Reply With QuoteWe go into next week with nothing to fear. They will want to help put a dint in our season but they will be very jealous of where we are. They have not lost yet under Bruce (have to play Brentford this week which will be tough) which actually makes me more confident a very average team are due a tip. If we play like we have been and can do; we will be fine. We should have everyone fit and some real dilemma for selection. I expect Duffy back and also Basham and O’Connell to come back in which is harsh on Cranie and Dowell. I also think Madine will get the nod over McGoldrick as it will be a tough, physical type game. The only one I am not sure on is Baldock if he is fit. Freeman will say he has played well two games and deserves the shirt but the Newcastle lad they have Aarons is quite quick on that side so I would probably go Baldock but it’s a tough one. I will be glad when it is out of the way and then we can just concentrate on the rest of the way. Really the games against Leeds and Bristol City are bigger ones but this on paper is one of our weaker opponents we have left to play so we should just see it as an opportunity to get another win.
WBA – Really poor. As Moore said; they never got going. We started well, scored and could have had a few more. They sparked to life for a brief period just before half time and had a few half chances and more of the ball but nothing clear. We went in with a deserved lead. After the break I expected them to really pin us back, using the wide pace they had and the dangerous attackers. I sensed it would be a bit like the Alamo. It ended up nothing like. We kept our shape, slowed the game down and used the ball when we could. Overall, we just made ourselves nice and solid and they could not break us down. They made changes but even Montero who caused us problems opening day, only got away once. They had the disallowed goal and then that late chance which came out of a punt forward but in general play they did not pull us apart. At the Lane Barry controlled midfield but today we won midfield with Fleck the stand out player in this area. The defence looked shaky as we put them under constant pressure and they made some awful choices with the ball simply kicking it out on more than one occasion. Rodriguez and Gayle are two Premier League strikers really but they barely had a sniff all game.
They will see it as a big opportunity missed to reel us in. Unlike us, their home form is going the wrong way and you could sense the frustration in the crowd which was odd for a team that had just won at Villa and QPR. The confidence drained away and you sensed at full time they knew it was a pivotal loss. Wilder is right there is loads of time left. They play Leeds next week and suddenly they win that and it turns back the other way for them but they are way too inconsistent at the moment in terms of putting big runs together consistently like the top 3 are doing. I felt they would go up after the week they had and if they had beat us, the momentum would have been massive but now I am not so sure after watching us beat them quite comfortably in the end. It shows how much we have grown since that defeat in mid-December (only lost once to Swansea since that) and it was like an inverse of that game in terms of how we professionally saw them off like they had to us.
If we did get them in the playoffs, I would not want to play them though just because of the attacking threat and as good as Bristol City have been and Boro are a big strong side still who have picked up since they lost us; they are the team I would fancy to win the playoffs if they were in that scenario. I think one big factor is Moore is quite inexperienced compared to the other managers at the top of the league and he has not even been a manager for a full season yet.
Opponent man of the match – Not sure anyone was great. Holgate showed some good attacking threat and could see why Everton paid a lot of money to take him from Barnsley. Very rapid and good on the ball. Outside of that Rodriguez came deep and showed some nice touches but mostly struggled to get in the game. Montero should have come on even earlier than the 64th minute. Murphy missing out was a plus for us as another one with pace but we had quite a few missing of course!
Weak link – Gareth Barry was really poor today and the opposite of at the Lane and had no affect on the game. Similarly, Livermore was ineffectual too. The lad Harper was the best of the three really. The strikers never got in the game and had little service but the defence looked very shaky. Dawson struggled with the ball on the floor but the lad Hegazi was wretched for the hour he played and was the weak link. He shinned it out twice; got out skilled and muscled by both Billy and Didsy and looked a bit of a liability.
Henderson 8/10 – May seem high for someone who did not have much to do but made that tremendous save right at the death when not only did he save it as he made himself big but spread himself so much he managed to hold it too. He made another save from a Gayle cross shot but outside of that his general play; kicking, handling and organisation was top notch. His reaction on full time was like Stuart Pearce in Euro 96 as the pundits on TV said! He was properly pumped up and redemption after the Villa game for him with now three straight clean sheets. When you look at the three keepers with the new Leeds lad looking a bit shaky, Krul up and down and Henderson; he might be a key advantage we have for the run in.
Freeman 8/10 – One of his best defensive performances in a United shirt. Faced with Gibbs and at times Phillips; two fast and tricky players; he did really well and kept his shape, made good tackles and interceptions. Got forward when he could but definitely showed another side to his game today. Very lucky not to get seriously injured about that poor Gibbs tackle which could have been a red card easily. After the Barnet game I worried about his fitness and general attitude but come right back bang on it the last few games and real competition for this slot now.
Johnson 6.5/10 – He will get seen as the weak link and at times he did some odd things. He really had not got much of a football brain and often kicks it the opposite way where other players run! However, I will give him his due today he did ok. He kept to his position for the most part and was fairly disciplined. Got caught square a few times but the final stages of the game he got his foot in or made some clearances. Also nearly scored with a right footed effort first half which was a decent shot. Not sure he will play next week but he has been ok the last two games. Not spectacular and still makes some poor choices but he has been fairly disciplined.
Stevens 9/10 – Superb. I never thought I would say this but he might be even better at left centre back than left wing back. We may have a great problem moving forward as he has been superb the last two games here. He can come onto the ball more and read the game better in this position. He made several calm and assured interceptions. Only knock is his flicked header led to the late chance. Great to have him tied down long term as Premier League clubs will surely be looking at him – hopefully he can get there with us!
Egan 8/10 – Only played 45 minutes but was excellent marshalling the team and winning the key headers and clearances when it came his way. We were not under too much pressure first half but he mad sure we were nice and solid and for the most part we played so high up the field we looked like the home team. Apparently got a tight calf. Wilder says he should be fine for next week.
Sub Stearman 8/10 – As above – he came on and just did his job with no fuss. Helped us keep a high-ish line when we could but made sure we did not invite pressure by properly clearing it or using it when he could. There was some concern when Gayle ran across him and fell over – I thought it was another case of the WBA man trying to con the ref and was pathetic and rightly ignored. Another who after the Barnet game questions were raised but he has been really solid in the time he has played the last two weeks.
