Deadbat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
- Messages
- 6,196
- Reaction score
- 34,714
Sadly, work/family and late night means no report again last night- just been busy to find a spare hour to do it!
A quick summary is:
We were poor for large patches of the game. As with Wilder felt we never had control. Their midfield were quicker and sharper and they moved better off the ball. They controlled a lot of the game but oddly JRS had two good chances and so did Campbell - however, they missed the best chance with the great save from Cooper.
Not sure the changes worked again and I was disappointed with JRS, BBD and O'Hare. None are doing enough on or off the ball (O'Hare's pressing been nowhere near last few games which was his main strength). Peck had a poor game but Choudhury did ok despite a lot of criticism - he was functional enough.
The defence was ok and Holding impressed but Robinson still makes basic mistakes (see the goal). Overall, I never felt we were going to win the game but of course we score a good goal and the changes helped. I wanted us to go on and get a second but it never really happened and we sat further and further back. Bristol had us penned in from around 70 mins and had numerous half chances or balls into the box. A few shots blocked and a few just wide. Cooper made a mistake and was lucky to get away with it.
The clock ticked up to 90 but we could not get out and did not keep the ball or try and attack - we had one or two on the break but made poor choices - but overall just trying to hang on. In the end we got what we deserved and they scored a well made and taken goal. 1-1 was the least they deserved and again we looked a long way off a promotion side. We simply have not been able to put teams away (even Burnley have done that a few times recently) and if every game is us looking to just nick a tight game - it will come back to haunt us eventually. Bristol City were the better side for long periods of the game and looked hungrier and more composed.
They moved it around well and caused us problems. The final third though I felt we had more quality and still created just as much - which made it even more bewildering why we did not try and attack more and get the defence up and up the field.
I did not think any of the pens were penalties at the end - they were all a bit desperate. Burrows goes down too easily, the handball is never a penalty as just hits him and the other seemed just coming togethers. They had appeals similiar (trip first half and Hamer handball). Think ref got them all right and we kind of lost our cool. Just wish we had showed that level of intensity before conceding and trying to show that urgency when it mattered. Overall, 2 points lost but not in the sense we deserved to win but to throw it away so late is a big moment - especially when Leeds x 2 and Burnley play before we do next. I do think we may be down to third by the Derby and the pressure is back on us.
At the moment I am not convinced we are doing enough performance wise to take it over the line - automatically - we still look disjointed and still there are too many injuries/changes weekly meaning we have no momentum or clear plan. However, the defensive approach is not helping particularly good to watch and ultimately will see us dropping points.
I won't be at Hillsbrough and may go into the Peak District (cowardly I know) and just look at the result - and watch back and report if we win. I find them very stressful to watch and deal with - don't know why so may just cut myself off for a few hours!
Ratings
Cooper 6.5/10 - One amazing save but then also dropped one that nearly led to a goal.
Seriki 6/10 - Ok with some decent runs and exchanges with JRS. One switch off at the back but he was fine.
Burrows 6/10 - As above - few good runs and a shot saved. Maybe tried to con ref a bit at the end.
Holding 7/10 - Our best defender - he read the game well and used it well too. No nonsense. Impressive. Shame he could not last 90 mins
Robinson 5.5/10 - Ok for long spells but then started to snatch at clearances and on the goal he loses his man. Then gets involved on a stupid wrestling match and nearly got sent off.
Peck 5/10 - Off it and his energy levels down and his passing poor.
Choudhury 5.5/10 - I might be in minority but thought he was ok - did what he had to
BBD 4/10 - Few decent touches but often came off him and he is languid and slow to do things. His passing was poor
O' Hare 4/10 - Not pressing as much and offered little with the ball
JRS 5/10 - No defensive help and missed two chances but at least got in and was a threat - more than the other two above
Campbell 7.5/10 - Excellent - got in behind. Scored a really good goal and our threat diminshed when he went off
Subs
Hamer 6/10 - Some good threaded balls
Moore 5/10 - Looked lively but greedy on the chance
Brewster 6/10 - Thought he was ok and did set up the goal
Ahmedhodzic - Nothing major - good or bad but was deep with the rest
McCallum - Did not notice him much
A quick summary is:
We were poor for large patches of the game. As with Wilder felt we never had control. Their midfield were quicker and sharper and they moved better off the ball. They controlled a lot of the game but oddly JRS had two good chances and so did Campbell - however, they missed the best chance with the great save from Cooper.
Not sure the changes worked again and I was disappointed with JRS, BBD and O'Hare. None are doing enough on or off the ball (O'Hare's pressing been nowhere near last few games which was his main strength). Peck had a poor game but Choudhury did ok despite a lot of criticism - he was functional enough.
The defence was ok and Holding impressed but Robinson still makes basic mistakes (see the goal). Overall, I never felt we were going to win the game but of course we score a good goal and the changes helped. I wanted us to go on and get a second but it never really happened and we sat further and further back. Bristol had us penned in from around 70 mins and had numerous half chances or balls into the box. A few shots blocked and a few just wide. Cooper made a mistake and was lucky to get away with it.
The clock ticked up to 90 but we could not get out and did not keep the ball or try and attack - we had one or two on the break but made poor choices - but overall just trying to hang on. In the end we got what we deserved and they scored a well made and taken goal. 1-1 was the least they deserved and again we looked a long way off a promotion side. We simply have not been able to put teams away (even Burnley have done that a few times recently) and if every game is us looking to just nick a tight game - it will come back to haunt us eventually. Bristol City were the better side for long periods of the game and looked hungrier and more composed.
They moved it around well and caused us problems. The final third though I felt we had more quality and still created just as much - which made it even more bewildering why we did not try and attack more and get the defence up and up the field.
I did not think any of the pens were penalties at the end - they were all a bit desperate. Burrows goes down too easily, the handball is never a penalty as just hits him and the other seemed just coming togethers. They had appeals similiar (trip first half and Hamer handball). Think ref got them all right and we kind of lost our cool. Just wish we had showed that level of intensity before conceding and trying to show that urgency when it mattered. Overall, 2 points lost but not in the sense we deserved to win but to throw it away so late is a big moment - especially when Leeds x 2 and Burnley play before we do next. I do think we may be down to third by the Derby and the pressure is back on us.
At the moment I am not convinced we are doing enough performance wise to take it over the line - automatically - we still look disjointed and still there are too many injuries/changes weekly meaning we have no momentum or clear plan. However, the defensive approach is not helping particularly good to watch and ultimately will see us dropping points.
I won't be at Hillsbrough and may go into the Peak District (cowardly I know) and just look at the result - and watch back and report if we win. I find them very stressful to watch and deal with - don't know why so may just cut myself off for a few hours!
Ratings
Cooper 6.5/10 - One amazing save but then also dropped one that nearly led to a goal.
Seriki 6/10 - Ok with some decent runs and exchanges with JRS. One switch off at the back but he was fine.
Burrows 6/10 - As above - few good runs and a shot saved. Maybe tried to con ref a bit at the end.
Holding 7/10 - Our best defender - he read the game well and used it well too. No nonsense. Impressive. Shame he could not last 90 mins
Robinson 5.5/10 - Ok for long spells but then started to snatch at clearances and on the goal he loses his man. Then gets involved on a stupid wrestling match and nearly got sent off.
Peck 5/10 - Off it and his energy levels down and his passing poor.
Choudhury 5.5/10 - I might be in minority but thought he was ok - did what he had to
BBD 4/10 - Few decent touches but often came off him and he is languid and slow to do things. His passing was poor
O' Hare 4/10 - Not pressing as much and offered little with the ball
JRS 5/10 - No defensive help and missed two chances but at least got in and was a threat - more than the other two above
Campbell 7.5/10 - Excellent - got in behind. Scored a really good goal and our threat diminshed when he went off
Subs
Hamer 6/10 - Some good threaded balls
Moore 5/10 - Looked lively but greedy on the chance
Brewster 6/10 - Thought he was ok and did set up the goal
Ahmedhodzic - Nothing major - good or bad but was deep with the rest
McCallum - Did not notice him much
