United – Seen mixed reviews. Seen Danny Hall and Alan Biggs saying we did everything but score and were the far better side. I would not go that far. We perhaps just shaded it in terms of territory and were better second half but overall chances wise, there was maybe two on target for both sides and even though there keeper maybe made two slightly better saves than Cooper’s two – not sure any were wonder saves despite the hyperbole from Wilder after the game. They were all expected saves I felt. We had a few more other chances that were blocked or the one off the post (not sure either Riedewald or Peck’s were going in tbf?). They were probably happier with a point in the end being away but overall, it was a poor game. We were slightly better than we have been but were against a shocking side who will be right near the bottom. A good side puts them away easily (as others in this division have been doing recently). I thought we lacked quality overall and could have been playing a long time after full time and still not scored. I would say the same about QPR. They both looked two sides who will be near the bottom and may struggle to stay up. There was a real dearth of quality, pace, penetration, and goal threat. We may have nicked it but we did not dominate for large spells and it was more huff and puff than sustained pressure where it was wave after wave of attack. We had a few opportunities but it was not constant chances. They had as many at Cooper as we had at their keeper – in the 2nd half.
The positive is we kept a clean sheet of course – not done that much. The defence was not stretched as much as it has been. They did have a few breaks where they got through us so easily still second half and we got stretched but we did make fewer errors. We did not control the midfield area enough and Peck and Riedewald were too slow and passive – taking too many touches. Davies improved us hugely in here but then he made some poor choices. I was impressed by both full backs – McCallum did well again and came close twice and Seriki was very good and maybe the most likely to open them up 2nd half. We did not have enough up top. Ings improved after the break and at least put himself about but Campbell was totally ineffective again other than one decent cross and shot pulled wide. I thought the ball did not stick up there again and we lacked pace and power to stretch them. O’Hare was quiet today actually after being our best player the last month. Not sure the other subs towards the end had much impact – One did not get into it and Burrows took two poor set plays. Ogbene sent over the best cross of the game but outside of this was dreadful with so many shocking touches and poor balls.
It shows how the standards have slipped that the players got a fairly decent reception (not saying boo them by the way!) but thought it was another lacklustre showing against another shocking side that we could not penetrate.
The games are very dull to watch. We have a real mish mash of younger players, some experienced (over the hill?) and some not good enough mixed with a few who are doing ok – O’Hare and McCallum but most weeks we have a few 6 or 7’s out of 10 at best and a lot of 5’s. We do not look a side that believes it will win many games or go on a run and believe it will continue to be a struggle. Waiting for January is not really a plan. We have a lot of games before them. We have to get at least 30-35 more points to stay up (probably 8 or 9 wins). I worry where those may come from. The only saving grace is there are some terrible sides down here and maybe we might start nicking a few of these tight games to get away from the bottom but the longer we stay down there, the more concerning it gets. It is a poor division – my Uncle remarked there are about 20 awful sides and he is right but we are one of the worst as all the metrics show so far. That is telling really.
We have Wednesday next who oddly seem quite positive and maybe happier with their future prospects than us despite almost certainly going down. I am concerned that with the fans and players being together, they may want it more than us in a few weeks which is sad to say. It will be a tight game as both teams are poor but if we go behind I would be concerned. It certainly will not be a classic but I am not confident we will go there and put in a performance – based on the results and how we have played this season. I will be glad when it is over (never like these games) but we do face a fair few teams down near the bottom with us – so if we are going to move up the league -we have to start finding some wins.
Ratings:
Cooper 6/10 – Solid enough and maybe most composed he has been for some times. Was not tested too much first half but dealt with what he had to. Second half made two smart saves low down when we got cut through too easily.
Seriki 7/10 – Thought he did well. Generally, when he has played, he has always been decent and no idea why he does not get a run in the side (injuries obviously been a factor in that) but he has been fit this season and we have been struggling – we have tried a number of options down here and he looked the best of the lot Tuesday and today. I always hear he is a weak link defensively but he was fine largely in this regard. All game he showed a lot of energy and looked to get on the ball and try and go forward. Linked well with others and 2nd half was a constant outlet. Many of our attacks came down his side. He had a few runs and the one mazy run and shot where he ran out of steam. Always looks to be positive. Hopefully remains fit but needs a run in the side.
McCallum 7/10 – Another very good performance where he defended sensibly and was a threat going the other way. Decent on the ball and worked hard to get back too. He had a headed effort first half cleared and another that was well saved second half. I would have kept him on personally as there was drop off when Burrows came on- but maybe he was running on empty as he had put a lot in? Only slight knock is a few disappointing corners.
Mee 5.5/10 – Steady game. Not really pressured in the same way he has been other games but he swept up when he had to. Put in a decent ball going forward too. He looked better without McGuiness alongside him although they did commit many men forward so an easier game.
Tanganga 5.5/10 – Still not totally convincing but he did make one good block. Prefer him centre back but he made some silly fouls at times despite him getting a few good tackles in. Seems a bit at full stretch but cannot be easy when he is being messed around position wise. Needs a run here now.
Riedewald 4/10 – I’ve been distinctly underwhelmed by him. Lacks pace, mobility and his passing has been mixed too. He looks a real ‘meh’ player and no better than the options we have here (and they are not great!). He gave it away a few times and then he struggled to run back. Cannot recall much in terms of forward passing at all. Had one chance from the corner but took too long to get his shot away.
Peck 4/10 – He was better in the week after his nightmare v Derby, but he dropped again. He needs a rest – he is being played week in, week out despite largely ineffective performances. Had the one shot that deflected onto the side of the post but not sure it was going in? The rest of the game he took way too long to move it on with 4 or 5 touches to execute a simple pass. He rarely played it forward again and thought we largely bypassed central midfield until Davies came on. Not sure what he is offering really – rarely see him make blocks/tackles but does not offer anything meaningful going forward? His corners were awful too.
Brooks 6/10 – Thought he showed one or neat touches and looked up for it. He got on the ball and linked well with Seriki. I thought we had a lot of energy down this side which we have not seen and they carried on impressive cameo from the Coventry game. He moved around the pitch a fair bit and swapped sides but was more determined to get involved than other games he has started (generally does better off the bench). Maybe not as involved 2nd half but we saw a huge drop off when he went off and Ogbene came on.
O’Hare 5/10 – Quietest he has been. He has been our best player for some time (along with McCallum) but things did not quite come off for him today. He worked hard and tried to get on bits but did not see many chance or attacking moments where he contributed to a chance/shot. Had one good run second half but went down a bit easy looking for the foul. Needed him to find that yard of space but never happened.
Campbell 4/10 – Another ineffective game. He sent over a decent cross for Ings and then had one shot pulled wide but outside of that? Behind his man, static, slow and weak. He did not make runs, struggled to get involved and thought Ings as the game went on, looked the better of the two. Had a partner the last two games but it has made little difference. We need to upgrade from him – he is not really offering much at all and his lack of fitness is an issue as he cannot really press or close defenders down to help us stay in opponents’ halves.
Ings 5.5/10 – Started the game with minimal involvement and did not seem to get up the pace but I thought as the game went on he did put himself about more and worked hard. Clearly does not have much in terms of running ability but he held it up a bit and started to bring others into play. He did not really have many chance – outside of the headed chance before half time which I felt he should have scored. 2nd half he worked hard and tried to find some moments but again not sure anything really clear happened in terms of attacking moment but he was putting in a fair bit of effort and did get across the frontline.
Subs -
McGuiness 5/10 – Rightly dropped after a torrid couple of games and we switched the formation. He came on at half time and did ok. One moment where he let the forward get down the side and he showed his limited ability when twice under little pressure, he just kicked it out but made no glaring mistakes. A couple of headers again looped into the air rather than powerfully cleared. Never gets near any set plays when we attack for a big bloke.
Davies 6/10 – He came on and made a big difference. Got the ball on the half turn and managed to jink his way forward a few times. A couple of clever balsa down the side too. He looked to be positive and along with Seriki, looked our main threat to find a ball or moment where we might get a chance. He was completely different to the midfielders that we had seen before in that he always wanted to pass or run forward and this caused problems for the opposition. If he is fit, he starts most weeks but that is the issues. He did make a few poor decisions near the end despite his decent showing – one poor pass and a stupid shot miles off target.
Ogbene 3/10 – I will get the positive out of the way. One excellent cross to McCallum at the far post (maybe had another to the back stick blocked out too) but outside of this – he was appalling. His touch, passing and even the way he ran, was wayward. Looked hopeless. He made error after error with heavy passes/touches and the wrong decisions. He looked so forlorn near the end. Does not seem to have any pace anymore – which was his supposed asset. He surely will be sent back, as along with Bindon and Barry – complete passengers that have offered largely nothing. Brooks and Seriki- our own home-grown players – are far better and rather than be given a run – even if they have the odd off game.
One - Got a run down the middle but struggled to get into the game. He is often coming on and I think he has not been able to adapt to the pace. Had one header over but outside of this saw little of the ball. I would like him to get a start maybe due to Campbell offering so little but doubt it will be at Hillsborough.
Burrows – Had 10 minutes but his crossing and set plays were not good enough – albeit in limited time. Will have to work hard to get the shirt back from McCallum.
Manager: Wilder 5/10 – He again said that we are not far away but I am not sure? We drew and kept a clean sheet but QPR were simply dreadful and there for the taking and we forced the keeper into maybe two saves all game? We lacked urgency and energy to sustain prolonged attacks and remained largely toothless. Credit for him for bringing Seriki and Brooks in and changing the formation at least but I still was underwhelmed by our showing. Not sure what the plan is to progress the ball, launch attacks or how we are intending to create and score goals. We look a very dull and unattractive side that teams with any kind of attacking prowess and power will just find the odd moment and see us off at the other end. The defence was better today but the midfield still did not do enough and too slow to move it on and thought we looked blunt up the top with no pace or/and physicality. The best two players were full backs and although Davies improved us, I felt it was all a bit desperate rather than structured or clear plans to score goals. I never really felt like we would score. He said we put effort in and our stats will show this but we at some point have to improve in everything we do – we will not play many poorer sides than QPR and Derby. The Wednesday game will be a big point in the season. Win that and it might kickstart him and us, into a run of sorts but if we lose then I think a real mixed opinion of him might start to sway the other way.
QPR – A poor side lacking in quality but the fact they kind of dealt with us mostly at arm’s length summed it up. They started ok but only had a few half chances or attacks and as the game went on, we saw that both sides were as careless with the ball as the other. They sat back increasingly as the half went on and United had a few openings and the keeper made the save from Ings but after the break they actually looked as dangerous as us with two or three swift breaks and efforts on goal. Despite them defending more than us, they had more attempts on goal second half. Still, they were probably content with a point. Lacked quality all over the field (like us) and looked a slow and pedestrian side. They gave the ball away all game but their pacy forwards were still a threat on the break. I will be surprised if they are not in a relegation fight on that evidence.
Opponent Man of the Match – Not sure many impressed for either side but Dembele had a few decent moments and it was a good contest with McCallum. Field was neat and tidy but the lad Burrell had their best chances and looked quick and bright – two powerful shots at Cooper. The keeper also made two big saves so either of those two. Dunne was ok (and got one off the line from McCallum and a block on Campbell but also a miskick and sliced another out) but not sure he was the big answer some thought (people get obsessed with signings Wilder wanted but him and Darling have ben heavily criticised by their teams supporters this season and even McBurnie is injured again despite a good start -he would have been a good re-signing to be fair).
Opponent Weak link – Two of their key men you would think before the game would be Chair and Kone but barely noticed either. Chair is still the subject of some issues off the field but looked a long way from the tricky player I recall. Kone has scored a few goals but was not really a threat today.
Referee / Officials – A relatively easy game for Lewis Smith to referee. Mbengue and Varane both got booked for fouls where he played a good advantage – then went back and carded them. He was good actually and let things flow and was not fussy. Not sure there were many bad fouls at all in the game and we did not get a booking – a rarity! He did penalise their keeper for new time-wasting rule – not releasing within 8 seconds – which I did not really think it was overly excessive at the time but first time we have seen that and it went for us! The assistants also gave an obvious foul throw but missed an even bigger offence soon after!
Crowd – Quiet-ish really. The R’s fans mocked the flat atmosphere but with us struggling and not really an opponent we have a rivalry with or local – it was never going to be a raucous crowd. They brought more than I thought actually – 1,500+ and kept behind them but it was not a game to stimulate much excitement. The home fans tried to rally the team but there was little to get anyone off their feet. The end saw more applause than frustration which Wilder acknowledged.
. So I'd give him an 8.5. Was running on empty, after doing so much. Especially taking the corners from the other side and then having to leg it back to his position. 
