Blue_Wes
Simple Minded
Squad depth is killing us, we played on through the busy period with virtually the same 12/13 players - injuries allowing. Whereas other squad can make small changes to their sides, we haven't been able to. There's been no respite for our XI and on these pitches it's drained us. Our side look shot to bits, and there's no-one to come in and replace them, well aside from unfit reserves and youth team players.
From the off last night Northampton had more desire and drive, the impetus was with them from the start, and it didn't take them long to suss our back three out, and they got behind them pretty quick three times before the corner that led to the goal. How we allowed Doumbe(sp?) to win the header on the edge of the six yard box from a set piece I don't know, part of me thinks they were too busy watching Corr and Diamond tussling around and got distracted. You could see there were still shades of Hoofroyd in them as well, they were big and physical, kicking lumps out of us, and using their physicality well. It's frustrating to watch a team like that, 50% because it's dirty and ugly, and 50% because it's frustrating your own side can't match them and looked like boys. Northampton won almost every aerial battle as well.
The ref it seems was poor for both sides, with him and his official bottling what seemed a nailed on red card, not giving one of the clearest hand balls I've seen in a while, and with the him being roundly booed off at half time by the home contingent. There was one point in the first half, down the left were he missed three fouls in the space of about thirty seconds, two from them, one particularly poor challenge on Leonard, and one by Phillips. This isn't me making excuses for our performances. We were very poor, and as we well know, luck and decisions desert you when you need them most.
We had a good 15/20 minutes after they scored, our goal was well worked and finished. But that was it really. Second half we never troubled the keeper, we had a warning the goal was coming too, when they opened us up with ease, only for the goalscorer to foolishly stray offside when he had bundles of space. But we didn't learn, Phillips was cruelly exposed for space, nous and ability for their winning goal. But what can we do, he's all we have?
Bentley, 6 possibly could of done better with the goal, but he had about 3/4 Blues (yellows) in the way.
White , 6 Solid enough, but struggled with Northampton's inside overlap taking advantage of the back three.
Coker, 6.5 Actually did ok last night despite the result still manged to get up and down the pitch, but again outnumbered at the back.
Phillips, 4 Struggles with a partner due to lack of pace and mobilty, putting him in the centre on his own was borderline cruelty.
Straker, 6 Spits and spurts an unusal average game for him. No sublime, no ridiculous.
Timlin, 6.5 Worked hard, ran well - one of the few players that doesn't look ****ed. Covered the full backs when they ventured forward and finished well.
Leonard, 5 looks burnt out. It's his first full first team season, and it looks like it's taking it's toll. With Laird playing well last night, maybe give the boy a rest.
Atkinson, 6 is neat and tidy, rarely makes a mistake, but sees so little of the ball. Last night he set up the goal well, but he just gets lost in games too often, it's a shame, if he worked harder to get involved, he could have far more of an impact further up the pitch.
Laird, 7 The shining light last night, he came back into the team and proved a point. Excellently moved the ball out wide to set Atkinson off to assist for Timlin.
Barnard, 5 Very little service, but looked off the boil when he did get the ball
Corr, 6 Like Barnard very little service, got little change out of Northampton's big man in the air. But unlike Barnard, he at least dropped back to try and see more of the ball, and showed how comfortable he is on the ball. Still looked shattered though, only shot of note was a powder puff effort straight at the keeper in the first half.
Eastwood, 5 First time he looked past it, normally his touch and vision is tidy and look a class above. Tonight he looked clumsy and unfit.
Hurst, 6 Dropping him in hindsight seems madness, he came on and imediately gave us more threat. Throughout the course of 90 minutes against Northampton, I reckon he would of fashioned out a couple of good chances, if not for others then himself. Hopefully this brief spell on the bench will be the kick up the a$$ he needs.
Williams n/a
Ref: 4 Poor decisions for both sides. Although two major ones for us.
We have the players with the ability to pull through this, but the question is whether they are too spent or not. Very rarely does a club rely on so few players, and it's massively taking it's toll on the side. Fail to see what Brown can really do to change it up. the saving grace is those around us aren't really catching form, gives us hope at least.
From the off last night Northampton had more desire and drive, the impetus was with them from the start, and it didn't take them long to suss our back three out, and they got behind them pretty quick three times before the corner that led to the goal. How we allowed Doumbe(sp?) to win the header on the edge of the six yard box from a set piece I don't know, part of me thinks they were too busy watching Corr and Diamond tussling around and got distracted. You could see there were still shades of Hoofroyd in them as well, they were big and physical, kicking lumps out of us, and using their physicality well. It's frustrating to watch a team like that, 50% because it's dirty and ugly, and 50% because it's frustrating your own side can't match them and looked like boys. Northampton won almost every aerial battle as well.
The ref it seems was poor for both sides, with him and his official bottling what seemed a nailed on red card, not giving one of the clearest hand balls I've seen in a while, and with the him being roundly booed off at half time by the home contingent. There was one point in the first half, down the left were he missed three fouls in the space of about thirty seconds, two from them, one particularly poor challenge on Leonard, and one by Phillips. This isn't me making excuses for our performances. We were very poor, and as we well know, luck and decisions desert you when you need them most.
We had a good 15/20 minutes after they scored, our goal was well worked and finished. But that was it really. Second half we never troubled the keeper, we had a warning the goal was coming too, when they opened us up with ease, only for the goalscorer to foolishly stray offside when he had bundles of space. But we didn't learn, Phillips was cruelly exposed for space, nous and ability for their winning goal. But what can we do, he's all we have?
Bentley, 6 possibly could of done better with the goal, but he had about 3/4 Blues (yellows) in the way.
White , 6 Solid enough, but struggled with Northampton's inside overlap taking advantage of the back three.
Coker, 6.5 Actually did ok last night despite the result still manged to get up and down the pitch, but again outnumbered at the back.
Phillips, 4 Struggles with a partner due to lack of pace and mobilty, putting him in the centre on his own was borderline cruelty.
Straker, 6 Spits and spurts an unusal average game for him. No sublime, no ridiculous.
Timlin, 6.5 Worked hard, ran well - one of the few players that doesn't look ****ed. Covered the full backs when they ventured forward and finished well.
Leonard, 5 looks burnt out. It's his first full first team season, and it looks like it's taking it's toll. With Laird playing well last night, maybe give the boy a rest.
Atkinson, 6 is neat and tidy, rarely makes a mistake, but sees so little of the ball. Last night he set up the goal well, but he just gets lost in games too often, it's a shame, if he worked harder to get involved, he could have far more of an impact further up the pitch.
Laird, 7 The shining light last night, he came back into the team and proved a point. Excellently moved the ball out wide to set Atkinson off to assist for Timlin.
Barnard, 5 Very little service, but looked off the boil when he did get the ball
Corr, 6 Like Barnard very little service, got little change out of Northampton's big man in the air. But unlike Barnard, he at least dropped back to try and see more of the ball, and showed how comfortable he is on the ball. Still looked shattered though, only shot of note was a powder puff effort straight at the keeper in the first half.
Eastwood, 5 First time he looked past it, normally his touch and vision is tidy and look a class above. Tonight he looked clumsy and unfit.
Hurst, 6 Dropping him in hindsight seems madness, he came on and imediately gave us more threat. Throughout the course of 90 minutes against Northampton, I reckon he would of fashioned out a couple of good chances, if not for others then himself. Hopefully this brief spell on the bench will be the kick up the a$$ he needs.
Williams n/a
Ref: 4 Poor decisions for both sides. Although two major ones for us.
We have the players with the ability to pull through this, but the question is whether they are too spent or not. Very rarely does a club rely on so few players, and it's massively taking it's toll on the side. Fail to see what Brown can really do to change it up. the saving grace is those around us aren't really catching form, gives us hope at least.
