Originally Posted by
MAD_MAGPIE
Some said it was a risk to play today but with risk comes reward and we got it today. It was a game that had everything from the start with the long range goal, the sending off, two penalties, one scored and one saved and some sitters missed wrapped up in a very good team performance. Midway through the first half it seemed like an age since Wrexham opened the scoring.
What today showed for me is that whoever comes in is ready to play how we play and even though Wrexham had ten men we played our game and made the pitch wide when in possession, and remained compact as a unit. In the first half we created space down both channels and did some good switching of the ball across the field. Cameron is perfect for the way we play out from the back and today exploited the ten men to switch the ball and put in over and behind.
So many good performances to talk about, Patterson's distribution, assurance and confidence playing the ball out from the back and the stand out moment being the penalty save. Brindley, Palmer, Cameron, Lacey all solid.
The players that came in like Chicksen and Sam fitted in well. Eli Sam is a complete mystery. He came on, got booked, missed a header and a sitter from a follow up but also caused Wrexham problems and had some moments of skill that were far beyond this level and were brilliant, and put in a good ball into the box which the shot was scuffed.
Richardson was dangerous down the right side and has good pace and was rewarded with a goal. Wootton did so much work off the ball but continues his good form with a cool penalty and header.
The man of the match was announced as Palmer and because he is very good all the time it's easy to forget he rarely puts a foot wrong and today was one of those days. However today I felt Ed Francis was exceptional and would have like to have seen his stats in terms of distance covered. He was everywhere, getting involved in everything.
It was a team performance today and we were the better team in my view. Fair play to Wrexham who never gave up and always looked like they could get back in it at any moment so it was no walk in the park even with ten men.
We are 2 points short of the 2ppg required to be on course for the title so we are building nicely and continue the momentum before the enforced Xmas break. We must make sure we go to Dover and do the business there and get the 3 points. As I said earlier in this thread beating the likes of Dover are a must if we want to be up there. As poor and as much as they are cannon fodder we can't underestimate them either and need to go there and be professional and I'm sure we will. What we don't want to be is the first team this season that get's beaten by them.