Sat Oct 25, 2014 6:31 pm
Wow, this place is buzzing tonight. Oh, nope. Sorry - we won the game and people don't want to comment when that happens do they?! Just meets the vindication of most modern day football fans who just LOVE a good old reasons to moan.
Far from a polished performance, but how many games do we lose 1-0 when a Draw was probabaly a better reflection of the game? The game was tight, could have gone either way but we took our chance and I felt we had the best of the chances overall. Chesterfield were a decent side, but Doyle didn't trouble us and despite having more of the territory they didn't create a great deal bar a couple of headers from distance and a late chance that Gary Roberts fluffed trying to finish with his left foot when a right footed finish was so much easier.
I just feel so more confident that if we get a chance, we will take it when Bradshaw is on the pitch. Once again he was tireless, brillant with his back to goal, offered running and will. He's everything I wanted Westcarr to be, but the difference in the all round game of Bradshaw and Westcarr couldn't be any further apart. I thought Downing, Bradshaw, Sawyers, Purkiss and James Chambers were excellent. Cain barely touched the ball and we seemed to leave numerous pockets where there central midfielder Morsy could take the ball on the half way line and make a surge towards a shooting position on our goal. Better teams would have taken advantage of that. Cook was fairly anonymous out wide and Baxendale horrific, Forde was miles better when he came on. Something looks wrong with Taylor, wonder if he's still carrying a knock or an illness? Barely left his half in an attacking sense - certainly nothing like that Taylor of last year. Benning came and on and nearly scored a peachy second goal late on, very good save from the keeper. Hopefully that does his confidence some good. Mantom looked rusty when he came on, but got a warm reception and should be back to fitness within a few weeks.
Hopefully this is the start of a more consistent patch when we even out into mid table, but with a tough month including a very hard game at Notts County next week - I shant be holding my breath.
O'Donnell - Did okay, his distribution has been poor for weeks though. Nearly dropped a shot early on. Needs some work. 6
Purkiss - Excellent. Only me that thinks he has lost a stone? Looks lighter on his feet, got forward well and defended nicely. 8
Chambers - Solid, didn't put a foot wrong really. Couple of loose passes but won virtually everything otherwise.
Downing - Probabaly my MOTM. Since Rochdale, he's been excellent I feel. Won everything in the air, positionally excellent. 9
Taylor - Worst of the back 4. Dragged in constantly and has lost attacking confidence. One brillant covering tackle late in the first half that had goal written all over it otherwise though. 6
Chambers - Worked hard and got a foot in. Still doesn't do enough for me though. Passing and first touch poor at times. 5
Cain - Had a hand in the goal but offered very little else really. Fairly anonymous. Mantom to play when fit. 5
Baxendale - Horrendous. A man in a childs body. A scared little boy with very little pace or skill. Even the basics poor. 3
Cook - Did okay when he got into the game. Should have scored but for a brillant block down the other end late in the first half. Seemed to struggle to stay in the game and obviously doesn't want to play wide. 5
Sawyers - Pulled the strings again. Showed a different side to his game today though, got his shoulder in, took some niggly fouls from that orrible lump Evatt. Wasn't at his fluent best by any means, but his ball retention and just general brain improve us 100 fold. 8
Bradshaw - Looked like he hadn't missed a beat. Struggled a little bit early on. Once again, he was tireless, strong, inventive, always a willing runner. He should have buried a chance in the first half but scored with a smart weak footed finish in the second half. Probably our most exciting forward since Leitao, potential to be miles better than Grigg. 9
SUBS -
Forde - Excellent, must start over Baxendale. Ran at his full back, beat a few men and looked generally creative whenever he was on the ball. He's just a more natural winger than Cook or Bax and must take a slot on one wing. 7
Benning - Was dreading seeing him come on, but he was okay actually. Worked hard and nearly scored what would have been a brillant late second from a tight angle after skinning 3 or 4 men near the byline. 7
Mantom - Looked rusty, misplaced a few passes and just generally didn't look ready to be starting games anytime soon. Very understandable though. Enjoyed his reception. 5.
Overall, a good win against a tough side to play against. A good cleansheet and relief to get 3 points that we arguably deserved from Tuesday night, more so than today. A very tough game against County next week, high on confidence, form and most importantly MOMENTUM - the key word in league one this season I feel (see Oldham).
UTS.