I thought we did ok today, the first 10 minutes we took the game to them and started very much on the front foot and i thought my prayers for a more attack minded style of play had been answered. They hadn't and although we had some really neat passages of play at times the penetration and threat in attacking areas just wasn't there again. We soon retreated back and began sitting deeper and inviting them onto us but to be fair, like the first half hour at Rotherham they weren't creating much. It was just the subtle change gradually from being offensive to defensive that was noticable. We had a few meek efforts at goal but they pretty much trickled to their keeper and again we were slow to support and our distribution into danger areas was poor.
The second half began with a bang as they took the lead on 48 with a simple pass and move cutting through us like a knife through butter and Darikwa finishing well into the bottom corner. Just minutes later we were level with pretty much our only clear cut chance when Howe pressured the last defender onto a through ball, the defender made a mistake and slipped and Howe was in. He finished with the coolness of a player who should be at a higher level. That is what the man can do. One clear decent sight at the onion bag and thankyou and goodnight. 1-1. If it weren't for his quality in those areas we would be pretty much near the bottom of the table. Again pretty much the usual away performance against a Chesterfield side that are not brilliant by any means, i know yellow posted and said we shouldn't be happy with draws and to some extent he is right but i believe this draw is a good one. I'm just disappointed again with the total lack of creativity in the final third. There is seriously nothing going on up there and it's very worrying. More worrying is the form of Bodin, he was completely erratic again and did zilch. I don't know if it's because the opposition are doubling up on him but everytime he seems to do the compulsory cruyff turn and run into trouble and he just doesn't do anything at all with the ball. A massive disappointment once again and he was awful. Full credit to the Gulls who made it there today and it was good to see the young kids at the front getting involved with us singers at the back. It was good to meet SuperNickyWroe and to catch up with Donnygull Tony again and to see the usual ugly bunch too :slap:
and good to see what Bixieupnorth looks like. NOTHING that i thought he would look like i've got to admit! A final word on 'whistlegate', yes it was totally stupid, irresponsible and unecessary and nobody will condone that behaviour but i know the lad was upset and he knows he made a massive error of judgement and is totally apologetic about what happened. I did feel the level of vitriol aimed at him from some of our own fans was a bit uncalled for, yes they have a right to voice their displeasure and let the boy know but some didn't seem to want to let it go. Again, they are totally within their rights as a respected member of our great club but i'm sure the lad responsible feels mortified that he allowed himself to do such a thing and that is punishment enough. It was a minor incident, not football violence but again totally inexplicable and unacceptable.
Anyway, that's all over with now and we move on.
POKE : 7 Made some comfortable saves, not sure he could have done anything about the goal but i didn't get a clear view.
OASTLER: 8 Another solid, hardworking performance from our Joey. A man you can rely on.
DOWNES: 7 Solid enough game against his former employers and got a rousing reception from their fans at the end.
SAAH: 6 Did the simple things well enough and no own goals today. :Oops:
MANSELL: 7 One of the better games i've seen him play this season, combative and more energetic.
EASTON: 5 Had to come of early but had settled well, not read the other posts on here yet so i don't know why he came off.
STEVENS: 6 Started well but faded, as usual. Cut inside ALL the time and disrupted our attack if i'm honest. Worked hard enough though.
MACKLIN: 4 Disappointing, never got in the game much.
BODIN: 1 For making the effort to put on his kit.
HOWE: 9 Worked hard, chased shocking passes, got nothing from the ref who was also a tit and got no service from ANY of our other so called attackers. Oh and he finished his only chance clinically. Feel sorry for him sometimes as he really picks off scraps due to our abysmal attack.
SUBS: CRUISE: 7 Came in and did a solid job. Pleased.
THOMPSON 4: No real impact.
JARVIS: Did he actually come on? You wouldn't have known, 0.
Well that's it.
Roll on Aldershot tuesday night coz i'm going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
