card offence - when
our defence went AWOL and allowed Constantine a free shot and then we gave the
follow up attacker the freedom of ER to slot it home !! Yet another Cup
disaster on the cards.
We replied well with Telfer having one cleared off the line but then the
defence went missing again and they put it in the net - luckily an offside flag
saved us but the defence is a big big worry.
Delph then went on a trademark surge past a couple of defenders but before
anything could come of it he was cynically and blatantly brought down by Coke -
bye bye son.
Surely with our new passing style we could tear ten men apart ? Well nearly - a
good move found Howson with the ball at his feet in the area but just as he was
about to hit it his standing leg was taken from him - deffo pen, or at least
that is what it looked like from the other end of the stadium - my mate
watching on TV texted to say it was a soft penalty and would have not liked it
against us !! ("if you're watching on Setanta you're a cu** ")
Robbo stepped up and blasted it into roof of the net 1 -1 and surely we would
go on and win ?
Robbo hit the post and Becchio put one accross goal that looked like it was
going in, as we pressed to get in front before the interval.
Second half was the most one sided game I have ever seen - it was like the old
"attack and defence" we used to play as kids with only on net in use. The old
cliche "if it was a boxing match the ref would stop it" was never more apt, yet
for all that we just could not get the goal that would start the spree.
Snodgrass had our best attempt with a rasping shot that hit the inside of the
post - it would have been a cracker. Howson hit the side netting and missed
with an easier header. Delph and Douglas both had decent long range efforts -
Lubo hit one that almost went out of the ground. Their keeper made a couple of
good saves and parried a few others that just would not fall to us (Becchio had
his most ineffective game for a while - missing Beckford ?) Enoch came on and
showed some good skill with one especailly mazy run and had decent penalty
shout turned down. Another shot hit their players hand but the ref, rightly
judged it ball to hand. They defended
with skill, purpose and a willingness to put themselves on the line - were you
watching Lubo ? As the game wore on you just knew it wasn't going to happen and
so despite all our efforts it is another game to add to the busy schedule
coming up - a game and a tie we can still win but really we should already be
through to next round.
So another game which raises as many questions as answers.
How much do we miss Beckford ?
Do we need another centre back in January window ?
How can we fit Robbo (and maybe Snodgrass) who had good games into the starting
line up?
What does Howson for all his nice touch etc bring to the team ?
Should Enoch, who looked very sharp and caused them different problems, at
least be on the bench every week ?
Why did Prutts not get on - are the runours of fall out with Macca true ?
Is Becchio only effective alongside Beckford ?
So all in all a reasonable way to spend a Friday night - though I hope we do
not play Friday nights ever again- with some good enjoyable football from us
and enough to make me glad I was there and not with the missing hordes !
Dave
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is Michel Kitabdjian dead yet?
