Winning ugly

[UnitedBlade]

He was due to come on but felt as though he’d tweaked a back muscle so didn’t according to Wilder.

That makes sense, he looked really uncomfortable during the kick about at half time. I thought there was something up, hope it’s just a niggle.

 

[GrayBlade]

We’ve done tonight what other teams seems to do, (often when playing us), so let’s just grab the 3 points, stop over analysing and move on. UTB.

 

[WalkelyFan]

We dominated for an hour then fell apart a bit after gifting them a goal by not closing their player down. Taking Duffy off was strange unless he was injured - and similarly not bringing Brooks on was odd unless he wasn’t fully fit.

As always, winning is the most important thing so happy enough. And the pigs lost.

In answer to the subs etc. I felt the same as you but Wilder got it right.

 

[Jon Slinn]

safe from relegation after that result .

Can start breathing a lot easier now then. Can start pushing for the playoffs now then.

 

[bornablade]

There are 42 points up for grabs between now and the end of the season.

This is the business end of the season and I'll take a 2-1 'winning ugly' result every time.

This a balancing out of the results away at Middlesbro', Derby, Forest, and home results against Bristol, Norwich and Villa.

Let's see where it takes us.

 

[LenTednTony]

Stearman MOM for me.

I thought we controlled a very tenacious QPR well, they really pressed high and apart from a spell in each half we handled it well. Something we couldn’t do at their place so that shows improvement to me,

I thought the game management for the last 10 minutes after Leonard and lafferty came on was excellent, another thing we’ve got better at.

Their goal was a brilliant individual goal, got to hold your hands up sometimes.

My only complaint is we didn’t have an outlet to exploit how high they we up the pitch

To my mind, we didn’t have an outlet because we were defending too deep. They ran at us and so we allowed them to and gave up the middle of the park. It’s easy to say and not easy to do but we could have moved them back by putting in a couple of breaks to make them think twice. Our midfield got pushed back and it was a good move to bring on Leonard and Laffs although I didn’t think so initially. I also didn’t think we needed to time waste in the corners. We still had sufficient to push for a third imho.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

To my mind, we didn’t have an outlet because we were defending too deep. They ran at us and so we allowed them to and gave up the middle of the park. It’s easy to say and not easy to do but we could have moved them back by putting in a couple of breaks to make them think twice. Our midfield got pushed back and it was a good move to bring on Leonard and Laffs although I didn’t think so initially. I also didn’t think we needed to time waste in the corners. We still had sufficient to push for a third imho.

Agree fully with the first bit. Not sure about the playing into the corners, I mean I’m not a fan but if it works it works.

 

[Boxer Blade]

In the second half if we had played any deeper our midfield would have been in defence and our defence would have been with the QPR fans, would have minded less if we had been playing wolves or villa but QPR were crap, we were hanging on against a team we were looking at beating 4-0. Ok a wins a win but I came away disappointed and Donaldson? He offered very little, beat himself in front of goal twice and the moment the ball got cleared out of defence to him he turned unopposed and volleyed it out for a throw in the south stand,poor for me, we dont look anything like the team from a few weeks ago, what happened to our defender's bombing forward? Some of the passing reminded me of life under adkins, and we are starting to play too many longs balls, come back coutts and fleck we need you, Evans looks good mind.

 

[FleaPitBlade]

Wasn't ugly. We didn't build up any spells of sustained pressure like we have tended to do but I credit that to QPR who I thought were better than their league position suggests.

It was one of those that, come the end of the season, you'll have totally forgotten but is just as important as any of the other barnstormers we've been involved in. I'll take another 14 of those.

 

[sheffielder]

It got too easy. On 60 minutes I think like the fans the players thought we were going to coast it. We nearly paid for a costly lesson.

 

[Roygbiv]

Think some are being way too harsh. Whilst we weren't perfect for the first 60 minutes we created lots of chances and I felt we were quite entertaining. The last 30 was blind panic but I certainly don't think we deserved to lose or anything. QPR are a good side and gave Wolves a scare at their place a few weeks back. Some are acting like we got outplayed by Bury at home!

 

[super_pig]

weird thing is that we've been destroying teams and losing.. QPR come and give us a game and we win. football eh?
momentum and pashun are back!

 

[FlamingLip]

Woke up today and had to give myself a reality check, as I left the ground a bit disappointed with it not being the walk in the park it appeared. First half showed glimpses of early season form but as everyone has commented on, we let them in, struggled to compete and needed some resolute defending combined with time wasting.

But... it's football. Last night was a huge win considering the run of results it potentially starts. We were missing a key midfielder, still have new lads getting comfortable and Duffy wasn't firing on many cylinders which typically means 80% of craftsmanship disappears. Despite that, we coped, ground it out and every cliché tells you it's needed now and again.

So a great win all considered. A few around including myself were a bit Verruca Salt last night and it was unfair. UTB

 

[Liverpool blade]

I wasn't able to make the game last night. At this stage of the season it's not about playing teams off the park every week. Sometimes you just need to manage the game to get the win and clearly that's what wilder did. I really didn't think at the start of the season that we'd be sitting in 7th place and challenging for a playoff spot but i shouldn't be surprised as we've got the best manager at the helm since the Bassett era. IMHO. Oh and we're 15 points above the south Barnsley massive. Happy days indeed. UTB

 

[Sheffsteel]

I wasn't able to make the game last night. At this stage of the season it's not about playing teams off the park every week. Sometimes you just need to manage the game to get the win and clearly that's what wilder did. I really didn't think at the start of the season that we'd be sitting in 7th place and challenging for a playoff spot but i shouldn't be surprised as we've got the best manager at the helm since the Bassett era. IMHO. Oh and we're 15 points above the south Barnsley massive. Happy days indeed. UTB

Strange game.
We played pretty well and was deservedly 2-0 up and looking like making it 3-0, it was pretty comfortable.
Then QPR score a goal out of the blue and then the match totally changed.

We started to sit back and try to hold on to the 2-1 and QPR were really positive pushing forward.
Would have liked to see us retain more possession and try to take the game away from QPR.
In the end we battled and defended well showing great character.

QPR probably thought they deserved a draw, so it was good to win a close game.
Recently we’ve played better (as in more positive and expansive), we’ve been positive and lost.
Last night Wilder had a change of attitude and seemed to park the bus in the last 20 minutes and it worked.

 

[ljk]

I was quite enthused about the way we killed the game, after realising that QPR were in quite a steep ascendency. Blackman's timewasting completely diluted their momentum and when they did have a dangerous break on, Evans took a tactical yellow. In a couple of games - Villa in particular - I thought we were a tad naive in that respect, but tonight (and against Norwich) we showed a clear sign of progression in the way we closed the game out.

On the strength of how well we played for 60 mins, and then how we strangled the game in the last 20, I thought we were deserved winners.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

We should have been 4 or 5 up before they scored against the run of play. We were cruising and in hindsight I think Evans should have taken a yellow for their goal. We never make it easy do we ? Leonard looked decent when he came on and the ref was a tit for not giving us the free kick when he was looking to pull the trigger after that run late on. I can only assume Donaldson injured himself shortly after coming on as he looked lame for his 20 minute cameo. Good to see Leon back to his best tonight.

Agreed, and that is my worry. We make things difficult for ourselves and don't close games down. We should've been out of sight by the time they scored, even out of sight by halftime. How many times have we spent the last 15mins of games at BDTBL, stopping the away side getting something? QPR, Leeds, Villa, Wednesday & Bristol to varying degrees of success.

 

[Grappler]

Agreed, and that is my worry. We make things difficult for ourselves and don't close games down. We should've been out of sight by the time they scored, even out of sight by halftime. How many times have we spent the last 15mins of games at BDTBL, stopping the away side getting something? QPR, Leeds, Villa, Wednesday & Bristol to varying degrees of success.

This is one thing that baffles me (ok, lots of things baffle me, but you get my drift), when we got the ball, QPR (and lots of other teams this season) closed us down quickly, got in our faces. When QPR (or most other teams) attack with intent, too many of our players track back, facing the player, as if some invisible force field is keeping them 8 feet away from him.

This usually ends with players right down on our box, with their team mates rushing in, and us fans biting our nails.

At the start of the season, we were really good at "pressing", and it helped us win the ball back, attack, counter attack, score goals and win games.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't understand why our lads are not getting stuck in more often.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

This is one thing that baffles me (ok, lots of things baffle me, but you get my drift), when we got the ball, QPR (and lots of other teams this season) closed us down quickly, got in our faces. When QPR (or most other teams) attack with intent, too many of our players track back, facing the player, as if some invisible force field is keeping them 8 feet away from him.

This usually ends with players right down on our box, with their team mates rushing in, and us fans biting our nails.

At the start of the season, we were really good at "pressing", and it helped us win the ball back, attack, counter attack, score goals and win games.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't understand why our lads are not getting stuck in more often.

I think it's a reaction to Fulham in some respect. We got spread out that game, attacked at pace and got picked off. I think now, there is a conscious tactical decision when we lose the ball, not to go chasing it and create gaps in between the lines, but to quickly get back into the 3 banks, stay compact and defend the 18yrd line. Saying to the opposition to do something special to beat us. Reach nearly did, Snodgrass did. The trouble is that becasue we've not got a pacey outlet, the deeper our midfield drop the deeper the forwards drop to receive it and we're still under pressure. Where as you'd want a forward taking the ball 5 to 10 yrds in their half facing their goal, ours take it 5 to 10 yrds inside ours facing ours. If they lose it, we're back under the cosh. It's nerve wracking.

 

[bornablade]

This is one thing that baffles me (ok, lots of things baffle me, but you get my drift), when we got the ball, QPR (and lots of other teams this season) closed us down quickly, got in our faces. When QPR (or most other teams) attack with intent, too many of our players track back, facing the player, as if some invisible force field is keeping them 8 feet away from him.

This usually ends with players right down on our box, with their team mates rushing in, and us fans biting our nails.

At the start of the season, we were really good at "pressing", and it helped us win the ball back, attack, counter attack, score goals and win games.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't understand why our lads are not getting stuck in more often.

It's a good point. Even last season as soon as we lost possession we were chasing, harrying to get it back. Most games ended up like defence & attack.

I think Fleck is so influential in the middle of the park. He leads by example. If he starts on Friday who makes way?

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

QPR were fairly skilled in the use of the dark arts last night. They were clipping, nudging, bumping, pulling, pushing & tugging and got away with it. They knew what to do to break a move down and not concede a foul. Their midfield would've happily took a yellow on half way for their goal.

 

[BanbridgeBlade]

There’s more than 1 way to win a football match.

Wigan had about 18% possession against Man City with about 3 shots on target but won 1-0.

This season we’ve played teams off the park & won, played teams off the park & lost. Now we’ve lost “ugly games” & won “ugly games”

At this time of the season I believe it’s all about getting 3 points.

 

[Pinchy]

Thought Sharp was unlucky to come off, had another decent game, and didn’t look too impressed when he got took off

Tufty doesn’t make his decisions in order to impress players. Quite right too.

 

[Pinchy]

Think some are being way too harsh. Whilst we weren't perfect for the first 60 minutes we created lots of chances and I felt we were quite entertaining. The last 30 was blind panic but I certainly don't think we deserved to lose or anything. QPR are a good side and gave Wolves a scare at their place a few weeks back. Some are acting like we got outplayed by Bury at home!

They always do. It’s the Bladesfans’ Way.

 

[Pinchy]

Good substitutions, which hasn't always been Wilder's strongest suit.

Sorry, I can’t agree with that at all. Tufty’s use of substitutes, together with his ability to change tactics and formations very effectively at short notice, is very much one of his strong points. He’s one of the best I’ve seen.

It’s one of football fans’ many myths that substitutes invariably change games for the better; they usually have little or no effect and can make things worse just as easily as better.

 

[FinchleyBlade]

Woke up today and had to give myself a reality check, as I left the ground a bit disappointed with it not being the walk in the park it appeared. First half showed glimpses of early season form but as everyone has commented on, we let them in, struggled to compete and needed some resolute defending combined with time wasting.

But... it's football. Last night was a huge win considering the run of results it potentially starts. We were missing a key midfielder, still have new lads getting comfortable and Duffy wasn't firing on many cylinders which typically means 80% of craftsmanship disappears. Despite that, we coped, ground it out and every cliché tells you it's needed now and again.

So a great win all considered. A few around including myself were a bit Verruca Salt last night and it was unfair. UTB

We're 7th in the league and all around me I hear groans and moans if we keep the ball for 'too long' or a player makes a mistake.

We do seem to have an incredibly entitled and impatient fanbase. I don't know what more some people want.

 

[FlamingLip]

We're 7th in the league and all around me I hear groans and moans if we keep the ball for 'too long' or a player makes a mistake.

We do seem to have an incredibly entitled and impatient fanbase. I don't know what more some people want.

agreed. i think a few like me will be looking back now with more gratitude. was a great win and buzzing for friday.