Brilliant ending on a very frustrating afternoon. Both teams had slow starts but we grew into it and had quite a few chances. Should have been out of sight by half-time and as has become normal we let it go a bit second half. We looked tired later on and think their three changes against our zero made an impact. Well played to Cox to take his goal superbly well.
Referee was absolutely diabolical, Lund's last foul is a yellow for handball if not persistent fouling and if it's a foul it's a second yellow, felt their red was harsh but reasonable, they'd argue that Fortune was going away from goal, and they were always going to try to get him sent off, he was foolish but gave the ref the opportunity and he was gagging to even it up. His first yellow was a great tackle and never a yellow until they all surrounded the ref.
Smith 7 Some good saves especially late on.
Demetriou 7 Got forward well late on and got better and better defensively.
Thompson 7 Dealt well with their physical forwards.
Ferdinand 8 Superb reading of the game and brilliant bringing the ball forward later on.
Timlin 7 Sloppy in possession at times but was better second half.
Atkinson 6 Should have scored and didn't create much, looked tired.
Leonard 8 The engine of the team, got back and forward, at the centre of everything.
Wordsworth 7 Did well with added defensive duties and tried to get forward.
McGlashan 7 Played well but his second yellow was foolish.
Fortune 7 Frustrating, works hard and makes great runs but takes too many touches at times and finishing let him down late on and he tired early.
Cox 8 Superb finish and a constant thorn in their side.
Subs
Coker 6 Looked a little rusty as would be expected.
Hines 6 Didn't use his pace against tired legs but did try to get the ball in the box.
Cant criticise Brown too much as the only negative was really that he could have made a sub earlier on, and we deserved the win for our brilliant first half. Never would have guessed that it was a game between two play-off chasing sides but we did what we had to do to get the points.
Referee was absolutely diabolical, Lund's last foul is a yellow for handball if not persistent fouling and if it's a foul it's a second yellow, felt their red was harsh but reasonable, they'd argue that Fortune was going away from goal, and they were always going to try to get him sent off, he was foolish but gave the ref the opportunity and he was gagging to even it up. His first yellow was a great tackle and never a yellow until they all surrounded the ref.
Smith 7 Some good saves especially late on.
Demetriou 7 Got forward well late on and got better and better defensively.
Thompson 7 Dealt well with their physical forwards.
Ferdinand 8 Superb reading of the game and brilliant bringing the ball forward later on.
Timlin 7 Sloppy in possession at times but was better second half.
Atkinson 6 Should have scored and didn't create much, looked tired.
Leonard 8 The engine of the team, got back and forward, at the centre of everything.
Wordsworth 7 Did well with added defensive duties and tried to get forward.
McGlashan 7 Played well but his second yellow was foolish.
Fortune 7 Frustrating, works hard and makes great runs but takes too many touches at times and finishing let him down late on and he tired early.
Cox 8 Superb finish and a constant thorn in their side.
Subs
Coker 6 Looked a little rusty as would be expected.
Hines 6 Didn't use his pace against tired legs but did try to get the ball in the box.
Cant criticise Brown too much as the only negative was really that he could have made a sub earlier on, and we deserved the win for our brilliant first half. Never would have guessed that it was a game between two play-off chasing sides but we did what we had to do to get the points.
with his 100th goal.
