Opposition Man of the Match: The lad Dyer was a threat and showed his pace and trickery. I also thought the young lad Davenport was decent in a poor side.
Opposition Weak link: Have to say the keeper Bywater was less than convincing all game. They looked powderpuff throughout the side but the ex-Blade McFadzean looks a lower league player – slow and clumsy. He struggled second half with movement of our players; as did his partner Naylor. Bent looked a shadow of the player who once played for England.
Blackman 7.5/10 – Made some key saves tonight. He saved one regulation one at near post early on but then one great save from Dyer. His handling was very good. He came off his line and took several high or through balls. He was really commanding. His distribution was superb tonight with several quick throw outs setting us on the attack.
Baldock 7/10 – Usual vibrant attacking display where he got up and down. First half his final ball was a bit off but he made the first goal. Let Dyer get inside and away from him a few times. Second half he forced his man back and was involved in many of our good attacks. Had a few searing runs. He missed one good chance when he was blocked out but on the end of 3 or 4 good moves and just could not find killer pass.
Stevens 7/10 – Began game getting forward and was involved in most of our best things first half of a poor performance and was maybe out best player. Got in some good areas and had one cross at the keeper and another blocked. Then he got in and converted well as he got right into the box. He still makes some poor mistakes and will not use his right foot which is frustrating. Second half he was solid enough but did not get forward quite as much and a few poor decisions with the ball but was solid defensively.
Basham 7/10 – Thought he was solid throughout and best of the back three. He got forward first half and did make a few good runs but often no end product. Second half he got forward a lot and played a few decent balls in and was able to combine well with Duffy and Baldock in some of our better moves. Always looking to get forward and attack. He was more competent than the other two in his defensive work too.
O’Connell 6.5/10 – At times they got chances and we sat off a bit. He was a bit sloppy in marking a few times first half. Also felt he punted it forward aimlessly. Second half he lost his man twice on corners but after this did improve and I felt we were tighter in the final 20-25 minutes. He came onto the ball more and was better with his passing. Need the defence to be tighter than they were though and a better team may have finished things.
Stearman 6.5/10 – As for O’Connell; I felt first half we let them turn too easily and were not always marking when the balls came in. They had quite a few chances and better finishing and they would have scored 2 or 3 goals. Got better 2nd half and came onto the ball more including one driving run forward – but they still had chances and a few corners could easily have been converted. Became more solid as the game came towards its conclusion and had a spectacular overhead kick that looked goalbound before being blocked.
Fleck 6/10 – Have to say first half he was really poor. He gave it away, gave short balls and his touch was off. We sat off them at times and He got better as the game went on and slowly started to be surer in his passing. Do think at times even second half we sat off. With the ball we got better but off it they had too much time and space. Had one poor free kick that was blocked but then had a great free kick effort that was tipped around the post. He will play much better and Saturday he will have tougher opponents in Watson and Colback but I expect he will step up.
Evans 6/10 – Thought he was poor first half and that he was sloppy with the ball but also did not do the defensive stuff either. Just looked a bit slow and sluggish and took too long to do things. Representative of the entire team. Involved in a poor tackle after a bad ball from Fleck and got injured himself – lucky to escape a card and then did get booked second half for a late tackle. Second half he was much better in terms of getting on the ball and moving it quicker and going forward. Played some nice diagonal balls and one great shot that hit the bar. Just seemed more determined in everything he did. He is a neat and tidy sort of player but needs to be more positive and impose himself more.
Duffy 7.5/10 – Weird one as he had quite spells in the game and not sure first half he did too much. He had one run and pass and then involved in build up to first and always looked a threat but was quiet-ish for him. Second half a different story; he got on the ball, linked play and ran with it. Made the second goal with a lovely ball and created a few other openings. They struggled to contain him as all our best stuff came from him.
Sharp 6.5/10 – Game of two halves. I thought he was poor first half and never really in the game but we did not give him much in terms of balls and it was a really scrappy game. He barely had a touch actually and the ball was never really played into feet or any clear balls came across. Second half he chased around more and pressed and never let the centre backs drop and was much better. Did miss a good chance. Either him or Wilson could have gone off to be fair though. After Brooks came on; he improved and linked better with a number of players and helped make the second. Had a few half chances after this and involved in a lot of the better things we did.
Wilson 6/10 - Not convinced by him yet at all but I watched him tonight and I felt he did try and ran around a lot and did at least chase and press. His touch is a bit off but tonight he did a few decent things but did not show enough for the ball. He never really had much service and was feeding off a lot of knock downs or through balls. Second half he did put one good ball in that Sharp maybe should have scored. Not sure he has given us the lift that Wilder wanted and still not quite sure what kind of player he is – he is not fast nor is he a back to goal player. Looked fed up to come off and to be honest he had probably been better than Sharp; who ironically improved after Brooks came on.
Subs:
Brooks – Came on and ran it out almost instantly. Next touch and he scored with a lovely run and then cool finish with one touch and then a rolled left foot finish right into the corner. He looked to get o the ball; came off the front and was a threat. Sure, not everything came off but love the fact he wants the ball and he does draw defenders.
Lundstram – We had started giving it away a bit so he came on to solidify the midfield with five minutes to play. Won a few tackles and blocks as we saw out the game.
Donaldson – Brought on right at the end for Sharp. Not sure he touched it.
Manager: Wilder 7/10 – It is a win. Performance was a bit meh but he will point to the fact we kept a clean sheet and scored two decent well-made goals. His change with Brooks coming on saw him score the second. Not sure Wilson and Sharp worked and a few were off the pace. He had words at half time and we looked more determined playing a bit higher up the field and pressed them more and this led to us getting more of the ball and more chances.
Officials – Scott Duncan. Odd performance. He was not awful and at times felt he let it flow and tried to keep the game going but he did some strange things. He gave a throw to us when he felt they took their throw too far forward from the position where he should have been (can you do that – thought you just booked them and let them take the throw still?). He then somehow missed the most obvious back pass I have seen as they played it back and Bywater picked it up? Did I miss something! The bookings he mostly got right – Stearman and Evans were cynical fouls as was Naylor for pulling Duffy down – why did he appeal that? A few free kicks I was not sure about – he penalised Evans for nothing and then Stevens for a fair shoulder charge and took ages to give it. He then gave us a free kick for a soft foul on Sharp. His assistants were not great as they kept guessing decisions – often not looking.
Crowd – Flat atmosphere. Only a few hundred from Burton and not the best game. It was quiet though and I hope the crowd ramp it up a bit Saturday.