“We are twice armed if we fight with faith”

You can’t fully judge a manager after twelve league games, it takes at least a year (and a full pre-season) to make the call, sometimes longer. I’m satisfied with nine**** points at this stage, all things considered. Yes, we’ve had a string of disappointing home results and the coaching staff look like they are struggling to fight their way through the mess Curle left for them at the end of last term. But, with the tools and budget at his disposal it looks like Sheridan is doing a half decent job. What is needed now is a strong performance and three points against Morecambe next week.

A much needed tonic this afternoon after two dismal home defeats. Does the addition of Yates to the team make that much difference? The answer is, yes, it probably does. Again Liddle was continually sucked back into a central position to cover for Gerrard’s chronic lack of pace, but when you have the industrious Yates in your team you effectively have an extra right full-back. This means you’re playing with three central defenders at times with Liddle and Parkes either side of Gerrard, and with at least one defensively minded central midfielder you have a central core to the middle of your defence which is hard to break down. This approach comes crashing down, however, when you lose a player with Yates’ engine and the ability and energy to work the right touchline.

Oldham struggled to break us down, even when we tired and couldn’t press them as high up the pitch. And this was the most impressive thing about our performance for the first sixty minutes today – we pressed Oldham all over the pitch, swarmed all over them and did not let them play the game they wanted to play. Even when they worked the ball behind us, our goalkeeper again made two top class saves and we were more ruthless with the opportunities we did create upfront. When it “clicked” for us we were unplayable and there are encouraging signs, but still much which can be improved.

As it stands our midfield looks as good as any you will see at tier four level, with the addition of the energetic Jones, the composure of Sowerby and Etuhu’s form you have a great blend of the destructive and the constructive. On the flip side there are one or two issues in defence and we still look a bit lightweight upfront – despite today’s goals – and our substitutes bench looks wafer thin.

Collin – 7 – Left hopelessly exposed by our defence for the goal but saved impressively from Miller in the first half and pulled a piece of magic out of the hat to save spectacularly from a point plank header towards the end to keep the score at 3-1. In all the games Jack Bonham played for us, there wasn’t a single moment where he made a save which had you wondering how on Earth he got to the ball. Collin had no right to get to that header, but somehow he did. Handled well in general and I’m not sure whether he was kicking for touch deliberately, but it was breaking the game up when we needed it second half.

Liddle – 6 – I don’t even think I’m going to pretend he was playing at right-back today, he might have been nominally in position at full back a few times when we had the ball, but spent most of the game trying (successfully) to cover for the lumbering oaf alongside him. Used the ball quite well, but his value was almost purely defensive today.

Gillesphey – 5 – Stuck to his task manfully but was ripped to shreds by Miller all first half. Needs to take an extra second to think about what he’s doing with the football, everything does not need to happen at one hundred miles an hour. To his credit got in a great position and used his head excellently to create our first goal – but for most of the game he struggled.

Gerrard – 3 – Left treading water for the goal and his use of the football was criminal. Liddle and Parkes spent a good deal of the afternoon covering for the fact he’s as mobile as a broken down dumper-truck and has the turning circle of an oil tanker. He has nuisance value for the opposition as he gets his bulk in good positions defensively, you can’t jump through him or walk round him. Thankfully, Oldham only played one scrawny looking chav upfront...

Parkes – 7 – Another quality afternoon for Parkes defensively, doing the job of two. No lapses of concentration, good use of the football, getting himself in where it hurts and holding our defence together. If we can bring in a competent defender who can actually run alongside him we have the makings of a good defence with Parkes at its heart.

Jones – 7 – Worked tirelessly in front of the back four, some of his passing was a bit squiffy but his energy, positioning, ball-winning and work for the team were a much welcome addition to the middle of the park. Looked to be limping when he left the field, hopefully it’s just a knock. Should walk into the team ahead of Devitt.

Etuhu – 7 – The addition of Jones to the side let Etuhu off the leash and he was able to cause havoc in the heart of Oldham’s midfield. His presence, strength and dogged, gritty fight never let Oldham settle and play the football they wanted to. Having to deal with Etuhu playing almost as a number ten gave the opposition a whole host of problems, when you talk about defending high up the pitch this performance was a great example.

Sowerby – 7 – Imperative we extend his loan (at least), the touch of calm and class he brings to the middle of the park for us is worth its weight in gold. Brilliant little turn in the box and lovely finish for his goal – but for me his best quality os he rarely wastes the football and doesn’t try and kick the skin off it.

Yates – 7 – Some of his end product was true, honest, toilet, but his energy up and down our right flank was impressive. Defensively excellent and carried the ball forward on occasion with real verve and gusto. If he can add a little end product to his work ethic and the defensive job he does for the team we might have a real player on our hands.

Nadesan – 6 – Wasn’t quite working today but still had the awareness to get himself into a fantastic position for his goal. I’m not sure whether the coaching staff have told him to cut down his running and to stay in more central areas but he doesn’t seem to cover as much ground as he did for us last season. This being said however, his job is to score goals – and you won’t see a more emphatic finish than his today.

Hope – 7* - No option but to give Hope star man as he had a hand in all three goals. Not even Hope could miss his goal, but the value was in the position he took and the commitment he showed to get to the ball first. His two assists (both with his right foot from the right hand side of the penalty area) showed real awareness and it makes a welcome change for him not to wildly shoot but to calmly lay the ball back inside to Carlisle players. Looked invigorated to be playing as a central striker rather than a left-winger and when he did get the ball on the left he tended to pass the ball rather than feel he had to create something. I’m not convinced about Hope’s ability to play as well as this upfront consistently, but I’ll gladly take today.

Subs:

Campbell – Ran about chasing people, barely touched the ball. Looked small, weak and uninfluential.

Glendon – Vanished into thin air.

Slater – Brought on to waste a few seconds when the game had finished.