A poor game but a decent defensive display and a smash and grab win.
The game began with some controversy. Their Shinnie tackled over the top on Ben, caught his knee and the ref gave a free kick but produced no card. It could so easily have been a red if it had happened later in the game. We pressed forward to Jed who flicked it on to Bennett but he scuffed his shot wide That was almost our only attacking threat for much of the half as we conceded space to them all over the park. Fortunately they were not that good and thought by retaining possession they would overcome us. We had other ideas. We kept our shape, got our foot in, denied them space and time and they attacked down the flanks. A couple of decent crosses from their right found their LWB climbing above Romeo but he headed wide. We had a firm rein on Kazim Richards and they showed little threat and really did not test Bart. I really did think that it was just a matter of time but our solid defensive play and their lack of threat saw us edging towards half time. Then we put some pressure on. Their over eager defender pushed Ben over by the left touch line and Jed hit a peach of a free kick into the heart of their box which caused panic. It was hacked clear for a corner. Jed swung it in and Hutch just got ahead of their CB and headed it firmly home for 1-0. We played out the last two minutes of the half with no drama.
GR would have been the happier manager in the dressing room and I am sure he said more of the same. That is exactly how we started the half. Everybody was getting their foot in and closing down the spaces and they tried hard to get a foothold in the game but just couldn't manage it. Murray did well to last 60 minutes but was running out of puff after an hour and on came Fergie to replace him. We had an earlier break down the middle to Bennett on the left, his cross to Ben should have been hit first time but he back heeled it to Jed who was tackled as he was shaping to shoot. They changed shape to a flat back four and brought on several subs to pep up their attack but they could not find a way through. They did hit the bar from a deep corner but that was as close as it got. With 15 to go off came Ben and Bennett and on came Mitchell and Bradshaw. Little changed except we had fresh legs which frustrated them even more. With 8 to go on came Williams for Evans and Bod for Jed and we had a little more threat going forward and tried hard to keep the ball in their half. Bod won some headers, Bradshaw ran around busily, Mitchell got his foot in and Williams used his experience to contain them. The added four minutes was played out without drama.
Bart had very little to do but did it well. Romeo defended well but misplaced a couple of passes in the middle. Pearce was solid and so was Cooper but MOM was shaded by Hutch. Always in the right place at the right time and a decent headed goal for the winner. Murray played his usual aggressive game and gave little away. Woods was tidy and Evans was more of a defensive midfielder trying to keep a tight rein on Shinnie. He got booked and walked a fine line for a second booking before being taken off late on. Jed and Bennett were both busy but only showed rare glimpses of threat. Fergie played OK and only got beaten on the line once. He does have better ball control in tight spaces than Murray. Mitchell was busy defensively, Bradshaw ran around a lot, Bod ran hard and Williams had a decent 15 minute cameo.
So, a clean sheet a solid defensive display, a smash and grab win which takes us to tenth and almost puts us up to the magic 50 points. A clueless manager with a patched up side gets another three points on the road. It was no classic but we rarely looked like losing and will face a tougher challenge next week with games against QPR and Boro.
The game began with some controversy. Their Shinnie tackled over the top on Ben, caught his knee and the ref gave a free kick but produced no card. It could so easily have been a red if it had happened later in the game. We pressed forward to Jed who flicked it on to Bennett but he scuffed his shot wide That was almost our only attacking threat for much of the half as we conceded space to them all over the park. Fortunately they were not that good and thought by retaining possession they would overcome us. We had other ideas. We kept our shape, got our foot in, denied them space and time and they attacked down the flanks. A couple of decent crosses from their right found their LWB climbing above Romeo but he headed wide. We had a firm rein on Kazim Richards and they showed little threat and really did not test Bart. I really did think that it was just a matter of time but our solid defensive play and their lack of threat saw us edging towards half time. Then we put some pressure on. Their over eager defender pushed Ben over by the left touch line and Jed hit a peach of a free kick into the heart of their box which caused panic. It was hacked clear for a corner. Jed swung it in and Hutch just got ahead of their CB and headed it firmly home for 1-0. We played out the last two minutes of the half with no drama.
GR would have been the happier manager in the dressing room and I am sure he said more of the same. That is exactly how we started the half. Everybody was getting their foot in and closing down the spaces and they tried hard to get a foothold in the game but just couldn't manage it. Murray did well to last 60 minutes but was running out of puff after an hour and on came Fergie to replace him. We had an earlier break down the middle to Bennett on the left, his cross to Ben should have been hit first time but he back heeled it to Jed who was tackled as he was shaping to shoot. They changed shape to a flat back four and brought on several subs to pep up their attack but they could not find a way through. They did hit the bar from a deep corner but that was as close as it got. With 15 to go off came Ben and Bennett and on came Mitchell and Bradshaw. Little changed except we had fresh legs which frustrated them even more. With 8 to go on came Williams for Evans and Bod for Jed and we had a little more threat going forward and tried hard to keep the ball in their half. Bod won some headers, Bradshaw ran around busily, Mitchell got his foot in and Williams used his experience to contain them. The added four minutes was played out without drama.
Bart had very little to do but did it well. Romeo defended well but misplaced a couple of passes in the middle. Pearce was solid and so was Cooper but MOM was shaded by Hutch. Always in the right place at the right time and a decent headed goal for the winner. Murray played his usual aggressive game and gave little away. Woods was tidy and Evans was more of a defensive midfielder trying to keep a tight rein on Shinnie. He got booked and walked a fine line for a second booking before being taken off late on. Jed and Bennett were both busy but only showed rare glimpses of threat. Fergie played OK and only got beaten on the line once. He does have better ball control in tight spaces than Murray. Mitchell was busy defensively, Bradshaw ran around a lot, Bod ran hard and Williams had a decent 15 minute cameo.
So, a clean sheet a solid defensive display, a smash and grab win which takes us to tenth and almost puts us up to the magic 50 points. A clueless manager with a patched up side gets another three points on the road. It was no classic but we rarely looked like losing and will face a tougher challenge next week with games against QPR and Boro.
