Reply With QuotePreston – Like with us they of course have other priorities and will probably be more concerned games the forthcoming week. They showed this by the starting eleven but they did not really offer much at all. They were as poor as us. They had made changes of course but looked as disorganised and as sloppy as us both with and without the ball. They gave it away a lot and lacked any real penetration. At the back they were largely untroubled but we did not offer much. They probably would have settled for the draw and the replay even if it was an extra game but the goal came and they had little time to react. They had their first real chances on goal with Moore saving one down low that may have gone wide anyway and then a smart save that fortunately went straight down his throat near the end. Before this they barely had a shot or attempt – of course neither did us. Like us their own fans were probably seeing a number of fringe players not showing standards of the normal first teamers.
However, I think if I was an away fan I would have expected a bit better but it was an odd one as the goal came quite late meaning they had little time to move up the field and show a more attacking approach. They have done really well this season and like us have a good young manager (unlucky to lose his job at Norwich I felt) and have a squad of young hungry players on the whole and I do like how they recruit and add to it and have done some smart business in this window. Be tough for them to get in the playoffs but the fact they are on the fringe is testament to the squad and the management team. Even if they do finish just above half way that is still an excellent season when you compare the budget and playing squad to many other clubs.
Opposition Man of the Match: Not sure anyone stood out. The defence was better than the attack like for United but then Clarke kind of undid the good work with the challenge as controversial as it may have been. Browne and Welsh were competitive but they got little from Bodin and Moult up top. I actually felt Horgan was one of main threats but he went off. Rudd made a good save to deny Lafferty but had little to do himself. Hugill came on and showed some decent link up and had a half chance but also fouled a lot.
Opposition Weak link: Whilst no one stood out; no one was particularly awful. They were just all very average. I felt the young lad Early struggled a bit with Baldock’s galloping runs and often needed help that was not forthcoming. I have always like the lad Johnson and felt we had a chance to sign him a while ago before he went to Preston but he was poor today and lucky to stay on.
Moore 7.5/10 – Did really well today although did not have that much to do. First half barely had a touch but then after we scored he made a good punch to clear; tipped one wide (may have been going wide but he was not to know), slide tackled well as he rightly came out and then saved one straight at him. None were amazing pieces of keeping but all were solid and important. His kicking was a bit mixed today and often just punted it to no one.
Baldock 8/10 – Thought he was easily our man of the match. Got up and down the flank, showed great fitness and some tremendous athleticism. He put in 3 or 4 decent balls and was always an outlet. He never stopped and was either going inside or outside to prove that threat. Showed good footwork and drove at defenders. Was very good all game.
Lafferty 6.5/10 – Mixed really. He was ok defensively really and I cannot recall too many big errors but he was never really threatened. However, going forward he was a bit sloppy and I felt under hit passes or crosses and did not do enough when in their half. Did have a decent chance when he got in the box that was well saved. He may have think he should have scored.
Henighan 6/10 – He did ok with a few tackles and blocks but also got beat comprehensively for speed down the channel and others had to bail him out. A few times he played it simply and kept it fine but then others he just blasted it out. A big unit who puts himself about. Technically he looked a bit off what is required for our system and especially at Championship level and not sure he has the pace to be able to cover situations. Surprised he played him as he now cannot go out on loan (played for two clubs this season).
Stearman 7.5/10 – Like the last 4 or 5 games; thought he was our best centre back again. Made several good interceptions and read the game well. He headed it away, played it out when he could and was very sound in all aspects of his game. He is quicker and more mobile than you think. He twice got Wright and Henighan out of trouble after they got beat or lost it. He is played really well at the moment.
Wright 6.5/10 – Many been calling him to play and he got a start. He did ok and did the typical covering and interceptions and was solid enough overall. A few times he looked a bit rusty and I felt he nearly got caught out once or twice. Steady-ish but when they turned it round the back I felt him and Henighan looked a bit susceptible. We ended up quite deep at the end. At the moment Stearman and O’Connell have been playing well and Basham also has played ok at the back so you do not see any changes in this area.
Fleck 6.5/10 – Surprised he played today as felt he would be rested with big games coming up. Not his best game. He showed a few flashes of his skill and running with the ball but he also was a bit sloppy at times too. Felt he was guilty as with others of taking too long to move it on. He got caught with a bad tackle and lucky to evade injury. He at least evaded a booking which would have got him a 2-game ban.
Lundstram 6/10 -Thought it was another very average performance from him today. He should be looking to dictate games like that and get on the ball and pass or drive forward but too often he lost it or was ponderous in moving it on. He played one great reverse ball early on but then straight after gave it away three times in succession. The number of times he had his hand up to signal his error I lost count. He played a few decent balls second half but he is wildly inconsistent both in games and in a series of games. He is very easy to read what he is and lacks mobility to get back – shown on the booking when instead of running back just pulled his man back.
Duffy 6.5/10 – As ever looked our main attacking threat and did play 2 or 3 great balls (one for Donaldson shot wide and then one for Lafferty that the keeper saved) but he also overplayed or misplaced 6 or 7 other balls when well placed. Still for all this he continued to get on it and showed some lovely jinks and skill to keep the ball and allow others time and space. I love watching him play even when it does not always come off. Great to see him get a new contract.
Donaldson 6.5/10 – He won three or four free kicks first half and held it up ok but he did not really have any chances and him and Sharp were too far apart. He fell over too much for me and was looking for fouls that were not always there. Still shows he is quicker than you think over a few yards even at this advancing years. He had a few half chances but both went well wide. He was probably slightly the better of the two forward when he went off but maybe Wilder had one eye on Tuesday night although you would expect Wilson and Clarke to start again.
Sharp 6/10 –I have to say I thought he did little of note all game and his mark may be lower if not for the goal. First half I barely even noticed him other than a few times he got outmuscled / shoved off the ball. He looked well off the pace. Second half he tried to get more involved but again not much came off. Evans came on but he still did not influence things. Still as with always the case with Sharp you know he can do very little and then he can score the winner. So, it proved as he found a yard to turn Clarke and induce a challenge and then coolly converted the penalty.
Originally Posted by BlockD
