The best team won. They have better players than us who were much more energetic and clever. We overplayed over and over again. They countered at will and it could have been worse. We had our chances but took too many touches and made lots of bad decisions. The midfield was terrible. Been our weakest area all season but they gave the defence no cover tonight. Not the end of the world, but we looked very tired and not long until we play Millwall.
I feel some on here think these players are much better than they actually are. They're a team much better as a unit than as individuals. Very few good enough for the top flight. It's a credit to them as a team and the coaching staff that we're doing so well. Today Boro showed far more energy and determination to win. We had a fair few chances but they did as well. They ran through us at will over and over and over again. Our players far too slow to get back or get to players. We stood off far too much.
Foderingham - 6.5 - Should have done better with the third but made a couple of smart saves and game to collect. He was given very little protection though. Came out to sweep up for a dithering defence.
Lowe - 4.5 - Thought he was poor all night. Even when he got forward his final ball lacked any actual belief and just put a ball into an area. Targeted defensively and was always too far off his man.
Robinson - 4.5 - Poor tonight. Shure his long throw is dangerous but looked second to the ball most of the time. Got involved and lucky to not get booked or more.
Egan - 5 - Lost his battles and never her exerted himself on their strikers. Looked slow and unsure with the bouncing ball
Anel - 5 - Gets forward well at times (and you could argue too often) but dodgy, clumsy and slow defensively. One great recovery tackle. Booked again and must be due a ban?
Bogle - 5.5 - Thought he made wrong decision after wrong decision going forward and his control of the ball was all over the shop. Just running into trouble instead of playing the obvious ball. The ball hogger. There were a few occasions when he had a willing runner and didn't play him in. Looked injured at the end.
McAtee - 4.5 - Did a few things going forward but full of mistakes in midfield. So, so weak and made a number of sloppy passes.
Norwood - 4 - Terrible. Jogging after their players, lots of wasteful balls. Ridiculous tackles for their third. He had a bit more time second half and the passing was better but he just can't play if he's pressed.
Berge - 4 - Another midfielder who jogs in one direction and run in another. Thought he was just bypassed far too often. Another who needs too much time on the ball to pick a pass. Goes missing when the going gets tough.
Ndiaye - 5.5 - Ran around a lot but the poor run of form continues. Taking too long to make a decision and his shooting has been poor the last few games. He just seems to have lost the confidence to take defenders on. He's been slowing it down the last few weeks.
McBurnie - 4 - Goal aside I thought he looked sluggish and ambled and offered very little. Linked up the play a few times but more fancy trick that determination to make something happen. Looks well off the pace still.
Subs:
Jebbison - 6 - Looked lively and most likely to pull one back. A bit all over the shop but added much more energy up top.
Osborn - 5.5 - Did ok. Neat and tide but relying on others to make something happen.
Hecky - 4 - We started well but we were overrun in the middle. I thought we needed to change it sooner and put more legs in there. At halftime I would have tried to put defence first and hope to create something. We had to tighten it up and we didn't. Going to 4 at the back helped but too many poor performances. Getting sent off for booting the board is stupid, however angry you are.
Boro - By far and away the best team we've played this season. I suspect they've raised their game to play us but if they play like that every game they win every game. Cameron Archer, described by some of the experts on here as shit, ran rings around our defence.
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