One To Forget, ASAP

The seven-game unbeaten run, including three wins, may have eased the need to get a result today, but there was also the feeling that another win against a team below us and we could really put an end to any lingering relegation concerns. Also, no question we need to sustain the momentum to finish the season on a high with the next campaign in mind, while it was going to be interesting to see if an easing of the immediate pressure might affect performance, either positively (more relaxed, greater freedom) or negatively (less endeavour).

In the event it was a horrible game of football. Yes, it was played on a poor surface and in very tricky conditions, with the wind blowing strongly. But difficult conditions pose challenges to be overcome and it’s fair to say that both sides failed in that respect. The first half was plain dull, interrupted by one moment for them which drew an excellent save from Isted then rounded off by us taking the lead out of the blue as smart thinking by May turned a nothing situation into a penalty. The second half became more interesting towards the end just as their equaliser, equally unexpected, sparked some chances at both ends. Fact is neither side deserved three points, we take the point, the extension of the unbeaten run, and move on, as quickly as possible, happy to be in a position which a few weeks ago we would have grabbed with both hands.

The team was unchanged from Carlise, which really meant a number of contenders – including Hector and Bakinson, perhaps even Maynard-Brewer after a few recent Isted errors – not managing to secure a starting spot and kept on the bench, with no place as yet for Jones after his injury. The bench also included new signing LuaLua, with Wickham dropping out of the squad, Ladapo keeping his spot. It did mean that a team playing 3-5-2 with wing-backs and no wingers had two wingers on the bench (LuaLua and Campbell) and only one outright forward replacement (Ladapo). Wasn’t sure of the thinking behind that, but presumably it was all part of God’s plan.

Fleetwood apparently had the better of the initial exchanges, which thanks to my partner opting to change laptops for the stream I missed. I got up and running around the time Kanu took a knock to the head. He spent the remainder of the game with his head swathed in a bandage. If anything Fleetwood continued to pose the greater threat. On 20 minutes a ball played down the channel on their left reached their guy and it looked like the goal opened up for him to shoot into. Instead the shot was blocked by a desperate late challenge, which I think prevented a goal. Then Isted had his moment as a long throw wasn’t really cleared and with a lucky deflection or two their guy was through on goal. His effort was fortunately diverted to safety by Isted’s outstretched arm.

The next 20 minutes or so were truly unremarkable. Hopeful balls lofted forward, passes misdirected. But just as we were looking forward to a half-time cuppa, perhaps a bit of hypnosis to forget the previous 45 minutes, we won a penalty, in fortuitous circumstances. A ball forward by Thomas was headed back inside by Dobson but looked easy for their defender to deal with. He knocked it on then shaped to clear his lines, only for May to nip in and just touch the ball past him, then to be on the end of his swinging boot. Soft for sure but the ref really had no option. May got up and sent the penalty low into the corner.

The second half saw no change in pattern or quality. A poor Coventry pass was intercepted and put us in trouble as they had numbers forward only for the eventual shot to be blocked, then Charlton ‘old’ boy Sarpong-Wiredu headed wide from the resulting corner. It was surprising that we made no changes until we were in the final 10 minutes of normal time, with Ladapo coming on for May. But that really reflected the fact that we were happy enough with what we had and weren’t looking in danger of letting one in. Only we did, a poor one.

Another throw down their left side was followed by a rash and missed challenge (think it was Gillesphey) resulting in their guy getting into the box with the ball. Isted came out but was rounded and from a tight angle he found the net via the far post. Just a collective lack of concentration, poor decisions made, and this time it cost us.

For the neutral the goal really enlivened the game as the final 15 minutes (including eight of stoppage time) saw good chances at both ends. Our defence seemed to lapse back into Keystone Cops mode as clearances rebounded off someone else, on one occasion almost back into the net, while Anderson won the ball back and it was played through to Ladapo, whose attempted chip was reached by their keeper. At the end of normal time LuaLua was introduced together with Hector, with Kanu and Watson making way. Then in the final couple of minutes first we somehow failed to score, as Hector completely fluffed a shot from inside the box and the ball back in by Thomas couldn’t be converted by Ladapo, then at the other end they were allowed space down their right and the resulting cross found a guy unmarked, only for his close-range header to bounce back off Isted.

Fleetwood might be happier than us to take something from the game, having been behind until late in the game; but their need for three points was the greater. We can’t complain about the result – and to be fair Jones said as much – as we didn’t do enough to deserve the win having been gifted the lead.

It is a game best forgotten by us at least. Players who have been excellent of late had poor games, the defence looked frail again, especially after they equalised, with Hector’s introduction increasing confusion, and nobody stood out. If anything you’d say May’s quick thinking got us the goal. I was surprised that it took so long for subs to be introduced, that Bakinson wasn’t given some time on the pitch, and that we had both LuaLua and Campbell on the bench but not Wickham, for a game in which brawn was always likely to be in greater need than brain.

Roughly six weeks and seven games left to go, the objective being to get as many points as possible, about as vague an objective as you can get. May will no doubt want to ensure he ends up as the League’s leading goalscorer, before he picks up our Player of the Season award. Others will be wondering if they fit into Jones’ plans for the next campaign. Yes, there’s an end-of-season whiff about it all now.