Another Tight One Goes Against Us

After the dramatic week, in which we’d taken seven points out of a possible nine and staved off being dragged clearly into the relegation mix, and ahead of an international break, we went into this one with the feeling that a draw would be a reasonable return. We knew the form Norwich have been in of late – although their midweek defeat at Southampton probably finished off any thoughts on their part of a dramatic surge to reach the play-offs. So perhaps, just perhaps, they might be starting to think of their holidays, feel tired, and they had injuries.

In any event, we knew we would have to be at our best to get a result, which meant keeping the defence mean and tight and nicking one or two at the other end. We didn’t manage either. Over the full game Norwich deserved their win, despite their appalling time-wasting. They could have been more than one up at the break, but the second half was an even affair and either side might have scored. We hit the bar, were denied a possible penalty, had shots blocked, and nothing quite fell where it needed to inside their box. By the same token we had Mannion to thank for three or four excellent saves. We wanted the result to be like against Birmingham, it ended up being a repeat of Wrexham. Remarkably, in our last seven games now neither side has scored more than one, with a total of just 10 combined.

The team showed just one (predictable) change from Oxford, with Dykes returning and Leaburn dropping back to the bench, where Mitchell would lose his place. Mannion continued to keep out Kaminski, while Ramsay, Jones and Bell would again be flanked by Clarke and Chambers, Docherty and Coventry continuing to keep out Coady (and Rankin-Costello), with Carey in the more advanced role, while Campbell kept his starting place, leaving Kelman among the subs.

We struggled from the start to work out and counter Norwich’s system, with a mobile forward creating space and plenty coming through to exploit it. They kept the ball well and moved it forward to good effect. Perhaps we were too focused on defending our box and paid the price. It took them only four minutes to go ahead, a poor goal from our perspective. Ball played square to a guy just outside the box. His first touch was heavy and that perhaps made up his mind for him, as he ran to get there first, before a couple of converging defenders, and put in a good strike across Mannion into the far corner. Mannion got a touch on it but not enough to send it wide. The guy was just allowed too much space and not closed down quickly enough.

The worst thing was there was a repeat performance on 13 minutes. Similar position, simple ball played into a guy with more time than he should have had. The shot was almost identical but with a little less power and this time Mannion was able to turn it away for a corner. The third of their real first-half chances came on 25 minutes as a Charlton attack broke down and Norwich poured forward at pace. Their guy cut inside Jones inside the box and although under pressure he should have done better than to send his effort wide.

In return we offered some balls into the box, with Clarke’s long throws continuing to cause chaos, plenty of effort, and a blocked shot or two. But we hadn’t really tested their keeper and at half-time we were really pleased to still be in the game, aware that we would need to improve to get anything from the game.

We did improve in the second half and several times were just a whisker away from equalising. That said, Norwich first came closest to adding to their lead, Mannion just managing to divert a low cross away from a guy sliding in at the far post. Shortly after that Jones the Boss made the first change, on 56 minutes bringing on Leaburn for Chambers, with Campbell moving to left-side wing-back. And that change sparked a spell of near misses.

TC made it down the by-line and played the ball in for Docherty, but the angle was tight and his effort was blocked for a corner. From that corner Ramsay got to the ball only for his header to come back off the bar, Clarke’s shot was then blocked and when the ball was sent in again Jones was pulled to the floor. No question he was being held, but whether it was enough to merit a penalty was unclear. But VAR would have given it and nobody would have been really surprised if it had been (contrast it with the daft penalty the ref gave Oxford for Ramsay’s challenge). Then another Campbell cross was met by Clarke coming in at the far post, but he was unable to control his header.

After that flurry of near misses Norwich did have a chance or two of their own. A guy’s shot was deflected and Mannion had to adjust to save, then had to get up quickly to get to the ball before one of theirs did. Mannion was to save again from a deflected shot.

On 71 minutes we changed formation with Fevrier coming on for Coventry, moving to a 4-4-2. And by now Norwich were happy to revert to time-wasting. OK, we would probably have done the same, but the ref was guilty of weakness in the face of it. He gave a yellow card to one guy then ignored the rest for the remainder of the game, finally adding on far too few stoppage time minutes. We still had chances, with Kelman and Rankin-Costello introduced for Campbell and Ramsay. On 94 minutes we almost grabbed a point as a long throw was half-cleared, Kelman dummied and turned well to send the ball back into the box, but Carey’s shot went wide, despite the efforts of Rankin-Costello to divert it goalwards. Dykes won a corner at the last, with Mannion joining those in the box. But it was cleared and the game was prematurely brought to an end.

In these last goals-starved seven games we’ve come out on top 1-0 in two of them, drawn three of them 1-1, and lost two 0-1. When the games are that tight you really can’t complain when you lose. Nine points from the seven. With seven games left we’d be very happy to take the same return, end the season on 55 points, which would surely be enough to stay up. The gap to the bottom three is still nine points and another round of games has been chalked off, the disappointment being WBA’s win at Bristol City, the relief being Leicester not converting a penalty which might have secured them a win at Watford. We are keeping our heads above water – and long may that continue.

Two Daft Decisions Lead To Share Of The Spoils

With all of us still buzzing after Wednesday night, the three unexpected points only slightly changed the dynamics for this one. Oxford’s three consecutive wins have changed the picture at the bottom, now its any two from a bunch, and for that they deserve credit, having made it seems astute additions in the January window. A defeat and we would still be looking over our shoulders, in the circumstances a draw would be acceptable, while a win and we would be all but safe (up to 13th – theoretically even 12th – before the others played). The abiding question was just how much was left in the tank after Middlesbrough, with Coventry, Docherty and Coady in particular having run themselves into the ground.

What we ended up with was a poor game in terms of football, with the two teams combined conjuring up three attempts on target between them, two of those being the penalties converted by each. The outcome was determined by two stupid decisions: the first by the ref, to decide that a routine challenge by Ramsay as the ball was sailing through to Mannion merited a penalty for them; the second by their defender, who crazily decided to grab hold of Jones’ shirt as their keeper came out for a ball into the box, leaving the ref with no option other than to equal things up on the penalty front. Given that ours was an equaliser in stoppage time, and that we didn’t remotely look like scoring, we are for sure much the happier of the two sides. And for the third successive game we were very relieved to hear the final whistle.

The team showed five changes from Middlesbrough – but in reality it was just a reverse of those made for that game. Kaminski was back on the bench but Mannion kept the jersey, as he deserved to. Ramsay, Jones and Bell came in for Gough, Coady and Gillesphey, with those three among the subs. The wing-backs were unchanged, as was the midfield trio again, with Jones clearly assuming that they were able to go again, while up front Dykes and Campbell came back in for Leaburn and Kelman. Or at least he was supposed to, but five changes became four as it seems Dykes was unwell and had to drop out, with Leaburn starting (and Mitchell added to the subs).

The first half was a non-event. We controlled the first 20 minutes or so, dominating possession without converting that into a goal attempt, let alone one on target. They came more into it after that, while looking equally blunt in attack. They had a free-kick from outside the box, after Chambers had been caught out and pulled back their guy, getting a yellow. It flashed comfortably over the bar. And that was the only strike on goal from either side. There were corners, throw-ins, free-kicks, a moment or two of confusion (when Mannion was coming for a ball but Bell brought it down, with both a little fortunate that Mannion was able to clear), and that was it.

Nothing changed in the second half either (aside from Clarke picking up a yellow, a header from Coventry marking our first attempt on goal, and one of theirs chipping over the bar from inside the box), until they were given a penalty on 55 minutes. It was a nothing ball into our box which was sailing through for Mannion to claim. In front of him their forward made a token effort to get there and Ramsay tracked him, with a little nudge for good measure. The forward went down, Oxford players and fans howled for a penalty, and the referee buckled and decided in their favour. Just a poor decision. The penalty was duly dispatched, Mannion guessing right but unable to keep it out.

That obviously changed the game, gave them something to hold onto. Jones the Boss opted for a quick reaction, with Kelman introduced for Ramsay, who was injured in the clash for the penalty. That meant a back four with Campbell moving to the right side. But we took a while to settle into that and looked rattled with Oxford obviously lifted. They might have increased their lead as a ball was played through and their guy lifted it over an advancing Mannion. Mannion did, however, get a touch which took much of the pace off the attempt and Jones tracking back was able to hook the ball clear before it crossed the line.

On 67 minutes we made another substitution, Fevrier coming on for Coventry, Campbell switching back to the left side. But with Oxford now content to get everyone behind the ball when out of possession this didn’t result in any actual chances, despite balls being sent into their box. On 81 minutes we were entering Hail Mary time and Fullah and Rankin-Costello were brought on, for Docherty and Chambers. We were now putting them under more consistent pressure, them like us on Wednesday with no effective out-ball, but still not threatening their goal. And as we entered six minutes of stoppage time it really did seem as though it would be one of those disappointing afternoons, one in which the opposition scoring once would be enough to take the points.

Then their defender had his moment of madness. Another routine ball into the box was going to be dealt with by their keeper, like many others, but Jones was sent sprawling and it was obvious his shirt was being pulled. Having given a soft one at the other end the ref would have to give this one too. Kelman stepped up and, while his penalty wasn’t that firmly struck, it was well placed, just inside the post, their keeper like Mannion guessing which way but unable to get to it.

Strangely enough, with them suddenly having to go in chase of a winner we looked the more likely to score again at the death. That would have been amusing, but not to be. We were content with the outcome, just what the Oxford manager says to his defender doesn’t bear thinking about.

We do now have a week to rest up and get ready for the visit of Norwich, without having to worry too much about today’s other results. Nobody will remember the game, we won’t care about how we avoided defeat, just feel satisfaction that a very tired bunch just about managed that.

Never Be More Happy To Eat Some Cheese

To say that we went into last night’s game as underdogs was something of an understatement. The bookies had Middlesbrough around 2/5 on for the win, a draw at 4/1, and win for us at 8/1. Some of us even had a pre-match discussion about whether we should send the B team and let them have the points, to keep them clear of the Spanners at the top and to rest key players for the more important game at Oxford on Saturday. Boro had conceded fewest number of goals in the league, only Sheff Wed have scored less than us. But this is football, we’ve ground out some pretty plucky draws of late. All we would have to do is keep a clean sheet.

Thoughts of such an outcome seemed even more remote when we learnt the team, which seemed to have been picked with Saturday in mind. Ramsay, Jones and Bell would all be on the bench, with Gough, Coady and Gillesphey set to form a new central three. Clarke and Chambers were kept as the wing-backs, and the midfield trio of Coventry, Docherty and Carey would be unchanged, while up front Dykes and Campbell swapped places with Leaburn and Kelman.

We knew that, as at Southampton, we would be not just parking the bus but anchoring it in position. From first to last we allowed Boro to have the ball, bring it forward as slowly or quickly as they liked, but confront them with all we had when they reached our box – and when they made it inside the box. We all know the stats by now – and on paper they are amazing. They had 78% possession, 34 attempts on goal (seven apparently on target), pretty much one every three minutes. We had two attempts on target – and everyone knows what they were: Kelman’s first-half chance and the winner from Coady. What we are left with is the quote from the great Bill Shankly: ‘the best team always wins, the rest is just gossip’.

The stats can’t tell the full story. They can’t capture the level of commitment and determination we showed to defend our goal, the numerous blocks, the endless chasing and tackling (I’d love to know how many miles Docherty and Coventry ran last night). All the heroes of last night were from our ranks. The apparently makeshift central three were excellent, with Coady marshalling those around him, Gough rising to the challenge, and Gillesphey meriting nothing but praise, while Ramsay, Jones and Bell were introduced when the time was right. Docherty and Coventry were immense. Mannion stood up to everything that did get through. Even the front two played their part, holding things up when possible, winning free-kicks to relieve the pressure. It’s daft to say that we ‘deserved’ the win, nobody can question that it was just reward for an outstanding effort.

It is fair to say that if the game was played 10 times we would win perhaps once. If Boro had converted one of their early chances they could well have gone on to win by a few. Even in stoppage time at the end I was reminding myself that if they equalised we’d come away with a point, which would have been an excellent result. On another night a ref might have viewed Chambers’ poor first-half challenge as meriting a red rather than yellow. It would have been harsh – how many times do players make a mistake and lose control of the ball and try to make amends and end up putting in rash challenges? - but not a ‘wrong’ decision. And on another night Boro would not be so profligate when it came to actually converting the chances that came their way. It's not our fault they failed miserably in front of goal. They also have to look at their decision not to have numbers back in their box from our long throw.

As for the actual chances, no question that in the first half we had the best one. On 26 minutes Carey fed Clarke down the right. He saw Kelman making strides to get into the box and laid it on for him, only for their keeper to make himself big and block the effort from close range. It wasn’t a gimmee but you felt Kelman will be disappointed not to have given him no chance.

Set that against a ball drilled low from their left across our goal-line, a one-two which led to another ball in which their guy for once unmarked put wastefully wide at the far post, and when they pulled us apart and a low ball in from their left was struck well by their guy only for it to crash back off the bar, with Mannion perhaps just getting a touch on it. Add in other interceptions, blocks, last-ditch tackles, and just getting numbers in their way and from our perspective the first half had been a success, while they probably went off still convinced that they would win the game.

The second half was no different, other than that we scored from pretty much our only chance. After a spate of substitutions by both sides on 56 minutes – we brought on Ramsay for Gough and replaced the front two with Dykes and Campbell - there seemed no danger as we won a throw on our right. We all assumed Carey would try to launch it into the box. Instead Clarke took it and rather than a lofted delivery sent in something more powerful with a lower trajectory. It beat Dykes and his marker at the near post but was met by Coady, just ahead of their defender, who only needed to divert the ball goalward, which he did to good effect. Perhaps it was arrogance/complacency that they had so few back defending their box. Whatever, it cost them dear.

The remainder of the game, save for one moment when TC was played in behind but couldn’t make it count, was a litany of Boro half-chances not converted. Several headers from inside the box went wide or over the bar, one shot from a very good position was weak and Mannion saved (their effort contrasted with the way Kelman had taken his chance on Saturday), many other attempts were blocked or diverted wide for corners. There was a scramble or two, sometimes chaos inside the box due to sheer numbers. Then after five minutes of stoppage time we had the sheer joy of the final whistle.

So, where does it all leave us? For me, there will be penance. In pre-match exchanges some other Addicks were talking of the possibility of nicking a win. I said if we did that I’d eat some cheese, which would for me be a worse punishment than eating my hat (any which way you want it the stuff is disgusting, I have normal taste buds). My partner Suzanne will select the stuff – and never will I eat some cheese more happily. The last time I did this was in return for us winning at Leicester curtesy of Kermorgant goals (his revenge for ‘Totally Sh*t From The Start’). I should have learnt my lesson then.

For us, I think the morning after we’re still trying to assess what it all means, three totally unexpected points. For sure we’re not safe yet, those below us are now bunched up, as Oxford’s three consecutive wins have ensured they are far from being written off. Given that Leicester and West Brom have more quality than you’d expect from relegation-threatened teams, at this stage you can’t predict with any confidence which two will join Sheff Wed. And that points to the risk of a relatively high number of points being required to stay up. But after consecutive wins we clearly do have a good cushion.

Somehow Jones the Boss and his team will have to get everyone physically and mentally ready for the trip to Oxford, with an early kick-off. Their January additions have clearly worked wonders for them and they appear a different side to the one we beat at The Valley. Also, while we know what to do when away at Southampton or Middlesbrough, when it has come to away at Blackburn, Portsmouth, Norwich etc we seem to get caught between focusing on a clean sheet and trying to put away on paper weaker teams. I’d suggest going up against Oxford now is tantamount to taking on a top-six team. Just how we approach and manage Saturday’s game is a real test for Jones. Well, he is paid to do the job.

Major Stride Towards The Goal

Getting nothing out of the Wrexham game had upped the pressure on this one, as did Oxford’s win at Preston (with their next two games being both at home, against Blackburn and then us), while the Blackburn v Portsmouth draw wasn’t the worst possible outcome. You couldn’t say it was a ‘must-win’ game for us, but it wasn’t far off, as failure to win would leave us looking at the fixture list and wondering where the points we need to stay up would come from (aside from Oxford next weekend, after the trip to Middlesbrough). And not winning becomes a habit; it would stretch the run of games without a win to five.

We managed to avoid that and secure the points, thanks to another excellent defensive display, one assisted by Birmingham’s strange decision to start with -and persist with – a centre-forward who couldn’t handle being given a lesson by Jones in particular, supported by the excellent Ramsay and Bell. We restricted them to one effort on target, a tame free-kick down Mannion’s throat, and really just a few moments of danger after Stansfield came on for the final half an hour or so. At the other end Dykes, clearly up for the challenge, gave us hope that we might nick one, which with the introduction of Kelman we finally did. To our massive relief, it proved to be enough.

For the team, the main question pre-match was which defenders would not be available. We assumed Burke would be out, after his early injury against Wrexham, and Jones the Boss had indicated that Sichenje and perhaps Bell too might not make it. At least we would have Coady back available. In the event Bell made it, but Sichenje did not. With Kaminski still injured, in front of Mannion would be a back three of Ramsay, Jones and Bell, with Clarke and Chambers the wing-backs. Coady only managed a place on the bench, with a midfield of Coventry, Docherty and Carey reminiscent of earlier in the season, while up front it would be Dykes and Campbell, with Leaburn and Kelman in reserve. Also on the bench would be Gough and Fullah, with Berry not in the squad.

The first half was a pretty even affair, but one that on actual chances we more than shaded. Both teams were quick to get men back behind the ball and for spells were pressed back. They started the better, perhaps finished the better, but in between we had a spell of dominance that could have resulted in us being ahead at the break.

The first real chance came on 18 minutes as Docherty intercepted a ball forward on the left side and slid a pass forward along the line for Dykes to run on to, in the clear but some way out. A burst of blistering pace to be in on goal is not exactly his forte, so seeing their keeper off his line he tried his luck with an attempt to curl one over his head into an empty net. Now Dykes had an excellent game, but he got this one wrong and the ball barely got off the ground before going harmlessly wide.

A much better opportunity came a couple of minutes later. Campbell was fed by Dykes and did well to get to the byline and send in a low, hard cross. It was deflected away but only to Clarke in space just inside their area. But his first touch was heavy and although he got his goalbound shot away their defenders had closed the space and the effort was turned away for a corner. And from that corner Coventry came in at the far post and looked likely to score before their keeper got a touch to the ball to divert its path and result in it being put wide. The final effort of note was after the half-hour as Carey whipped a ball into the box which only just evaded Dykes, then Campbell couldn’t get it under control, finally the ball looping up for Docherty, but he was unable to get any power on his header which was easily saved.

Birmingham had their share of possession but, despite the trickery of Gray on their left, were unable to convert that into attempts on goal (they had just one, none on target). Their centre-forward’s only contribution to the game was a nasty, late challenge on Jones. He was shown a yellow for it; on replays it might have been interpreted as a red.

Early in the second half that guy should surely have received another yellow and been off the pitch. A lofted ball forward was watched and headed clear by Jones, but the centre-forward, running towards Jones, had no real interest in the ball. He clattered into Jones, deliberately. The ref, who had a decent enough game aside from this and another key moment, bottled it and just gave the free-kick. We’ve benefited in the games against Sheff Utd and Leicester from referees making the right calls and showing red cards, but that was not the case today. Remarkably Birmingham didn’t substitute the guy immediately.

We did have a decent opening on 53 minutes as Dykes went low to deflect on a ball forward and Campbell ran in behind. But their defender did very well to get back and make a key challenge to divert his effort behind for another corner. But the game then took a turn in Birmingham’s favour as the made two changes just before the hour, the sad centre-forward and Gray withdrawn and Stansfield sent on. Immediately he was dropping deep and not offering Jones a predictable challenge. For a while it seemed as though the changes might result in them taking the lead.

An unlucky (for us) break down their left saw their winger get clear, only for his cross to be put behind, and from the resulting corner a half-clearance fell to a guy on the edge of the box in space, but his shot was blocked. Stansfield skipped past two challenges down their right, only for his cross to be cleared. And then the ref gave them a free-kick on the edge of the area. The effort was easily saved by Mannion (and was to be their only one on target all game).

It was time for us to make changes, but also evident that Jones the Boss might have a dilemma. Should he switch formation to the 4-3-3 that we’ve tried before, with Campbell and Fevrier operating either side of Dykes? Or should he keep the shape and change the personnel? He opted for the latter and on 69 minutes Rankin-Costello and Kelman came on for Docherty and Chambers, with Campbell switching to left-side wing-back.

Just four minutes later we were in front. A Carey long throw from our right side was helped on by Dykes (or a defender) and Kelman took control of the resulting scramble, taking a touch then managing to get his body shape right to shoot well, beyond their keeper’s dive into the net. Instinct and coolness when the chance arose, qualities which have of late been in short supply.

Still a long way to go. The game might have been settled on 78 minutes as from a poor Birmingham clearance Clarke received the ball and went into the box, only to be flattened by the challenge. Have to see it a few more times before being able to say for sure it was a penalty, but certainly a case for one. Instead, just after Birmingham came as close to equalising as they were to, with Stansfield playing in their other sub on the left. He cut inside but his curling effort was just overdone and went over.

If anything in the closing stages we might have scored again. Leaburn replaced Dykes, who had put in a real shift, Carey had a shot blocked, Kelman fired wide but from an offside position. Just before the start of five minutes of stoppage time Gillesphey and Coady replaced Cambell and Coventry, to shore up the defence, and the only moment of note before the end was Leaburn shooting wide from inside their box. It mattered not, at the final whistle we celebrated.

The sense is one of massive relief. With Oxford having won two on the spin and with two home games coming up, the simple equation of them and Sheff Wed taking two of the three relegation spots is now far less clear-cut, while the sight of Leicester and West Brom vying for that third place still seems odd. The win gives us vital breathing space ahead of the trip to Middlesbrough – one for which we will presumably park the bus and view anything as a bonus – and then Oxford away next Saturday, a game we’d hope to win but might now be content simply not to lose. Nine points clear of the relegation zone with 10 games to play. Not safe of course, not comfortable yet either, but a major stride towards staying up.

Less Than We Deserved Today

This one would I think not have fallen into the category of games we would clearly target to win to reach safety, but also not quite one for which you say anything out of it would be a bonus. We were at home, but not exactly in sparkling form, against opponents going for another promotion, on the back of four wins in their last six. At least we went into the game aware that Blackburn, Portsmouth and Leicester had all already lost, so a win would extend the gap to third-bottom to 10 points.

We didn’t get that win. Or a point. But whereas you might say in the previous two games we got more than we deserved, today we undoubtedly got less. After Southampton and West Brom we could say sure, we were perhaps fortunate, but they didn’t take their chances to make the game safe. Today was a case of biter bit. We had the better chances and didn’t convert them. They scored with a touch of quality on the edge of the area, and when we finally put in a shot beyond their back line their keeper pulled off an excellent save to deny us a point. The positive is that we played much better than of late, but we have nothing to show for it.

With Coady ruled out and concern over Jones after his injury on Tuesday, there were doubts about how Jones the Boss would line us up for this one. In the event there were five changes, two of them enforced as Kaminski picked up a hamstring injury. In came Mannion, with Brooks on the bench, and in front of him would be a back three of Burke (returning from injury and preferred to Sinchenje), Jones (thankfully still available), and Bell, with Ramsay switched to play left-side wing-back, perhaps with their winger in mind, and Clarke on the other flank, Chambers taking a break. Without Coady it was a surprise that Docherty was rested, among the subs. Instead Coventry, Berry and Carey would form an unlikely trio, with Dykes and Campbell up front, Leaburn and Kelman the possible replacements. It did look an odd midfield combination, but hopefully Jones had something in mind when he made the choices.

It was a pretty even, rather dull, opening spell, with Moore causing us problems as usual but us looking brighter than of late and finding some space. Moore just failed to convert a ball in to him, Campbell was unable to make the most of a skied keeper clearance played through to him. Bell had already been down injured when on 12 minutes Burke went down for no obvious reason but clearly in some pain. He was unable to continue, Sinchenje replacing him. Then Ramsay picked up a yellow and it was starting to look like a struggle.

Then on 19 minutes we should have taken the lead. A break saw Campbell move the ball on to Carey and his low ball in found Berry in space in the box. Instead of shooting first time he cut inside to wrongfoot the first defender coming in to challenge, but that only left him up against a second who blocked his effort. A shot first time might well have found the net. Just after Clarke down the right, after Sinchenje won the ball well, found Carey but his low cross was also blocked. And on 27 minutes probably the best chance came our way. Carey was set up. His shot was half-blocked but ran through to Clarke cutting in. It was on his left side, but with the goal seemingly at his mercy he put it wide of the far post.

To underline the point that goals change games Wrexham went up the other end and scored. A ball in from their left was headed away. There seemed no obvious danger, but it was picked up by their guy on the edge of the box. He took a touch inside and hit it well, past Mannion’s despairing dive to his left. A moment of quality which contrasted with our efforts to convert.

That stung us, but the rest of the half was even and tight. Campbell has an excellent run down the left, but his ball into the box couldn’t be converted and at the break we were thinking we’d done well enough but the only effort on target from either side had produced the goal.

Rankin-Costello was brought on at half-time, for Berry, giving the midfield what would seem a more normal shape. And the game continued threw up half-chances for both sides but nothing clear-cut. Rankin-Costello only just failed to get on the end of a good ball in from the right by Clarke, but Wrexham almost extended their lead as a guy’s shot from inside the box was blocked superbly by Ramsay. Carey was shoved over and nothing given, then Coventry played a ball into the channel for Dykes, who sent in a good cross which beat the defender only for Campbell to head over the bar (really you wanted it to be the other way around).

On 70 minutes the game could have turned again. Clarke threw a dummy and advanced into the box, then touched the ball inside, only to then get taken out by a defender’s challenge. Have to see the replays but it looked to me like a good shout for a penalty, almost as if the ref played on as we still had possession rather than focus on the foul. One that VAR would I’m confident have given.

On 73 minutes we started throwing caution to the wind as Leaburn and Kelman came on for Coventry and Bell. That meant I’m not sure what formation, but clearly it would leave us stretched at the back. And shortly after Wrexham broke and had three on two, only for Sinchenje to time his challenge well and intercept the ball across to the spare man. On 80 minutes Leaburn got to a Carey ball to the near post first, but put his effort over the bar. Gillesphey replaced Ramsay and from a corner Sinchenje had the chance for glory but blazed well over.

The real chance to take something from the game came on 89 minutes. A ball into their box was half-cleared and dropped to Carey. We’ve seen it many times before and hopes soared as he sent in the shot, only for their keeper to dive to his right and get enough on it to turn it wide. We had just four minutes of stoppage time and Wrexham saw them out without further alarm.

So, the positives were clear to see. We were more patient, tried to work play through midfield rather than go long at every opportunity, and as a result the game was more enjoyable to watch and we carved out enough chances to have at least avoided defeat. Also, all the other results at the bottom went our way, so in that sense we are in a better position than before today, with the gap unchanged and another round chalked off. But to the fact that we lost has to be added the injury to Burke. A disappointing result, perhaps the one when the rub of the green was against us, but not a disaster.

Riding Our Luck Again, But We Didn't Lose

A ‘must win’ game for them, according to their captain, a ‘mustn’t lose’ game for us. So it was inevitable one side would come off the pitch disappointed. It proved to be them, reflected in their post-match dismissal of head coach Ramsay (after just nine games), but only just. If football is about narrow margins this was a case in point. If their guy’s volley from the edge of the box at the end of stoppage time went just a few inches to the left they win the game (with disappointment but no cause for complaint on our side) and Ramsay still has a job. They would have been three points behind us ahead of a game against Oxford at the weekend.

So just what should we focus on? As far as the game is concerned Jones was honest in his appraisal, accepting that we played poorly and were fortunate to come away with a point, like on Saturday equalising with almost our only serious strike on goal. But in the overall scheme of things after the ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ we didn’t lose and that was the priority. We are in a relegation struggle and avoiding defeat last night might prove to be crucial. Plenty to think about in terms of how we set up for Wrexham on Saturday, but the overriding emotion the day after is one of relief that the outcome wasn’t a good deal worse.

There was a decision to be made for Jones the Boss ahead of the game, regarding team and tactics. The approach to Southampton on Saturday had been simple and predictable: everyone behind the ball when out of possession, defend the box, priority a clean sheet. Against different – and the form book would suggest weaker – opposition, would Jones give the same instructions or look for a more attacking set-up, to go for the win? Not that simple of course, still have to do the basics well and a clean sheet would again be the top priority. But you hoped we wouldn’t fall between two stools.

I think that, as against Portsmouth at The Valley, we did just that. Unsure whether to take the game to them and impose ourselves on them, or to just defend what we had, working hard out of possession but not risking anything, content as long as we had a clean sheet. The result was we encouraged a side low on confidence to take the initiative, dominate possession, and feed attacking players who caused us problems all night, especially their left-winger Johnston, who gave Clarke and Ramsay a very tough night. The approach and mindset only changed once we’d gone behind.

As regards the line-up, Jones the Boss opted for a couple of player swaps from Saturday, with Clarke and Leaburn moving from the bench to start, Sichenje and Campbell taken out of the starting line-up, with Ramsay moving back inside alongside Jones and Bell.

It was all West Brom through the entire first half, in terms of passing, movement, and attacking threat. We had very occasional moments when Dykes and Leaburn weren’t chasing lost causes, notably when Dykes helped set up Carey for a decent effort which was deflected and saved. That was it. Otherwise we struggled even to play the ball around at the back, sooner or later pressured into a hopeful lofted ball forward which was usually mopped up with no problem. On the positive side, we did restrict them to a few actual chances. Johnston served notice on 24 minutes, beating Clarke and delivering a cross that their forward couldn’t make meaningful contact with. And to be honest we were all fearing the worst as Jones the Player went down needing treatment on his knee/ankle on 11 minutes then went down again on 32, this time unable to continue. Sichenje took up his position in the centre of the back three, with no disrespect to him almost by default as Ramsay, Bell or Gillesphey didn’t fit the bill (and the more obvious choice of Burke seems still injured).

There was an incident on 41 minutes which might have changed the game. Ramsay and Johnston went to contest a loose ball and the latter had a rush of blood to the head and jumped in two-footed off the ground. Fortunately for him there is no VAR, Ramsay managed to avoid serious injury (if he’d rolled around clutching his leg the outcome might have been different), and the ref was inadequate all night (wrong decisions and inconsistency with cards). He didn’t even give a foul when it might have been a red card.

It seemed we would at least get to the break on level terms, to regroup and to look to change things in the second half. But in stoppage time a West Brom corner went to the far stick and their defender had a free header from close range. Unfortunately for us he did well to head it down to thwart Kaminski’s efforts to block. Just who carries the can for that one I’ve no idea, but the general feeling was that Jones the Player would not have allowed it to happen.

That goal changed the whole complexion of the game, prompting an early change as Campbell replaced Leaburn (as against Portsmouth), to try to give us greater mobility up front. The difference wasn’t immediately obvious and on 51 minutes we were very nearly two down and probably out for the count. Campbell gave the ball away with a poor layoff, the ball went into our box and their guy under pressure prodded it just wide. Just after that another free header from a corner, Clarke’s frustration showed as he shoved Johnston over for a yellow, and Jones the Boss had had enough.

On 55 minutes on came Coventry and Fevrier, for Coady and Chambers. That meant a switch to a back four (Clarke, Ramsay, Sichenje and Bell), with Campbell and Fevrier operating either side of Dykes in a sort of front three.

These changes did have an impact. Campbell struggled to get into the game but Fevrier added a different dimension as he actually tried to pass the ball to feet and take up space. That helped to push them back a little, although we were also with the new formation more open at the back.

Sichenje picked up a yellow for a badly timed challenge and a West Brom break after we lost the ball in midfield ended with their guy blazing over with others better placed. It still looked more likely that they would add to their lead than us getting back on level terms. But this is football.

On 69 minutes, out of the blue, we equalised. Ramsay advanced with the ball and instead of lofting it forward threaded it through for Dykes. For some reason their centre-backs were moving forward to try to catch him offside and with a very good first touch to take the pace off the ball suddenly Dykes was in the clear. He went for power rather than placement and drilled it through their keeper’s legs.

The game was now up for grabs it seemed, but as the clock ticked down it was still West Brom looking the more likely. On 85 minutes a ball into our box was headed down and it seemed that their guy would finish, only for a desperate and very well timed intervention by Coventry to put it behind – and true to form the ref gave a goal kick. West Brom won a series of corners as we entered four minutes of stoppage time and from one of these, right at the end, we very nearly lost. The corner was half-cleared, back in, half-cleared again, but this time dropped for their guy on the edge of the box. He hit it on the volley and Kaminski, like everyone else, could only watch for the outcome. It went just the right side of the post (from our perspective) and that was that.

For sure we’re disappointed with the performance, as was Jones. After the initial euphoria with the January additions we’ve struggled of late to get the right combinations in key areas. Docherty has gone from out in the cold to regular starter, with Anderson going in the opposite direction and shipped out on loan. You assume Carey has to start, given his goals, but which two from Coady, Coventry, Docherty and Rankin-Costello are optimum is as yet undecided. Similar story up front. Dykes has fitted in from the start and has done all we can ask of him, couple of goals and assists. But is Leaburn, Kelman or Campbell the best partner? Or do we change to play a front three, as last night? These decisions are what Jones and his team get paid to make, not me.

If anyone doubts we are in a relegation struggle, just because we’ve been outside the bottom three all season and still have a points cushion, needs to take a fresh look at the table and form guide. If Norwich beat Sheff Wed tonight, as we assume they will, we drop to 18th. Then if Portsmouth win their game in hand – and their results have picked up significantly of late, despite last night’s welcome defeat – we go to 19th. That would leave just Blackburn (three points behind after an equally welcome defeat last night but also picking up under a new manager), West Brom (six points back but now anticipating a new manager bounce starting with their game against Oxford), and Leicester (who’ve pulled off a couple of unlikely draws and are appealing against their six-points deduction). You can’t see any of the teams above us being dragged back into it.

So let’s not pretend our position is in any way comfortable and accept that now is not the time for carping about how ugly our style of play is. The only question is whether it will prove effective. I’m more concerned that both West Brom and Portsmouth recently outfought us in key areas. Early in the season we were progressively dominating teams, wearing them down. Perhaps other teams just wised up to us. Whatever, we cannot (IMO) last for much longer carrying no material threat to the opposition’s goal. We’ve come away with a couple of fortunate points. That luck won’t last, we have to play better, which means Jones sorting out the combinations and the mindset going into games. We also have to hope Jones the Player is not ruled out for long.

As Hard-Earned A Point As They Come

Fair to say we went into this one a good deal less optimistic than on Tuesday, in part because of Tuesday but with nobody needing reminding of the humiliation at the hands of Southampton at The Valley. Add in the fact that they had won four of their last five and have moved from surprising relegation candidates when we last played them to play-off contenders (rather the reverse for us), with their fans no doubt licking their lips at the prospect of adding to Jones’ problems, and I like most I suspect felt that anything from the game would be a bonus. Given that, we were perhaps looking for reason to believe that the resolve and determination remained intact for more important challenges to come.

But always at the back of your mind, this is football, nothing is written. And with a disciplined defensive display and a delightful equaliser we came away with a very valuable point, one that for the majority of the game had looked unlikely. Ultimately they perhaps took the game too casually when it came to turning the ample possession we afforded them into real chances, with so many of their 23 attempts on goal blocked. By contrast, when Carey shaped up to shoot his effort evaded two defenders and their keeper, who got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out. Sometimes you do make your own luck.

The team showed two changes from Tuesday night, one a surprise the other less so. Sichenje came into the starting line-up, in a back three with Jones and Bell, with Ramsay moving to right-side wing-back and Clarke having a rest. Whether that was in response to the opposition, a result of what he’d seen on the training ground, or some other reason only Jones would know. Up front Campbell came in for Leaburn, who moved to the bench, to start alongside Dykes. Otherwise it was unchanged, with Docherty and Coady retained together in midfield. No doubt they and some others, including Kaminski, went out with a point to prove after Tuesday night.

The pattern for the game was apparent from the start. Our job was to get behind the ball and defend the box in numbers. Stay in the game and perhaps look to be more ambitious in the closing stages. It meant conceding possession until the final third, with Dykes and Campbell left to cause whatever problems they could with little supply or support.

And we did start rather shakily. Sichenje conceded a couple of early free kicks (he did settle down to have a fine debut, but you can see why he picks up a fair share of cards), Ramsay made an error to nearly let them in, and it took a Jones clearance off the line to keep it all square. We had the occasional moment, including on 19 minutes when Jones found Carey well and he moved it on to Chambers, only for his dinked cross to be gathered by their keeper, and others involving finding Campbell in space. But they were few and far between. Kaminski saved a shot from a narrow angle, while a curler from a set piece hit the bar, then another shot from inside the box went well over. A Southampton corner was flicked on at the near post and Bree couldn’t quite rise high enough to keep his header under the bar.

No matter, at the break we were content, so far job done. That Southampton had 74% possession mattered little, none of their 10 attempts on goal (five on target) had registered. Jones will have been the happier of the two managers, but still a long way to go, with Southampton no doubt feeling that more of the same and sooner or later they would score.

We didn’t expect that goal to come so quickly after the break, within just a couple of minutes. And it didn’t seem like one of their moments of danger. A ball in from their left was going behind their forward. But fair play to him, he managed to get his head around it and glance a header with sufficient power and placed beyond Kaminski into the net. A goal I think you just hold up your hands and say well done.

With the goal coming so early there was no suggestion of a change from us in response. The greater goal in the following period was not to concede another. And although their tails were up, crucially we managed to do that. We did get caught out by a swift goalkeeper throw out to their winger, with the move ending strangely as Bell slipped over in the box, blocking the path for the forward. Equally, we were perhaps hard done by as Dykes took advantage of a defensive error and fired home, only to be pulled up for using his hand to control the ball. Looked a questionable decision, might on another day have got away with it.

After a succession of Southampton corners, on 65 minutes Jones made a significant change, with Leaburn coming on to replace Campbell. He’d done well enough, caused them some problems, but we needed to add more of a physical presence up front. The effect was felt quickly, with us playing further up the pitch, but it was still something of a surprise that we were very quickly level. Bell found Docherty and he cut across the box and laid the ball on for Carey. He took a touch and it looked likely (to me at least) that his effort would be charged down. But it wasn’t, and despite their keeper’s fingertips it found the far corner of the net.

Still 25+ minutes left to hold out. Southampton responded with a triple substitution but if anything the game became more even, at least until the closing minutes. It also became more fractious, with a poor tackle on Leaburn and later a coming together shall we say of their guy and Coady, which produced accusations of a headbut by the former. The ref, at rather a loss what to do, gave them both a yellow.

On 83 minutes Kelman and Coventry replaced Dykes and Coventry, then Sichenje went down with cramp and was replaced by Clarke, Ramsay moving back inside. News of 10 additional minutes as an unpleasant surprise and during that time it was all backs to the wall and a case of heading or hoofing anything away and blocking more shots. That we managed to do and there was no doubt who was celebrating at the final whistle.

Just how important the point might prove nobody can say as yet. For now it keeps us with a gap to the relegation zone, notionally seven points but with Blackburn and Portsmouth rapidly making up the ground and Leicester appealing against their six-point deduction meaning the position is less comfortable than it might appear. It also sets everything up for yet another massive game on Tuesday night at West Brom. We failed to beat Blackburn when they were on their uppers, here would seem to be another chance to really put distance between us and at least one of those below us. Win and the immediate pressure is eased significantly. May it be so.