Originally Posted by
TSANHO
Looking at the score line you’d think this a very comfortable afternoon for Notts, but for lengthy spells it didn’t feel that way at all…to me at least. As they say though, goals change games, and the first two goals came at really important times as Aldershot didn’t look like a side struggling to stay up.
They started the game much better than we did and the press was forcing us into rushing passes and being generally harried. Saying that, we grew into the game well and from 25-30 minutes onwards in the first half we were really really good and we’re maybe unfortunate not to have a two goal lead at half time. LW said in his post match interview they changed formation/system in the first half, I was too low down to see what he changed but it did the trick.
The second half continued in the same vain really and although we didn’t create a great deal Rubén’s lovely finish made the tie a little more comfortable. Aldershot persevered though, and I felt had they managed to get a goal back it would have been a nerve racking end to the game as we really don’t look super confident at the back…or I’m just not super confident in them not to do something stupid. Either way, after a dodgy 10 minute spell after the subs came on we seemed to take control again and Nemane’s lobbed finish from a very Notts-esque defensive blunder rounded off an enjoyable away day.
Slocombe - for all the dangerous positions Aldershot got into I don’t think he had a save to make. One or two dodgy moments clearing the ball but credit to him after last week to have the confidence to continue to play the same way. Clean sheet - 7
Brindley - Composed and classy throughout even though he had the task of marking Effiong. Handled it ok. Brought the ball out well once or twice. Booked for time wasting - 7
Baldwin - Seems to get better every time I watch him. Very composed and excellent at bringing the ball out of defence or finding an advanced player with a pass. Positionally very good today and he had to be on numerous occasions. Pick of the defence - 7.5
Cameron - Typical Cameron performance. Linked play up well, defended ok. One or two important headed clearances from corners and the odd foray into the opposition half - 7
Nemane - Literally everything good in the first half had him included. Forget his defensive duties, which he performed well enough today, he was a constant thorn in Aldershots defence in the first half resulting in an assist. Didn’t see much of the ball in the second half but produced a lovely finish for his goal. Contender for MOTM but would still like to see him beat his man more often! - 8
Chicksen - Bit of an off/quiet game for Chicks today. Defensively he was very good and had his hands full with their number 7 who I thought was their best player. Don’t think he produced much of an attacking threat but did play some nice one touch stuff when under pressure in the second half - 6.5
Palmer - Just another Matty Palmer performance for the books. Don’t need to elaborate - 7.5
O’Brien - Really good to see him back. Not only does he score the ***** first goal, it’s that willingness to run beyond the defence or play the ball that breaks the defence instead of the safe option. He’s got b0llocks, and we’re going to need a lot of them if we’re to win this league. Surprised he played the full game - 7.5
Ruben - My MOTM. Felt in previous weeks his standards had slipped a bit but today he was a right handful. Playing in the hole, dropping deep, linking play, tackling, heading, passing….scoring. Such a great player to watch, can’t believe he’s playing at this level when he performs like that. Hopefully it wasn’t just because his friends and family were there - 8.5
Scott - Decent performance. Linked the play up well once or twice and made a nuisance of himself. One decent effort on goal but, like Macca, didn’t really get an opportunity to score….though his goal bound effort deflected to JOB for the first goal. Subbed - 7
Macca - Had to feel for him today. Didn’t get a sniff and was well marshalled by Aldershot. Assisted Ruben for the second goal but could have been booked for stupidly lashing out at an Aldershot player which the incompetent ref luckily missed - 6.5
Subs
Bostock - Certainly not convinced yet. Obviously has some quality but I can’t help wondering if after everything he does that he stops and admires it for a split second! Perhaps that’s a bit unfair. Do we need him though? Scares me a little bit at the minute and looks off the pace regardless of his fancy touches and 5 yard passes - 6
Bajrami - Think he came into defence and did a decent job at a difficult time against a good right sided player. I like Bajrami, he had a dip in form and hasn’t regained the trust from LW again yet I think, but he will do - 6.5
Castro - Looked a bit leggy and off the pace, even though he didn’t get long to impress - 6
There is still stuff to work on. At times we were played through quite easily without ever getting a meaningful tackle in. I wouldn’t go as far as saying the scoreline flattered us but on another day, against more potent opposition we could’ve been I
in trouble. I see people saying we would be a force in the league above, but we wouldn’t be with how easy it is to get at and in behind us sometimes.
Credit to the players and staff today, that wasn’t an easy game and could so easily have been a repeat of last year had we not dug in and turned it around early on.
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