How they managed to score twice against Bolton and draw i'll never know and how we managed to win this game i'll never know. The game was so dull that i actually lapsed into a coma on three separate occasions only to be woken by the cheers for the three goals. There was zero atmosphere, there were no singers to latch onto so i took my place at the back of the terrace behind the goal. To be fair there were a handful of noisy Gulls sat in the seats who were vocal throughout but i think they were hammered. Credit to them though, they had a good go. I think the general apathy of the Moss Rose combined with a shocking game and sub-zero temperatures ensured none of us travelling Gulls could muster up any energy for a singalong.
The game was scrappy and we started slowly, sluggish and slow to the ball. Stevens began brightly and had a decent shot from the edge of the box saved by the 'shite and poor' Macc keeper Veiga. I called him this in an earlier post on this thread and a Macc fan came on and said he was great! He was shocking again, made a few howlers when fumbling and spilling the ball which we nearly profited from and he took 37 years to take goal kicks. A trend he set last season at the Moss Rose if i remember. The sad thing was Macc weren't even winning and time wasting 20 minutes in is just bizarre. Well he got some stick from a few of us.
The game petered out towards half time with nothing happening, nobody creating chances and the temperature dropping even further. Second half we had more of the ball without really creating, Eunan was trying to drive the team forward with bursting runs and then we took the lead. A cross came over to the back post and Stevens did well to head it back towards the unmarked Morris who nodded it straight in. A lot of us behind the terrace couldn't tell if the ball had gone in and there was a slight delay in us cheering the goal which was a bit weird but what the hell! We were a goal up from nowt! Our second goal was from Ellis, connecting with a cross on the edge of the box and executing to perfection a sort of improvised overhead kick that flashed past Veiga to make it 2-0. I'll have to see the goal tonight on tv to see what it was really like. We were cruising at 2-0 with the game as good as won. Stevens hit a cracker that came back of the post although prior to that Macc could have scored when a looping header came back of Bobby's post and gratefully back into his arms. Macc did eventually score to set up a nervy finish when a cross came over and Brisley was completely unmarked to plant a firm header past Bobby. Four minutes of injury time came and went and it was game over and 3 points.
We were so poor from an attacking perspective today that i honestly couldn't see us scoring. Tai worked hard but he always had the ball pinged into him with his back facing goal and he struggles to control a football. He gave us nothing whatsoever in temrs of runs, making space, movement, nothing. Like i said he worked hard but offered us nothing. Stevens drifted in and out of the game and that was pretty much it. I've got to say that although we won, if we had come up against a half decent side today we would have been absolutely battered. We were so off the pace for much of the game it was untrue. We defended resolutely once again despite giving away a poor goal by gifting their lad a free header 8 yards out. Not sure who was supposed to be marking him though. Macc were dreadful and only looked slightly dangerous after they had brought on Waide Fairhurst late in the game. He was busy and skilful and set up the crossing opportunity for their goal.
We are riding our luck massively lately and the stats say that we have got 10 points from our last 4 games but our lack of attacking potency today was so glaringy apparent and a bit embarrassing. Martin MUST bring in someone else to freshen up the attack, it is a priority. Howe will be back soon and we will be all the better for it. Tremendous credit to Martin and the lads again today though despite a below par performance to grind out a result and keep us ticking over nicely. For all my complaints regarding lack of strikers and options, the facts are we are still getting results.
OLEJNIK - Made a couple of decent saves but was generally anonymous as the Macc attack were so unproductive.
NICO - Typical Nico, solid, dependable, hard working. Got himself in a couple of positions in which to shoot but chose to pass/cross. Crossing a tad poor sometimes.
ROBBO - Solid, dealt with most things.
ELLIS - Solid, dealt with most things and popped up with a 'wonder strike'
.
OASTLER - Solid, good distribution but looked more lethargic than usual.
MANSELL - Busy and industrious, getting stuck in. Clever enough to pull his leg away second half when he lost the ball then lunged at their player in the penalty area. Didn't quite excel as an attacking threat but solid.
LATHROPE - Ok but not one of his better games.
O'KANE - Second half he was great, all over the place , coming for the ball and making bursting runs through the middle of the park.
MORRIS - In and out of the game. Did the simple things but not able to make any impact on the game. Scored a header from a Stevens knock back. Wasn't a difficult chance to put it away but he did so CHEERS IAN LAD!!!
STEVENS - Drifted in and out of the game as so often is the case. Had a couple of cracking shots including one that came back off the post. Set up the goal for Morris.
ATIENO - Felt sorry for him a little bit as he kept battling away and was constantly having to deal with the ball pumped up to him with his back to goal. His ball control though is atrocious and his movement was non-existent. If he had only bothered to be a bit more inventive and adventurous and make some runs down the channels and things then he may have created some opportunities for himself and others. As it was he was effectively there just to knock down balls lumped up to him. I've seen Tai a few times now and i really think he is poor. He has that languid style about him sort of Zebroski-esque but just doesn't look interested half the time. I actually would prefer McPhee. He worked hard but thats it.
ROWE - TURNER - Looked off the pace and distribution was poor. Came on for Stevens.
LING - Mr Midas, we can play like turkeys and win. Just hope it lasts!
FANS - Well done to the travelling gulls today although there was nowhere near as many as made the trip last season for our 3-3 draw. Very quiet and subdued.
REF - C**ksucker on this occasion.
UP THE GULLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
