MATCH REPORT :
I normally write my match report without reading everyone else’s, as we all see things differently, but I did have a skim through last night and felt the general theme was that we weren’t overly good.
I had a think on this and kind of relived the game again for a bit and still come to my own and slightly different conclusion.
After back-to-back defeats and many questions being asked by fans and coaching/managerial staff alike, I was expecting to see a patched-up side struggle through a tough game last night, playing with a lack of conviction and belief and, having seen the goals conceded recently, a bit of a lack of heart.
What I saw was a real wholehearted performance from everyone.
I don’t ask much, as a supporter of the club, but I do expect players to give their all and try to play football. On both counts, I gave the team a standing round of applause at the end, as did quite a few around me.
At times, we played some really high quality passing football. Fortune’s inclusion was a good call and after some nervy stuff at the beginning, we started taking control of the game and the goal was a reward for our early endeavours.
Peterborough hit the channels early, using Jack Marriott and Marcus Maddison when they could, but I felt we were more than a match for this and in that regard the defence played well.
Second half, they had to come at us a bit, but I thought we had just as many chances as them.
We do seem to have to take one too many touches at times, or want to tee up the perfect angle, so that’s something that needs to be continually worked on, but with the break of the ball a little more in our favour, we could easily have bagged the winner.
I was proud of that performance, if I’m honest. Hard working against a side that were flying a couple of weeks back.
Terrific match, as well. 37 pots at goal on the official stats.
So, we are still unbeaten at home and I really fancy us on Saturday.
Onwards!
RATINGS :
Oxley 8 – Two superb saves in the second half and being in the South Upper last night, you can hear how well he marshals the defence in front of him. Really been a revelation this season.
Demetriou 7 – Had a good all-round match. Peterborough tested both flanks quite a bit, so he had his work cut out to cover this and get forward when he could, but he coped ably with both.
Leonard 7 – Given he isn’t a centre-half, I thought he had a good game, too. Does read the game extremely well and yes, a couple of misplaced headers and passes that are risky from a centre-half position, but overall no complaints.
White 7.5 – I’m not overly convinced by JW, but I watched him closely at times last night and his positional play was good and he did the simple things well. I can’t think of a mistake he made and he did plenty of no nonsense defending, which is important in this modern trend of trying to play too much from the back.
Timlin 6.5 – Right. I know I’m going to get crucified for this, but he did fine last night. He is not a left-back. He knows it and most people on here do, but he is playing there and did what was asked. He does fly in at times, but mixed in with that were some good moments, as well. Lenny’s hospital ball in the first couple of minutes produced a superb sliding block tackle, otherwise their guy was through. I’d prefer to see Hendrie at left-back and obviously Coker, in truth, but that wasn’t a poor performance last night for me.
Yearwood 7.5 – This fella can play. Lovely feet and works hard. That run at the start of the second-half would have been goal of the season, if he had managed to get a shot away, instead of taking the extra touch in the box. Stands off his man a little bit too much, but that’s something he’ll improve on. He really is another Keith Jones and I actually think has a little bit more about him.
Wright 8 MOM – Just shaded it for me. I thought he was excellent. Seemed to be everywhere last night. Linking up play superbly and his movement is really good, as well. Not frightened to have a shot and get into goal-scoring positions, as well. Yep, starting to be an impressive signing.
Wordsworth 7 – A typical Wordy performance. A little bit in and out, but for every slightly irritating thing that he did, there was a touch of class with a first time pass. Tries to make things happen, whenever he can.
McLaughlin 6.5 – Thought he had a decent game. Granted, things don’t come off for him, often, but he gave his all and was in the game a lot in the first-half. Did some great covering for Tims, at times, as well. Needs the confidence of a goal, I think. Just a little shot shy, but caused them problems down the left. Given he was one that people felt needed to put in a performance, he did that, in my view.
Cox 7.5 – Quality player. Just his movement and vision is a class above this level. He gave everything. Chasing back like a sprinter to help out towards the end and always wanted the ball and pulling the strings. Just needs to shoot a bit more, but he laid in a couple of golden chances with superbly weighted passes that on another day would have been buried.
Fortune 7.5 – Did really well. Him and Coxy do link up well and did so last season. Has a few more tricks on the deck than Nile and it was great to see us move the ball around at pace on the floor in the first half. Took his goal really well.
SUBS :
Robinson 7 – Yep, much improved. You can see he desperately needs a goal. Had a couple of gilt-edged chances but just took way too long. His movement wasn’t great, at times, but he did a decent job and did cause them problems.
Ranger 7 – Another one to come off the bench and really throw himself into it. By then, we were throwing the kitchen sink at it and working off knock downs and scraps a bit, so he mixed it well with them. Shame that run didn’t end in a goal. He was like a bulldozer charging through a wall.
REFEREE :
Yep, he was fine. Think he booked one or two people more than he needed to, but did try to let the game flow. The lino may well have got that throw-in wrong, but otherwise the officials did well.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED :
They were alright. Nothing special. You can see they score a lot of goals by hitting the channels early. I think of Jack Marriott’s 10 goals, he has probably run on to a through ball on at least half of them.
They possibly deserved a point. Not sure, in truth.
OVERALL :
That was a great response. Wholehearted. The team spirit looks strong. Nothing to worry about with this group of players. Just more shooting practise and taking one less touch before pulling the trigger. One for the training ground.
Yep 7.5/10.