Stu wrote:For one of the few times in recent matches, I can't complain too much and I still don't know how we only got a point from that game.
The Gasheads only offered a threat from set pieces (and Martin Butler was superb in creating both their goals for them), whilst Phillips made 3 1 on 1 saves from Butler (2) and Sam with some good goalkeeping, whilst we messed up the final ball numerous times with Wright and Pead not taking advantage after good play.
The one complaint I do have is about Martin Butler... Its no point holding the ball up superbly, when he decides to have a "Tommy Wright-esque" day and give away a stream of constant needless free kicks. I had a go at Fox for it at Boston, so I have to do the same with Butler.
1st goal - Bloke is going nowhere, running after the ball to the touchline. Butler obviously thought it would be funny to see if he could shove him over the wall for no reason. Result = Goal
2nd goal - Bloke on the halfway line, actually facing his own goal, offering no threat. Butler decides to see if he wants to swap shirts, result, one long ball in the box and its 2-2.
I'm not directly blaming Butler as we failed to deal with either set piece, but those constant needless free kicks cost us 2 points today and I fully expect MK Dons to be top at 5pm on Monday. For a seasoned professional, he really should have known better on both occasions.
I'm not mentioning another abject performance from Fox, as he clearly isn't a left midfielder to me, today he constantly kept coming inside, which was infuriating when the flanks were the best places to play football.
2 points dropped, without doubt, but a decent performance that warranted 3 points.
Agree absolutely Stu, except I'm not altogether with you on the Fox performance.
Bristol were NO threat except set-pieces, but we offered them far too many of them, and paid for it disastrously after we appeared to have won the game late on.
Could NOT believe the bloke (Chris I think his name was) on WM after the game, saying that Butler and Dobson should be dropped - he obviously doesn't want us to get promoted then! Although MB gave away needless free-kicks today and they cost us, those incidents are far outweighed by his hard work and commitment in this and other games.