Evening Echo
The News
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2011
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Chris Powell said:“I sound a bit like a broken record. Some of our approach play is top League One standard but we need to take them chances. I can’t keep saying it.”
“The players are heartbroken. It’s tough to take but we’ve got two cup games and we need to use those as a springboard. We can’t dwell on what’s happened before. The players know I will back them. We’ll bounce back.”
Paid the price for negative tactics IMO. Played really well and had the better of the first half by getting in their faces, pressing and looking to attack. Then in the second half they come out, either on Chris Powell’s orders, or by their own accord, doing none of us those things and just sitting back and timewasting playing for a 0-0. A risky tactic relying on conceding no goals for a point when you can’t defend from set pieces. Bunn looked threatening and was our best winger so don’t understand why he was subbed off for Kightly who hasn’t done anything all season whilst McLaughlin who has was sat on the bench. Also don’t understand why Oxley kept targetting Cox instead of Dieng with goal kicks, he isn’t a target man and never will be so stop giving him the service of one.
On a more positive note, apart from a couple of dodgy moments, Hendrie seemed comfortable at left back and played well linking up with Bunn down the left. Looked more like the player we had on loan than the one we’ve had since his return.
How depleted the squad is, is irrelevant. The tactics in the first half were spot on and we would have gone in 2 or 3-0 up with more clinical finishing. The tactics clearly changed in the second half to be more defensive and settle for a point instead of the 3 we went out trying to earn in the first half. We were nowhere near equal to them in the second half and I’m not sure how you can say we were, were you at the game?To be honest, I don't think we played negative tactics, SCP played with the best (depleted) hand he had been dealt, and imo we were as equal as they were in terms of attacking and defending for the majority of the match, i think he got it about right considering.
Neither team had each other in their back pocket so to speak.
Just really unlucky, that we concede late again.
The last 2 games were always going to be very tough but we did at times match or even play the better football. We now have a run of games 6 at home before Xmas including 2 cup games where hopefully we can gain some momentum and start to take more of our chances. We are still top half and only 5 points of play offs so all still to play for. Keep the faith !!
I'm keeping it! But Hopper's a miss as our attacking play was built around him and we don't have a replacement. Powell needs to change tactics to reflect that we don't have him any more and to utilise what we do have. Playing Cox with his back to goal isn't going to work in the long run.