Thoughts on Cardiff game
Overall, it was well earned point but still a lot of work to be done regardless of the fact we had 10 men for long periods. We started the game well and passed it for the firts 10 minutes but this was the only time we really kept the ball well. They then started to come into it but of course we scored a well worked goal; against the run of play. I felt the game was going to plan and Cardiff would get frustrated but the red card gave them a lifeline. It was a stupid challenge and probably did deserve red; being high, late and around the knee area. After this we got to half time well and started second half alright but then defended deeper and deeper; gave the ball away constantly and conceded ground for the remainder of the game. We resorted to spoling tactics and a lot of timewasting/cynical play which was ugly even though many may say necessary in the circumstances. The goal was a sloppy one and should have been stopped. After this I felt we would get beat and although Simonsen made 2 or 3 saves we defended well and did well to get the point.
Difficult to give a full prognosis due to having ten men for an hour but it was on ther whole much of the same; ahrd working, organised, difficult to bear with little flair, ball retention or attacking ambition. Hopefully, when we have 11 and get 2 or 3 more in which we clearly need then we can see more attacking intent and get the likes of Britton, Bogdanovic and Evans on the ball more.
Positives
Back 4 defended very well with likes of Ward, Taylor, Kozluk all contributing but Simonsen, Morgan and Ertl outstanding throughout.
Kept shape and system to nulify Cardiff and frustrate them. This meant they did not make man advantage count as much as they perhaps should have done.
Worked hard all game and closed down space. Most of their main chances came from long range shooting which was testament to organisation and covering.
Negatives
Inexperience from youngster with stupid challenge nearly cost us. It may have cost us 2 points actually as who knows what may have happened if he had not gone off.
Gave ball away most of the game again. Sure we had ten men for long periods but even more reason to keep the ball rather than revert to lumping it. Likes of Montgomery and Quinn very careless in possession and turning a midfield ball into Cardiff possession and us suddnely backpeddalling and defending.
Little/no creativity with Britton barely involved outside the goal and no interchange/clever play outside first 10 minutes.
Evans/Bogdanovic/Cresswell did not hold the ball up very well at all and it kept coming back. We need to keep it better and bring others into play. Mind you often it was the lump forward to them rather than a passed ball into their feet.
Players
Simonsen 8/10 - Very good for the most part. Made 4 or 5 saves I would expect him to make but still good saves. Organised well and caught crosses/corners. slight criticism for goal was he maybe needed have gone out that far and maybe should have stayed on his line.
Lowton 2/10 - Got beat one or twice early on but looked to have settled down till the rash challenge. Taking off our red and white tinted spectacles and you have to say it probably was a deserved red card. Silly and now with a three match ban and others to be brought in he may have a long wait to play again.
Taylor 6.5/10 - At times he did ok today and I am not his biggest fan. He cleared the ball, kept his position beter and stopped some crosses. At other times he got beat badly by Burke who led him a bit of a merry dance and looked very pedestrian and too slow to react to danger.
Ertl 8.5/10 - My Man of the Match. Fautless. Won headers, cleared the ball and looked excellent. Not as slow as a I remembered and also better on the ball. Gave food for thought to what his best position may be.
Morgan 8/10 - As above. Excellent. Headed it, cleared it and led the team well.
Quinn 5/10 - Not in the game at all. He ran around and chased/harried but very ineffectual overall.
Montgomery 6/10 - Covered a lot of ground and made tackles/interceptions but his passing/distribution as woeful. Twice in the first half he just punted the ball forward to noone.
Britton 5.5/10 - He was not in the game at all aside from his clever ball for the goal. I actually forogt he was playing when he was taken off. Worrying similiar to the Howard/Harper situation but hopefully witha full 11 and playing at home next week we may see a different player.
Cresswell 6/10 - He toiled and chased but he too was not really in the match for long periods and was not able to offer much as an attacking source more involved defensively.
Evans 6.5/10 - Looked lively in the first half and took his goal well. However, he does need to hold the ball better when he does have it. Again when he plays with a partner and with 11 men we can assess better.
Ward 7/10 - Fair play to Wardy. He started wide right, then went left, then went right back for almost an hour and did ok against one of best players in league Whittingham. Ended up back wide right for last stages of game. Unnecessary arguing with crowd and silly gamesmanship (cheating?) when he went down and then suddenly started running again lose him some credit.
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Kozluk - Did alright when he came on but got beat once badly by McNaughton.
Bogdanovic - Thought he was very lazy when he came on and if he wants to start needs to show more effort and especially with us having ten help us keep the ball. He gave the ball away every time he had it and hardly covered any ground to close players down. when Cardiff knocked it across their back line.
Yeates - Barely touched ball as only on for last few minutes.
I did not think Cardiff were that great actually but they did pass the ball far better than us and had far more of a goal threat. I expect them to be much higher than us in the league unfortunately and nothing I saw today changed that. They can pass the ball, are iinventive, play with two genuine wide threats, a proper big/small partnership with mobility that gets goals but are poor at the back and have very poor centre backs and keeper I feel. These things may cost them promotion.
