Irn Bru Cup R4

[Cresswell]

As Jack Nicholson said in the film A Few Good Men, "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth". Linfield are a team of part-timers who wouldn't look out of place in the SPFL Division 1 or even Division 2 and who never remotely looked like winning this game. Queen of the South are the current leaders of the SPFL championship but it wasn't until Linfield had run out of legs, were on their knees, that we were able to prevail. It is not often that I watch a cup-tie inwardly pleading that it wouldn't go to extra time; that someone would score, anyone would score, just to bring the game to an end. That was as entertaining and exciting as watching paint dry. Take out the two veterans, Dobbie and Carroll, and what was left? Not a lot. Dobbie had a relatively quiet game but had one assist and one goal: Roy Carroll was quite outstanding and, in my opinion, was the Man of the Match by the proverbial mile. Nothing illustrated the lack of quality more than the pathetic attempts by Dykes when through one on one with Carroll. Not once, not twice but three times he made a hash of it before scoring at his fourth attempt. Yes, we won and are through to the next round but it was as unimpressive a win as the national team's draw last night. Ach! Moan over. Back in my box and wait for the abuse.

[jardi]

Cresswell, on many levels you make some extremely valid points, and like you I desperately didn't want an extra 30 minutes, - but mainly because if the game had gone to penalties Roy Carroll would have won!

On another day, Queens could and should have had five or six goals, and if Lyle and Hilson had been available we would have done.

It's easy to criticise young Dykes, but he was up against a seasoned professional - who was having the game of his life, and perhaps what is now required is for Lindon to have several 20 minute sessions one on one with a variety of keepers (in other words put a goalkeepers jersey on every member of the team and get him used to playing against a range of keepers so that his confidence soars in those situations)

I'm still convinced that the contract Queens need to extend is for young Mr. Skelton, - before someone sneaks in and steals him from under our noses. He is performing way beyond all expectations, doing exactly what he said he would do and what none of us expected him to do, and so we really need to ensure he is going nowhere.

[JRSLEFTPEG]

Don't have any concerns about Lyndon Dykes . He is already doing the hard part in getting in the right positions for an effort at goal and added to that , his relentless energy . As JardI says, some one on one coaching and the composure will come.