Came Up Short This Time

After a tough one away at Derby along came in all likelihood a tougher one today at Preston, sitting just above us in the league and having lost just one game to date. With another international break coming up you wanted to just get something out of the game, to keep the unbeaten run going. But we didn’t manage that, it looked like a game too far at this stage of the season. We didn’t play especially badly, just lacked a little zip – and fundamentally carried virtually no goal threat throughout, being restricted to some decent passing at times outside the box and a couple of good balls into the box just evading the forward. We had no efforts on target and for long spells it looked as though if Preston got one – and they did cause us problems at the back - it would probably be enough.

They got one, albeit a fortuitous one as Small’s shot was deflected just over a diving Kaminski, and for good measure scored a second which at first sight looked for all the world offside, but Steve Brown said replays showed it was OK, so we have to live with that. It meant for us a game to forget, as quickly as possible, although Jones has to be concerned that in nine games none of the starting forwards has scored – and all told the tally is just one, the Olaofe goal to beat Sheff Utd. It’s not that their fluffing chances, just that we’re not creating many for them and they seem unable to be in the right place at the right time (unlike Godden of course).

The team showed one change to the starting XI from Derby, with Burke – who was given a rest for that one – returning and Bell taking a break, named among the subs. That left a central defensive three of Burke, Jones and Gillesphey, with Bree and Ramsay named as the wing-backs given the continued unavailability of Edwards – with the very unwelcome news on that front that he will be out for ‘more than a few weeks’. Which one would take the left side and probably be given the task of stopping Small was unclear before the game, but it proved to be Ramsay, which looked like a decision based around stopping Small. No change in midfield or up front, but on the bench new signing Hernandez was included, with Anderson missing out.

The first half was nip and tuck throughout, but they had the edge as going forward they looked the more likely, even if we managed to prevent any clear openings and what half-chances they engineered lacked a good finish. For us I can only remember Kelman getting free down the right side, his cross in being half-cleared then laid on for Bree but his curled effort going wide, then later Kelman again getting free and sending in a good ball which Campbell was unable to convert, getting crowded out.

At the break all the plaudits went to both defences. No effort on target from either side. And it stayed that way until the hour mark. We did have one moment as Burke delivered an excellent ball into the box, but this one too just evaded Campbell at the far post. It was Campbell’s last meaningful involvement as he was replaced by Leaburn shortly after. Then Preston really should have taken the lead on 60 minutes as a cross from their left for once caught out our back line and their guy was left with a header from close range unchallenged, the ball bouncing up nicely for him. Like at Derby Kaminski read the effort well and pulled off a good save, but if he’d placed the header either side of him there would have been nothing he could have done.

That let-off failed to galvanise us and instead gave Preston renewed impetus. After Leaburn had failed to hold off the defender to get on the end of a Ramsay through ball Small, who had been very well marshalled by Ramsay, got his moment. We failed to deal with a ball in from their left and eventually it was laid to the right side of the box for Small. Whether his shot was going wide or would have been saved by Kaminiski we’ll never know as it deflected off Ramsay and went over Kaminski’s outstretched arm into the net.

Jones responded with a triple substitution, with Bell, Olaofe and Knibbs coming on for Burkey, Kelman and Casey, with Ramsay switching back to the left side of central defence. We continued to struggle to create anything in the final third, Bree firing off one effort but not a repeat of last week’s wonder strike. We almost went two down on 72 minutes as we lost the ball down our left and Preston moved forward quickly, but their guy chipped wastefully over.

On 75 minutes Bree did get clear down the right and played a good ball in, this time it was Leaburn who arrived just too late to convert. And after Berry came on for Coventry, Jones clearly gambling now, on 79 minutes we were two down. A ball down their left side to a guy who we all thought was yards offside, no flag, he played it into the box – and unlike all of our such balls this one found a forward who converted. That was it. Five minutes of stoppage time produced nothing for us. And it was one of those afternoons when you felt we could have played all day and not scored.

The result really does square things up – played nine, won three, drawn three, lost three, scored eight, conceded eight. It will serve as something of a reality check after a good run. Preston were decent but far from world-beaters and this time a tight game went against us. On the day we weren’t good enough. Jones will have time to ponder why.

Ultimately No Complaints, Decent Point

Aside from the issues of team selection facing Jones – assuming Edwards would be ruled out would he stick to the Gillesphey/Bell solution or look for an alternative, would there be any change(s) up front, would new signing Hernandez feature, and/or would there be a need to give some tired legs a break? – the real (partially related) question was just ‘can we do it again’? A repeat of Saturday’s performance would be entirely welcome, against a side which has made a poor start to the season, conceding 13 goals in seven games. But we all know football’s not that simple, or predictable.

At half-time last night we were feeling pretty good about things. A goal to the good, home fans clearly restless, a fair chance that we would either see out the game or get a second and take the points. But Derby, while not having a first-half effort on target, had caused problems for our back line, largely as we were unable to dominate physically, with Agyemang giving as good as he got. And in the second half, with nothing to lose they threw bodies forward and pinned us back, unable to exploit space on the break as it was all hands on deck to keep them out. We didn’t manage that and, although we might have nicked a second late on, had to settle for a point. Not a bad point, can’t say it wasn’t a fair outcome, but when you are ahead going into the final 10 minutes you can’t help feeling a little disappointed (especially if like me you took a sneak preview of where a win would have left us in the league).

For the team there were two changes from Saturday, with the first being confirmation of Edwards’ unavailability and the retention of Gillesphey, with Bell in the wing-back role, while Ramsay came back in to replace Burke, the suspicion being that he might struggle at this point to do three games in seven days. The rest were ‘as you were’, with Berry returning to the squad for the first time this season, taking the vacant spot on the bench – which was welcome but did seem odd to have all three of Carey, Knibbs and Berry in competition for one place.

The opening exchanges were rather too open for comfort. Derby shouts for an early penalty were over-optimistic, but Ramsay was beaten on the inside, the danger snuffed out by Bell, while at the other end Kelman almost profited from a fizzed back pass and poor touch from their keeper. Derby looked wobbly at the back and likely to cough up chances, if we could keep it tight at the other end.

The game settled down into a more familiar scrappy affair of no real chances, a curled effort from Campbell being the closest we came. Then on 36 minutes, somewhat out of the blue, we fashioned a very, very good goal. Kaminski’s long ball out was superbly taken down by Kelman, enabling him to play it wide to Campbell. He advanced down the left and cut back, but instead of crossing or looking for another curler played the ball low in to Carey. He played it first time to Docherty, who saw that Bree had advanced unmarked on the right side (he couldn’t really miss him with his arms in the air) and chipped it back across to him. It was falling at a difficult height, but Bree controlled the shot with excellent technique and sent it flying into the far corner of the net.

That put us very much on the front foot and we played out the rest of the half fairly comfortably, although Derby had spells of pressure and plenty of the ball outside our box. And the half-time stats had a familiar ring to them. Derby had enjoyed 58% possession but managed five shots, none on target, against five and two for us, including the important one. More of the same in the second and the points would be ours.

However, the second half began much like the first, with Kaminski almost caught out by a mishit cross, Kelman having a decent effort saved, then Derby having a couple of threatening breaks, one finding their guy on the left only for him to shoot well over from a good position. More Derby pressure and with perhaps the three games in seven days in mind persuaded Jones the Boss to make changes slightly earlier than usual, opting for a triple substitution. Leaburn, Burke and Knibbs came on for Kelman, Corey and Bree, with Ramsay moving to wing-back.

Despite fresh legs we were struggling to either retain the ball or spring effective counter-attacks. On the hour we did have a shot from Bell inside the box, which struck their defender on the elbow. The Blackburn manager might like to take a look at that one as it was similar to the one on Saturday which struck Jones’ arm. If he considered that a certain penalty he’d presumably back our case for one last night. Nothing was given, rightly so.

On 76 minutes Olaofe came on for Campbell, who was getting no joy in the second half, and just after we all held our breath as it seemed Derby would equalise. A decent break, good passing and their guy was free from Burke and in on goal around the edge of the area. He had time to pick his spot and hit it well enough, but Kaminski gambled on reading his intentions correctly, diving to his right to turn away the effort. Superb save. But it did us little good. The resulting corner was turned away but only to their guy on the other side. His dinked cross went towards a mass of players and it was one of theirs who rose highest and the header went just inside the post.

With a little over 10 minutes plus stoppage time left, the game was there for either side to snatch a winner. And we came closest. A scramble from a corner fell to Knibbs, but he wasn’t well set and snatched at the shot, sending it over the bar, then in the six minutes of added time the ball ran to Docherty inside the box. His effort took a deflection and went wide, the replays suggesting it was Olaofe getting the touch (a goalkick was given, to our surprise at the time). Derby did have a final break and forced a decent save from Kaminiski at his near post, but there was to be no late drama.

It is a decent point, even if ultimately we were unable to fully exploit Derby’s problems at the back and take all three. Was that because we were confident in seeing it out? Perhaps, but give Derby some credit for pushing us back and keeping us pinned down, at least until their equaliser. Were Jones’ substitutions ill-timed? Possibly, but the need for fresh legs was evident.

Fact is we’re quibbling about not beating Derby on their home turf and not sitting third in the league. We turned in another decent performance, just one not as compelling as against Blackburn as unlike them Derby didn’t wilt. We’re not getting the credit we deserve – just read comments from Derby fans about how poor they were – because I guess it’s credit for making the opposition play badly by continually harassing them and working so hard to defend the box. People will see a pattern sooner or later.

We move on to another tough fixture, at Preston, which as things stand will mean that we will have played five out of the top 11 in our first nine games. It was always going to be a hard start to the campaign and we’ve risen to the challenge. Of course Saturday will bring us up against a certain Small, who seems to have hit the ground running with them, like us Preston playing him on the right side. We know what he can do and Edwards (if fit), Bell and Gillesphey will know what to expect – and I guess would like us breathe a sigh of relief if a slight niggle rules him out.

Very Good Feeling Tonight

Looked like another game against fired-up opposition, with Blackburn’s manager at least still smarting over the EFL’s decision to have their game against Ipswich replayed from the start. For us it seemed like the first game of the next spell of the season, the opening having gone well enough (2,2,2) even though we felt the performances deserved more points. A game that you felt could go any which way, but short odds on another close one.

Proved to be far from that. Blackburn had the better of the opening 10 minutes but once we’d got into gear and especially after we went ahead we increasingly took control, progressively winning all the key battles across the pitch. The only surprise in the second half was that it took so long for us to put the game to bed, having spurned several good opportunities and restricting them to almost nothing. We did eventually get the second and the third at the death was just the proverbial icing on the cake.

Jones the Boss had a few selection issues to ponder before the game. Should Ramsay return after his suspension, with Byrne having slotted in very well? Should Apter start as the more attacking option at home and replace Bree, who had also done very well at Sheffield, including laying on the only goal of the game? And who would get the nod to start up front, out of Kelman, Leaburn and perhaps Olaofe? Good to have all the options. And in the event Jones went for an unchanged starting XI, with Ramsay replacing Fullah on the bench.

Again, at the start Blackburn looked the more threatening, with small forwards involving balls into feet and good movement. Bell was beaten down their right and may have made contact from behind with their guy in the box. If he’d gone to ground the ref – who had a stinker from start to finish – would have had a decision to make. We were struggling to make anything happen in their half, with Kelman as usual up against two centre-backs and Campbell not in the game early on. But while not functioning well, crucially we once again ensured we didn’t concede.

The gameplan changed a little on 17 minutes as Edwards went down under a challenge and stayed down, no foul being given. After extensive treatment he continued, but a few minutes later after taking a long throw he went down again holding his ankle and had to go off, replaced by Gillesphey, who moved into the back three and Bell moved to the wing-back spot. And whether or not as a result of that adjustment we started to create more. A Coventry long ball bounced only just beyond Kelman, then an interception was moved onto Campbell, whose low cross from the left couldn’t find a red shirt. Then a cross from the right was taken down by Docherty, whose decent shot was blocked, then Carey’s shot from the rebound was saved.

So it wasn’t entirely out of the blue that we took the lead. Coventry was fouled on our right side and Bree sent the free-kick to the far post, where Gillesphey easily outjumped his marker and headed back across goal and into the net. Whether their keeper got his positioning wrong, whether Blackburn made a mess with their marking, who knows, or cares? For Gillesphey it meant goals in consecutive games, the previous one being at Wembley. He also became the first player to score for us this season who wasn’t a new signing.

The rest of the first half saw half-chances at both ends. Coventry turned well on the byline to get in a low cross, then Campbell worked the ball to Kelman, who played it back to him to run in on goal. There was some hesitation as the keeper came out to narrow the angle and TC ended up going over him but with no real suggestion of a penalty. Jones managed to pick up a yellow for next to nothing, which was followed shortly by a rash Blackburn challenge on Docherty which produced no card. Blackburn did have moments, with Carey having to put in some great defensive work to keep them out, then Jones fouling their guy on the edge of the area. The free-kick was clearly in a dangerous position, but fortunately their guy blasted it well over the bar.

At the break the stats showed even possession and seven shots from us, three on target, against five and one for them. But I think everyone watching would have acknowledged that we had got on top as the half progressed and that Blackburn would have to raise their game to get back into it.

In that they failed as the second half became a tale of Charlton missed chances. Shortly after the restart Campbell cut inside. His shot was poor but it rebounded to Docherty, whose shot was saved. Blackburn did have a shout for a penalty when a cross seemed to hit Jones’ arm. It would have been a very harsh one but you have seen them given (and if it had been perhaps it would have been a second yellow and a red). But that was the exception to the rule.

On 56 minutes after another interception Bell fed Campbell, but his poor shot went over the bar. And a minute later Campbell was involved again, cutting across the box and curling a shot only inches wide of the far post. That was to be his last involvement as on 58 minutes Leaburn and Olaofe came on for him and Kelman. On 60 minutes Leaburn fed Olaofe and he almost managed to squeeze it through to Docherty in a good position. Then after picking up a yellow for a late challenge (following Bree also in the book) Carey got free inside the box on the right side but his low ball into the mix found nobody.

On 69 minutes we really should have extended our lead. Leaburn set up Carey, whose good shot was parried into the path of Burke, with something of an open goal in front of him. He failed to control the effort and put it over the bar. By now the doubts were rising, would we end up getting punished for not getting a second? But such concerns were buried on 77 minutes as Docherty played the ball forward to Olaofe, who held it up superbly then laid it off inside to Carey. He was still a fair way out but wasn’t closed down and had the time to line up his shot. He hit it powerfully inside the near post, the Blackburn keeper perhaps here too a little at fault for not getting to it.

That wasn’t entirely game over, but it felt like finally just rewards for our display. Blackburn did have a couple of shots, one deflected wide for a corner and the other sent only just over the bar after a good attack, but they were not to get back into it. Jones the Boss was even able to withdraw Jones the Player on 82 minutes, along with Carey, Ramsay and Knibbs coming on. By now Blackburn’s frustration was threatening to boil over, especially with the ref giving all sorts of odd decisions. On 90 minutes Bell got involved in a bit of handbags and got a yellow, along with the Blackburn guy and on 93 we added some gloss to the scoreline as good initial work by Docherty was followed by more from Olaofe, who played in back to Docherty. He pulled it back across goal to find Bree, who side-footed it home as the defender seemed to leave it for the keeper, who was in turn confused.

It was a performance with absolutely nothing to complain about. We defended once again superbly, despite losing Edwards, with Gillesphey and then Ramsay fitting in very well, while Burke and Bell both had good games. In central midfield Docherty and Coventry were outstanding (I’d give MoM to the latter). I think many felt this was an area of the pitch we would struggle in, but both are playing out of their skins at the moment. And although none of the forwards found the net, Carey showed he can make the kind of goals contribution that Berry managed last year, with Knibbs a very capable replacement. And there’s still Apter, player of the month but now having to wait for his chance.

The only concern Jones must be having at the moment is whether some of the players will be able to continue with this commitment and intensity for three games in seven days. We will find out, but from what we’ve seen if some fresh legs are needed we have the replacements to hand. It’s a very good feeling tonight.  

 

Fair Reward This Time Around

There are some games ahead of which it might be said that league positions mean nothing. This was for sure going to be one of them. When you take on the side bottom of the league with no points and five straight defeats, just one scored and 12 conceded, you would normally be licking your lips. But when that team happens to have been within 15 or so minutes of the Premiership last season and has just brought back their iconic manager, playing in front of their own fans, it really is a different ball game. And with the season at this early stage one or two results can truly alter the picture: win and we’ve started with 2,2&2, perfectly acceptable; don’t win and all the focus is on not having won since the first game of the season.

Like others I’m sure before the game I felt this would be one it would be easy to lose in the first 20 minutes – and that therefore we needed to be on it from the first whistle. Was hoping that a more defensive line-up wouldn’t mean we retreated into a shell early on and invite them onto us, fears echoed by Steve Brown in the commentary box. But it really didn’t pan out that way. Sheffield United looked a pale shadow of the team last season, inventive in midfield but quite blunt up top and wobbly at the back. They didn’t show the intensity and determination we expected. Instead in another game of very few chances it all boiled down to whether one side or the other might nick one and take the points. And it proved to be us.

The team saw two changes from the Millwall game, one enforced of course by Ramsay’s suspension. Burke came in for him, while Bree was preferred to start instead of Apter as the right-side wing-back. Presumably that was just to tighten up in the early stages with a view to bringing on Apter later in the game against tiring defenders. On the bench Anderson was back after having served his suspension.

Rather than being on the back foot we had the better of the first period, containing them well enough in our final third and looking dangerous on the break. An interception poked on for Kelman to run on goal in the first minute set the tone, but he had a long way to go and no support, ended with a shot wide. He was almost in again on 10 minutes but couldn’t control a difficult ball, then it was Campbell’s turn to run on goal on the right side on a break, but he too shot wide. They were openings but not really good chances, the next one coming on 29 minutes when Campbell cut into the area and saw his shot blocked.

However, Sheffield did begin to dominate possession and had their best spell, finally giving their crowd something to get behind. The closest they came was a set-piece move with a corner played short and then squared for their midfielder to run onto it and hit a curling shot with his right. It went just over the bar after a slight deflection; just under and there was nothing Kaminski could have done about it.

Fortunately we saw out that period and before the end of the first half had by far the best chance to open the scoring. A corner was knocked out but then played back in and Jones rose unchallenged to head back to inside the near post. It looked a certain goal until their keeper stuck out a left hand and kept it out.

At the break the stats showed they had enjoyed 62% possession but with six shots and just one on target, against eight and one for us. It was clearly still anyone’s game, but you expected Sheffield to come at us with greater urgency in the second half. That too didn’t really happen.

Sheffield did have what proved to be their best chance of the game early in the second half as we made a sloppy start. A low cross from their left was intercepted but the ball only made it to the edge of the box where their guy got to it first. He had clear sight of goal but his shot was superbly blocked by Edwards and another guy hit the rebound well over the bar. We breathed again.

We were struggling to get anything going when in possession and it wasn’t surprising that Jones the Boss made an early change, bringing on Leaburn for Kelman on 61 minutes. Kelman hadn’t played badly but we were tending to go long and he had a thankless task again competing against two centre-backs, with Campbell less influential after the break.

We had another scare on 50 minutes as Bell, already on a yellow (after a foul on him was not given he’d stopped a quick throw being taken), slid in and their guy nicked it past him and took the contact. Unlike last Saturday the ref took a lenient approach and let it all go with a word and a free kick. But you had the impression that if their guy had gone to ground and rolled over a few times a second yellow would have been given. It was a close call and Bell was now on a knife-edge, with Jones the Boss surely contemplating taking him off for Gillesphey. He didn’t and Bell did manage to see out the game without further alarm.

Going into the final 20 minutes or so the game had become very scrappy. We worked manfully out of possession and kept them closed down, but you couldn’t see where a goal for us might come from. On 78 minutes Knibbs and Olaofe were introduced for Carey and Campbell, with Jones not yet at least opting to bring on Apter for Bree to increase our attacking threat.

And as the clock ran down we did have some half-chances. A Bree cross from the right found Docherty making a run into the box and his decent header went over the bar. Coventry pressed well and won the ball back for Leaburn to run on goal, his shot was fierce but close to the keeper and saved. Then, on 89 minutes, we finally made one stick. Kaminski sent it forward and Leaburn did well to turn it on, then Knibbs directed a header well to Bree on the right side. His first touch was excellent and wrongfooted their defender, moving the ball inside. He then played the ball across goal to find Olaofe. He struck it well and it was in the net.

We saw out the four minutes of stoppage time with no alarms. Would you say we deserved to win? If either of the two sides was going to win we deserved it, although through the second half the odds on a 0-0 were shortening rapidly. The final stats showed 63% possession for them, 13 shots, just that one on target (their two real chances were the one curled over and the shot blocked), against 13 for us too but four on target - including the one that mattered. We had again defended heroically, everyone worked their socks off.

Anyway, who cares? The win and three points does ease any pressure that might have been building. And if we were a shade fortunate we’ve been on the wrong side of fortune in other games. The table looks a good deal better now and we are back above Millwall, so something in this world is back to normal.

So Close, But No Cognac (This Time)

Can’t really say we’d been waiting for this one for years as it would have been far preferable for us to get back to the Championship and find that Millwall had gone down to replace us. But that aside, this was obviously a big one, for us especially. In prosaic terms a win and we would be left with two wins, a draw and two defeats from the first five games, an entirely acceptable return given the tough fixtures; obviously lose or draw and the picture would be different. Most of all, however, we simply craved a win, in whatever fashion, to end a very unwanted series and to start to reverse a truly dire record against them.

And we came close, so very close. We led from the 40th minute to the 86th and until Ramsay’s sending off on 74 minutes had looked likely to be able to see out the game, perhaps nick a second. That said we were already tiring and Millwall would have thrown everything at us in any event and always carried a threat with their height advantage. So nobody should be laying the blame on Ramsay, but no doubt his dismissal changed the nature of the contest. Although we were deservedly ahead and, despite having less possession than them had clearly the better of things in a game of very few actual chances, you have to admit that if the game had gone on another 10 minutes we would probably have lost it. So we can claim the moral high ground (never difficult against them) but not all the points.

The team showed one change from QPR, with Kelman starting up front ahead of Leaburn, who moved to the bench. Presumably Jones the Boss was impressed with what he saw on the training ground and had a plan in mind, which was fair enough. The assumption was always that Leaburn would be introduced sooner or later (with obvious thoughts before the game of him coming on to score the winner, as his father had scored in our previous league win against them). On the bench he was joined by loan signing Bree, with Mwamba missing out (and with Anderson still serving his suspension).

Through the first half we looked the brighter of the sides with the greater threat, especially with Campbell lively and clearly having the beating of his marker for pace and with Apter promising on the other flank. Millwall understandably looked to exploit him defensively but only managed to get their bigger guy on that side past him once or twice.

What chances there were fell to us, especially in the build-up to the goal. On 35 minutes a Kelman cross was knocked out to Apter but his shot was blocked, then Apter worked a good position but put in a poor shot when there seemed to be other options. On 38 minutes Apter opted to cut inside, got a little lucky with the ball and avoided a challenge, and put in a shot. This one took a wicked deflection and looped up and over their keeper, not quite dipping in time to go into the next but hitting the crossbar.

No matter. From the resulting corner Coventry sent the ball in and their keeper punched it away but only to the edge of the area where Carey was positioned. He controlled it well with a first touch, then sent in a hard low shot. I’d guess more often than not it would have been blocked, but with a Charlton player in the mix letting it go it went through everyone and into the net. Cue pandemonium, at The Valley and various other places. As usual Steve Brown in the CATV commentary box (thanks to VPN - and no thanks to Sky - I actually got to watch this game) had called it right. He pointed out that high balls into their area we were always going to be second-favourite to win and that we needed to be alert to benefit from the second ball. Carey was.

We saw out the rest of the half with no alarms and although the stats at the break showed they had enjoyed 54% possession, the telling one was that they have no efforts on target (just before the break their centre-half might have done better with a header from a corner). All we had to do was repeat that in the second.

The second half continued in the same vein, the only difference was that the ref did start taking his card out of his pocket. On 53 minutes a Millwall player was given a yellow for taking out Campbell, then on 54 a Millwall guy on their left was brought down by a combination of Coventry and Ramsay. The ref decided the latter had got there first and he was given the yellow. Might have gone the other way, which would have been significant as it turned out. And on 63 minutes Jones went into the book for a late tackle.

In between, Jones the Boss made a couple of quite early changes with Leaburn replacing Kelman, who had a decent game and was instrumental in stretching them, and Bree on for Apter, presumably to tighten up defensively on our right side. And for a spell we threatened to get the second which surely would have been decisive. On 66 minutes Carey was played in on the left side in the penalty area and his shot-come-cross was palmed out by their keeper, but not into Leaburn’s path, then just after Leaburn had the ball inside their area with his back to goal but his shot on the turn was smothered.

After that Millwall did have a couple of shots blocked and our defending was starting to look a little desperate. And on 73 minutes the game turned. A ball forward down their left side and Ramsay put in an excellent challenge to dispossess their guy. Unfortunately the ball didn’t go out of play and that guy was the first to get up to collect it. He moved inside and Ramsay, perhaps still a little disorientated, put in a sliding tackle from the side. He didn’t get the ball and everyone watching, and Ramsay himself, knew what was coming next. Second yellow and off, with no cause for complaint (other than that the ref might have booked Coventry instead of Ramsay first time around).

Millwall’s play had been patient (but largely predictable) before and now with the extra man they were able to pin us back. We had around 20 minutes to hold out and we did for 14 of them. We even had a breakaway chance as Leaburn did well to hold the ball around the halfway line and poked it forward for Campbell to run through in the clear. On his own with defenders converging he had little option but to take on the shot from outside the box and sent it over the bar.

Millwall thought they had their equaliser on 81 minutes as their substitute hammered a loose ball into the net, but he had clearly used his hand to control it. But they did get it on 87 minutes, after Burke had replaced Campbell. They advanced again down their left and a ball inside picked out a guy with a well-timed run forward. His shot was saved by Kaminski but crucially this parry dropped to that same sub, who sent it back into the net.

With five minutes of stoppage time it added up to eight minutes to see out and we managed to do that to get at least something out of the game. Not the historic victory we hoped for and which had for so long been on the cards, but at least a point. We take it and move on.

I’d only add that I thought Jones the Boss might have used more substitutes to bring on fresh legs in the closing stages, most obviously Olaofe or Rankin-Costello. There were some very tired players out there in the final 20 minutes as once again each had given his all. And a rare one, to say that I thought the ref had a very good game. He made no obviously bad calls, was consistent in what he allowed (and he did let some go, including some challenges on Jones which should have been penalised) and did not allow, and seemed in control throughout. Just wish he’d booked Coventry instead of Ramsay.

Work On Details, No Panic; Like Father Like Son In Two Weeks?

Clearly two consecutive defeats (forget Cambridge, it is irrelevant) are capable of turning into a very poor run, if we continue to emerge on the wrong side of games decided by narrow margins. But there is no reason to panic, rather IMO a case for looking at details and seeing what can be done to improve. We knew we had a tough start on paper, with three games against teams expected to be around the top and to that was added a fourth against a team smarting from a humiliation and bolstered by new signings (one of the problems of getting your business done early is that we forget how many we’ve signed as the flow of news is all about who others are bringing in).

If someone had offered us a win, two draws and a defeat in our first four before the season started we would probably have settled for that – and that would have been the least we deserved. On another day with a different ref, and VAR (and those criticising it really should take a good look at games without it), we might easily have come away from Loftus Road with three points. Kone’s challenge on Jones after he’d headed the ball away was reckless and worthy of more than a yellow (which he incredibly did not get), Campbell didn’t go down after a challenge from behind in the box (if he did and the ref decided it was a penalty I’m not sure what the rules are about their guy being sent off), and Kelman was pulled back from behind just outside the box in a goalscoring situation. Surely that one had to be a red card. And everyone said we were unlucky to lose against Leicester.

That’s not to ignore the reality of the results and other factors behind them. But it does point to the fact that all four of our games have been tight affairs with three decided by the odd goal and one draw. The way we are set up doesn’t work in favour of us taking teams apart and the chances are that most of our games this season will end up being close. Let’s get used to that and embrace it. The last thing we need now is players getting used to narrow defeats.

So what might be some lessons? First, we started quite slowly against Bristol City and especially yesterday, when the game could have been over in the first 20 minutes. We are giving the impression that we are working things out on the pitch in response to the opposition’s set-up and tactics. So are we doing enough homework on the opposition before the games begin? Or is it a mental issue, that we are happy to keep things tight early on, handing the initiative to the other team? I can’t possibly know, but we can’t afford to continue to start games so tentatively and slowly.

Second, this standard of opposition is new to many of the players. In League One you benefit from the mistakes of others, the press is easier to be effective. QPR, like Leicester and Bristol City, were far more assured in dealing with pressure and playing their way out of trouble, gave the ball away far fewer times than teams last season. I’d suggest we simply have to work harder by looking at what works for us and what does not and adjust accordingly.

Third, look at individual players and how they can improve. Last season our attack worked well with Godden and Berry, because Campbell was left to do his real work out wide, Godden was outnumbered but still made a nuisance of himself, and Berry knew that a big part of his job was to get into the box in support of Godden and score goals. Kelman hasn’t hit the ground running and might benefit from watching a few recordings of how Godden played the thankless task of being up against two centre-backs (and now better ones). Godden won more than his fair share of balls in the air, through movement and timing, as well as being on the end of balls into the box. Equally, when Berry was absent late last season we struggled for goals. Carey and Knibbs have been brought in for that position and the former at least, given that he is starting games, may need to adjust a little to put more emphasis on getting into the box.

It is worrying that Campbell can easily get crowded out when receiving the ball with his back to goal and in a more central position. When the ball’s played up to the forwards it’s natural for the midfield three to be moving advancing, so if the ball’s lost they can be wrong-footed. It happened yesterday for QPR’s second, with Saito able to run unchallenged until he got to around the area. He should have been stopped/held up well before then, equally Campbell cannot afford to lose the ball cheaply – or if he does make sure it doesn’t lead to a quick counter, by fouling if necessary. QPR committed enough professional fouls yesterday.

On the positive side, Bell has slotted in very well alongside Jones and Ramsay, even if it is tough on Gillesphey, and Kaminski looks assured (even if this is tough on Mannion in particular), while Apter even leaving aside his fluke goal has been excellent going forward. But yesterday we had a reminder that he is really a winger, not a wing-back, that if he plays as a wing-back we are taking a risk defensively, which other teams will be well aware of. It wasn’t just their first goal yesterday but also a mismatch when it came to a high ball into our box from a set piece. It is early days for Leaburn, Campbell, Kelman, Olaofe, plus when ready Godden and Mbick, to get it sorted out up front.

So plenty to be working on I’d suggest, but no case for wholesale changes. Two weeks on the training ground to be ready for the visit of Millwall. I did check our record against them, just to remind myself: played 76, won 12 (including the first two ever and doing the double over them in 1995/96), drew 27, lost 27. People remember Kim Grant’s brace on a snow-covered Den pitch, but that was followed by a 2-0 win at The Valley with goals from Bowyer and … Leaburn – the dad of course. What a celebration there will be if Leaburn Senior scoring the final goal in our last victory over Millwall for almost 30 years was to be followed by Leaburn Junior this time around!

Finally, belated condolences to the family and friends of Steve Thompson. As others have pointed out, he proved he was capable of playing in the top division, having been bought by Lennie Lawrence from Lincoln City in 1985. My favourite memory of him on the pitch was him landing on the somewhat skinnier Naill Quinn playing for Arsenal at Highbury and almost (accidentally) snapping him in two. RIP Thommo.

Fine Margins Again

Both teams today were looking to bounce back, in QPR’s case after a 7-1 humiliation. It was the occasion for Jones and Kone to renew their acquaintance, with the former having completely shut out the latter in the four games against Wycombe last season, perhaps the chance for Kelman to open his account for us against his former club. In any event, it looked likely to be a close affair, which it proved to be.

We were unchanged again, Leaburn keeping his place ahead of Kelman, but with a couple of changes on the bench. With Anderson suspended Mwamba was given a place, while the apparently now fit Burke replaced Mitchell.

Whether or not stung by last weekend, QPR came out of the traps fast and left us floundering in the first 20 minutes or so, appearing vulnerable to their movement and unable to hold the ball in any meaningful area or put them under pressure. Jones started the game with a crunching tackle on Kone, but on seven minutes we were behind, to a goal well worked from their end and soft from ours. We had only just been opened up after the ref – not for the last time in an inconsistent performance – failed to award us a free-kick for a clear foul. A one-two and their guy was in, only to make a hash of his shot from close range. Then there seemed special danger as one of their guys advanced down their right, but his low ball across the box was very well dummied by Kone and Smyth had read the situation and moved ahead of Apter to get onto it, slotting it past Kaminski. Apter was proving to be our main attacking threat, but QPR had done their homework and were to exploit his defensive shortcomings through the first half.

In that spell we could well have fallen further behind and effectively game-over. After a Ramsay mistake their guy advanced and Coventry touched him from behind and he went over, a free-kick central inside the D and a yellow for Coventry. Kaminski saved well to his left and the rebound was headed over. But we did at least keep it to one and as the game progressed we came much more into it. The rest of the first half was a pretty even affair, in terms of possession we were now edging it. And we did come close to equalising on 26 minutes as an Edwards ball in reached the far post and Leaburn met it. It was a tough one to keep down but he almost managed it, the shot coming back off the crossbar.

Campbell started to see more of the ball. He cut inside and had a shot blocked, then having beaten his marker and was advancing into the box had his shorts pulled in a cynical foul. But from the free-kick just outside the box on the left Carney overhit the ball in – and through the afternoon our deliveries into the box, from set pieces and in open play, from different players – were not good enough. Carney was pulled down (no yellow this time) and this time Apter played a poor ball in, then Carey’s cross from a free-kick for a foul on Leaburn had too much on it. But just before the break we were close to conceding a second as from a free-kick of their own the ball was delivered to where Apter had to challenge someone much bigger than him. The header back across was met by another, which came back off the foot of the post (although Kaminski might have got to it if it had been going in).

At the break we were at least a little cheered that we had picked up after that poor start and still looked capable of getting something from the game, although I thought there was a case for switching to a back-four, having Campbell and Apter the wide men in a four-man midfield, and bringing Kelman on to give us two up front. It would have meant sacrificing Carey I guess.

In any event, although QPR had a chance early in the second half, as an Edwards clearance cannoned off someone and dropped to one of theirs, the game changed as we equalised on 53 minutes. Campbell sent in a cross from the left which went across the box to Apter. He took it on the volley and sent his effort into the ground. He couldn’t have planned it better as it bounced up and over the defender and left their keeper stranded, going into the far corner. It was a fluke but gave us the momentum.

QPR responded by bringing on, among others, Saito, just back at the club apparently. From the start he looked a menace, drawing free-kicks and wrongfooting defenders. But overall the game was swinging very much in our favour, we were enjoying most of the possession and when put under pressure QPR’s back line looked vulnerable. Shortly after we equalised Kone was very lucky to escape without even a yellow a late challenge on Jones, who headed clear only to be taken out. It was at least a yellow and, if Kone had led with his elbow, a case for a red.

We had a decent chance to take the lead on 56 minutes as Campbell got goalside in the box. There was a challenge and contact but he stumbled, didn’t go down. If he had perhaps it was a penalty and a red card, perhaps not, it wasn’t cast-iron. He ended up taking the shot from a narrow angle, which was pushed behind for a corner, when he might have squared it for an incoming Leaburn.

We made our first changes on 68 minutes, with Kelman and Knibbs replacing Apter and Carey, prompting Campbell to move to the right side. On 79 minutes we were almost in again as a ball forward found Kelman and he was taken out just outside the box, only for Edwards to badly overhit the ball in from the free-kick.

We were dominant, but QPR still carried a threat in a contest which might have gone either way. And it proved to be their day. Campbell failed to protect the ball around the centre-circle and Saito emerged with it, just inside his own half. He advanced unchallenged, wrongfooted Jones around the edge of the box, and just as others were converging on him managed to tuck it beyond Kaminski into the net. Another poor goal from our perspective, but they will laud a solo run from the half-way line and a calm finish.

As the minutes ticked away we understandably became increasingly desperate. Olaofe replaced Docherty on 87 minutes and then in six extra minutes Rankin-Costello and Fullah came on for Coventry and Leaburn, with Jones now staying up front. There was nothing to lose, but the risk was obvious. A ball forward was flicked on and Kone was through on his own to plant the ball past Kaminski, to give a very unfair scoreline.

What do we take from the game? No points obviously. We know, if we didn’t before, that playing Apter as a wing-back carries a defensive risk. We should know that we can’t begin a game like we did today, tentative and uncertain. We could easily have been two down before we pulled ourselves up. On the positive side, having equalised we were the more likely to get the win, only to fall foul of one player producing a moment (the third goal was irrelevant). There’s no need for pressing the panic button, it’s small margins and lessons on detail. Each of our four games this season has been decided by the odd goal or finished even, and the chances are that will be the case more often than not. We’re not going to blow teams away but can outbattle some. We know what’s next up, time to rip up the history book and start setting the records straight (and there is a long way to go on that front).