Blackburn are now third. We lost away by one goal to one of the form teams in the league. They have a lot of good players. Spent a fair bit over the years and can easily beat anyone in this division on their day. I would have taken a point before the game and there wasn't much in it really. We were better first half, but got done on the counter, they were in the second.
They did hit the bar twice though and Basham should have been sent off at least once. They looked more determined. They wanted it more. Quicker to every ball. We attacked slowly and predictably. Players seemed incapable of getting it out from under their feet. Once again the CBs were a bit all over the shop. Too eager to get forward at times, leaving huge gaps behind them. Our midfield was dire first half. Their midfield was afforded all the time they wanted to cross the ball or shoot.
Our entire team needs to spend tomorrow practicing how to head a ball. Useless to a man at heading to a teammate. Another gripe is why the players kept coming inside? Bogle, Lowe and Basham kept coming into the middle and we looked much better with Osborn and Baldock stretching the play.
Wes - 6 - I have no idea what he's doing for the goal. He need to face up to their player and set himself. He's stook at a really weird angle like he's expecting a crossshot. Baffling. No way he could save any hard shot. Handling was iffy as well. Bounced the ball almost into a Blackburn player first half. Misstimed a couple more.
Lowe - 5 - This lad cannot defend. He gives his player far too much room all the time. Time and space to cross the ball in. Doesn't offer nearly enough going forward. Made one good block but it was him miles out of position leaving his man to run into the space.
Robinson - 6 - Defended quite resolutely but gets caught up pitch. Left space behind him on several occasions. We can't keep doing the overlapping CBs away to teams like this with great passes of the ball and quick breaks.
Egan - 5.5 - Johnny can't head a ball. Seriously, he kept heading unchallenged defensive header to Blackburn players. It's not hard to at least to try and put some direction on it. He also did the same from a free header late on.
Basham - 4 - People will go on about his run where he managed to fall over but he was a headless chicken today. Charging down the middle of the pitch. Huge spaces behind him and can't get back. Three terrible tackles should have seen him off from a combination of reds and yellows. Zero composure in front of goal.
Bogle - 5.5 - Some nice bits of skill going forward but lacks end product. Defensively little better than Lowe. Out of position. Allows a dangerous left winger all the time in the world. Doesn't bust a gut to get goal-side. Struggled to get the ball out of his feet.
Fleck - 5 - Looked so slow today. The lad just sauntered round him for the break on their goal. Slow all game. Never got close to their midfield. Slow to move the ball on. Always looked on the edge.
Norwood - 5 - Poor. Hardly in it for much of the game. Wasteful on the ball and chasing shadows.
Berge - 3 - He looked like he was playing with an impossiball. Remember them? Every touch he took was like a small child learning football. The ball continually seemed to want to get away from him. So slow. So weak. So devoid of fight or determination. Jogs towards his own goal at all times. Only comes alive when he's down the side of the box. Had lots of chances to shoot but bad touch after bad touch and he abdicated responsibility for 97 minutes.
Ndiaye - 5 - Started ok but his touch has woeful today. He constantly wanted to take an extra touch and try and turn his man slowly but they'd watched a video and knew exactly what he was about and stopped him easily.
McBurnie - 5.5 - I thought he was poor as well. He kept trying to turn defenders (even more slowly than Ndiaye) and lost it every time. Lost most headers as well. Got little service but did precious little with what he had.
Subs:
McAtee - 6 - He wasn't great and looked slow to react to everything but at least offered more going forward.
Baldock - 6 - Again, not great, and looked a bit too over-eager to get the ball. Offered more than Bogle though and actually kept his width.
Osborn - 6.5 - Once again we looked a lot better with him on at LWB. Kept to the wing and looked to play balls into the strikers feet.
Sharp - 5.5 - Ran around a bit but not really much danger.
Doyle - 6 - Better than Norwood but looked like he struggled to pick up the pace coming on.
Hecky - 6 - Aside from the wingbacks, picked the team I expected. We created chances but made a succession of terrible decisions in the final third. Defensively we looked poor. Need to put the breaks on the CBs in games like these. A draw would have been a good result but we cost ourselves being too gungho.
Blackburn - Impressive. They've been a team with good players for a few years now but always seemed to lack something as a team. JDT has them set up really well and their press and passing out from the back were both excellent.
They have a number of talented players but I thought Dolan was a nightmare for Bogle. Gallagher also got the better of Egan.
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