Sat Sep 21, 2013 5:33 pm
Not much to say on that, one word sums it up and that's - stalemate. Rotherham marginally better first half, us the second. 1 goal each, both defended poorly, 1 major chance each - 1 header from Rotherham, Westcarr late on for us. Definite penalty for Rotherham, but some of the fouls the ref missed in the first half were a joke, swings and roundabouts. Rotherham a strong, energetic side, will do well. Us neat, tidy and organised, will do well. Neither side created much, both defences were on top. We couldn't pass it through Rotherham and Butler defended Revell (who was the only real threat) very well.
Smith got his team selection bang on, apart from Sawyers playing wide - he's not a winger and it clearly showed. If we start Sawyers, we can't play 4-3-3 IMO. Hewitt and Downing were poor I thought, Downing's distribution has been poor all season and he seems to be lacking confidence, his overall defending was solid enough. Hewiit didn't play badly, but didn't get involved at all - he's pretty much what his record is, let's hope Smith can work with him. Chambers x2, Featherstone, Taylor and Mantom all 7 or 8 out of 10 - Butler another dominant performance, Revell was the only threat they had, my MOTM. Westcarr and Hemmings were useless when they came on, Westcarr - why not wrap your left around that chance at the end? Hemmings - had possession 3 or 4 times, gave the ball away and passed it straight to them on other occasion - off days for them both. (Well Hemmings anyway :wink:)
If you'd offered me 7 points from Crewe, Wolves and Rotherham with the first 2 away - I'd have snapped your hand off. The mong that rang WM and said 'Rotherham brought 500 and Smith got his tactics wrong, clueless. As Smith said, when we did Brentford & Stoke away, we were slow and tired against Preston. Westcarr and Hemmings were the worst of our players at Wolves and needed a rest. I'd have done the exact same thing, put probably changed the formation. We were physically tired and jaded against a very solid team who are put together on over £4m and will do well this season.
5,002 (828)
Onwards.