Strange game really. I thought we were very good for 20 to 25 minutes and they had no idea how to deal with us. From that point on they had the lion's share of possession but didn't look particularly dangerous. Going in 1-0 up at HT was about right I felt. They managed 69% possession in both halves.
2nd half they were more penetrative with the ball and had us penned back in our defensive third for long periods. Some staunch defending including one excellent reflex save by Marshall started to look like we might hold on or even nick a 2nd on the break. It wasn't to be and they got the equaliser their play deserved in the 81st minute. Cross from the left, 4 cherries in the box, the cross goes over everybody and Raquelme volleyed it home. Good execution but I can't help thinking we shot ourselves in the foot through one defensive lapse. Clarke looked at one of the 4 "in the box Cherries" and I thought he had his man but then dropped off. Buchanan appeared to have seen that and left his man to challenge Clarke's man. Both missed the ball completely and it fell to Raquelme to volley in. Had Clarke not left his man, would Buchanan have left his?
Marshall - Good game. one excellent save
Te Wierik - I was a little surprised at him getting the nod over Wis but maybe this was the right game for him as the Cherries try to play football and aren't big bruisers. His best game for us IMO but the jury is still out on him
Davies - Yet another solid defensive display from a reliable performer
Clarke - Continues to impress but, as I wrote earlier in this post, partly at fault for their goal
Byrne - Better defensively than he has been but still needs to cut crosses out
Knight - Another very good performance by the lad. Has to be one of the first names on the sheet
Shinnie - earlier in the season I criticised him but he has improved and was my MOTM. More of the same please Graham.
Buchanan - Another good game apart from his role in their goal
Waghorn - Put in a shift as usual 2 wrong decisions might have led to a goal had he been less "selfish" in one instance and more so in the other IMO.
Rooney - Opening 20 minutes I was impressed. 10 days quarantine and he looked reborn for 20 minutes. That was it though until he was subbed just before the hour mark when he wasn't invisible, he was ineffective. Not fit enough and, at 35, may well stay that way.
Lawrence - pushed for MOTM in the opening 45. 2nd half, especially after he had his face tickled, he looked disinterestd. Wandering aimlessly about and half heartedly waving an arm as if pointing out to a teammate where he should be or be going to. Please can we have the Lawro of the previous 2 games back?
All in all, 2 very different halves and I'm well happy with a point and not just because I predicted it. We were forced into defending for much of the game and we did it well......... except for that 81st minute issue.