Fantastic result in the end and a proper cup tie. Blackburn started off really strongly but we came back into it. Their pen was a joke (but that's modern football) and our equaliser was really lucky. We had a kamikaze defending period in the second half when our CBs, especially Anel, decided they would be strikers, and we gave the ball away 5 times in 5 minutes and they scored from the last error. I actually thought with 10 minutes to go that the game might just fade away from us but our second equaliser absolutely killed Blackburn. Great finish to win it.
Wes - 7 - Made a very good double save which kept us in it in the second half. Almost fucked up at the start when he took a heavy kick. Not a great amount to do apart from a fairly comfortable high save.
Lowe - 6 - He was better for much of the first half but then he stands off players and lets them get balls in. Fucked up for their second but was better going forward and taking chances with first time balls.
JLT - 6 - Unlucky for the penalty but lucky not to get a second yellow for a daft challenge (yes, he just gets the ball but also the man). Another occasion where he blocked a man and got away with it. Solid defensively but needs to be more careful. bit of a mess on their second as well.
Egan -6 - Charged out while playing their man on for the second. Utter mess. Otherwise had a battle on his hands and did ok. Almost got caught on the counter when he decided to run forward, lose the ball and left us 3 on 3. Generally ok but the back 3 need to be a bit more clever.
Anel - 6.5 - At 1:1 he was playing as a striker at times and I really have no idea what that is about. Seems a bit made to me, when he has Berge dropping to cover him. Otherwise he defended pretty well. Getting himself in the way and making good interceptions/winning headers. Got away with another push against BD in the box. Not much in it but daft.
Baldock - 7 - Our best defender and a great outlet for the cross-field ball. Got done badly by BD once but stuck at his task.
McAtee - 6 - Mixed. Looked very good on the ball at times and made good runs but should have done better with two shots. The first he made it really easy for the keeper and the second he has to score. You can see there's a player in there but decisions and sometimes tough elude him. Put a good shift in today.
Doyle - 7.5 - Great finish for the winner but in all honesty I was surprised he was still on the pitch by then. Both he and McAtee looked shattered. Imagine what a player he would be if we managed to improve psychically (strength and stamina)? A few loose passes today but he constantly looks forward, which is a big plus.
Berge - 6 - Mixed. He looks so comfortable on the ball at time and is always dangerous around the box but dawdles on the ball and slows things down. His first though with a player near is to look sideways or backwards and takes the easy option too much. To give him credit, I thought he was better defensively today but tracks rather than challenges.
Ndiaye - 8 - PoTM for me. Was lively all game and the player most likely to create for us. You can see his decision making suffers as he tires but he was the one using his skills. to try and open them up. As per usual, ran his socks off.
McBurnie - 7 - Great finish for the second and kept going even though not everything was coming off for him. A much more disciplined display today and got his reward.
Subs:
Sharp - 5.5 - Not sure he added much outside of knowing his job
Bogle - 6 - Came on for Furious and didn't have a great deal to do. Won us a corner supporting play well.
Bash - came on to see it out
Hecky - 7 - In reality it was a pretty level game, although as soon as we scored the second they looked done. We were outfought at the start but got back into it. Putting an extra man in midfield worked though as it gave us a man over and consequently more time on the ball.
Blackburn - They'll probably feel hard done by and in truth there wasn't much in it. It was a good cup tie and they have some very good attacking players. Also some questionable defenders.
