A first point in 4 League games for the Lions, which sounds like an alright result - until I go on to say that we actually managed to draw against a team who could only field NINE players.
Line up:
Dorian (GK)
Dale (RB), Phil (CB). Simon (CB), Gary (LB)
Brett (CM), JP (CM), Danny (CM)
Jon (floating behind front two...!)
Lee M (CF), Kyle (CF)
It wasn't until just before kick off that we realised they only had nine players on the pitch, but it shouldn't have mattered to the attitude we needed to take towards the game. Our recent form has been dreadful and we couldn't buy a goal before this game, so we had to go out on the offensive from the off.
And we did. We saw plenty of the ball and we made openings and got some shots in. However, just as has happened all too often in the latter half of this season, we were not geting them on target. In one attack, we had 3 shots on goal from different players within the space of a few seconds, not one of which needed a save from the keeper.
To give the oppo credit, they worked hard throughout the game, but rarely threatened in that firrst half, -we just couldn't make our numberical advantage tell at the other end. We also had had issues with their linesman calling our forwards offisde, with the flag seemingly going up at every opportunity. This was winding us up badly, but we had to get on with it. For all our possession, though the first goal was a bit of a gift.
The keeper scuffed a goal kick and it went as far as Lee who shook off his marker andlobbed the keeper who despite being tall ewnough to get a hand to it, couldn't stop it going in. It was such a relief to see that going in after the goal drought of recent weeks and it should have opened the floodgates.
Sadly, for us, it didn't. More chances were missed and then the oppo pinched one themselves. Ball over the top and though I got a touch on it as it dropped, it wasn't enough to get it away and their striker - who happens to be the League's fixture secretary - fumbled a shot through Dorian's legs as he rushed out. That's what I hate about playing defence. One mistake up front and it's a goal-scoring opportuity missed - one mistake at the back and it's goal scored.
We had other good chances - it was either Jon or Danny who had a high shot on goal that the keeper parried out to Brett who smashed his shot wide.
Thing is, we were playing well enough to beat them with if they had 11 men. We were snuffing out their attacks, winning the ball in midfield with JP, Danny and Brett doing great jobs, Jon was running the ball around and moving it on and Lee and Kyle were causing their back line no end of problems. We just couldn't score that second goal before half time.
The second half was more of the same, but to be fair, we were now starting to make the keeper work. We were creating more chances and getting more them on target. Some shots didn't have enough on them or were straight down the keeper's throat but at least they were on target. When the second goal came though, it was a bit of class. Ball came in from the left and it was knocked out to Jon on the edge of the area, who hit low and hard on the half volley into the corner of the net.
Again we had the opportunity to add to the lead, but again we caught out on the break. Ball out to their striker who pinged it cross field first time to his mate on the left who in turn drove a first time shot low and past Dorian into the net.
Gary had a great effort palmed away by the keeper, Brett missed a couple of volleys, Kyle went wide, Jon had another effort saved, but although we were virtually camped in their half and throwing everything at them, we couldn't get that third goal.
Have to say that it can't get much worse than this. Yes we managed to score goals, but we still created so many more chances that we just couldn't put away. For all our possession (they only had nine players, remember) and our good work at the back and in midfield, they managed to score 2 goals from 4 shots on goal (only three of them on target) in the entire game. We are not Premsiership defenders and we will make mistakes and give goals away, hopefully not cheaply. That is why we simply must make the chances count at the other end.
5 games left to end the season on the high. Let's start playing the way we know we can and get our cutting edge back.
