Reply With QuoteBlackburn – Just never really in it. They never got the measure of our formation or our shape and seemed unable to get any control. Key men Dack and Graham were peripheral figures and got crowded out. They had one shot on goal all game and other than a few deflected efforts and headers but cannot say they deserved anything from the game. They did not have the zip and vigour I have seen in other games they have played and just looked flat but we have to give credit to United. Interesting that in his programme notes Mowbray said he had watched us and knew our strengths and talked about the wing backs and advancing centre backs but then when it came to it they did not know how to counter us at all.
It shows that they will not have had many games where the away team controlled the ball for such long spells. They have had a good start and I am sure they will finish around mid table; maybe just below in my opinion but today they were well beaten.
Opponent man of the match – Maybe Armstrong as he had one shot and a few other decent runs but other than the goalkeeper Raya was maybe the stand out in a game where no one stood out.
Weak link – Most of the Blackburn side were disappointing so take your pick from 8 or 9. Dack showed bits but was ineffective and Graham was not in the game at all. I felt the three lads in midfield never really got on the ball and Smallwood went off but not sure how Reed was name the home teams man of the match! Evans a player I like was also disappointing. The two wing/full backs struggled to close down space or our players too. Watched the lad Lenighan who we were linked with quite a lot and he looked quite suspect and lost our front two in terms of basic marking a few times.
Henderson 7/10 – Relatively untroubled really. He only made one fairly routine save all night. One deflected effort wide and then a header went over when their lad ought to have done better. As the game sort of petered out, his handling and general play was fine. Seems really confident at the moment.
Freeman 7/10 – Thought he was fine. He used it well when he had it and defended sensibly. Used it well when he could got forward all night. Just really busy and coped with a tricky opponent in Armstrong who kept coming onto his side. He dealt with the threat fairly well and even though he got away from him once; he generally won this battle.
Stevens 7/10 – He was decent again tonight. He defended quite well and used it well in terms of passing and link play. A few times he switched off a bit and was caught ball watching but then he got forward and sent over a great cross that led to the clinching goal. Second big assist in the last few weeks to help us score crucial goals. Picked up a booking for a clumsy foul.
Egan 8/10 – Dominated Graham all night who barely won a header. He came onto the ball, was first to it and never gave him a sniff. Looked a really commanding centre back tonight and his passing was good also even when he was under pressure a few times. Only negative was Bereton seemed to peel off him and Basham for the decent headed chance.
O’Connell 7.5/10 – Solid performance. He did the nitty gritty and got his foot in when he could. Missed a good headed chance when he went forward for a corner in the first half. Second half he continued to just do the basics and help nullify them to few chances at all. Daft booking at the end. No need to get involved when he raised his hands to push the lad away.
Basham 8/10 – Excellent. Careering forward all game. Showed some great nifty footwork and was able to make those trademark surges. He got into some tight spots but got out of them with lovely skill. Second half read the play well to get in and intercept a few times and looked very accomplished. Remarkably consistent week in, week out. Dack played around his area a lot of the game and I felt him and the other midfielders played him really well and he had a relatively ineffective game and had to come deep a lot.
Fleck 8/10 – Back to his best standards and our best midfielder. He had some of those typical surging runs where he drops the shoulder or comes inside and runs at players. Set us on the attack several times with these runs. Had a few good attempts on goal too and unlucky not to get a goal. Involved in the first goal. He got us on the front foot all evening. Funny how his direct opponent, the ginger lad Reed was given man of the match when Fleck kept going past him time after time.
Norwood 7.5/10 – Just kept the team ticking over. Got on the ball and controlled play. He was able to move it side to side and bring others into play. Maybe not too many adventurous passes but he just gets it and moves it on and often at speed. His set plays had variety and we had a few half chances from them but he did overhit one or two. He is just a very good footballer that is so comfortable in possession. Seeing him and Coutts together is a mouth watering prospect.
Duffy 7/10 – I actually thought things he tried tonight did not quite come off but he kept going and never stopped trying to go forward. A few times he lost it and they came forward but despite this and his touch not quite being at the normal level, you always sensed things may happen. He was involved in both goals in terms of passes in the build-up. Even when he just not quite at it; like tonight, he still looks a threat.
Sharp 8/10 – Not in the game that much and slow to react to a decent ball from McGoldrick first half and then hit a shot against his own foot from a clever short corner. Second half not really in the game and caught offside and then bang, bang. Got in a great position and although the keeper made a good save, he followed up superbly to convert. The second goal was classic Sharp; peeling off at the back stick and nodding down and in. Well on track already to beat last season’s tally.
McGoldrick 7.5/10 – Another performance full of intelligent hold up, link play and some nice touches. Quiet for spells and not everything came off but then when he comes alive looks a real threat. He set up the first goal with a lovely ball across the box and then linked well with Clarke on another occasion. A clever and skilful footballer who at the moment is key to a lot of our link play as he comes off deep and links with the excellent midfield we have.
Subs –
Coutts – Tremendous to have him back. He looked good too. Just showed the lovely little neat passes and flicks and combined well with Fleck and Norwood. Played in the centre of the three and Norwood moved a bit further to the right and Fleck on the left. What a trio with Duffy in the mix too. Exciting stuff. Just hope they can all stay fit. If they do there are not many better midfielders in the league.
Clarke – Came on and flicked a few on and nearly got in when McGoldrick played a ball across after Clarke had done well initially. Still looks quite languid for someone who should be fresh but that is just his style.
Washington – Ran around in the short spell he was on and chased a few balls and took one into the corner. Did have an excellent chance to make it 3 but the keeper saved. Should have scored really.
Wilder 8/10 – Kept the same side and rightly so. We have a break after Saturday and now need one big push from the same set of lads. Tonight, we started well, played well all game and other than a brief spell where we dropped off a bit; we did everything we needed to. A perfect away performance. Coutts came on and played well too – glad he is being slowly brought back in. It seems it wont be long before he starts games but the team is playing so well he can be eased back in.
Referee – Fine actually. He was the opposite of some recent refs who could not wait to book people and only towards the end did he book a few. He let play go on and not sure there were any contentious moments at all.
