Now Back To The Real World

So, the Cup is put to bed for another year, we do after all have greater priorities – and haven’t yet stopped laughing about Palace. We can claim that we lasted longer in the Cup this season than anyone else in South London, everyone it seemed had a good night out under the lights, I managed to watch the game with a beIN Sports subscription for a month (which has exposed my partner Suzanne to more football over the next few weeks than she bargained for), Leaburn added to his tally for the season, and the club made some useful money.

We have to hope the fresh concern over the fitness of Bell proves unwarranted, that TC’s injury was nothing serious, and that the absence of Godden from the squad, after expectations had been raised, was just sensible precaution. Otherwise, I’d say we did OK, but not more than that. When you set out to frustrate your opponents – as we did to reasonably good effect for almost all the first half, without giving the impression that a clean sheet was likely – and end up shipping five goals, and your goalkeeper was probably your man of the match, we can’t say we did we especially well defensively. Sure, two of the five were in stoppage time and left a scoreline giving the impression of a hiding that was harsh on us.

My only real disappointments were that having pulled it back to 1-2 we didn’t have a longer period when Chelsea might have got a little edgy, conceding the their third only five minutes later, and that due to the injured list we weren’t able to put out a full-strength team to really test ourselves, whatever team they put out. No matter, it’s all over and done, now attention can return to the transfer window and our chances of staving off relegation.

The old joke about two guys running from a bear and one stops to put on trainers keeps running through my head. (In case anyone doesn’t know it the other guy says it will make no difference as they can’t outrun the bear, to which his companion says I don’t have to outrun the bear, I have to outrun you.) Obviously Sheff Wed take one of the three relegation places. On recent form and having seen them against us, I’ve been inclined to assume that Oxford will take another, although nothing is cut and dried for them at this stage, with a new manager and having just strengthened with the signing of a Brentford midfielder. On that basis, we just need to outrun one other.

The bookies have both Portsmouth and Norwich on shorter odds than us to go down, despite both of them having recently beaten us. We can have no complaints about the Norwich loss; we played poorly and deserved nothing from the game. Like Sheff Utd and Southampton before them, most people will be surprised that Norwich are in the relegation mix; but I’d guess that like the other two they have enough quality to pull themselves up the table. Perhaps that won’t happen, like for Luton last season. But the other two still below us, Blackburn and Portsmouth, are I think a different matter. The three points we dropped – and handed over to them - against them really do rankle.

If we had held for 30 seconds more against Portsmouth and retained the lead to beat Blackburn, we’d be sitting alongside Southampton and Sheff Utd with a nine-point cushion above the third relegation place – instead of now just five. We’d be looking at the January transfer window in a very different light and contemplate signings in the context of what we might need with next season in mind. As it is, having taken only six points from the six-game ‘mini-series’ (preceded by a five-game losing streak), we are in the relegation mix and have to think in those terms.

In both defence and attack we need to either strengthen or adjust. I’d no idea when any of Ramsay, Burke, Bell and Edwards are going to be available again. Jones and his team need to make that assessment (of course I assume they already have). To say we need a left-side wing-back is obvious (as the Roussillon option has for whatever reason just not happened and Hernandez returning is not an option), and a right-side one if Bree is recalled by Southampton (with no sign of Asiimwe being recalled). If say two of Ramsay, Burke and Bell can be relied on to play effectively the rest of the season, fine. But I’d suggest that if that’s too big a risk, either another centre-back is brought in (it’s asking too much of Gough at this stage to be a regular and there’s no indication of Zac Mitchell being recalled) or we change formation.

The 5-3-2/3/5/2 set-up has served us well over the past (very successful) 12 months. But it isn’t written in stone and has disadvantages as well as advantages, like any formation. If we switched to a flat back four we would have the option of playing both Campbell and Arter as outright wingers. Think what a difference that would make to our style of play and the supply to the forwards. As things stand, Campbell is being asked to do his best as a wing-back and Arter is restricted to occasional cameos from the bench. Such a change would restrict the use of Carey/Knibbs/Berry of course, probably Fullah too.

Up front, we just have to wait and see if Dykes ends up with us rather than others. We do need a more physical option to lead the line at times. If we don’t buy Dykes, or someone similar, Jones presumably has to look to recall one or more of Kanu, Mbick, or even Ahadme. Strangely enough I could see the logic for recalling Ahadme. I know he was a big disappointment for us last season, and he isn’t pulling up any trees at Stevenage (one goal, in his first start, in 13 appearances and often not making the squad). But there has to be a footballer in there, we must have seen something we liked to have spent the money on him. Imagine him being called back to play in the Championship, at least on the bench. Surely – if he has anything at all in his locker – he would see that as a massive and probably undeserved opportunity, one to do everything possible to make it a success. May just be wishful thinking on my part of course, but he could add to our options at little or no cost.

Real Opportunity For Big Three Points Not Taken

A massive game today. Win and we would emerge from the six-game mini-series with two wins, two draws, and two defeats – disappointing given the nature of one of the defeats and the opposition but coming on the back of five straight defeats not a disaster. Lose and it would mean having been beaten by Norwich, Portsmouth and Blackburn in quick succession, switching the focus to a record of one win and just five points in 11 games and a slide towards the drop zone. We’d outfought and outplayed Blackburn at The Valley, just needed to do that again, especially with them missing a number of players.

In the event we had to settle for a draw, one which left us with mixed emotions. Just past the half-hour and we were two up, the game seemed there for the taking. But we let them back into it shortly after our second and that gave them something to fight for, then lost Burke through injury and some of our shape and quite frankly didn’t do enough in the second half to merit the win. We might have held on, we might have nicked a third, but for long periods were chasing shadows and unable to hold the ball, let alone do anything with it. They scored again and we are left with no real cause for complaint, just disappointment at not securing a vital win.

Given the performance last time out against Coventry, it was no surprise – barring fresh injuries or need to rest tired limbs - that Jones the Boss went with an unchanged starting X1 and squad. That meant continuing with Campbell as a wing-back, Burke and Bell both just back from injuries being asked to play a third game in a short space of time, Rankin-Costello keeping the midfield slot alongside Coventry ahead of Docherty and Anderson, same for Berry over Carey and Knibbs, and Leaburn and Kelman paired again up front, Olaofe the only recognised forward replacement option (something which we hope changes during the transfer window). It also meant three former Blackburn players lining up for us.

The bulk of the first half was competitive but largely inept from both sides, neither creating a chance of note. Blackburn had a couple of moments, a scramble or two, but rather out of the blue on 27 minutes we took the lead, with the first bit of quality in the game. Campbell and Berry moved the ball from the left side and finally on to Bree in space on the right. His ball into the box was wicked and met by Leaburn. His header came back off the bar but nicely for Kelman to hit home the rebound. And around five minutes later we doubled the advantage. A ball into their box was contested for by Jones and as he went for another touch he appeared to be taken down. The ref thought as much and gave the penalty, which to be fair may have been a bit soft. No matter, Kelman took the responsibility and fired it home.

At that point we really felt that the game was ours. Only two goals and plenty of time left for sure, but Blackburn had shown themselves to be vulnerable at the back and might have had the stuffing knocked out of them. Instead within a few minutes they were back in the game. A move down their right and the ball touched on, then a cross dinked into the box to be met by their guy, who showed better movement and determination to get on the end of it than our defenders.

Them getting one back before the break changed the whole complexion of the game, put them back on the front foot, gave them hope, and left us a little caught between chasing another goal to restore the advantage and concentrating on holding what we had. Losing Burke before the break added to the concerns, leaving us with two left-sided centre-backs out of the three as Gillesphey came on to replace him, while the changes Blackburn made at the break seemed to strengthen them.

And although we had moments in the second half when we might have grabbed a third, we spent most of the time defending and closing down. We did that part of the game pretty well, but it works against being able to do much with the ball when you get it. We just didn’t play enough in their half to make the percentages count and ended up paying for a defensive lapse.

On 58 minutes Jones made a couple more changes, with Docherty and Carey replacing a tiring Rankin-Costello and Berry. On 74 minutes Leaburn went down and was in the process of being replaced when Blackburn drew level. A break down their right resulted in a ball into the box. That was intercepted, but Campbell had switched off and their guy hadn’t, getting to the rebound and this time pulling it back low for their guy to score unimpeded.

Knibbs and Olaofe replaced Coventry and Leaburn, but in the final stages we seldom threatened their goal and seemed ready to welcome the final whistle, which came after five minutes of stoppage time. In truth both sets of players and staff were probably not too unhappy with the outcome, with us looking very tired and Blackburn gaining a point that had looked beyond them.

So the mini-series of six ends with us having won one, drawn three, and lost two, six points from the six games. After we’d beaten Oxford we anticipated better than that, leaving aside the nature of Portsmouth’s win (for the record I went for a few days to Naples for new year, most enjoyable aside from that last kick). Those looking at the table will now be pointing at one win in 11 for us. While the point against Coventry might have been a bonus, not getting the three today is a blow, given the circumstances. We just have to hope that Burke and Leaburn are not sidelined, that one or two are brought in during the window to freshen things up and give some tired legs a rest, and look to go again once the Chelsea game is out of the way.

Must Do Better

Having secured the win over Oxford, there was perhaps less pressure to win again today but a need to build on the result. Don’t lose, preferably keep a clean sheet, or nick all three points and suddenly its all turning into a good festive spell. Nobody at the start of the season expected Norwich to be where they are, but with a change of manager their results have improved and no doubt they’d be determined to give their fans something to cheer about. On paper it looked like one of those which could go any which way, with perhaps the odds on a draw.

In the event we lost, as badly as you can 1-0. Norwich had all the chances there were and we made them look decent with a lacklustre, sluggish and confused performance, one not helped by the substitutions made. There were spells when we had more of the play but we didn’t fashion a chance, had no efforts on target, and gave their defence as easy a time as they must have had all season, especially with a succession of awful balls in from set pieces. The only positives were a fine display by Kaminski to keep the score down and a decent showing from Gough on his full debut. Perhaps Jones the Boss will give some reasons for why we played so poorly, because I’m at a loss to explain.

The team news was a mix of good and bad. Predictably but no less disappointing was the fact that Ramsay was out and added to the injury list, with Gough getting a first start in his place, with Burke back available it seemed but starting on the bench. The good news was that Bell was back and able to start, with Apter’s brief spell as a left-sided wing-back brought to a close. So same formation, just a couple of player changes in defence, with Jones sticking with a midfield trio of Coventry, Anderson and Carey, Docherty kept in reserve, and Leaburn and Olaofe starting up front. Kelman was kept on the bench too, but no doubt would feature at some point, while Campbell and Apter would both be available to run at tiring defenders.

Norwich dominated pretty much from the start. Nothing really unusual in that, we’ve seen games where we began slowly and worked our way into it. But Norwich were finding space going forward quite easily and we often had trouble clearing our lines. Kaminski was first called into action on five minutes with a good save from a low shot, then on 13 could only watch as their first guy mishit from a good position only for it to run kindly for their main forward, whose shot cannoned back off the post.

We did have a spell when we managed to pass the ball to each other, and just before the half-hour Carey drove down the right and played it to Olaofe, who powered past his marker but was just unable to square the ball into the box. But it was Norwich again with the next actual chance, a messy affair from a corner resulting in their guy hooking the ball over on the turn from a good position. Kaminski came to the rescue again on 38 minutes, getting a touch to another shot to turn it behind.

At the break it was 62/38 possession in their favour, with Norwich having seven attempts on goal, three on target, against our three and zero. You felt we might actually be the more pleased of the sides as we were not losing when we could easily have been and surely we would improve in the second half.

Indeed, in the first minute of the second we thought things might take a turn for the better. From Kaminski’s long ball forward from the start Carey was taken out and we had a free kick central just outside the box. A bit too close to be confident of getting over and down, and Norwich had a guy lying down behind the wall. Bree and Gillesphey discussed it and eventually Bree hit a lame effort about chest height into the wall.

That proved to be our best moment. A couple of minutes later their strong centre-forward powered past Gough on the left side and his ball into the box somehow wasn’t converted. On 59 minutes Jones the Boss made the first two changes, with Campbell and Dochety replacing Bell and Anderson. Made sense to not expect Bell to play out a full game, Campbell slotting in as left-side wing-back, and you felt we’d be less open through midfield with Docherty on.

We didn’t get the chance to find out as within a minute we were losing. Poor, scrappy goal, bit unlucky, as a low ball into the box was contested by Jones and their centre-forward. It dropped for the latter on his right side and from there he was able to plant it beyond Kaminski.

We didn’t recover and for the final 30 minutes or so Norwich were more likely to add to their lead than we were to level it up. Bree’s corners had been very poor and it was no surprise when Carey stepped up to take one, but he just played it short to Bree who sent in another poor delivery. On 70 minutes Apter and Kelman were brought on for Leaburn and Olaofe. Apter went to the left side and Campbell sent further forward, and suddenly from relying on long balls forward to two big forwards we seemed confused as to what to do now.

Kaminski made another good save before we made our final change, Berry coming on for Coventry. We were desperate now and it showed, Norwich having ample space on the break. There was a moment going into just three minutes of stoppage time as Campbell crossed from the left and Berry contested it with their defender, who seemed to almost divert it past his own keeper, only for a foul to be given against Berry in any event. Shortly after that it was all over, still without us having registered an effort on target.

The temptation is to forget this one as soon as possible and just prepare for the Portsmouth game. But surely there needs to be some explanation for just why we were so poor and why the attempts to change things on the pitch failed so badly. Norwich may be an improving side but they were you’d say still below par for the Championship – which says enough about us on this showing at least. Just write at the bottom of the report ‘must do better’. We really must.

 

Subs Make The Difference For Very Welcome Win

I don’t go along with those suggesting that today’s game was a ‘must win’. Far too early in the season for those. That said, it was a bloody important one to win (and for sure not to lose). The games against Southampton, Middlesbrough, Stoke and Coventry had sent the message that – at least if not at full strength and playing to our full potential – there are teams in this division better than us. We needed today to remind ourselves that there are a decent number who – by the same criteria – are worse than us, to renew our confidence in our ability to be competitive in the Championship – or to put it bluntly not to go back down. When you’re going into the game 19th in the league, albeit with a game or two in hand, the immediate priorities when coming up against one of the five below you are pretty obvious. Only problem was they’d have the same thoughts.

Glory be we got the win. It was deserved as through the game we created the real opportunities. If we’d taken the lead earlier in the game you’d have fancied us to go on and score more. As it was, with 10 minutes or so (20 as it proved given the stoppage time) we were still not in front, having not converted any of the chances. Whatever had happened before, if we failed to win, or worse conceded one and lost, we’d have had nobody to blame but ourselves. But we did get one and that proved to be enough.

For the team/squad the first question was the same as before: who will be back available? The answer was some good news, with Kelman back in the squad, but still no sign of the others. The indication from the club site ahead of the game was that it would be a back five in front of Kaminski – Gillesphey, Jones and Ramsay flanked by Bree and Apter as wing-backs. It would be Coventry, Anderson and Carey in midfield, with Docherty still on the bench, and Leaburn and Olaofe up front. Meant we would be holding our breath if any central defender went down, with Gough and Roussillon, both untried, the only defensive cover, while Apter at wing-back is always about whether his offensive capabilities can overcome unavoidable defensive shortfalls. No doubt Oxford would be aware of this.

Oxford did start more purposefully than us, winning a series of throws to enable the ball to be planted into our box and going pretty long to win them. We struggled to get anything going in the first 20 minutes, but as the game progressed we started to take control and to link up better in the final third. Leaburn started to win arial battles and some decent balls in were coming from both flanks.

It still took 30 minutes before we had our first real sight of goal. Ramsay broke up play on our right and played the ball on to Olaofe, who touched it on well for Bree to get on the end of. The shot was decent but from a narrow angle (with no other options available) and their keeper saved easily enough. A few minutes after that we really should have been ahead. We caught them on the hop and a ball was played square for Olaofe to run on the edge of the box. His first touch was heavy and it almost ran away from him. He did manage to get in the strike but too close to their keeper, only then for Carey to prod the rebound over the bar. Between them they should have scored. Our third opening came right at the end of the half as Carey burst into the box but shot just wide with their keeper having no chance.

At the break the stats showed that for once we’d had the majority of possession, 54/46, with seven efforts on goal (two on target) against their three (and one, a shot easily saved by Kaminski). We were rather frustrated not to be ahead, the objective being to continue as before only this time score; they will probably have felt reasonably pleased, being still in the game.

Like the first half, Oxford started brighter than us in the second. And for a period again of 10 minutes or so were on top and had moments when with a little more quality and composure in front of goal they might have taken the lead. It took a desperate intervention by Bree to prevent their guy from scoring on 52 minutes and one or two other balls into the box caused some panic.

However, like before we weathered that period and were soon back in control. Apter had a shot well saved, then a long ball into their box went over their defender’s head but Leaburn, perhaps taken by surprise, was unable to control it. And on 60 minutes we had Kelman on for Olaofe. On 63 minutes Bree and Casey caused trouble down the right, the low cross being put behind for a corner, then on 71 minutes Jones the Boss made more changes, with Docherty and Campbell coming on for Anderson and Apter (who’d done well enough attacking them but still looked like a fish out of water playing wing-back on the left side).

Almost immediately TC almost put us in front, cutting in from the wing and sending in the familiar curler, with just not quite enough curl on it to find the net. And finally, on 77 minutes, did get the all-important goal, one all about the substitutes. Campbell played the ball inside to Coventry, who returned it. TC played a deft ball in for Kelman. He took a touch to steady himself before firing a low shot into the far corner. It was the sort of finish we bought him for and something we’ve been badly missing of late.

That still left some time for Oxford to get back into it, and understandably they made changes to try to put the pressure on. We didn’t sit back as such, but were progressively in more defensive mode. Jones took one for the team with another yellow, then put in a great challenge to deny them. Ramsay, who’d gone down earlier in the half but managed to continue, went down again and this time there would be no chance of staying on (we dearly hope it won’t prove to be something serious). After some confusion Gough was, as before, lined up to replace him, only for the game to resume without him on the pitch. Kaminski went down holding his stomach and that bought the time to get him on.

We weren’t exactly thrilled to see the announcement of nine added minutes. But in truth we saw the game out well, avoiding any real scares, with Gough playing his part.

Now we can breathe more easily, looking back on the game and the post-match table. The Birmingham draw wouldn’t have been any turning point unless we won today. As it is we’ve won, for the first time in a while, and put points between us and the relegation zone. That’s all we could do today, so boxes ticked on all fronts, including a clean sheet – and the return of a forward that could make a big difference. We just have to hope that isn’t balanced by the loss of Ramsay for the games ahead.

Forward Conumdrums And Options

TC’s goal yesterday and Leaburn’s bad miss rather levelled things up for our forwards, in what I imagine is a very strange fashion. Now 20 games into the league campaign, and in pretty much all of them we’ve been playing two up top, and each of the forwards – Leaburn, Olaofe, Campbell and Kelman – have registered one goal apiece, while the fifth, Godden, has yet to make it on the pitch. We’ve had plenty of seasons before when our leading goalscorer has been in single figures, and we do have Carey and Knibbs scoring, but I doubt we've had one when all of the forwards were stuck on one goal with nearly half the campaign over.

There are, for sure, mitigating factors. First and foremost, we don’t play in a freeflowing style that results in chances aplenty for the forwards. Coventry we are not, at the moment. So while Leaburn’s miss was a bad one, it’s not the case that the forwards have been wasting glorious opportunities (I’d suggest that a few one on ones not converted by Olaofe in particular are the exception). Most of the time they are feeding off scraps against tough, seasoned defenders. But even compared with last season we are missing key strengths. Godden is our best natural finisher, the best at sniffing an opportunity and getting in the right place to benefit. Kelman improved after a sticky start, scored his first, then got injured and has not been available since. Last season, when we needed a battering ram to change games, we had (sometimes) Aneke. We know why we didn’t retain him (and so far one goal in 10 games for Shrewsbury doesn’t look like a great return), just that neither Leaburn nor Olaofe can match his physical presence when that's needed for a final 20 minutes or so.

For all of the strikers we’ve had available this season the Championship marks a step up for them. And it’s fair to say that they have all struggled to have a significant impact, especially as without Godden and Kelman the opportunities for a rest/rotation have been very limited – and as Jones commented he’s been asking Campbell to play second forward, left-side wing-back, right winger. When Jones and his team strengthened the squad over the summer, in goal they brought in Kaminski, aged 33 and well versed in playing in the Championship. In defence they added Burke and Bell, later Bree and now Roussillon, all experienced players for whom the Championship doesn’t mark a step up. In midfield Rankin-Costello came in, while Docherty and Berry played for many years at this level. We did add Carey, Knibbs and Apter, for whom it is a step up. Up front, we did good business bringing in Kelman and Olaofe, but with Godden not available nobody playing for us up front has experience of the Championship. Leaburn is still learning how to lead the line at Championship level (and wasn’t a regular starter last season), Campbell how to adjust facing tougher opponents than last season.

So given all this it is perhaps not surprising that we have struggled in the forwards department. The question is what, if anything, to do about it.

First option as always is to do nothing. If Godden and Kelman are about to return, we will be back to having numbers and options. Second, if the agreements allow, Kanu and/or Mbick could be called back from loan. Kanu has notched nine goals in 16 appearances for Walsall, picking up the EFL Young Player of the Month award in September, on Saturday scoring again in a game against Aneke’s Shrewsbury. Mbick has so far scored five in 14 for Colchester. But they are on loan as part of their development process, to return to us as better players; and there would be a strong chance that moving up from League Two to the Championship would be challenging for them.

Third, we bring in one or two more. Where from? We know Jones doesn’t like loan players, but there’s a time and a place. Drafting in a promising youngster from a Premiership side surely has to be considered, since shelling out significant amounts in January for a forward is normally considered bad business.

I’m not paid to come up with the answers, but bottom line is we need more than we currently have, not least to help those being called on to play game in, game out. Either Godden and Kelman are back available, or Kanu or Mbick brought back, or we sign one or two, either on loan or permanent. If it is the last option, surely we will be looking for someone with either Championship experience or currently with a Premiership side.

Hard-Earned Point More Than Welcome

Went into this one with pretty much the same priorities as against Middlesbrough: first and foremost, stop the rot, the run of defeats, keep a clean sheet, a draw acceptable in the circumstances, but a win would be so welcome. We emerged with a point, thanks to a big second-half effort and a first for the season for Campbell. At half-time we would have been delighted with that, having been by some way second-best (even though we had the best chance of the game to that point). And post-match it still feels like a very decent outcome, something to build on.

Once again we waited for the team news in the hope that somebody would be back available – and again we were disappointed on that front. But there were changes from Tuesday night, with Anderson, Fullah and Olaofe all starting, with Knibbs, Berry and Campbell dropped to the bench. The indication from the club site was that it would be a back five, with Ramsay, Jones and Gillesphey flanked by Fullah and Bree. Seemed odd that Roussillion didn’t get the nod, but we’ve no idea how he is shaping up. It would be Coventry, Anderson and Carey in midfield, with Docherty not getting back in and Carey left to exploit the more forward position (as opposed to the strange choice for Middlesbrough to have him, Knibbs and Berry in the team), while we would have both Leaburn and Olaofe up front, meaning that Campbell would be the only possible change up front.

Whether Campbell was being rested, given a break in light of a fair bit of criticism, or Jones saw something to exploit in the Birmingham line-up wasn’t clear. It did mean a very lopsided bench with very little in the way of defensive or forward cover but an abundance of midfielders, but with the injuries we have that was at least understandable.

Birmingham did give us a lesson in the first-half, although unlike Southampton and Stoke didn’t complete the task. In fact having taken the lead just before 30 minutes were up they seemed to ease up a gear and we did come more into it. In that first 30 minutes Stansfield and Gray looked capable of scoring at any point. Birmingham dealt easily enough with our press and moved the ball quickly; by contrast we were ponderous when we did have the ball and caused them no problems, usually forced into giving the ball away or hitting hopeful balls forward, with Leaburn and Olaofe getting no change out of their centre-backs.

On 22 minutes Gray, who’d already had a shot or two blocked, cut inside and sent in another effort, this one coming back off the post with Kaminski a spectator. They had looked dangerous from the start with corners and it was from a set piece that we went behind. Anderson gave away a free kick on their right. It was sent into the box, and one of their centre-backs rose highest and sent it back across Kaminski and into the far corner. It was an excellent header, but a poor goal from our perspective, with the guy simply getting in between Gillesphey and Ramsay, who failed to get off the ground or make an effective challenge.

From that platform you felt that Birmingham might go on and get a second to all but kill off the game. Instead they seemed to take a breather and the game became more even. And out of nowhere we really should have levelled it. They mishit a pass across their defence and Olaofe was able to get to the ball first, then deliver a low ball into the box. With Birmingham having been pushing up Leaburn was on his own and simply had to score. Instead, with their keeper applying a bit of pressure, he put it well over the bar. We had been given the opportunity but didn’t take it.

Birmingham did raise it again just before the break and we were hanging on rather, probably aware that a second then would be, as at Coventry, a real body blow. We did avoid conceding again. The stats at the break reflected the balance of play in that they had 61% possession and had 17 attempts on goal, three on target, against three and zero for us. Just that one of our three should have gone into the net.

The second half was a more even affair, as by hook or by crook we managed to make it messy, preventing Birmingham from asserting dominance again. And they made the mistake of upsetting Olaofe. On 54 minutes Fullah – who put in a good shift as wing-back – put in a poor cross which their keeper gathered easily. Olaofe challenged rather clumsily and ended up on the ground, where the keeper and a defender tried to keep him. When Olaofe got to his feet he was clearly upset, but their keeper disgraced himself by going down as if poleaxed. It was a clear attempt to get a red card, which fortunately the ref saw through and gave him a yellow as well as Olaofe.

On 63 minutes Jones made a couple of changes, with Campbell coming on for Fullah and Rankin-Costello for Coventry. And having been on the pitch all season and not scoring, within three minutes of coming on TC had pulled us level. Olaofe, still chomping at the bit, had the ball on our right and nutmegged his opponent, getting to the byline. His low cross was deflected by the keeper and sat up nicely for Campbell, who had time to wait for it to come down before putting it away. He was in the right place at the right time.

It was interesting to see how Birmingham would respond, now having to go out and win the game again. And to be fair they did put us under the cosh for most of the rest of the game. On 70 minutes Gray evaded Bree and went on another run through our defence, hit another curler, but this one came back off the bar with Kaminski beaten.

Docherty replaced Carey, a fair indication that we were more intent on holding what we had, and bodies were now being put on the line. The game got heated, with Docherty taken out late by a bad challenge, followed quickly by Stansfield getting to a ball out of defence first and moving it down the line, past Anderson. Anderson did what he needed to do and pulled him down. The Birmingham fans howled for a red (we did have cover) while Olaofe came over and congratulated Anderson on a job well done. We did have moments, especially when Rankin-Costello went past three on the left but played a poor ball inside. But it was pretty much all them. Late on Olaofe and Anderson were both spent and Knibbs and Laqeretabua replaced them.

Birmingham’s final opportunity came just before the end of normal time as Knibbs pulled back one of theirs a little outside the box. It was there for Gray to hit another curler. This time Kaminski read it and was able to turn it around for a corner. We saw out six minutes of stoppage time.

It is something to build on. There was character and effort on display from all and most important we ended the run of defeats. Jones must feel some relief tonight (especially as his namesake seemed OK after an early injury scare, heaven only knows what would have happened had he had to leave the field). Whether the performance and point prove to be a turning point we can’t say as yet. But there was enough on display to suggest that it may well be.

Disappointing Night On The Pitch

I can’t claim the honour to have known Norman Barker, only to have noticed him and been aware of his presence at games at The Valley and elsewhere. So full and proper tributes to him should come from others. That said, it is truly something that an individual can elicit universal acclaim and respect, not just from fellow Addicks. I hope that the genuine warmth and appreciation of him that has been expressed in various forums since Saturday provides some comfort for his family and friends. To that we should add thanks to the Middlesbrough fans last night for fully respecting his tribute. RIP Norman.

Facing the team second in the league, albeit at home, on the back of a run of four consecutive defeats, at least two of which were routs, and with none of the players out injured returning was always going to be a tough task. With the Portsmouth game taken out of the equation, we went into it with the primary task of not losing, keeping a clean sheet. Middlesbrough may have been sitting second in the table, but a record of 28 goals in 19 games doesn’t point to an especially potent attack, their strength being at the other end, where they’d conceded just 20. So on paper it pointed to a cagey affair.

In the event we were well beaten by a better side. The first half wasn’t a repeat of Southampton, but without Kaminski it might have been. We registered 28% possession and were almost entirely unable to do anything with the ball in the brief periods we had it, the foul on Berry in the box which should have resulted in a penalty the major exception. Our only complaints about being two down at the break were the nature of their goals, reflecting errors on our part, and the fact that we almost got back into the dressing room only losing by one, which might have made it a different game.

The second half was a different story, but only to the extent that we made a fight of it having made three changes (a manager cannot really talk about bringing on ‘game changers’ when he makes a triple substitution to start the second half, rather it is a reflection of the game plan having not worked), while Middlesbrough played within themselves, content with what they had. We pulled one back late on and might, just might, have equalised, but that would have been a truly great – and unmerited - escape.  

The team was always going to be of some interest, whether Jones would stick with the team/squad he chose for Portsmouth, whether different opposition merited adjustment, and whether the extra few days might be sufficient for Bell and one or two others to be back available (they were not). I’ll make no bones about it, the team which took the pitch on Saturday was not one I would have chosen, but that’s neither here nor there. Jones is paid to make the calls, can assess what things look like on the training ground, and has forgotten more about football than I will ever know.

Jones did indeed make changes from Saturday. In came Knibbs, Berry and Leaburn for Hernandez (apparently out with a hamstring injury), Anderson (a bit tough to get dropped after getting a first start in the Championship and playing 12 minutes), and Olaofe. It meant a flat back four – of Bree, Jones, Gillesphey and Ramsay – and a four-man midfield – Coventry, Knibbs, Carey and Berry – and two up front – Leaburn and Campbell. On the bench Gough returned, there was a spot for Roussillon, both bolstering the defensive options, with Anderson, Rankin-Costello and Docherty, plus Olaofe, Apter and Fullah also available. My first thought was that we might be a little short of height (and muscle), not least for set pieces, perhaps that Roussillon might have started at left-back, with an out-of-position Ramsay coming on during the game, and that having all three of Knibbs, Carey and Berry – players which might normally be considered to be rivals for the more advanced midfield slot – might leave us vulnerable. But it wasn’t as if we were blessed with options.

Whatever the thinking was behind the team selection, it didn’t work. Middlesbrough dominated from the start, the first of Kaminski’s excellent saves coming in the third minute (to turn a powerful shot over the bar), the second in the seventh. We did have a couple of moments in between, with a cross not quite finding Carey and then Carey putting in a shot well struck but too close to the keeper (and no West Brom error this time). Otherwise it was all them.

With the plan not working out, just before the half hour we had a tactical Kaminski injury and sidelines discussion that resulted in a switch to a back five, with Campbell the left-side wing back, Ramsay moved back over to the right side of a central three, and Berry pushed further forward to operate alongside Leaburn. But a few minutes later we were behind.

On 32 minutes Carey was robbed of the ball and Middlesbrough sprang forward, leading to a shot saved by Kaminski. We didn’t learn the lesson as a minute later he was again dispossessed by a high press. This time the ball went to the right side, from there a low cross and a guy in space to casually score. For all their good play, the goal came from our error, albeit one forced by their press.

Curiously, a couple of minutes later we might have been back level. A ball forward in the air was flicked on for Berry to run onto inside their box. In real time it looked soft as their defender challenged and Berry went down, you can understand why the officials didn’t give it. But the replays were clear. Contact resulting in Berry not being able to get to the ball, should have been a penalty.

On 40 minutes Campbell received the ball wide left and skinned his first opponent, going on to put in a cross put behind for a corner. That corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble. But as we moved towards the end of stoppage time, with thoughts about how to improve in the second half, the ball went across their box to our left side. Campbell put in a weak challenge for what looked like a 50-50, their defender being by far the more determined. That left a good deal of space for him to run into, good movement ahead of him ended with their guy firing home from a tight angle. At the time it felt like a real body blow.

These details might give the impression that the game was fairly evenly balanced. They leave out long periods when we were chasing shadows and giving the ball away cheaply when we did get it. The goals may have been the result of errors, but nobody could deny that 0-2 at the break was a fair reflection of the game.

Jones decided to take off Carey, Knibbs and – rather more surprisingly (perhaps related to the yellow card situation?) – Coventry, bringing on Docherty, Anderson and Fullah. The changes pointed to greater resolution in midfield and begged the question why we had started with three number 10s. The fact that they failed to gel raised an obvious question, on what grounds did we expect them to?

We did improve after the break, the game becoming a scrappy but competitive affair. Middlesbrough gave every impression of feeling they had done enough, that they were quite likely to extend their lead but would focus on keeping things tight, which their defensive record indicates they are good at. We had flashes, the occasional moment, but it was still Kaminski making the saves.

On 66 minutes Olaofe was brought on for Berry, to provide greater muscle and height up front. And on 77 minutes it was Apter for Bree, that change reflecting the fact that we had a game to chase. And it paid off quickly as on 80 minutes Apter sent in a teasing cross from the right which might have been put in by Leaburn but ended up as an own goal.

We now had 10 minutes plus to pull something out of the bag. And we did fashion one more chance, with a long ball forward missed by Leaburn and his marker and Olaofe running in behind. It wasn’t easy but under pressure he shot over. And with Middlesbrough quite adept at running down the clock that proved to be it.

Perhaps the worst thing about last night was that there might be signs that we – fans and players – are becoming too accustomed to losing. Five on the spin, with a goal difference of four for and 14 against, it hard to argue against. We know the squad is stretched thin, that we badly miss Edwards, Burke, Bell, Godden and Kelman; and we know we’ve played very good teams. What (IMO) hasn’t helped has been some questionable – to the extent that in hindsight they haven’t worked – team selections. The impression given was that Hernandez would have started last night if he was fit, despite him not being in any way suited to a wing-back role, and Jones chose a midfield that was short on bite. That only changed when Anderson and Docherty were brought on.

Jones will have to come up with another plan for Saturday at Birmingham. Here too it surely has to be based on prioritising keeping a clean sheet. Hopefully more players will be available and increase the options, but whether or not we have to be dogged and resolute and build from that.