Moore 6.5/10 – Tin hat time: I felt he was a bit slow on the goal. A great strike but it did not go in the corner and did not move his feet. He may not have got it but he got nowhere near it. May get called for that but Blackman has been panned for goals like that going in also. I have watched back and now realise it was a very good shot but as I say Blackman has been dropped for letting in a lot of goals like that. He made a couple of decent kicks that set us on the attack but he also made some dreadful ones kicking two out and a few to no one. He came and missed a cross near the end but made a great reaction save at 1-1. Took a few crosses but did not look totally convincing. Today with the goals going in again shows it is not really the keeper. Think Blackman is unlucky to lose his place.
Baldock 7/10 – Nice to have him back. A few rusty moments but he at least gave us more of a threat down the right hand side. He did not always keep the ball as well as he can and a few times got stretched when it went to 10 men but he gives us something different down that side.
Stevens 6/10 – Think he has had a real dip recently. Did not get forward as much as he has done but when he did he put a few ok crosses in today. However, defensively he was rash on the goal and that cost us, mistiming his tackle completely and then on the winner switched off (him and O’Connell) and was too busy looking for offside. Just become a bit sloppy with his marking and basic defending and needs to sharpen up.
O’Connell 6.5/10 – I think he also has had a dip. Did some good things on the ball and got forward when he could to support but on the first goal he just let him step inside him and barely put a tackle in. Second half he was fine defensively but he too was ball watching on the winner. They had a few at the back post unmarked. We need to cut out the goals we are conceding and at the moment the opponents are scoring too easily.
Basham 7/10 – Another game performance where he ran and ran. Defensively fine and was able to do the basics. On the goal could he have got out to Paterson? I felt O’Connell was more at fault as let him come inside. Got forward a lot and made some surging runs. Often quality is lacking when he gets into the final third and seems to be a bit headless chicken. He does really well and then seems to not know what to do. He ended up in midfield but then was taken off which was odd for me as we needed him on to help keep our shape and cover in front of back four.
Stearman 6.5/10 – He did ok for spells of the game and stepped out of defence when he could and actually defensively for most of the game he was decent but he made a few mistakes. Nearly cost us when he gave it away on the chance when Moore made the save and then on the goal he was the one ball watching and did not either go with his man or step out; playing them onside. So as ok as he did, was guilty of some errors. On the ball was fine apart from that one giveaway and even got forward a bit with a few runs and crosses and one shot.
Lundstram 7/10 – He did ok without anything massively influential. He gave it away a few times early on but got better and made some nice interceptions and even ran forward with the ball too. He was getting stronger as we took control but then the Fleck sending off changed way he played and he had to sit more. He is improving and getting fitter but needs to be more careful with the ball and at times for a big lad gets beat a bit easy in 50/50. Still showed some neat touches and passes; short and long and encouraging performance.
Fleck 3/10 – First half he was ok with some decent balls and interceptions but maybe not as influential as he has been but he was alright. Second half he snapped at tackles and helped us turn them round a few times but then a ridiculous tackle saw him rightly sent off. Fortunate not to seriously hurt Smith the lad with a high and wild lunge with boot feet. Moronic and cost us the game. Been great for United but Wilder will be fuming with him. With Coutts out has to show better discipline. No need as it was middle of the field and they were going nowhere. We had complete control of the game. Now out until after Xmas and we have two big holes in midfield.
Duffy 8/10 – Our best player and main threat. Linked the defence and attack; got on the ball and looked the best midfielder on the field by a long way. Some lovely touches and runs; hit the post with two superb efforts and involved in everything good we did. Did give away a few balls that set them off on the attack but that will happen as he is always trying things. Needs to shoot more for me as the efforts proved. Lot of pressure on him with Coutts and now Fleck out.
Sharp 6.5/10 – He had one good shot that clipped top of the bar and then for me should have buried that close-range header. Took too long to react to the one Duffy hit the post with second half. He won a few fouls and held it up a few times but overall, I felt he was a bit slow and too slow to react to things. He lost it a few times as he was not strong enough. Surprised he did not come off for Brooks but was left on for a period. Not scoring at the moment and when he does not score; not sure what he brings really.
Clarke 7.5/10 – Thought he started the game slowly and at times he was second to the ball. Missed a few decent headed chances but then laid off for Sharp to hit post and also had a few other strong hold ups. He improved even more after the break; scoring a great strike and running the channels. Always looked a threat but needs some help. Felt he was ploughing a lone furrow.
Subs:
Brooks – He never got in the game at all. Barely touched the ball and got outmuscled a few times and then ran it out after good work from Basham. Seems to believing some of the hype as he needs to go back to basics and put a shift in and then ability will take over. He barely got his kit dirty tonight. Admittedly difficult as he saw little of the ball but has to do the other aspects of the game.
Donaldson – Odd move to bring him on. He chased a few long balls but he never really made much of an impact. Does not seem to have pace he once had Flint outran him twice when ball went over the top. We needed maximum effort when he came on with us having 10 but kind of jogged around.
Carruthers – His contribution in 4 minutes of normal time and then stoppage time was totally unacceptable for me. Sure, he had a few nice touches but he was totally ill-disciplined. He came on and took forever on the first touch and lost it and they nearly got in. He then lost it again soon after taking an age to do anything. Then he had a great chance when he ran down the line and took forever and the big slow centre back gave him 20 yards and still got back to make a challenge. He then took forever to close down Reid and wildly hacked him down as he cantered for the goal. After this he got on the ball but took forever to do anything even in stoppage time needing 5 or 6 touches and pirouettes. Seen enough of him now and one that needs moving on in January. He thinks he is far better than he is. He should be busting a good when he comes on but he was a liability yet again. A lower league player sadly and one we need to jettison.
Manager: Wilder 6/10 – I am going to criticise him a bit tonight. We played great and started the game well. We fought back and showed real grit and got to 1-1 and then look likely winner. Not his fault we lose Fleck. Not sure his changes helped us. The Donaldson and Carruthers moves were odd. Brooks also seemed a logical move but did nothing. I felt we lost our shape and became a bit ragged. The winning goal came as we had big gaps (not because of 10) down the right-hand side with Carruthers going missing yet again. Sometimes, we have to accept a point may not have been bad. Yes, admire he wants to go for a win but we have lost 8 games now and that is as many as some right down near the bottom. A point is not always a bad result and tonight we had a real go even at 10 but I think fans would have accepted just some solid play and nothing daft. It was a bit kamikaze and it was the same last week v Millwall. It may work in League One but on the break with teams at this level you get punished. We need to keep some organisation and shape and at times we have been a bit Championship Manager. We need to evolve the higher up and the better teams we play. This basketball type approach will only get us so far, I feel and we need to be able to play different ways at times too. I am sure I will get criticised for these comments but I am being honest. We have to be a bit cuter and more professional at times. His changes worked to a degree as Sharp nearly scored two and Baldock did well. Still question marks over whether Moore is better than Blackman though.
Officials – A lot will criticise the referee and Wilder slammed him but if you take a step away; he did not get many of the big things wrong. The red card was a red card all day long and a bad tackle. For both goals we scythed men down and he played two good advantages. You could argue we got our just desserts for two really poor tackles. The winner was also onside as our players got caught ball watching. What I will say is a lot of the niggly stuff he missed. The big lad who came on must have committed about 7 or 8 clear fouls and was so dirty. He was lucky to survive. They kicked Duffy numerous times too. He missed a few things such as the foot up not long before the winner and I just felt was a bit inconsistent. He gave a push off for Baldock near the end when a few minutes earlier Carruthers had taken a hand to the face. Incredibly inconsistent. He seemed to not know what was going on at times but again can you say he got the big things wrong? Wilder’s comments after the game were a bit over the top and came across a bit of a sore loser in terms of questioning referee. I think the result and way we lost was just a bit raw.
Crowd – Down on normal numbers with the weather, Sky and also being just before Xmas having an impact but Bristol City also brought lowest amount to the Lane of any team (400-450 tops which I am not sure we have taken such a low number anywhere for a long, long time, TV/Friday night or not) which was a surprise as they are doing so well. Crowd tried to lift us and you knew they realised we were unlucky to be behind. At 1-1 they sensed the win but the red card changed things.
Thought it was really poor booing the lad who was down. Imagine if Burton fans had done the same to Coutts? He was really hurt. Some near me saying he was milking it and faking it when he went off. Give it a rest.
Still despite this criticism, most of the fans kept behind the side and everything seemed to go against us tonight. Despite some blaming the ref etc, the sensible ones know it was just another one of those days. We have had a few recently and the luck has turned somewhat.
Fans have to keep the faith. To be in top 6 at this stage is superb despite the run but fear it could be a tricky time up to Xmas. We need to really hope the board properly back Wilder in January. I am not sure he can get much more out of what he has available and despite some criticism of how he went about things at the end; this approach has seen us do fantastically well. We need more quality now to add to the tremendous work ethic and some decent players we already have.
