Originally Posted by
MadAmster
Lots of misses by the ref. We should have had 2 penalties and he gave the least obvious of the two. A couple of calls for a 3rd for handball but I didn't see anything I'd have given.
We played a lot of pretty stuff and good one and 2 touch moves but my lasting thoughts are that we have fallen into some old, bad habits again. Marking. When we got the ball we were reasonably tightly marked, they had acres of space which allowed them to look better than they are. Their goal, as well taken as it was, is testament to it. They passed and moved into space which allowed them to make the multi pass move that led to the goal. The shot? Well placed and IMO, Allsop was a good yard too far to his left leaving the far post "open". His one real mistake of the day. I've also come to the conclusion that the multitude of negative passes are because there's no decent forward pass on because the front 4 aren't seeking out space.
Sibs unlucky to hit the post with his late header.
Ebiowei. I've seen a player in him in his first few appearances, in flashes. Those flashes caused some tossers to hit social media with "he's crap" posts. My take was that he's skilful on the ball, has lightening feet and likes to take players on. Against Coventry we saw it in spades. He's obviously doing the business in training or Rooney wouldn't pick him. He's now translated that into a game situation. I'm looking forward to seeing more of that. No pressure though. He's 18 and, like all our other young uns, he'll have off days as well. He's got the basics. He now needs time and experience. My MOTM by a country mile.
2 points lost rather than 1 gained and the situation wasn't helped by Reading beating Blackburn.
As it has been for much of the season, survival is possible but n:blue:o more than that in its likelihood.