Very good hard fought 3 points against a dangerous team. We started much better. Lots more energy and very high pressing. However, Sunderland also started well. Egan miles out of position for their goal. Robbo had to go with the central man. Berge didn't fill in (not sure he was meant to in fairness). Did well to get back into it but were under the cosh in parts. They hit the post and could easily have gone ahead again.
I thought as the second half went on we got stronger. It helped that Mowbray took Ba off, who was causing all kinds of problems. Their subs made them weaker whilst ours firmed us up (and we had 5 minutes where we were really under the cosh). You could argue Hume should have got a red (not for me, it looked worse than it was and it's a hard yellow and a harsh red).Our goal should have been ruled out as Berge was offside running across the keeper's eyeline but we possibly earned the luck in the end.
A draw wouldn't have been an unfair result really but we had another just to shade it. Some more silly bookings again but thankfully the ref was more lenient second half. We struggled with their quick skilful attackers and kept backing off to our box.
6 and 7 points clear or Boro and Luton puts the pressure back on them.
Wes - 6 - Didn't have that much to do. Made one decent save and came well for a couple. Kicking wasn't the best at times but reliable enough.
Lowe - 7 - I thought he got stronger as the game went on. Badly out of position a couple a couple of times and got a silly booking which meant he was walking the tightrope. made a fair few interceptions second half and got his head on things.
Robinson - 6.5 - Mixed. Makes a really good tackle and then gives the ball away. Heart in mouth a couple of times and part of the confusion on the goal.
Egan - 6.5 - At fault for the goal, I think, as miles out of position. Robbo has to move across and there's a player then left unmarked. Couldn't get back across in time. Another who improved as the game went on and was the solid one of the back 3
Anel - 6 - Makes some great challengers but makes silly ones as well. Again booked for pulling a player back and was slightly half in mouth when he did it again second half. Made a couple of error but also some good reading of the game.
Baldock - 7 - Furious stuck to his task. I really rate Clarke but he stuck with him and never gave him a moments peace. Looked like he was holding his thigh before he went off.
McAtee - 6.5 - Thought he was arguably our poorest player first half until he scored. Seemed to gain confidence from that but tired badly and wasn't really covering defensively before he got cramp. Great composure and skill for the goal.
Doyle - 7 - Mixed. Added much needed energy and put a few really good balls forward in the first half. Put in a few good freekicks (corners less so) and got rewarded with the goal. Again, seemed to tire really badly and he was a fairly spent force when he came off.
Berge - 7.5 - Best game for us for a while. I thought he put much more of a shift in tonight. Got back and forward and showed determination and aggression. There's much more to come but I though he was the only calm head in the middle first half.
Ndiaye - 8 - Looked his old self again. Making himself more room and causing chaos in the opposition defence. When he's playing well the ball seems to stick to him. Bad a good shot when McAtee pushed him wide. Put a massive shift in and great defensive work until he came off.
Jebbo - 7 - I thought he lost the battle far too many times first half. He learned though and instead of trying to win the ball against Ballard in the air he made sure he got the decisions. He looked to tire badly but not surprising as first game for a while. His movement was noticeable though and both forwards gave midfielders so many more options than normal.
Subs:
Norwood - 6 - He struggles to get up to speed in games from the bench and lucky to get away with a high late tackle. He gradually got better and provided some much needed bit in midfield
Fleck - 6 - Came on and offered a bit more solidity on the left. Pressed and won the ball a few times (also giving it away)
McBurnie - 6.5 - At times he doesn't work enough for me but at others he does a really good job at pressing. I wonder if he's still carrying an injury. Doesn't move freely.
Sharp - 5.5 - Bad a couple of superman impressions trying to win fouls and stuck his bum out. We needed legs up top by then so it helped.
Hecky - 7.5 - Made the changes which were being called for and was rewarded with much greater energy and intensity. The game was much more open and we did ride our luck. Sured it up with the old guard as the youngsters were tiring. I'd have made the change 5 minutes earlier as we were under the cosh, but back to winning ways.
Sunderland - You have to credit Mowbray. He has the youngest team in the league and with lots of players out they gave as good as they got. Maybe lacking a bit of experience and a few older heads. I think Clarke is an excellent player but Ba was a nuisance all night. His movement on the ball is superb.
got few decent headers out of him in the last few minutes n all
