Reyt win. Considering how weakened we are and we'd been turned over by the Millers midweek this looked set to be a further setback even if it were a stale, sterile 0-0. Certainly the first half suggested it was going to be that way. No McBurnie to terrorise their poor central defenders and what looked like a real pedestrian, uninspired and frankly tired approach, United looked like they'd be lucky to get anything out of today. There was also a chance we could have simply given up and let Cardiff - a pretty shit side all over the park - snatch the win and put us down the chasing pack.
First 45 there seemed to be a real disconnect with the usual suspects - midfield - playing a far too safe and careful manner and unwilling to drive up the park and put Cardiff on the back foot. We also looked vulnerable at the back with too many opportunities opening up for Cardiff's generally useless front two to fuck up. It only took one of the chances to go in to see us panic further and over-react and go further behind. Not like us to go to Cardiff as favourites and come away holding our manhoods cheap is it?
To be honest, another fucking hamstring injury to another key player didn't help us at all. Although JLTs first chuck into the mix was pretty poor, Cardiff aren't great at defending this stuff and maybe later throws may have given us better fayre. But on comes Clark and we simply look like we are playing a 4-3 training passing games in grids all over the park. We just didn't seem to wat to turn anything toward feeding Billy and Illiman to put them in. Pass-pass-pass ... back to Fods ... pass-pass-pass. Okay, possession means the opposition hasn't got the ball and we aren't under pressure. But if that is all we do, how do we win a game that depends on goals scored to be victorious? Passing it about, even if we showboat it off several keepy uppies to a chorus of 'ole's' means fuck all when it comes down to points gained. First half was just that. The only player who looked capable was Arbtaster, jinky runs and clever passes but fuck all to show for it.
Massive surprise and a huge 'What the fuck are you doing, Hecky?' to see McAtee on for Arblaster at the start of the second half. Surely get rid of the 'all fart but no stink' Osborn? Yeah, me too. I was fearing McAtee getting bullied and Osborn turning so many concentric circles that he actually disappears in a haze of soil and grass. But lo! Two minutes in and he's clean on goal. A square pass puts Billy in with a tap in. He fucks it up but lo, again, we don't give it up and spend the next ten minutes savaging Cardiff amidships. United look determined and pissed off all of a sudden and fuck me did it not look good? Okay, we can't score for fucking toffee, but we look a lot better for it. We are attacking on all flanks, Wing Backs, Midfield and even the Centrebacks are having a pop. Some great corners go in and we move, as a team, up the pitch. Then McAtee is involved ... again ... and Baldock picks their pockets and steams in on goal cracking in a great near post shot between keeper and near post. One fucking nil. Actually, thoroughly deserved if anything and one to defend and hold onto. Top of the table is at stake, or at least a top two position into the international break.
Can't henestly say Cardiff deserved anything out of this game and possibly Roy will confirm that later if some of their more honest fans come clean about their shortcomings. I was worried we wouldn't manage the lead enough and let them go level - this nearly happened - but let's face it, we were still the better side as bad as we played even in the first half.
Whichever way up you look at it, this keeps us in the fight now and the backroom staff has a game on its hands with the decompression of the squad between now and December 10th and getting everyone match fit and ready to be selected and playing for the intense Christmas into New Year period. Come out of that unbeaten and I reckon we are up. Fail to win in six and we will struggle. We need no repeats of the last catastrophic break.
Foderingham 6/10: Not a massive amount to do. Rooted firmly to the spot for two of their fucked up headers from six yards
Baldock 7.5/10: Busy as fuck up and down the flank and a well-taken goal
Basham 6/10: Hot and cold for him. Usually 'Mr Always Does The Right Thing' and now not so much. His experience shone through in the second half though
Egan 6.5/10: Between him and the other centrebacks I was disappointed to see, say, Robinson steal in with a free header and their front two pretty much not muscled out of aerial challenges especially during the first half. Better in the second, but not by much
Robinson (unmarked): really disappointed to see him crocked. I know this will please some who see him as a liability but for me he is an improved player regardless of mishaps recently
Stevens 6.5/10: A more dogged outing from him and better in some aspects of defending against a more nimble attacking threat
Arblaster 7/10: Our best player in the first half. Clever, forward-looking and tricky. No idea why he was subbed. Paired with McAtee I think we'd have been better in the second half going forward
Norwood 6.5/10: Some good, some bad. First half he was reduced to the long ball game which gave us nowt. Got stuck in and tackled and played some clever ground passes as the game grew. Free kicks shit though. Floating balls over is ploppy bobbar Sunday League stuff
Osborn 5/10: Another iffy, achieves-little-for-effort-made performance from him
Sharp 5/10: Bang average and only that. He's our only option now though and its a disappointing one at that
NDaiye 7.5/10: Reduced to fetching and carrying for much of the game and playing basically on his own. GLTTL in Qatar. Please come back uninjured and as dedicated to the shirt please
Clark 6/10: Solid enough although as guilty for letting Cardiff into gaps between him and Egan. Stole a goal off Egan.
McAtee 8/10: On fire second half. Some great runs at them and coming inside onto his favoured foot
Khadra (unmarked) Not enough time to have an impact and on for the wrong striker IMHO
HJ&SMcM 7/10: Great win with some puzzling alignments of players and substitutes but we are past the finish line now with regard recovery from injuries with December onwards with which to return with a better squad to push on.
pommpey
