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After arriving late to the game (again!) we missed the first five minutes but not, it seemed from the atmosphere, a great deal. The game was trudging along with a few half chances before Wayne Gray picked up a tidy crossed pass from Eastwood and superbly opened up space before lashing the ball home to the keeper's right. So far from the Wayne Gray of the beginning of the season, it was untrue
As if this wasn't evidence enough, Gray then picked up a through ball, Eastwood again the provider and once behind the defence, it was clear he would hold them off. Again, the finish was emphatic and, agaain, low to the keeper's right hand side. In all honesty, after the first goal, the match seemed to have an aura of inevitability to it but the second goal is something we often fail to get and with the goal difference in mind, it was a huge relief.
The second half was amazingly short of any real action or urgency from either side except, seemingly for Eastwood, Gray and Duncan Jupp who still endeavoured for a third. And so it was, Freddy Eastwood, after someone doing something while I wasn't watching to tee him up with a volley from the edge of the box (according to PA, of course!) which he duly dispatched in to the keeper's bottom left hand corner. Great strike.
If there was a lack of urgency at 2-0, it was amplified at 3-0 and the match seemed to fly by with only a couple of late chances for Cheltenham, one nicely tipped over by Darryl, representing any sort of genuine threat from them.
Darryl: Hardly had anything to do til the end and he was up to the task. Given 7 because six would suggest he was average. This is not the case, everything he had to do, he did well. 7
Jupp: Good solid performance. Dealt with everything they sent down the left comfortably and got forward without doing it recklessly. 7
Wilson: Excellent performance. Almost seems like he learns a new 'basic' every week and then demonstrates how well he can do it. Looked much more assured than I've ever seen him before. Apparently, Devaney's quite good but he barely got a whisper. Time to put those Cardiff demons to rest. 8
Prior: Generally solid but rarely had to deal with Odejayi who looked like the only real threat. Couple of Spinner moments to keep my Leicester buddy entertained but generally good. Looked to be struggling a bit with the pace of the game even though it was quite tepid. 7
Barrett: Battled manfully against Odejayi but struggled to contain him as is ususally the case with Barrett. Still, Odejayi managed very little with the ball and standing off seems to have been correct. Good performance. 8
McCormack: Have to say I've never seen us play so well without Maher before and this young lad was in no small part responsible. Played like a version of Maher with a better touch. Impressed with what I've seen so far. 8
Pettefer: Usual workrate made it difficult for the opposition although it was difficult to see anything going down the right if it wasn't fired in to Gray/Eastwood's feet. 7
Bentley: Considerably better than last time I saw him. This was Bentley getting back to his buccaneering best. Only thing missing now seems to be the goals. Excellent midfield partnership made the Cheltenham pairing almost anonymous. 8
Gower: Not vintage Gower but still a solid performance. Constantly probing the Cheltenham defence for openings and looked likely to threaten without proving terribly dangerous. The touch was definitely back today and seems he may come in to form at just the right time. 7
Gray: Not sure why he is a target man but he somehow manages to outmuscle and outbattle much larger opponents. Workrate excellent. Link-up with Freddy excellent. Two finishes sublime. Just the goal celebrations to work on but on that basis, he'll have more practice. MOTM. 9
Eastwood: Probably the best performance I've seen from Freddy. Looked really keen today and worked almost as tirelessly as Gray. People have said about him complaining to the ref sometimes when he shouldn't. Think I agree but I think he needs to be smarter. The ones he claims are usually fouls but Eastwood probably should be more professional and tumble if fouled. Not dive though and certianly don't ask Juppy after his shocker inthe 2nd half! Still, two excellent passes for Gray's goals and a beautiful finish for the third. Can't argue with that. 9
- Cheltenham were very poor after the first goal went in. Whether it was mid-table syndrome (it looked familiar), the poor form or the morgue like atmosphere at times, they really didn't impress. I'd love three or four more games (ideally all!) like this to take 9/12 easy points from.
- So much fun supporting open terrace in the sun. How football should be watched, I feel.
- Why did Cheltenham have diving boards on top of the UCAS (
) stand?
- Good turnout from the Shrimpers considering the length of the journey and pretty good noise throughout. Then again, it's easy to support when the team's doing well.
- Tes Is God (TIG) : Back the cat
- If I was ST, I'd have thrown on Blewitt and Guttridge as soon as we went three nil. The team seemed to lack any impetus after the third and needed an injection of life. Guttridge looked decent with what he got and there really wasn't time for Blewitt to make any impact.
As if this wasn't evidence enough, Gray then picked up a through ball, Eastwood again the provider and once behind the defence, it was clear he would hold them off. Again, the finish was emphatic and, agaain, low to the keeper's right hand side. In all honesty, after the first goal, the match seemed to have an aura of inevitability to it but the second goal is something we often fail to get and with the goal difference in mind, it was a huge relief.
The second half was amazingly short of any real action or urgency from either side except, seemingly for Eastwood, Gray and Duncan Jupp who still endeavoured for a third. And so it was, Freddy Eastwood, after someone doing something while I wasn't watching to tee him up with a volley from the edge of the box (according to PA, of course!) which he duly dispatched in to the keeper's bottom left hand corner. Great strike.
If there was a lack of urgency at 2-0, it was amplified at 3-0 and the match seemed to fly by with only a couple of late chances for Cheltenham, one nicely tipped over by Darryl, representing any sort of genuine threat from them.
Darryl: Hardly had anything to do til the end and he was up to the task. Given 7 because six would suggest he was average. This is not the case, everything he had to do, he did well. 7
Jupp: Good solid performance. Dealt with everything they sent down the left comfortably and got forward without doing it recklessly. 7
Wilson: Excellent performance. Almost seems like he learns a new 'basic' every week and then demonstrates how well he can do it. Looked much more assured than I've ever seen him before. Apparently, Devaney's quite good but he barely got a whisper. Time to put those Cardiff demons to rest. 8
Prior: Generally solid but rarely had to deal with Odejayi who looked like the only real threat. Couple of Spinner moments to keep my Leicester buddy entertained but generally good. Looked to be struggling a bit with the pace of the game even though it was quite tepid. 7
Barrett: Battled manfully against Odejayi but struggled to contain him as is ususally the case with Barrett. Still, Odejayi managed very little with the ball and standing off seems to have been correct. Good performance. 8
McCormack: Have to say I've never seen us play so well without Maher before and this young lad was in no small part responsible. Played like a version of Maher with a better touch. Impressed with what I've seen so far. 8
Pettefer: Usual workrate made it difficult for the opposition although it was difficult to see anything going down the right if it wasn't fired in to Gray/Eastwood's feet. 7
Bentley: Considerably better than last time I saw him. This was Bentley getting back to his buccaneering best. Only thing missing now seems to be the goals. Excellent midfield partnership made the Cheltenham pairing almost anonymous. 8
Gower: Not vintage Gower but still a solid performance. Constantly probing the Cheltenham defence for openings and looked likely to threaten without proving terribly dangerous. The touch was definitely back today and seems he may come in to form at just the right time. 7
Gray: Not sure why he is a target man but he somehow manages to outmuscle and outbattle much larger opponents. Workrate excellent. Link-up with Freddy excellent. Two finishes sublime. Just the goal celebrations to work on but on that basis, he'll have more practice. MOTM. 9
Eastwood: Probably the best performance I've seen from Freddy. Looked really keen today and worked almost as tirelessly as Gray. People have said about him complaining to the ref sometimes when he shouldn't. Think I agree but I think he needs to be smarter. The ones he claims are usually fouls but Eastwood probably should be more professional and tumble if fouled. Not dive though and certianly don't ask Juppy after his shocker inthe 2nd half! Still, two excellent passes for Gray's goals and a beautiful finish for the third. Can't argue with that. 9
- Cheltenham were very poor after the first goal went in. Whether it was mid-table syndrome (it looked familiar), the poor form or the morgue like atmosphere at times, they really didn't impress. I'd love three or four more games (ideally all!) like this to take 9/12 easy points from.
- So much fun supporting open terrace in the sun. How football should be watched, I feel.
- Why did Cheltenham have diving boards on top of the UCAS (
- Good turnout from the Shrimpers considering the length of the journey and pretty good noise throughout. Then again, it's easy to support when the team's doing well.
- Tes Is God (TIG) : Back the cat
- If I was ST, I'd have thrown on Blewitt and Guttridge as soon as we went three nil. The team seemed to lack any impetus after the third and needed an injection of life. Guttridge looked decent with what he got and there really wasn't time for Blewitt to make any impact.
