Reply With QuoteBristol City – They won and will say what a great away victory and how they scored two good goals and dug in etc, etc. Reality is they were not that great I felt and nowhere near what I expected. First half we should have put the game away and then they scored a really good goal. We got level and there was only one winner. Our fault we gave them a lifeline as at 1-1 they were hanging on. After this they had a couple of chances but hardly blew us away and even for spells with ten men we were as good if not better. I felt they looked quite poor and tossed ball away a lot. They got a late winner. It was an incredibly fortunate win. Sure, we helped them massively but to see the keeper watch three shots hit the woodwork and not be anywhere near them (saved one other really well). They won’t have many other games where the other team hit the woodwork four times and whatever the final score says and the manager may say; it was a total smash and grab win. A sickening defeat for the better side really. They will say it is about what happens in both boxes but even outside of these areas I felt we played the better stuff.
On that evidence I am not sure they will threaten the front two at all. On another day they would have gone home losing the game fairly comfortably. Normally I will temper my critique of a game and look for strengths and things they did well. They scored a late winner and got the three points but over the game United were better tonight. Means nothing of course
Opposition Man of the Match: The two scorers were probably the best two players. Paterson scored a great goal and always looked a threat and then Flint who got his body in the way coolly took the winner as many stopped. The keeper made a few good saves including a superb one from Sharp. Outside of this a few decent players but felt they conceded a lot of the ball and even v 10 men they did not really do enough to hurt us.
Opposition Weak link: DJ uric was an absolute donkey. He fouled, grabbed, miskicked and looked like he had never played football in his life. The lad he replaced Eliasson was poor also. They did not have any really good or really bad players. Lot of ok footballers but I felt we controlled the game for long spells but did not get goals we deserved.
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.
