fbm
Blue tinted optimist⭐
First time for about 3 games I've managed to do one of these. Excellent result last night and I must be honest and say that I was expecting a bit of a tonking. But the lads did themselves proud.
I thought that for the first half hour we totally dominated Leeds and shut their fans up. I doubt whether they have been bossed like that all season. Great strike from Harding who fired a free kick in from the edge of the box, Staurt Pearce style. Laurent was a handful and Leeds couldn't cope with him. Just after our goal he was on fire and got off two surprise shots, both on target and both which forced saves from the keeper. Sawyer and Christophe broke up everything in the middle and Leeds couldn't cope.
However in the last 15 minutes of the first half I thought the visitors were superb, and there was one occasion where they kept the ball for about 2 minutes before eventually winning a corner. I really didn't think that the one goal would win it. We were lucky when their defender had an air shot from about 15 yards and turned around deservedly ahead.
In the second half Leeds came at us quickly and made a couple of early chances.
I had an obscured view of Fed's save in the second half so couldn't see what happened but have heard it was a bit special.
For all their threatening Leeds posed few problems in the second half. The standard of their crossing was appalling and Fed gathered pretty much everything with ease. In fact we went closest to scoring with another Harding scorcher from a free kick.
Revell, Laurent and Sawyer all ran themselves into the ground and every player came out with credit. Tilly closed the game out with 10 minutes left with 3 substitutions and there was nearly a sending off lat on for Robinson when he flattened Grant, got booked and then squared up to him afterwards... living proof that he is thick in more ways than one.
So, bring on the Col U. Great night.
RATINGS
Federici - 8.5 - Superb performance. Made 2 or 3 fine saves and was otherwise safe and assured.
Francis - 7 - Still too casual at times but looked much happier on the right. Did ok.
Barrett - 8 - Best performance of the season. You could see how much it meant to him at the end.
Clarke - 8 - Some fantastic tackles and interventions. Excellent.
Harding - 9 - MOM - Great goal, could have had a second, and showed exactly what we have missed for the last 3 games. God I hope we can keep him.
Betsy - 7 - Didn't do anything wrong and played his part in the win. Would have liked to have seen him be a bit more selfish in front of goal.
Sawyer - 8.5 - Industrious, all action performance. Shame he has this groin niggle. Is he one of these that will just never attain the level of fitness needed?
Christophe - 8 - Works brilliantly with Sawyer. Solid and strong.
Robson-Kanu - 8 - Another one who ran himself out. Gives a great balance to the midfield.
Revell - 8.5 - Fantastic performance. Won everything in the air and seems to have struck up an immediate understanding with Laurent. Ran himself out.
Laurent - 8 - Fantastic first half hour in particular but then obviously slowed up as the pace of the game and his lack of fitness showed. Gave absolutely everything and then some. He is an awkward so-and-so to play against and will become a Blues legend. Could have had two goals with shots that would probably only emanated previously from the boots of a certain Mr Collymore or Mr Eastwood. Exciting but lets keep our feet on the floor with him.
Subs -
Grant - 7 - Did well when came on and added steel in the middle, even if he did give the ball away cheaply a couple of times.
Scannell - 6 - Thought he would have showed more industry to be honest. I know he's stocky but looked a bit heavy.
McCormack - 7 - What a great player to bring on. Struggled initially to pick up the pace.
I thought that for the first half hour we totally dominated Leeds and shut their fans up. I doubt whether they have been bossed like that all season. Great strike from Harding who fired a free kick in from the edge of the box, Staurt Pearce style. Laurent was a handful and Leeds couldn't cope with him. Just after our goal he was on fire and got off two surprise shots, both on target and both which forced saves from the keeper. Sawyer and Christophe broke up everything in the middle and Leeds couldn't cope.
However in the last 15 minutes of the first half I thought the visitors were superb, and there was one occasion where they kept the ball for about 2 minutes before eventually winning a corner. I really didn't think that the one goal would win it. We were lucky when their defender had an air shot from about 15 yards and turned around deservedly ahead.
In the second half Leeds came at us quickly and made a couple of early chances.
I had an obscured view of Fed's save in the second half so couldn't see what happened but have heard it was a bit special.
For all their threatening Leeds posed few problems in the second half. The standard of their crossing was appalling and Fed gathered pretty much everything with ease. In fact we went closest to scoring with another Harding scorcher from a free kick.
Revell, Laurent and Sawyer all ran themselves into the ground and every player came out with credit. Tilly closed the game out with 10 minutes left with 3 substitutions and there was nearly a sending off lat on for Robinson when he flattened Grant, got booked and then squared up to him afterwards... living proof that he is thick in more ways than one.
So, bring on the Col U. Great night.
RATINGS
Federici - 8.5 - Superb performance. Made 2 or 3 fine saves and was otherwise safe and assured.
Francis - 7 - Still too casual at times but looked much happier on the right. Did ok.
Barrett - 8 - Best performance of the season. You could see how much it meant to him at the end.
Clarke - 8 - Some fantastic tackles and interventions. Excellent.
Harding - 9 - MOM - Great goal, could have had a second, and showed exactly what we have missed for the last 3 games. God I hope we can keep him.
Betsy - 7 - Didn't do anything wrong and played his part in the win. Would have liked to have seen him be a bit more selfish in front of goal.
Sawyer - 8.5 - Industrious, all action performance. Shame he has this groin niggle. Is he one of these that will just never attain the level of fitness needed?
Christophe - 8 - Works brilliantly with Sawyer. Solid and strong.
Robson-Kanu - 8 - Another one who ran himself out. Gives a great balance to the midfield.
Revell - 8.5 - Fantastic performance. Won everything in the air and seems to have struck up an immediate understanding with Laurent. Ran himself out.
Laurent - 8 - Fantastic first half hour in particular but then obviously slowed up as the pace of the game and his lack of fitness showed. Gave absolutely everything and then some. He is an awkward so-and-so to play against and will become a Blues legend. Could have had two goals with shots that would probably only emanated previously from the boots of a certain Mr Collymore or Mr Eastwood. Exciting but lets keep our feet on the floor with him.
Subs -
Grant - 7 - Did well when came on and added steel in the middle, even if he did give the ball away cheaply a couple of times.
Scannell - 6 - Thought he would have showed more industry to be honest. I know he's stocky but looked a bit heavy.
McCormack - 7 - What a great player to bring on. Struggled initially to pick up the pace.
