Fantastic result last night, and its about time we beat that plastic Club, it really is.
Last nights performance was a decent one. I'm not one for match ratings but I think Moussa and Freedman where 6's and everyone else 7/7.5's. Not many stand out performers for us, but sometimes you need a good, solid, team performance, not a stand out individual with others off form.
The ref ruined what was a decent game between the whistling. He'd booked so many people in the first half, that most people where afraid to tackle in the 2nd half for fear of being sent off. Inbetween the whistling and bookings there was a good game threatening to break out.
I thought, overall, we was the better team, but they looked very dangerous on the break. They have the better players, just look at the subs that came on. We brought on Scannell, and they brought on players like Easter and Johnson, who would both start in our side. It shows how good the whole team performed tonight.
Was disappointed with the attendance, feels like a little while since we have had under 7,000 in a league game, but it wasn't helped by a dire turnout for MK Dons.
Anyways, like I say, I don't do match ratings, more a summary so here it goes.
Mildenhall - Good save in the second half from Easter's shot, and good hands from the header in stoppage time. I've rated him from the start, but he really is winning others over and long may it continue.
Grant - Not his normal position, and it showed. Was at fault for the goal, being sucked into the other centre forward, when Francis was there already. Left a big gap that the ball was played into. Made some cracking tackles as well. Is worth his weight in gold having played LB, RB, CB, CM and RM already this season.
Francis - Is not a centre half. We lose his attacking abilities when he is played through the middle, but having Laurent wide right doesn't make it too much of a problem. Played well enough, and grew the longer the game went on.
Barrett - Feel sorry for the bloke. Already he has partnered M'Voto, Heath, Morrison, Sankofa, Francis, Grant and JFC in about 20 odd games. Can't be easy to form anything like a partnership in there. Pathetic booking, but responded well. Solid.
Herd - Now, I've always thought he wasn't ready for a season or so and we should have got someone else in, but is beginning to prove me wrong. Am becoming a big Herd fan, but he hasn't really been tested defensively yet, and I think that may be where he falls short. One example, a throw in in front of the East Stand, Barrett is marking one of there forwards, and Herd follows the throw and leaves his guy unmarked, and the striker laid it out wide to Herd's man. Things like that will come with age and experience, but has certainly earnt a run in the side.
Laurent - I love him, my mate in the West hates him and I can see why. First half he was superb, beating Lewington at will, creating havoc and looking like a World beater, but he doesn't continue that into the second half in front of the West Stand. Still beat Lewington in the 2nd half, and he is often in League One teams of the season.
Macca - Carried on where he left off at Gillingham in the League. This is the Macca I have been crying out for since Bailey, Gower and Maher all left us. He has needed to step up to the plate being the senior midfield man, and is beginning to do so. Full of work, full of energy and one tackle in the second half (the one in the match photos) was superb.
JFC - Didn't think he'd scored at the time, and that proved to be the case. All of their players was trying to get him that second yellow card, and at half time I was really worried he'd be sent off and thought he may have been replaced, if we had the players available. Showed a calm head in the second half and performed well.
Moussa - Reverted back to the Moussa I never rated when he first broke through. Should have scored in the first half, but his radar was off and is becoming easy to defend against. Has definately bulked up, and looks a lot stronger but I think he has been off colour for a few weeks now. Would really like to see a left winger signed on loan before the loan window shuts. Is being played out of position, so can't be too harsh, but he isn't the player he was earlier on.
Freedman - Some very clever touches, and helps "coach" players during the game, but didn't perform that well. Like I said at the top, him and Moussa where 6's out of 10. He isn't being used in the right way, he drops off the centre halfs, but we don't look to play it into feet with him. Probably would have fitted in better with our double winning promotion side rather than the current team.
Barnard - He is god. So much composure to slot that last minute penalty away. His two "goals" that where offside showed how sharp he is in front of goal at the minute. He works extremely hard, wins an awful lot in the air for a man of his height, and is being rewarded with the goals. We need him to sign a new deal, we really do. Rumours of Ipswich, Coventry and Sheffield Wednesday looking at him, and you can see why.
Subs:
Scannell - Why wasn't Walker brought on? I haven't read the whole thread, so maybe its already been answered but seemed a bizare sub at the time. Run around a lot, put pressure on their centre halves, but isn't a forward.
