Deadbat
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Not a full report as only watched on a stream but quick summary.
Overall a really disappointing defeat. Not an awful performance but a game we had control of from minute 10 – 60. They then had the best of the last half hour; after starting the game well. It looked a nailed on 0-0 draw but a cross from the left and a deft flicked header and that was it. It seemed the sort of game that you felt whoever got the first goal would nick it and it was too late for us to respond as we had been off the pace for the final part of the game. We missed Fleck and the changes made us even worse in game. As good as we were against Villa; today was a big come down. As I say we played well for a good period and had control of the game and had most of the ball. We created 3 good chances but McGoldrick missed a header, sliced wide and another shot when he should have done better. We had a few other half chances and Lundstram had a shot similar to the one they had early on that was saved but rather comfortably. We did not make the keeper work all game really – neither did they.
I felt Duffy and Norwood controlled things first half and we moved it nicely but still looked powder puff other than the few McGoldrick chances. We did not move it quick enough like we did v Bolton and Villa. Still we looked comfortable at the back and not sure they really created too much but then the lad went through and blazed wide (was it offside) and then had a few blocked from corners. We did not get hold of the ball and started to sit back. The goal was still really sloppy and someone did not challenge as the header looped in. After this we had a few half chances but I don’t know we just lacked energy and the zest we had. Maybe the break has not helped us but they were no better. It was a bit of a smash and grab for them to win really but then you could say we did it late v Norwich after they missed some clear chances (clearer than ones we missed). Just sort of game where you need to get a 0-0 and get out of there and take it as a point.
It was really disappointing to not build on the good run and now with 4 wins and 3 losses; the start is quite average again and puts pressure on us for the two home games; albeit v sides near the bottom. Today was a game that was winnable even with a key man missing and we needed to go on and build from it. We have to hope Fleck is not out for long but if he was not fit today; not sure a groin would recover for in a few days. I expect Clarke to come in for one of the strikers who did not do enough today. Just a really flat end to a nothing sort of game. Yes, we deserved more but then did we do enough 2nd half to really go and win the game. We kind of sat back, lost the ball, our pressing stopped and we gave them time on the ball. They did not do much really but then will say they were the ones pushing for a winner more than us and looked more likely to win the game as it went on. The most frustrating thing is Bristol looked an inferior side than the one we faced last year and have a weaker side but we let them off the hook. It is the sort of game and result that things we did ok; but ultimately do not put teams down when we are on top. We saw it a lot at the end of last season. It is the sort of game that makes you think we will be around the middle again. Wilder said last season he doubted if the team had the quality to make the top 6 after the Hull defeat and today you kind of wondered if the players really sensed in the game they would go on and make the control of the ball leads to goals and what should have been a comfortable win. The second half was just a non-event as far as I was concerned in terms of our level of intensity on and off the ball.
The drop off from the first eleven quality shows and we finished the game with Johnson and Washington; two players not good enough to start for other Champ sides. Add in Lundstram and the drop off from who would play/would play shows that once any of the first eleven don’t play; we don’t look the same team. Ultimately we didn’t quite have the quality to make the top 6 last year and you see the same again. Norwood, Egan and Henderson seem good signings so far but the rest are all journeyman types that should not be counted on to play meaningful minutes really if we are serious about going for the top 6. That is no offence to the likes of McGoldrick, Washington, Johnson, Cranie etc but we have still not addressed the weakness at the top or added meaningful quality. Not sure those brought in the other week or any better than those not making the bench today or players who left the club (Leonard, Holmes etc).
Henderson 7/10 – No fault on the goal – went in off the far post. Made one good early save. Handling and kicking sound and looked comfortable until the goal.
Freeman 7/10 – Thought he was one of our better players and got forward and was always an outlet. 2nd half they pushed him and Stevens back and he was not the same threat really.
Stevens 6.5/10 – Had a good first half and was on the front foot and attacked well but 2nd half he was poor. He made poor decisions with the ball and got caught out the other way and left too much space.
Egan 7/10 – Solid enough. Seems to be growing more and more as the season goes on. He looked frustrated on the goal as it was a relatively free header and seemed angry with his fellow players.
O’Connell 7/10 – As above – he played well and was able to defend well and limit many attacks at all. The lad up top barely had a kick although got in once.
Basham 7/10 – Defended well and used it when he could but a few times going forward he took too long to make decisions. 2nd half they restricted him and O’Connell getting forward at all and they were defending mostly.
Lundstram 5.5/10 – People say he is a scapegoat. He is not. He is just not very good. He is so slow on the ball and takes an age to do something simple. He slows the play down and sadly offers no defensive protection giving away stupid fouls too often. Immobile and pedestrian on and off the ball. He did a few neat (easy) passes but never took the ball forward or ran with it. His usual tactic is a simple 5-yard ball square or back or an aimless lofted ball to no one. He repeated either one of these all game but for the most part I did not even notice he was playing. A major weak link. He is just not good enough and will surely go the same way as Evans, Leonard and Holmes eventually. If anything, he is getting worse rather than better and has been here a year now.
Norwood 7.5/10 – First half he was excellent. His set play delivery and his on-ball skills were to the fore. He dictated the game from deep and used it well and was involved in most things we did. 2nd half I felt he was not as influential at all and they stopped him getting on the ball and made him give it up to others. He seemed to tire – maybe international exerts. He certainly did not have any real influence in the final stages of the game and the midfield lost all control that they had of the game.
Duffy 7/10 – First half decent and got on the ball well and probed and got into good positions but too often his final product was not there today and he started to tire long before he came off. Still looks a dangerous player and got into some great positions.
Sharp 6/10 – Not sure he was in the game at all today. He gave away numerous fouls and although kept battling, cannot recall a chance of note him being involved in save for one ball to McGoldrick. Not surprised he went off as even though McGoldrick missed chances not sure he was in the game at all today. For me, he is a player who would start at home but not sure it works away from home. I think I would go with Clarke/McGoldrick and Duff off them and then Fleck, Coutts and Norwood behind away from home – or even use Bash in the middle.
McGoldrick 6.5/10 – He worked really hard and showed some decent play in hold up and a few good flicks but also some silly flicks where he gave it away and then of course he missed 2 or 3 good chances. The header he has to scored and the chance he got through after the lay off again he has to at least work the keeper.
Subs –
Johnson – His second touch was often a tackle! Showed some pace on one run but he wildly bled one shot over.
Washington – Had one flicked header wide but did not really get in the game.
Clarke – Came on too late really – should have been him rather than Washington
Wilder 6/10 – First half we played well after starting a bit slow but after the break they changed things and stopped us getting the centre backs and wing backs forward and we did not have an answer. His changes made us worse if anything and we never looked like really scoring after the hour mark. We needed to tighten it up and get a draw but did not really go forward or defend and play on the break and this indecisiveness on what we were doing meant we did neither and ended up losing.
Referee – Awful. Inconsistent from start to finish. Booked ours early and often yet let similar fouls go for them. Stevens was fetched down for a clear yellow; much worse than the Norwood one on half way and he got away with it. A real homer.
Overall a really disappointing defeat. Not an awful performance but a game we had control of from minute 10 – 60. They then had the best of the last half hour; after starting the game well. It looked a nailed on 0-0 draw but a cross from the left and a deft flicked header and that was it. It seemed the sort of game that you felt whoever got the first goal would nick it and it was too late for us to respond as we had been off the pace for the final part of the game. We missed Fleck and the changes made us even worse in game. As good as we were against Villa; today was a big come down. As I say we played well for a good period and had control of the game and had most of the ball. We created 3 good chances but McGoldrick missed a header, sliced wide and another shot when he should have done better. We had a few other half chances and Lundstram had a shot similar to the one they had early on that was saved but rather comfortably. We did not make the keeper work all game really – neither did they.
I felt Duffy and Norwood controlled things first half and we moved it nicely but still looked powder puff other than the few McGoldrick chances. We did not move it quick enough like we did v Bolton and Villa. Still we looked comfortable at the back and not sure they really created too much but then the lad went through and blazed wide (was it offside) and then had a few blocked from corners. We did not get hold of the ball and started to sit back. The goal was still really sloppy and someone did not challenge as the header looped in. After this we had a few half chances but I don’t know we just lacked energy and the zest we had. Maybe the break has not helped us but they were no better. It was a bit of a smash and grab for them to win really but then you could say we did it late v Norwich after they missed some clear chances (clearer than ones we missed). Just sort of game where you need to get a 0-0 and get out of there and take it as a point.
It was really disappointing to not build on the good run and now with 4 wins and 3 losses; the start is quite average again and puts pressure on us for the two home games; albeit v sides near the bottom. Today was a game that was winnable even with a key man missing and we needed to go on and build from it. We have to hope Fleck is not out for long but if he was not fit today; not sure a groin would recover for in a few days. I expect Clarke to come in for one of the strikers who did not do enough today. Just a really flat end to a nothing sort of game. Yes, we deserved more but then did we do enough 2nd half to really go and win the game. We kind of sat back, lost the ball, our pressing stopped and we gave them time on the ball. They did not do much really but then will say they were the ones pushing for a winner more than us and looked more likely to win the game as it went on. The most frustrating thing is Bristol looked an inferior side than the one we faced last year and have a weaker side but we let them off the hook. It is the sort of game and result that things we did ok; but ultimately do not put teams down when we are on top. We saw it a lot at the end of last season. It is the sort of game that makes you think we will be around the middle again. Wilder said last season he doubted if the team had the quality to make the top 6 after the Hull defeat and today you kind of wondered if the players really sensed in the game they would go on and make the control of the ball leads to goals and what should have been a comfortable win. The second half was just a non-event as far as I was concerned in terms of our level of intensity on and off the ball.
The drop off from the first eleven quality shows and we finished the game with Johnson and Washington; two players not good enough to start for other Champ sides. Add in Lundstram and the drop off from who would play/would play shows that once any of the first eleven don’t play; we don’t look the same team. Ultimately we didn’t quite have the quality to make the top 6 last year and you see the same again. Norwood, Egan and Henderson seem good signings so far but the rest are all journeyman types that should not be counted on to play meaningful minutes really if we are serious about going for the top 6. That is no offence to the likes of McGoldrick, Washington, Johnson, Cranie etc but we have still not addressed the weakness at the top or added meaningful quality. Not sure those brought in the other week or any better than those not making the bench today or players who left the club (Leonard, Holmes etc).
Henderson 7/10 – No fault on the goal – went in off the far post. Made one good early save. Handling and kicking sound and looked comfortable until the goal.
Freeman 7/10 – Thought he was one of our better players and got forward and was always an outlet. 2nd half they pushed him and Stevens back and he was not the same threat really.
Stevens 6.5/10 – Had a good first half and was on the front foot and attacked well but 2nd half he was poor. He made poor decisions with the ball and got caught out the other way and left too much space.
Egan 7/10 – Solid enough. Seems to be growing more and more as the season goes on. He looked frustrated on the goal as it was a relatively free header and seemed angry with his fellow players.
O’Connell 7/10 – As above – he played well and was able to defend well and limit many attacks at all. The lad up top barely had a kick although got in once.
Basham 7/10 – Defended well and used it when he could but a few times going forward he took too long to make decisions. 2nd half they restricted him and O’Connell getting forward at all and they were defending mostly.
Lundstram 5.5/10 – People say he is a scapegoat. He is not. He is just not very good. He is so slow on the ball and takes an age to do something simple. He slows the play down and sadly offers no defensive protection giving away stupid fouls too often. Immobile and pedestrian on and off the ball. He did a few neat (easy) passes but never took the ball forward or ran with it. His usual tactic is a simple 5-yard ball square or back or an aimless lofted ball to no one. He repeated either one of these all game but for the most part I did not even notice he was playing. A major weak link. He is just not good enough and will surely go the same way as Evans, Leonard and Holmes eventually. If anything, he is getting worse rather than better and has been here a year now.
Norwood 7.5/10 – First half he was excellent. His set play delivery and his on-ball skills were to the fore. He dictated the game from deep and used it well and was involved in most things we did. 2nd half I felt he was not as influential at all and they stopped him getting on the ball and made him give it up to others. He seemed to tire – maybe international exerts. He certainly did not have any real influence in the final stages of the game and the midfield lost all control that they had of the game.
Duffy 7/10 – First half decent and got on the ball well and probed and got into good positions but too often his final product was not there today and he started to tire long before he came off. Still looks a dangerous player and got into some great positions.
Sharp 6/10 – Not sure he was in the game at all today. He gave away numerous fouls and although kept battling, cannot recall a chance of note him being involved in save for one ball to McGoldrick. Not surprised he went off as even though McGoldrick missed chances not sure he was in the game at all today. For me, he is a player who would start at home but not sure it works away from home. I think I would go with Clarke/McGoldrick and Duff off them and then Fleck, Coutts and Norwood behind away from home – or even use Bash in the middle.
McGoldrick 6.5/10 – He worked really hard and showed some decent play in hold up and a few good flicks but also some silly flicks where he gave it away and then of course he missed 2 or 3 good chances. The header he has to scored and the chance he got through after the lay off again he has to at least work the keeper.
Subs –
Johnson – His second touch was often a tackle! Showed some pace on one run but he wildly bled one shot over.
Washington – Had one flicked header wide but did not really get in the game.
Clarke – Came on too late really – should have been him rather than Washington
Wilder 6/10 – First half we played well after starting a bit slow but after the break they changed things and stopped us getting the centre backs and wing backs forward and we did not have an answer. His changes made us worse if anything and we never looked like really scoring after the hour mark. We needed to tighten it up and get a draw but did not really go forward or defend and play on the break and this indecisiveness on what we were doing meant we did neither and ended up losing.
Referee – Awful. Inconsistent from start to finish. Booked ours early and often yet let similar fouls go for them. Stevens was fetched down for a clear yellow; much worse than the Norwood one on half way and he got away with it. A real homer.
