Disappointing Again, But Welcome Back Chuks

Ahead of the Crewe game the target was to win and then follow up with victory at Cheltenham, with six points from the two perhaps capable of revitalising hopes of a drive to make the top six before the season ended. But having lost the first one the game was pretty much up, making the objective for yesterday really to at least avoiding defeat, to put a stop to the run of losses, hopefully to play well. By the skin of our teeth, and thanks to the welcome prodigal son Chuks Aneke’s last-gasp leveller, we did avoid defeat.

JJ was honest enough to acknowledge that we got more than we deserved, although if the boot was on the other foot we would be bemoaning our failure to make the game safe when we had numerous chances to, criticising two substitutions in stoppage time to try to run down out the cloc. And if the reports of homophobic abuse by Cheltenham supporters are true, any vestiges of sympathy for them just went out of the window. There wasn’t much remaining in any event, they had made it a tetchy, fractious encounter on the pitch. The disappointment for us was that we failed to produce the football to overcome such opponents.

After Crewe we certainly needed some freshening up. I thought there might have been an argument for changing the formation, but that was almost the only aspect retained as Jackson opted to change one of the three centre-backs (Inniss coming back in for Pearce), both wing-backs (Matthews coming in on the right side, Jaiyesimi switching to the left, Purrington taking a break and Soare, his natural replacement, not selected), one of the midfield three (with Morgan replacing Gilbey alongside Dobson and Lee), and both forwards (Aneke going straight in to partner Burstow, with Washington not considered fit after having been obliged to play all the game against Crewe on his return and Leko moved to the bench). Basically that meant change in every area of the pitch.

We actually started quite brightly, with Morgan prominent, and after 12 minutes one of the benefits of Inniss being back was underlined as he stooped to head goalbound from a corner only for their guy on the line to do what he is put there for. It was to be the closest we came to a goal until virtually the last kick – and the opportunity was followed by a string of near misses for Cheltenham. Inniss had actually already almost seen a wayward pass across the back intercepted then Clare, who had been guilty against Crewe of a poor ball out, almost gifted them the lead, turning back towards our goal and passing it straight to their forward. Henderson was able to block the resulting effort. And then we were opened up by a lofted ball forward into space, Henderson to the rescue again.

The chances kept coming. On the half-hour a Cheltenham goal looked inevitable as a header back from the far post went to their guy to plant into the net, only he scuffed his shot and Aneke, back for the set piece, was able to put it over his own bar. And finally one was converted shortly before the break. Inniss was initially the culprit with a poor ball out which went straight to their guy, it was squared to one in space whose shot wasn’t that powerful but well-placed, across the goal to Henderson’s right. As against Crewe, he stopped the shot but only to deflect it back to their forward for another tap-in. As on Wednesday night, all our defenders were standing still. There was very nearly a second before the break for good measure.

It had been a disappointing display by us all round: coughing up more easy chances at the back, looking short of ideas moving forward, the two up front struggling to get into the game. To add insult to injury, Aneke had picked up a yellow, adding to the fear that things really could get worse in the second half. The only positive was that we were only one down, they really could have been out of sight.

Any number of changes could have been made by Jackson at half-time. He opted for one, with DJ replaced by Blackett-Taylor. And at least we could say that the second half was more even in terms of chances, which meant that unlike the first half we fashioned some too, albeit usually readily saveable shots, while Cheltenham continued to spurn golden opportunities. CBT did early on deliver from the left and the cross saw Aneke manage to swivel and get in an effort which clipped the top of the bar with the keeper nowhere in sight.

After the hour mark Leko came on for Matthews and he made us more of an attacking threat. Nevertheless, with about 15 minutes of normal time left Cheltenham wasted what was to prove their last gilt-edged chance. A corner of theirs was cleared but as we advanced the ball was chipped over our line for a guy to run onto inside the box. He blazed over the bar. That profligacy kept us in the hunt, especially with the hope that having not won for so long Cheltenham might get nervous at the death. Gilbey came on for Dobson, with Morgan dropping back to sit in front of the defence, and he saw a shot blocked shortly after getting on the pitch.

With only four minutes of added time it looked as though that one goal would prove sufficient. Only it wasn’t to be. We had a throw just inside their half. Perhaps Cheltenham hadn’t realised that our long-throw operator, Matthews, had departed, and sat back. They gave Clare all the time needed to send in a cross to the far post. Inniss won another towering header and the ball emerged from a group of players to nestle in the far corner of the net. Seems Aneke got the decisive touch. Cue much relief on our part and, very shortly after, the final whistle.

Not losing is obviously a big bonus, especially as it was a game we might easily have lost by a wide margin. You are still left wondering just what has happened to the team which played with such verge and energy not so long ago. Sure, Stockley is much missed, but it isn’t just that. The defence has gone from being watertight to sloppy in possession to gift opportunities and capable of being opened up; the wing-backs are not getting into the forward positions we need them too, DJ in particular seemingly having forgotten that side of the job; the midfield hasn’t contributed the goals we would expect from them, with Lee in particular badly in need of one; and the only forward combination which has seemed to work was Stockley and Washington, so when one or both has not been available we have struggled. Davison has faded from view, Burstow is clearly a prospect but as we saw yesterday he is still on a learning curve, and to date we haven’t managed to consistently get the best out of Leko.

Fact is, we now have to view that period of excellent play and results as having gone – and it may not come back. In the past week we’ve been shown up by Crewe and were outgunned by Cheltenham. With Aneke’s arrival – and I can’t think of anyone to better fit the bill – we have more cause for optimism, but even then you now just can’t see us going on the sort of run which our play in the early JJ period promised. It almost makes me think it might be worth winning the Papa Johns thing after all.