Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:55 am
A good, solid, proper performance that more than earnt the applause of both home and away fans at the end. If we play with that sort of passion in just 7 or 8 of the remaining games, then we will be absolutely fine.
Roper and Gerrard were outstanding I thought. Iwelumo only got one chance when Gerrard let him go, but, to be totally fair to Andy Oakes, nothing was beating him last night, and I'd go as far to say that it was the most confident, assured goalkeeping display that I've seen from Oakes. He came for everything, and held onto the ball. He commanded his defence, and he made another great reaction save to go on top of the great double save last Saturday.
Mills was inspired in midfield. He knew his job (yes, organisation and preperation!) and stuck to it. However, Pead was very poor at right back, so I wouldn't be surprised if Mills ends up at right back on Saturday.
Wright did very well at left back, so much so that he was actually the most impressive full back, with Pead being given a torrid time.
James played better than Saturday, but I'm still not convinced. JolySaddler said that he was just a shadow of the player he was at Barnsley - thats what a month of Merson's 'training' does to you. He lacked pace and didn't look at all sharp.
Smith did well on the left, and Keates was the best player on the park again.
Nicholls and Barrowman, I thought, did very well up top. Barrowman's first touch can be a bit wayward, but I think he serves his purpose as a target man, and won plenty of flick ons for Nicholls, and laterly Ishmel. Incidentaly, had Ishmel come on 15 minutes earlier, I think we would have won the game. The centre backs were at sixes and sevens trying to deal with him.
All in all, a really strong performance. Anthony Gerrard further rises in the ranks of Walsall legends through his, frankly, homosexual antics at a corner. Pinching the defenders' arse, walking away, and pointing at one of the other Colchester players.
Micky Halsall's Barmy Army will be fine this season. For once, the players didn't let the fans down, and they were rewarded by applause that they more than deserved.