Back from the game thoughts

A very decent away performance today. I thought we were excellent for the first 25 minutes and looked a very accomplished side. We then had a dodgy 20 minutes leading up to half time when a number of sloppy errors and our tendency to drop deep put us under pressure. After the goal (which was Bates fault and came at the end of a ridiculous 4 minutes of first half injury time) I feared the worst for the second half but we came out and kept them subdued in the second half and probably just shaded it. The goal was simply a fantastic strike worthy of winning any game. Thats 5 wins and a draw from our last 6 aways. With Hull, Blackpool and Barnsley coming up at home I think we will be right in the playoff mix come mid march. and we can most definitely get there.

Player comments:

Marshall - good solid game and one excellent save from a header in the 2nd half.

Bates - not great. You could see he was trying to do the right thing but is lacking match fitness and wanted too much time on the ball. Needs to get his fitness back up to scratch.

Doc - decent. One or two sloppy moments at the end of the first half but him and shack won everything in the air.

Shack - credit where credits due. i phoned up Canary Call after the Bury away game and slated him but since then he has really upped his game and was very good again today. Won everything in the air and seems to have worked on his passing.

Mo - solid. One dodgy moment when he almost headed into his own goal but other than that did nothing wrong.

Bertrand - probably his best game for us. Created the first with some great play and always tidy on the ball and doing the right things. Think he is enjoying himself with us.

Croft - another good game. Looks thinner and worked his socks off.

Fozzy - basically when we had our good spells he was good but when we had our dodgy spell he got caught in possession a few times. When he plays well the team starts to tick.

Russell - very good once again. Great engine. Never loses the ball. Player of the season IMHO.

Dion - another powerhouse perfomance. He and Ched link up really well. one heart in mouth moment when he stretched for a ball in first half and we thought he had done his hamstring.

Ched - action packed game. Looked like first was a deflection. Then missed a sitter to put us two up. Made up for it with that scorcher. His work rate is tremendous and he clearly loves scoring for us. He needs a chant (Bread of Heaven must be a on the cards).

all in all i had settled for a draw and that probably would have been fair but we have goals in us away from home now and that always gives us a chance!

Fans - about 750 I would say. Not a bad effort for 12 on a saturday.

Posted By: Jim, Feb 9, 18:46:30