More Reason To Believe, For Different Reasons

So soon after Saturday’s demolition of Huddersfield all we wanted was more of the same, for the result first and foremost and preferably the performance too. We knew we needed all three points if faint hopes of automatic promotion were to be sustained, with little expectation that Cambridge and Shrewsbury might do us a favour and take points off Wrexham and Wycombe respectively.

In the event we got the points, and unexpectedly the bonus of narrowing the gap to second by a couple of points. Did we get the performance? Yes and no. No, in the sense that there was very little that was beautiful in the game, with plenty of moments for both teams but very few real chances (even if you include the gift for our first goal). Yes, in the sense that we again showed admirable resolve and determination against equally committed opponents (on Saturday we won just about all the individual battles and nearly all the 50-50s, but Mansfield made that impossible), put bodies on the line, and fashioned a winner at a time when the match could have gone either way. We found a way to win.

Ahead of the game the issues for the team/squad had nothing to do with possible changes with improvement in mind, more a case of were there any legs in need of rest or knocks picked up from Saturday not yet overcome (we knew we would still be without Maynard-Brewer, Leaburn and Kanu). And turns out there was one, with Jones not recovering in time from a ‘minor calf injury’, McIntyre stepped into some pretty big shoes, with Mitchell taking the vacant place on the bench. No reflection at all on McIntyre but this was not welcome news, given Jones’ dominant display at the weekend and the risk of the enforced change having an unsettling effect. That the impact proved to be at the margins was down to a display from McIntyre that was all we could have asked for.

The game began with almost a carbon copy of Saturday’s explosive start. Campbell down the left sent in a good cross and Small, under pressure, couldn’t deliver the sort of finish that Godden had, heading wide. No matter, we bossed the early exchanges and looked quite likely to take the lead, even though Mansfield were causing us some problems, drawing free-kicks and with them scrambles in the box. But after around 20 minutes, just when it seemed our early advantage might count for nothing, after Small had cut inside and had a shot saved, we were handed the lead.

They tried to play out from the back but with a decent press their guy facing his own goal seemed to believe either that his ball back to the keeper would evade Godden or that he wasn’t there. Given the ball on the edge of the area and nobody around him, Godden drew the keeper, sent him the wrong way, and planted it comfortably into the net for his 14th league goal of the season (and now a strike rate of 144 minutes per goal, against 161 for May).

With minds perhaps turning back to Saturday, after that we maybe eased up a little. In any event Mansfield responded well to going behind and upped their effort, pushing us back. Before the half-hour it seemed to everyone watching that they had indeed equalised. A shot from the right side seemed to have found the net, only for it to prove it had gone wide, hit a post behind the goal, and ran along the back of the net. The relief didn’t last for long, however, as on 39 minutes they did draw level. We failed to deal decisively with another free-kick. It was headed out but only to find a guy inside the area who hit it cleanly on the half-volley, past a thicket of players and in off the bar, with Mannion having no chance.

From then until half-time we probably had our worst spell of the game as Mansfield, their tails up and backed by the crowd, might have taken the lead. Passes were going astray, Mansfield were doing a good job of crowding out Campbell and Small, leaving no easy outlet for balls forward, and their pressing was causing confusion in our half. Mannion was called on to make saves, in particular after a poor ball in midfield saw us lose possession, and there’s no doubt we were the happier side to get into the dressing room and regroup.

The half-time stats showed we had had the majority of possession (58/42); but five attempts on goal, three on target for us (including the gifted goal), against four and three for them reflected a tight tussle.

We did seem to have steadied ourselves after the break, but struggled to create real openings. Both sides were well aware of the importance of the next goal. We did have moments. A Small cross caused confusion and from the resulting corner a scramble resulted in a shot, possibly from Edwards, cleared off the line. Otherwise it was a grim battle and increasingly you had the feeling that the outcome could well be decided by the changes made by both sides.

Jones made his move on 67 minutes, with Aneke and Anderson introduced for Berry and Edwards. This meant Campbell moving over to the right and Small back to the left, although just what formation that resulted in is a matter of debate. One thing that did change is that Campbell, who had struggled to get the better of his marker on the left side, started to find more space, even if this usually resulted in him being pulled down, occasionally getting a free-kick for his pains.

Mansfield had moments too, with a superb Ramsay interception required to prevent a cross falling to one of theirs. But it was us who broke the deadlock on 74 minutes. The ball was worked well on the left, with Godden helping it on to Aneke. Chuks moved across the edge of the area and played it wider to Campbell. He took it on the outside and drilled a fierce shot low inside the near post and into the net. It was well taken, although if it was us we would be questioning whether it was a goalkeeping error, being beaten by a shot at the near post.

That still left 15 minutes plus to play out. Not surprisingly Mansfield made further changes, including planting Flint to contest balls in the air, and threw the kitchen sink at us. The defence stood up to the challenge. On 77 minutes Campbell went down with what looked like cramp and was replaced by Watson, to help shore things up, and later Mitchell came on for Small with similar intent. With Mansfield chasing the game there was the opportunity to hit them on the break, although without Campbell and with Aneke not able to outrun their defenders we couldn’t easily make use of the space.

On 80 minutes we had a repeat of the first-half incident with it appearing as if the ball had gone in, this time a shot from Godden. Understandably in the final minutes we were more intent on playing out time, although in the first of five minutes of stoppage time we almost had a goal of the season contender as a ball found Aneke on the right side a long way from goal and, with seemingly few other options, he hit an outrageous shot which required a good save. That proved to be the last meaningful moment and once again this season – in sharp contrast to previous campaigns – we had seen out a game with a one-goal advantage to take the points.

Did we deserve to win? On the balance of play and number of half-chances you’d have to say it was all pretty even. And they won’t be forgetting that they handed us the lead. But in the final analysis, when the game was there to be won, it was us who scored the goal.

We can’t tell yet how significant the three points will prove to be (obviously they kept us above Stockport, narrowed the gap to Wrexham and Wycombe, and increased our chances of at least a play-off spot). We move on to Saturday and another home game, against Lincoln, who like Mansfield and Peterborough before them would appear to have nothing but pride (and contracts?) to play for, but will no doubt provide another tough test. Wycombe travel to Reading, who badly need a win to revitalise their play-off hopes, while Wrexham will be at home to Burton, who desperately need a win for different reasons.

Whether we can further narrow the gap, perhaps shake free of Stockport at the same time, of course all remains to be seen. But as on Saturday we can take heart from what the team did last night, albeit for different reasons.

Starting To Believe?

I was away for the weekend in Bristol for a jolly with friends. But I’m pleased to say that, thanks to the kindness of the bar lady in the Sportsmans bar I was settled in front of a large TV with a glass of red in plenty of time to enjoy Small’s peach of a cross and Godden’s superb run and header. Several celebratory glasses later I was able, like all other Addicks, to settle back and appreciate what was without question an outstanding performance, from start to finish, in all departments.

I can’t remember a game in which we won such a high percentage of contested balls (leaving aside the dreadful challenge on Ramsay in the first half, which was surely a borderline red never mind a foul), or so many aerial contests at the back. At the same time we had weapons going forward, most obviously Campbell, that Huddersfield were utterly unable to deal with. I’ve seen the comments from Huddersfield fans bemoaning their display, but we simply never gave them a sniff. Towards the end we were hoping for the clean sheet to be maintained, not so much for goal difference and the accumulated total but rather because our display deserved to be written of in terms of such an emphatic scoreline.

No doubt there were several factors behind why it was so good. Jones will have demanded a response after Peterborough and the players gave him that. Perhaps we caught Huddersfield on a bad day (their form looks patchy of late). And no question it helps when you take the lead with a superb goal in the first minute.

The irony of course is that the day overall saw our chances of automatic promotion further eroded as another round of games was chalked off with no narrowing of the gap to Wycombe and Wrexham. Nothing as yet we can do about that. And it’s not as if tonight’s fixtures on paper raise our hopes. We travel to Mansfield, who may be starting to think about their summer holidays but have won their last two and only lost one in their last six, while Wrexham are at Cambridge and Wycombe host Shrewsbury, with both opponents some way adrift of safety at the bottom and perhaps starting to prepare for League Two.

But this is football, of course you never know. We can only concentrate on maintaining the standard on display on Saturday and keeping our fingers crossed for the other games, keeping the fact that we still have to play both Wycombe and Wrexham in the back of our minds. Would be nice for Stockport to fall away to give us more breathing space, but they are at home to Stevenage, who have lost two and drawn two of their last four.

All that aside, we can still take heart from Saturday. I remember the 1997/98 season. It was in March when we beat Notts Forest 4-2 at The Valley, having previously tonked them in the FA Cup, that I think we really started to believe. We all know what happened at the end of that one.

Some Issues To Ponder In Defeat

Only thought ahead of yesterday’s game was ‘can we just keep this going’? Post another three points and see how the other results fall. But this was never going to be a ‘gimme’. It was only in February that we needed a last-gasp Gillesphey header to win the game at The Valley; and since then Peterborough have got their act together to steer clear of the relegation zone, with three wins and three draws in their last six, more the sort of form that most expected from them through the season. Against that, perhaps, just perhaps, they might feel they had done their job, safe for another season in League One – and with a Wembley game in April to look forward to, no sense in risking injury.

Fat chance. We came a cropper in this one, much as we had done at Rotherham and even with a repeat of the frailties in evidence against Wigan, this time more costly due to the quality of the opposition. And with hindsight tactically we played into their hands. I’ve no doubt the game would have turned out very different if we had scored first, which for the first 30 minutes or so was entirely possible, in an open game in which both sides were dangerous going forward. But we didn’t, conceded a goal as a result of a string of errors, compounded the error by getting caught on the break for a second before half-time. Then in the second, having come close to getting the goal back which might again have changed things, were carved open several times as we chased the game. Their third was no surprise and ended the game as a contest.

Ahead of the game there was again a little uncertainty over the team as we didn’t know if Edwards would be ready to return. Seems he wasn’t as Jones announced an unchanged starting XI, which meant Watson retained as the right-side wing-back and Small staying on the left. The changes came on the bench as new signing (one that escaped me, but veteran Australian keeper) Bouzanis replaced Reid as Mannion’s back-up, while Gilbert and Aneke were back among the subs, Mitchell and an apparently injured Leaburn dropping out of the squad, with Enslin keeping his place. A little surprising to have only McIntyre as a defensive replacement but three midfield options (Enslin, Anderson and Gilbert), but there you go.

Again, the opening 30 minutes were entertaining and with half-chances at both ends it was anyone’s game. We seemed to be dominant and winning most individual battles, but at the same time they found space every time they attacked and with more composure might easily have scored one or two. Early on a Jones header did come back off the bar, then a long ball from Gillesphey found Berry, who headed down for Godden only for the defender to get there first, and after that Coventry chipped to the far post and Docherty just failed to convert it. Our press was leading to any number of interceptions, keeping them on the back foot. Campbell cut inside only for his shot to be saved, then he squared for Berry, only for his shot to be saved. Watson nodded back a cross which Godden then couldn’t quite get on the end of.

All promising, but we didn’t actually score, while Peterborough gave a few indications that when they broke the were a real threat. And on 35 minutes the game changed, for the worse. Gillesphey made a mess of taking the ball forward and was dispossessed. The ball in fell to Ramsay facing his own goal and with uncertainty over whether he should pass it back, shield it for Mannion, or just hoof it anywhere to clear the lines. That last option was the one surely he should have taken. Instead, with it clear that Mannion was going to get there, he passed it back. Mannion, inexplicably, had gone to ground and could only embarrassingly gather the ball, giving the referee no option other than to give an indirect free kick inside the area for a back pass. Each of Gillesphey, Ramsay and Mannion has to take a share of the blame.

The free-kick understandably saw a wall of every Charlton player ready to try to block the shot after the tap, which it did. But the ball wasn’t truly cleared and with so many players around we were still in a state of confusion as the ball was played back in the air to the left side. Their guy read it well and moved onto it, to rise unchallenged to head beyond Mannion into the net, with Watson adding his name to the culpable by failing to get in a challenge let alone head clear.

We might have levelled things up. Campbell got to the byline and pulled it back only for Berry to shoot over with Docherty behind him probably in a better position. Then Campbell played in Small on the right (he and Watson having switched sides after the goal). He went on the outside only for his decent shot to be saved. Instead we were sucker punched. From our corner a simple, quick break had us scrambling back. Odoh received it on their left and faced with Coventry was able to turn inside and curl one into the far corner of the net. All entirely planned from their perspective, horrible from ours.

At the break we had had nine efforts on goal to their five. Both sides had two on target, with one obvious difference. And we had a mountain to climb.

OK, but we also knew that if we could get one back the picture would change again. A Small cross to the far post just evaded everyone, as did a low cross from Watson. The a long ball from Gillesphey dropped for Berry around the edge of the box and he tried to chip the keeper on the volley. It might have been goal of the season, but went over the bar. Then we had another warning as Peterborough broke and it all opened up again for them, only for their guy to curl his shot over the bar.

On 54 minutes Aneke was introduced for Watson, which meant a change to 4-4-2, Ramsay and Small the full-backs. And almost immediately he headed over at the far post. However, the change in formation left us even more stretched at the back, and over the next 20 minutes Peterborough had some gilt-edged opportunities to make the game safe. From a squared ball their guy shot hopelessly over, then another was in at the far post only for Mannion to save with his feet. We made more changes on 68 minutes, with Gilbert and McIntyre on for Berry and Godden, but the Peterborough chances kept coming.

Finally on 78 minutes it was three. Campbell gave the ball away and yet again they had numbers over going forward. This time it was played wide and the guy pulled it back across goal to another unmarked. This time the ball was put into the net. And that was that. Ahadme and Anderson came on for Campbell and Coventry, but that looked more like resting players for another day, as this one was lost.

So, what went wrong and what can we learn? First, there is an element of just taking it on the chin and moving on. For the most part we hadn’t played badly in possession and with 25 efforts on goal to lose 3-0 is harsh. The way we play carries an element of risk. We came unstuck at Rotherham and again, even in a game in which we were dominant, against Wigan, they had chances on the break before converting one. I’ve no doubt that earlier in the season we would have gone to Peterborough and played it tight, kept men behind the ball and denied them space, looking to nick one at the other end. But now we play differently and look more to go toe-to-toe. Sometimes you will pay for that. You might say that with hindsight we didn’t pay Peterborough enough respect by doing nothing to try to nullify their strengths.

Second, yesterday we did miss Edwards. Defensively Small on the left side is not like-for-like. Equally, as I thought was apparent against Wigan, playing Small on the left doesn’t work as well as on the right, since Campbell is naturally inclined to move wide left, occupying the space that Small needs. So we were weakened defensively and as an attacking force, which is not to say that Watson has played badly in his two games (his part in Peterborough’s first notwithstanding). I hope Edwards is back, fit and raring to go, for Huddersfield.

Third, although we had 25 attempts on goal, with one back off the bar, you can’t say any of them were more than half-chances. We didn’t manage either to create an opening where you look back and say the guy should have scored, or to convert one or more of the opportunities. We look to Godden to get on the end of things and he didn’t quite manage that yesterday, nor did any of the others. I’m a big fan of Godden, but the overall lack of cutting edge in the final third was in evidence yesterday.

Fourth, it was a game that should give Jones pause for thought if and when it comes to the challenge of the play-offs (when keeping a clean sheet is usually paramount). Sometimes you do have to look at the opposition and make slight adjustments. Peterborough had scored more goals than us this season even before yesterday, so we had to be much sharper and aware of the danger on the counter. That starts with stopping the keeper from making a quick clearance, extends to accepting sometimes taking one for the team with a foul early in the break (Jones did that early in the game), and also covers looking at how often Coventry ended up as the last man. We know we want to have a real threat from our set pieces, but we can’t expect the opposition to give us the time to adjust if they don’t work out.

Fifth, and not unrelated, Peterborough were quite content to leave players forward when we had corners and free-kicks. We have Campbell and Small, both blessed with pace and the ability to run with the ball. Is it too much to ask to have at least one of them left on the half-way line, on a side which the rest of the team know and can look to feed them? It would force the opposition to change their plans.

Of course we’re disappointed to have lost the game (badly) and given the impact it has on our already slim chances of securing automatic promotion. Any of those thoughts now go out of the window, we just concentrate on the next game and see after it if any fresh opening has arisen. Next Saturday, while we take on Huddersfield, Wrexham and Wycombe face Exeter and Lincoln respectively, a combination of games which doesn’t exactly point to a narrowing of the gap. So be it. If you want a positive slant, often a team which strives for automatic promotion and just misses out isn’t best prepared for the play-offs. If we have more time than others to get ourselves prepared for that challenge it might work to our advantage – although the way we play doesn’t leave room for taking our foot off the pedal. Just beat Huddersfield and see what happens.

Another Step Closer

Away at Crawley had potential banana skin written all over it – and so did yesterday’s encounter. On paper, a mid-table team with mixed recent form and nothing to play for, except to impress a new manager. Wigan hadn’t scored many this season (just 32 in 35 games) but hadn’t conceded many either (34). All pointed to a need to have the same attitude and commitment as against Crawley and essentially score the first goal. Do that and the odds would be strongly in our favour, perhaps go on to repeat the Exeter result. After all, we’d kicked off the season with a 0-1 win at their place.

In the event we did score first, went on to double the lead before half-time, and should have scored at least as many as against Exeter. Instead we did start to showboat a little before the game – of which we were seemingly in complete control - was truly in the bag and, by virtue of their converting one of two second-half chances, had a rather edgy final 10 minutes. They were edgy because it would have been an utterly absurd waste of two points had we not won. When the opposition’s manager says “we didn’t do enough to come out with something today” yet there was only one goal in it at the end you know the scoreline didn’t reflect the play.

For the team there were some doubts about who would start, taking account of possible injuries (Edwards) and perhaps the need to rest a few of the most tired to freshen things up, depending on the assessment of the opposition. Jones made four changes to the Crawley starting XI, two of them enforced as Edwards didn’t make it and Gilbert was apparently unwell. The former meant Small switching back to the left and Watson starting as the other wing-back. The latter saw Berry back in, while Docherty and Godden also returned with Anderson and Leaburn dropping to the bench. There they would be joined by Mitchell and McIntyre but also Enslin and Ahadme, with still no sign of Aneke (is he injured?). So the formation the same as usual but with adjustments in personnel.

To be fair I think Wigan edged the first 10 minutes, even if all they had to show for it was one dangerous ball into the box. We didn’t settle quickly, perhaps not surprising given the changes, with one possible problem arising. Campbell naturally moves wide left, which is fine, allowing Berry to get into the box in support of the other striker. Only problem was that this tended to close off the space which we would be looking to Small to exploit having switched sides.

Before this became a real concern we took the lead, with a goal which once again underlined that Godden is head and shoulders above our other forwards when it comes to anticipating and taking openings in the box. Ramsay somehow managed to emerge with the ball on the right side and sent in the low cross to where he could be sure Godden was going to take. Their defender got there first, but his clearance only hit another defender and bounced back. Godden swivelled and shot, keeping control of the ball and sending it sweetly inside the far post. Ramsay had been a little fortunate to get clear, although that was down to his physicality and skill, Godden was fortunate that the ball bounced back his way, but still had a lot to do and did it very well.

It would be wrong to say that Wigan fell apart after that, just that we took control – and didn’t relinquish it until late in the game. On 15 minutes we almost doubled the lead with a corner routine. Low ball, Godden touch on, and Campbell to run onto it. Only problem was it looked for a moment that their defender would intercept and that distracted Campell. So he was taken a little by surprise and initially stumbled, but recovered well enough to hit it goalwards only to be blocked by a mix of Ramsay and a defender, resulting in an offside decision. If Campbell had got the shot away first time there was a high chance it would have found the net.

On 23 minutes Docherty was fouled and from the free-kick Gillesphey attempted a repeat of his goal against Barnsley. He hit this one sweeter but the Wigan keeper did a better job than his Barnsley counterpart to keep it out. Even so the ball rebounded into a dangerous area but a defender was first to it and cleared.

Wigan did catch us on the break once, just before the half-hour. Their guy was played in on the left side but some desperate covering smothered the danger. Otherwise it was all us and it was neither a surprise nor more than we deserved when we doubled our lead. A free-kick sent to the far post was headed back by Gillesphey and for some reason their defenders had left Godden alone, allowing him to tuck the ball into an empty net from close range. There was bound to be a question of offside (Godden’s first reaction was to look to the linesman) but seems he timed his move perfectly. The only other first-half incident of note was a Wigan shout for a penalty as Small (I think) seemed to wrestle someone to the ground from a corner, but through the game so much of that went on at both ends it was hard to say.

At half-time the stats showed we had enjoyed 61% possession and had five attempts on goal, four of which were on target, against their zero.

There’s always some danger going in at half-time two ahead. As Steve Brown was commenting, Wigan were very likely to make changes, which they did, and come out with greater purpose. At the same time we might have felt that the game had already been won. If they get one back it’s then difficult to regain the momentum. In midweek Norwich were 2-0 up at the break against Sheff Wed and lost 2-3, with a Norwich supporting friend unable to explain what went wrong.

Any such thoughts were almost laid to rest in the first minute of the second half as a long ball forward saw Campbell beat his marker and through on goal. He tried to go around the keeper, but the keeper managed to get a hand to the ball. It ran for Godden, but his effort came back off the keeper’s foot.

Shortly after we had a second warning about being caught out. Two defenders collided going for the same ball and suddenly we were short of numbers. The ball was played to their guy on the left side but from around the edge of the penalty area he put it rather tamely wide.

That appeared to be the exception to the rule as we continued to dominate the game and have opportunities to finish it off. Campbell went down inside the box but no penalty was given, while Jones was getting routinely hauled down – possibly the second time punched in the face – from set pieces. Small was tormenting them down the left, and appearing to enjoy every minute of it. Leaburn was introduced for Godden on 75 minutes, ending his chances of a hat-trick, and we were all reflecting on just how comfortable it was turning out.

Instead on 83 minutes we had a nasty reality check and actually conceded a goal. Gillesphey made rather a hash of a cross and it dropped for their guy. He put in a decent effort only for an otherwise redundant Mannion to save superbly low to his left. Unfortunately that rebound went to another of theirs who managed to convert from a tightish angle.

Now suddenly we were just one wonder strike, mistake or fluke away from not winning the game. With hindsight we did see it out well, without serious alarm, as we have done in other recent games. But we didn’t know that at the time. Mitchell replaced Watson with a few minutes of normal time left (and Watson deserved plaudits for slotting back in very well), then when the four added minutes were almost up McIntyre and Anderson came on for Berry and Small. There was understandable relief at the final whistle, but that soon passed, to be replaced by appreciation of a seventh consecutive home victory and our fifth win in six games.

Wrexham’s late winner against Wycombe was probably not the result we wanted, nor were wins for Stockport, Huddersfield and Leyton Orient. But Stockport’s gain was Bolton’s loss and we are now six points clear of seventh place with nine games left and still able to think about the possibility of a top-two finish. We know our season will culminate with games at Wycombe then Wrexham in the second half of April, but one at a time of course and next up is away at Peterborough, who have turned things around with three wins and three draws in their last six to stay above the relegation zone. Feet on the gound? Nah, tomorrow perhaps, still want to bask in all this for a little longer.

Three More In The Bag

This time around we could all see the potential banana skin – and were assuming the players did too. In the midst of the run of games against promotion contenders we squeezed in a very impressive 3-0 win against Exeter, admittedly at The Valley. A repeat of that was very much the order of the day, knowing that a win would take us into fourth place – and ideally with more breathing space above Bolton, if Bristol Rovers could do us a favour. Crawley would be going into the game with just three points and no wins in their last six, so the contrast in form couldn’t have been starker. At the same time nobody had (I trust) forgotten that night in early December when they beat us at home. Times were different then, for us at least, but – and with no disrespect intended – the thought of Crawley doing the double over us would surely be motivation enough.

We ended up with the points, but after another scrap, no chance to coast/relax. For that Crawley get some credit (at least until they rather lost their rag at the end) as they were always in the game. As so often of late (and unlike Exeter) we weren’t clinical enough in the final third to put a game to bed, but we nicked a goal and with the defence playing superbly that was enough. We won everything in the air at the back, scrambled and blocked when necessary, and when real danger loomed put bodies on the line, exemplified by Jones’ interception and collision with the post. He will have been everyone’s man of the match, deservedly so, but Gillesphey was not far behind.

There were some question marks over the team ahead of the game, depending on whether some might still be feeling the effects of Saturday’s game against Stockport, including Jones (the player) who had been clearly struggling to complete the game. As it turned out we had two changes to the starting XI, both in midfield. Gilbert was given a start in place of Berry, offering perhaps the prospect of better control of midfield at the expense of Berry’s greater goal threat, while Docherty was absent from the squad due to the birth of his son (and all best wishes go to mother and baby) and replaced by Anderson. There was also a surprise or two on the bench, with no Aneke (possibly due to his head injury on Saturday), with Kanu back in the squad, while Hylton was also given a berth, effectively replacing Anderson, and Mitchell was included again (as well as McIntyre) at the expense of Watson, presumably with an eye on something  among the opposition. So no change in formation/set-up but a modest reshuffling of the pack.

There was an ebb and flow to the first half as for spells they were on top and dominated possession, with good movement threatening to create a real chance and us unable to retain the ball, and times when we imposed ourselves on them and pushed them back. When we did they appeared fragile; when they pushed us back we did not. And most important we grabbed the lead.

Actual chances were few. In the first few minutes Jones went on a run down the right and delivered a low cross. That was cleared, just couldn’t help wondering that if Godden had been on the pitch he would have been on the end of it. Campbell headed down a ball in from the left for Gilbert to hit on the half-volley, well but too high. And before the half-hour mark Edwards delivered a ball across for Gilbert to strike but that one was blocked. All through this time they probed but never saw the whites of Mannion’s eyes.

We took the lead on 36 minutes. Jones actually misplaced a pass moving forward but then won the ball back, which wrongfooted them. He fed Edwards on the left. The cross was deflected by Gilbert but found Small around the far post. He had a lot to do and the angle was tight, but he moved it onto his right foot and hit a powerful low effort. Wollacott really should have kept it out but only managed to divert it inside the post. After that another long ball found Gilbert only for Wollacott to turn his effort wide.

At the break we were overall worth the lead and you just felt another goal and the game would be safe, Blackpool notwithstanding. Might then go on to get another. Instead through most of the second half the opportunities came our way but we didn’t capitalise, always leaving that element of doubt – as towards the end we were not as in control as we were against Barnsley.

An Edwards cross was headed away but Anderson pounced on the edge of the box. Hit it well but too close to Wollacott. Not long after Edwards’ evening was over as he pulled up, hopefully with nothing serious. In his place Godden came on and that involved changes, with Campbell going to the right side and Small switching back to the left. Campbell delivered a cross for Godden but his shot was blocked.

Crawley did again have moments. At times we had to resort to some desperate defending, smothering balls into the box. They had a good one-two to send a guy clear on the left but his low cross was cleared, plus a dive for an attempted penalty. Against that, Ramsay played in Campbell, who beat his guy and pulled back for Leaburn, whose shot was saved, then Campbell poked a shot from inside the box just wide. On 70 minutes from a free-kick Leaburn headed down and Godden’s shot on the turn was deflected just wide (not according to the ref who gave a goal kick). In the next minute Crawley had probably their most dangerous moment as a good cross from their left was headed for a guy at the far post to convert only for Jones to launch himself to get there first and put behind for a corner, his momentum producing a collision with the post (at first I thought it was his head and that we would be in real trouble).

But this was all with still 20 minutes of normal time left. As the game progressed and we didn’t get a second, our priority shifted more clearly to protecting what we had. There were no real chances in the rest of the game, including five minutes of stoppage time. Hylton and McIntyre were introduced in the final 10 minutes for Leaburn and Gilbert, while Mitchell replaced Campbell for the last minute.

Once again pretty it was not – but effective it certainly was. At the moment the defence works so well as a unit as well as individually, which means the players trust each other to do their jobs, with midfielders playing their part too. Three consecutive clean sheets (and four in the last five), both Crawley last night and Stockport managing just one effort on target despite having a majority of possession. Mannion has been gathering high balls well but, aside from the save against Stockport, has been very well protected. And to the list of plaudits I’d add Anderson, really because he was yellow-carded after just 26 minutes (for a late challenge) and you wondered if he’d be able to avoid another. He showed the maturity to do so.

Fourth. Back in December, even in mid-January after the Rotherham defeat, that was a very long way off. The play-offs have gone from being an aspiration to the minimum we want for the season. Of course we’re greedy bstards, we want to get out of this division, sure the players and management feel the same way. Today we can dream a little, come Saturday its back at it. No slip-ups, then see where the Wycombe v Wrexham and Bolton v Stockport fixtures leave us.

Excellent Point In The Circumstances

Come on you felt, just one more, please. Yes, we knew we’d be back asking for the same thing next time around, and the one after that, but yesterday’s game would round off the very challenging five-game spell, including four against promotion rivals. If nine points out of 12 could become 12 out of 15 we’d be up to fourth and able to sit back and watch the other results come in later. We also knew that a draw, away at a decent side, one which has (unfortunately) coped better than might have been expected from the loss in January of their main goalscorer, wouldn’t be a poor result. We’d shared the spoils with them at The Valley back in October (but very nearly won, against 10 men in the closing stages). But we’re on a roll and another victory would truly warm the heart.

Nobody said it would be easy, or pretty. By accident or design, and assisted by the referee’s leniency (he began the game by not giving them a penalty and after that no challenge on our players merited a free kick), the game turned into a slug fest in blustery conditions on a difficult surface, battles for physical supremacy all over the pitch, mostly won by the defenders of both sides. Stockport caused us problems with their set-up, with big guys up front able to hold up play and willing runners in support. We were pushed back into defending our box, which all those involved did manfully. Despite them having 59% possession, we restricted Stockport to one attempt on target, which drew an excellent save from Mannion, although they also hit the bar and had some fizz just wide or not converted. Trouble was they also nullified our attacking threat, with Campbell and Small barely in the game, neither able to get the space to run at their opposite numbers. For that you have to give them credit.

The outcome was a desperately tight game that you felt all the way through might be decided by one lapse of concentration. A draw was probably about right as neither side did enough in the final third to claim victory. But for me there was no doubt, it was a better result for us than for them. We went toe-to-toe in a physical encounter that in previous seasons we would have lost badly. All that was missing was the late winner as Gillesphey put the header wide, albeit from a tight angle. The point meant that we took 10 from the tough five games, suffering defeat only at Birmingham.

The team showed one change made by Jones, with Leaburn starting in place of Godden. Whether that was down to resting tired legs or with the opposition in mind, needing extra height in both boxes, wasn’t clear. That we ended up needing that height can’t be doubted, but we also missed Godden’s intelligent work up front with and without the ball, especially as Leaburn was consistently roughed up with no protection from the ref.

Both sides started the game looking likely to score. For us Leaburn couldn’t get control of a long ball down the channel and ended up shooting wide, while Docherty overhit a pass to Campbell in the clear. They had dangerous moments and after just five minutes a ball threaded behind Small saw him and their guy go down together in the box. Have to look at it several more times to see if there was material contact, but fortunately or not the ref gave nothing. Shortly after first Campbell and then Leaburn were clearly bundled off the ball and nothing was given. Is that consistency? Perhaps, but it encouraged their defenders to believe they could get away with anything.

There were more chances at both ends before the break. After an Edwards long throw was headed out he returned it. The cross was flicked on by a defender and Berry was just unable to make meaningful contact at the far post. Jones was onto a ball that had cleared Leaburn but his first touch was heavy and the opportunity was gone. Stockport had their openings too, winning free kicks and getting bodies into the box – but at the break, despite 63% possession, they had managed no efforts on target (against our one).

If we’d edged the first half on decent chances the picture changed early in the second as in the first 10 minutes they had three close calls. First, a ball in from the left was knocked back and their guy poked it goalwards only for Mannion to claw it away, with another not able to convert the rebound. A dangerous shot was deflected over our bar and from the corner another header back into the mix saw their guy flick at it and with Mannion a spectator it came back off the bar.

We were unable to get anything going in possession and it wasn’t surprising that changes came early. On 55 minutes Aneke and Anderson were brought on for Small and Berry. We weren’t getting the ball forward for Berry to get on the end of anything and Small had it seemed just one of those days when he couldn’t get involved. With now two big guys up front we were going long and the rest of the game was just about whether one side might nick what would probably be the winner. Aneke had a taste of what Leaburn had been going through as he suffered an early head injury and continued to get manhandled, the ref showing complete indifference.

A foul for us not given led to Edwards pulling a guy back and getting a yellow, then another on Leaburn, who was simply wrestled to the floor, saw them break and a low ball across goal from the left only just beat two of theirs. Our best moment came when on 88 minutes Anderson played a second ball back in and Gillesphey had a free header. But it was a tough one to convert, requiring a deft flick and he put it wide. And that, despite seven minutes of added time, was it.

There will have been some very tired bodies last night, not least Jones who played on despite being in discomfort. It was the very essence of a hard-won point. And a very welcome one at that. Being very hard you might say not winning reduces the chances of us being able to get to Wycombe and Wrexham and take second; we could end up having to beat both of them on their grounds to have a chance of that. At the same time, with Huddersfield, Leyton Orient and Barnsley all losing and Reading only taking a point, we’ve consolidated a play-off place, just a pity that Bolton are still hot on our heels.

There are for sure going to be plenty of twists and turns before the end of the season, resuming on Tuesday night when we travel to Crawley (to surely not suffer the indignity of them doing the double over us), Bolton go to Bristol Rovers, and Reading take on Wrexham (and on Saturday Bolton will be up against Stockport and Wycombe play Wrexham). But we’ve put ourselves in a position where, with 11 games to go, it will be a disappointment if we don’t make the play-offs, they are no longer just an aspiration.

And It Continues ...

Fair to say that after Saturday we were still pinching ourselves to see if it’s real. Into a play-off spot, automatic promotion spot only eight points away. How long could this go on? How many more times would Jones be able to announce an unchanged team/squad? The dressing room must be on cloud nine too – but hopefully with high confidence not diverting attention from the need for improvement in areas of the game and the immediate issue of two really tough challenges. Barnsley came to The Valley on the back of three straight wins having revived their play-off hopes (after they were only narrowly beaten by both Huddersfield and Stockport) – and while we’ve been knocking them in late in the day we haven’t forgotten that they matched us in that department at their place back in October, our 93rd minute goal to put us 2-1 up countered by their 95th minute equaliser.

We didn’t get a repeat of the drama of Saturday – but far more important we had a repeat of the outcome, another three points secured. And this time you could say it was down to a thoroughly professional (in the positive sense) display. Barnsley pulled us apart in the first 10 minutes but, helped for sure by taking the lead against the run of play, we progressively got on top and through the game effectively nullified their threat. This involved not just the defence but also the forwards running their socks off. As on Saturday we should have been more clinical in front of goal, but I honestly can’t remember feeling more comfortable defending a one-goal lead in the final stages than I was last night.

Barnsley’s manager talked of it being a ‘game too far’ for them, with suspensions and injuries before and during the game, also highlighting the significant impact of the first goal and how different things might have been if they had scored first when on top. That’s all fair enough. From our perspective we did what we needed to do – and did most of it very well.

For the team Jones had the same decision to make as on Saturday, whether or not to recall Docherty for Anderson. This time he did go for the switch, probably taking account of the greater threat from the opposition. Otherwise it was as you were.

Barnsley came out of the traps quickly and we barely got a touch of the ball in the first 10 minutes. The defending was desperate and improvised at times but we didn’t concede. And in what was probably only our second foray into their half, on 10 minutes Campbell moved inside and drew the foul, giving us a free-kick in a decent position, fairly central but a fair way out. Berry ran over the ball, leaving it for Gillesphey, who hit a low drive around the wall and towards the corner of the net. Their keeper got there quickly enough, but got his positioning wrong and if anything dived too soon, the ball going over his outstretched arm and in.

It was unexpected and undeserved, but most welcome. As was the save by Mannion which followed a few minutes later as their guy was able, with the run of the ball, to dribble through our defence into a very dangerous position. Fortunately his shot was close enough for Mannion to parry. After that alarm we did settle more into the game. Berry might have done better running onto a good ball to find him but had a heavy first touch. But through the rest of the half chances were few and far between, most of the play involving both sides getting behind the ball quickly when out of possession and us not often able to get Campbell or Small into positions to threaten, leaving Godden nothing to feed off.

At the break the stats showed they had edged possession and that we had had one effort on target (the goal) and just three attempts in total, against their nine (three on target). All that paled into insignificance set against the scoreline.

In the second half we really should have put the game to bed. Almost all the chances were for us. On 58 minutes good work from the increasingly effective Campbell ended with a low cross and Berry getting to it first, only for him to fail to make a decisive connection. From the other flank Small skinned his marker and found Docherty, who set up Berry again but the shot was weak. And after the first changes made by Jones – on 68 minutes it was Leaburn for Godden and Anderson for Berry – a Jones header from a corner hit the post only for the ref to give a foul against him (from the replays I saw nothing wrong), Coventry hit a powerful shot from distance which their keeper at full stretch turned around the post. All Barnsley offered was a fierce shot which went just wide.

Into the final 10 minutes and we had another good chance to make it two. Campbell again the provider, playing in Leaburn. His shot was reasonable but saved. That was almost the cue to shut things down. Aneke, McIntyre and Watson were introduced on 85 minutes for an exhausted Campbell, Docherty and Small. There was a minor alarm as Jones and Mannion went for the same ball, but it led to nothing. There was still the thought that we could end up losing four points this season to Barnsley in stoppage time, but in truth we ran down the clock quite comfortably, leaving the celebrations at the final whistle to be ones of satisfaction (rather than the outpouring of emotion as on Saturday).

We have to get through Stockport on Saturday before we can take stock – and even then we will have another two games the following week (away at Crawley, who will be looking to do the double over us, and home to Wigan) before there will be the chance for a breather.

In the interim, let’s just reflect and value the fact that, although we are often not the prettiest team in the division, we have worked out a style and set-up which is proving very effective. A 3-5-2/5-3-2 on paper but with one of the forwards (Campbell) operating mostly on the left side and one of the midfielders (Berry) often filling in as the second striker, combinations on both flanks (Edwards and Campbell, Ramsay and Small) which offer real attacking threats, a hardworking midfield, a tight defence, and players off the bench capable of doing different jobs depending on the situation (Aneke and Leaburn, Gilbert). 

We’ve been fortunate of late with injuries/accidents and suspensions and have to hope that continues, and deal with the fact that other teams will come up with plans to try to neutralise our threats. But for all this, if Jones doesn’t get manager of the month there is no doubt he bloody well deserves it.