LoughboroBlade
Well-Known Member
First half - dreadful, with a couple of chances at the end that gave hope the 2nd half might be better. We were ponderous, dull, no width, launching hopeless balls forward.
Second half - half decent. Nice header by Collins from a decent near-post delivery by Gallagher. That seemed to settle us and at last we started to play a bit more coherently. We weren't really troubled after that. Cresswell had one decent effort - Blackman should have done better towards the end.
Howard 7/10 - important decent save 1st half. Looked confident and steady. First time I've been this season, so was keen to see how he compared to Simmo. Seemed reliable all game.
McMahon 5.5/10 - disappointing game I thought. Couple of bad bits of defending first half, and quite guilty of just lumping it. I expected better given his reputation. Unlucky not to score mind with a decent free kick that was tipped over.
Collins 7.5/10 - solid, assured, calm, and a goal. No complaints - looked easily as good as the Collins last year.
Maguire 6.5/10 - mixed game. Had a torrid first half, giving away free kicks, and in one move getting done twice nearly resulting in a goal. Stupidly booked for kicking the ball away. Improved second half.
Hill 7/10 - one moment first half where he was turned in the middle, but otherwise one o our better performers. He was excellent 2nd half.
Gallagher 6/10 - has a decent shot on him, but in his own words he says he likes being a creative player. A really mixed bag in that respect. Linked up better second half, but another I was expecting a lot more from.
McDonald 8/10 - brilliant, even when we were playing poorly.
McAllister 6/10 - didn't do well first half at all, seemed bypassed by the game. Game into it much more in the 2nd, and made plenty of decent challenges towards the end.
Cresswell 5.5/10 - thought with the exception of one shot, he offered little. Saw plenty of the ball, and was guilty of over hitting crosses, misplacing passes etc. He may be able to play up front still, but the days when he can 'fill in' at left wing are long over.
Blackman 6.5/10 - despite missing a great opportunity near the end after being set up superbly by Porter, he impressed me. Good workrate, touch of quality, unlucky not to score. Needs to be playing with the right partner though.
Kitson 5.5/10 - thought he was terrible. Never really got in the game, no real efforts on goal, didn't seem to try much.
Subs
Porter - looked more deserving of a place in the side on that small cameo than Kitson. Showed strength, worked hard, linked up well with Blackman. That's all still enough to get people yelling at him though - cannot understand some of our fans' clear resentment towards him whatever he does.
Williams - came on to solidify the left late on. Did fine.
Highlight of the game - the melée outside the ground following the goal as one fan was removed for running on the pitch. He escaped the clutches of 2 stewards holding him for imminent police, before running through the car park into the distance, evading a chase that involved 5+ stewards. They ultimately returned empty-handed a few mins later to the delight of the away end that saw it all, who responded with the Benny Hill theme tune.
Second half - half decent. Nice header by Collins from a decent near-post delivery by Gallagher. That seemed to settle us and at last we started to play a bit more coherently. We weren't really troubled after that. Cresswell had one decent effort - Blackman should have done better towards the end.
Howard 7/10 - important decent save 1st half. Looked confident and steady. First time I've been this season, so was keen to see how he compared to Simmo. Seemed reliable all game.
McMahon 5.5/10 - disappointing game I thought. Couple of bad bits of defending first half, and quite guilty of just lumping it. I expected better given his reputation. Unlucky not to score mind with a decent free kick that was tipped over.
Collins 7.5/10 - solid, assured, calm, and a goal. No complaints - looked easily as good as the Collins last year.
Maguire 6.5/10 - mixed game. Had a torrid first half, giving away free kicks, and in one move getting done twice nearly resulting in a goal. Stupidly booked for kicking the ball away. Improved second half.
Hill 7/10 - one moment first half where he was turned in the middle, but otherwise one o our better performers. He was excellent 2nd half.
Gallagher 6/10 - has a decent shot on him, but in his own words he says he likes being a creative player. A really mixed bag in that respect. Linked up better second half, but another I was expecting a lot more from.
McDonald 8/10 - brilliant, even when we were playing poorly.
McAllister 6/10 - didn't do well first half at all, seemed bypassed by the game. Game into it much more in the 2nd, and made plenty of decent challenges towards the end.
Cresswell 5.5/10 - thought with the exception of one shot, he offered little. Saw plenty of the ball, and was guilty of over hitting crosses, misplacing passes etc. He may be able to play up front still, but the days when he can 'fill in' at left wing are long over.
Blackman 6.5/10 - despite missing a great opportunity near the end after being set up superbly by Porter, he impressed me. Good workrate, touch of quality, unlucky not to score. Needs to be playing with the right partner though.
Kitson 5.5/10 - thought he was terrible. Never really got in the game, no real efforts on goal, didn't seem to try much.
Subs
Porter - looked more deserving of a place in the side on that small cameo than Kitson. Showed strength, worked hard, linked up well with Blackman. That's all still enough to get people yelling at him though - cannot understand some of our fans' clear resentment towards him whatever he does.
Williams - came on to solidify the left late on. Did fine.
Highlight of the game - the melée outside the ground following the goal as one fan was removed for running on the pitch. He escaped the clutches of 2 stewards holding him for imminent police, before running through the car park into the distance, evading a chase that involved 5+ stewards. They ultimately returned empty-handed a few mins later to the delight of the away end that saw it all, who responded with the Benny Hill theme tune.
just a shame nearly everybody else won.
