Ratings:
Cooper 4/10 – I feel harsh rating him so low but that is the life of a goalkeeper I suppose. He did ok in the first half and dealt with what he had to but did not have any saves to make? Second half he has to do better with the shot. It is so weak and just goes in too easily. We have seen this all season. Then a header goes in (not sure he had much chance) but two attempts on goal and two goals. He did make a decent low save low down. I have heard some people say that if we swapped keepers that we would have won? I am not sure, but I know that Cooper is making too many mistakes and goals are going in too easily. He needs some proper competition.
Seriki 4/10 - First half played well and was well advance in terms of getting forward and linking well with Brooks. He was driving forward and looking an attacking threat. He then had the moment for the penalty – I thought he went down too easily and it was a bit soft but there was contact. You kind of have a higher threshold for penalties (whether that is right is another debate). He was more like a 6.5-7/10 though first half but then 2nd half, we saw a huge drop off. There have been questions of him in terms of his defensive work but I have not seen that this season? Last night we saw these issues though. He really struggled with the pace and his positional sense was all over the place – going too high or coming inside. Mason Clark beat him a few times. The first goal he has to show him outside. Even the second he lost the ball and then should have stopped the quick throw – as was out of position.
Burrows 7/10 – Continued his improvements and the best of the back line. Got forward well throughout and had a few decent crosses and shots even first half. Linked well and was advanced throughout. He did have a few issues with the high ball as a smaller player beat him a few times or they isolated Wright on him. At times he can be a bit weak at physical 50/50’s. Got forward though and scored a well taken goal – second in two games. Most of their attacks came down the left-hand side.
Bindon 4.5/10 – He has improved but when he plays strong and mobile strikers, he struggles generally. He gets beaten physically too easily and gets outmuscled. He was shrugged off it a few times but Wright is a good player so no shame in that. Kept fighting and trying but just does not have that physicality despite him being a decent size. I am not sure you can teach that? Maybe he fills out a bit and gets stronger? He made a few panicky passes too and started to struggle but I felt he stuck at it at least. The second goal he and Tanganga do not take responsibility –they had no one else to mark so have to react. I thought they had two better centre halves in terms of winning balls/blocking shots. We lack an authority and commanding figure at the back still and conceded soft goals as a result.
Tanganga 4/10 – A poor night where he struggled and seemed more bothered about grappling and grabbing than winning the ball or sticking to his task. He got a stupid early booking and then had other tussles at corners – he never just goes for the ball? Defensively he looked ropey and uncertain throughout. I thought both goals he can do better – to get out and block the shot – even if issues occurred before it and after (Cooper) and the second despite the deflection he needs to react better for me. He is smaller than I thought and means he can lose headers and he does not read the game great. He has been an ok signing, but I expected better and not sure he was worth the supposedly large fee/wages. He only has 2 years after this so maybe that shorter contract was with good reason? Maybe he does better next to a dominating centre half, but the issues above remain.
Peck 7.5/10 – Thought he was our best player on the night. He covered a lot of ground and used the ball well. Some great passes through (to Bamford and Brooks) and looked composed and a class act. Thought we controlled midfield first half totally. After they got back in it, it became a struggle and they packed the backline making it hard to pass through. I thought the players in front could have done better tonight and only when Campbell came on did we look a threat again with balls to be played behind. Peck has had two very good games this week though and it’s a case of him and one other.
Soumare 6.5/10 – Do you know what, I thought he did well for long stretches. Sure, he gave it away with a few bizarre passes straight to them but he also played a lot of good balls and always looked to go forward. Got across the field and moved around. He showed his athleticism and made a number of interceptions. He is a bit like Revells (the chocolates!) you never know what you are going to get but there is something there despite my criticism of him this season (others been even harsher – see Danny Hall!) but he did well today. Tired after the break a bit and the first goal there was a big chasm in midfield where both him and Peck (or one of them) should be. Wonder how much he will play now Riedewald and Rothwell are back (Phillips too in a few games) and do not see us signing him – so wonder if he will be used an impact/energy sub like we saw on Sunday.
O’Hare 5/10 - Thought he flattered to deceive again. We saw bits and pieces where he got on it but telegraphed too many passes and things did not come off at all. He kept working and trying to link but other than the flicked header, no real moments where he assisted or had an effort on goal. Seemed to just wander around without achieving much and for all the ball we had, we created little clear-cut things. I do like him as a player but he can be a bit hot and cold in terms of productivity.
Hamer 5/10 – The assist for the goal notwithstanding, the rest of his performance was extremely disappointing. He saw a lot of the ball but wasted a lot too with aimless passing or trying to be too clever. He had a few decent long-range shots not far wide but was too predictable at times as he looked to come inside. He also played some awful balls straight to them under no pressure. Some silly fouls too when they broke. I do think he rarely plays well when we play the better teams and is a bit of a flat (fat – no, that is harsh!) track bully. Clearly loads of talent and our best player still and 10 assists is impressive. Always think he can do something special, but he has had as many games like last night as good ones and rarely does he get games by the scruff of the neck. Do wonder what will happen in the summer – we will look to move on with him only having a year left of his contract you would think but not sure we get a great deal or who takes him (he is not up to the Premier League sadly for him) and may have to go back to Holland. I enjoy watching him play but think with his ability he can affect games much more.
Brooks 7.5/10 – Impressive performance where he showed his full range of skills – dribbling, driving at players and commanding attention of two and sometimes three men. He was a constant threat and carried the ball a lot. His close control and way he manipulates the ball is a joy to watch. The only negative and is a big one if he wants to play top level, is we do not see enough end product. A few blocked shots and he overplayed at times too. He had one effort saved but then took too many touches after a good run and one two with Peck. Had become much more consistent though. Bad booking and then sort of hobbled off (cramp) but again a positive step in him being a regular (which he absolutely should be).
Bamford 5/10 – I think that was one of his poorer performances even though he held it up well at times and found some decent bits of link play. We have to play it into feet, and he is great at that but means we have to play perfect football and have no option of anything behind (like Cov did). He missed an excellent chance where he made the opening with that cut back, he does but a weak effort (similar to misses at Southampton and Charlton). He has scored a few few but missed some big chances too. Thought he was not as involved 2nd half and when we went two up top not sure he linked that well with Campbell either.
Subs -
Campbell 6/10 – Thought he did quite well and the last few games seen more of the old Campbell in terms of running behind and offering a threat. He looked a bit more up for it and we did have a threat at least. The penalty I think is 50-50 – I thought it was a dive but watching it back then you can see there may have been a nick. He sort of overrun it which may be made ref make his mind up but one that we could have got?
Riedewald 6/10 - Steady enough and improved us have some control at least but they had packed the defence and we were moving it slowly. Ironically Soumare if he had kept energy levels, may have been able to drive and carry it but was tired. We had most of the ball the closing stages and he is good at that but will not really create much but good to have him back and expect him to start at QPR.
Hoever – He did alright again and was well forward and few pieces of link play and crosses that were not anticipated. He had a poor start to his United career but done alright in limited minutes the last few.
Chong – As above – he was lively and at least helped us get down the right-hand side. Not sure I see much of a role for him moving forward though?
Manager: Wilder 6/10 – The performance was decent to good and agreed with everything he said post-match lamenting the goals and us being a ‘nearly’ team. He picked the right team and changes he made were fine as he tried to find something. The goals are down to naivety and individual mistakes and are frustrating him but acknowledged that is down to the inexperience also of the side. I have agreed with much of what he has said after games – he had given some bizarre post-match interview previously. I think he knows we are a decent side but not ruthless and interesting he made the comment about us winning that game last year- albeit we were more pragmatic. Somehow his job with less resources is to marry the two for next season. I am concerned that under him we have a penchant for losing big games (to the better sides – lost 4 on the spin to the top two in 2 seasons now) and we are decent in many of the games but do not punish teams. He will know the season is sort of done now and maybe hard to keep pushing them in a few weeks when it becomes clear that we having nothing to play for. We do play a lot of middling sides who I think we are better than so should chalk up some wins.
Coventry – I did think they would be top 6 start of the season but surprised me how well they have done – they started tremendously and despite some recent dips, had plenty of margin for a few poor results – due to the start. I also maybe did not anticipate Southampton, Leicester, us, West Brom and a few others being nowhere near. Ipswich also I would have had higher than Coventry. I thought playoffs for definite but unless something goes dramatically wrong, they will probably go up automatically. Fair play to Lampard. He has had a fair bit of stick over the years but actually did well at Derby, albeit with some great loan talents and has done well at Coventry. He has not been too picky about his clubs and gone back down to the EFL so have to praise him for that. They have sold well and bought well and their recruitment has seen them improve year on year – to get to the point where they have options all over the side and along with Ipswich, the deepest squad in the Championship. They have a mixture of youth, experience but more importantly lots of powerful forward options and rotate these well. Many of the bench would get in every other Championship team.
If they get over the line, will be interesting to see how they recruit but they have some raw talent and offensive players who I think can do ok – I look at Leeds/Sunderland and see them closer to them than Burnley. They have steadily built the crowds up from a team in crisis playing at Northampton not long ago.
They were quite direct tonight and for long stretches it was as a struggle as we pinned them back. They played on the break, but Wright was a threat as was Rudoni playing off him, but we played all the football and looked in control. With better final balls and finishing, they could have been a few behind but will say they defended well and the keeper did not have much to do. I thought a better and more clinical side would have punished them, but they stayed in it. They responded well with two goals after conceding but it was not like constant pressure. They just found two big moments. After this they managed it very well – with stoppages/keeper feigning injury (we did it a lot last season to be fair) and limited us to nothing clear cut. They managed the win. Over the course of the game, they were second best I would say but found the big moments and defended well – so a classic away win and why they will go up. I do think Boro looked a more polished side and technically better but it matters little if you win and get promoted. They need a lot of work if they do go up but do have pace and power in the forward areas that will cause issues, even at the higher level.
Opponent Man of the Match – Wright was a constant threat and scored – involved in all of their best attacks. He was the standout, but Rudoni scored and nearly had another. He was a good signing and is getting back to full fitness. I thought the keeper looked commanding and the centre backs were good –even though one Latibeaudiere is quite small but they both blocked lots of shots and Thomas showed why we were interested in him – probably just what we need.
Opponent Weak link – Dasilva struggled with Brooks at times but showed some neat skills and footwork too. I was disappointed in Grimes and though Peck outplayed him but Onyeka did what he had to – shieled the defence – particularly second half.
Referee / Officials – John Busby. Thought he was extremely poor. He as inconsistent and seemed to get advantages wrong constantly. Also seemed to be in the way a lot. The big calls I felt were trickier despite some saying definite no or yes to penalties. Everyone will have opinions so I might be way off but my feeling was the first would have been soft – there is a pull but not enough for him to hit the deck like that. I was ok with this one not being given (discussed above). The second I though looked ‘divey’ and we have started to do this which is not good but watched it back and I think there is contact. I could see VAR possibly overturning that in the topflight. I think for a home team you think you may get one of those, but he gave us nothing all night. Some odd decisions not helped by an assistant on the South Stand side that seemed to not know the offside rule (player not interfering flagged off). Just thought Busby did not give us much and that he never had a real control of the game.
Crowd – Expected a better atmosphere and I was a bit disappointed with the home fans. Started noisy but then when we went behind was really quiet and went flat. Crowd also lower than I thought (think it was less than 27+ with lots of empty seats – more than 4k missing). Coventry fans were loud and got behind their team – which you expect at the top of the league. Always support them well. Nice to see the owners there and Rosen was honest about the mistake with Wilder – but we always seem to lose when they attend!
clubs like ours aren't in this for the glory are we (having said that - you won the FA Cup in 87 and what a great day that was ) .
