The quality of the play behind our recent results made this pretty average performance feel disappointing despite the scoreline.
The three remaining competitions are all now sudden death and we are unlikely to survive playing like this against better opposition in the games to come. The real disappointment was the casual approach to the game. If me and Gary can get down there doing the nets at 08.45 the least we expect is for players to be switched on and preparing properly 15-20 minutes before kick off. Instead we've got players on the phone, players pretending to warm up with hands in pockets, players smoking joints and players lighting up fags even as we're minutes from kick off.
Its not good enough and it was reflected in a very indifferent start to the game and some patchy ill disciplined performances. In possession we were far too casual and far too slow conceding possession far too easily. Our choice and use of the ball was "amateur" ranging from wild 35 yard goal attempts without considering options or at least setting the body right to head down running into blind alleys. Out of possession there was not enough appetite to recover the ball or positional shape or to support team mates.
As early as the second minute we conceded the first of 7 needless freekicks around the edge of the box and they went close with a free header. We responded well when minutes later good work from Mark saw a diagonal ball almost reach Glen, their clearance found Chippy and his well struck long range effort was saved by their 'keeper. The next 5 minutes saw collective poor play, another cheap free kick conceded, another free header and one nil down (Revill had no chance). It took 20 minutes before we found any real quality, a lovely drilled pass from Pearcy found Glen with enough energy for a cross which Dazza headed home to level things at 1-1. We huffed and puffed and moved players around but ended the half all square.
Josh came on at half time and the resulting reshuffle galvanised us. Within a minute of the restart a Pearcy corner was headed home at the near post by Kim in good style. The 10 minutes that followed saw us at our best - we upped the tempo and never allowed them to get their heads up. Neil made a crutial interception, a quick lay off found Josh who played a perfect ball for Jack to latch on to and finish well for 3-1. Class. The last 30 minutes saw us switch to 3-4-3 which gave us about 75% possession higher up the pitch but our use of the ball wasn't great except for a purple patch 15 minutes from time which saw us put together 7 or 8 passes before Olli set himself 20 yards home and drifted one beyond a helpless 'keeper for 4-1.
There were glimmers of a performance. Chippy was good at the back making some good decisions at the right times, Jack's movement was good for the full 90 although the service was patchy. After a very slow start Neil turned in a very good 70 minutes. Without the moments of positional indiscipline (which will be exploited by better sides) Mark put in a good shift as did Billy. In the second half Kim finally found his Captains legs and Olli did what Olli does but this is a game best forgotten. Not even Barca can be on top of their game every week, its another W and we'll take that at this stage of the season.
MOM Chippy
