Game Not A Waste If Lessons Are Learnt

Right now we either win ugly, which is acceptable, or lose ugly, which is not, or which at least sparks debate over whether or not the approach will be capable of getting us promoted. Yesterday we had the latter and what was comfortably our worst performance of the season, even giving Blackpool the credit they deserve, as the defensive solidity which has been our key strength just went awol, with an obvious reason for it. Jones said after the game “it’s my fault for changing the team”, confirming that leaving Mitchell out of the squad had been a tactical decision. And a bloody awful one it proved to be.

Going into the game we were feeling pretty chipper after the win at Shrewsbury, at home against a team only just above the relegation zone, albeit one which picked up their first win of the season last time out, one with new manager Steve Bruce – who apparently came in for some shameful abuse from the stands after the game, which is sad - no doubt firing them up and including Albie Morgan. It’s far too soon to be talking about potential banana skins, which would be disrespectful to a team which came close to securing a play-off spot last season and given our poor recent form against them (one win in the last eight fixtures apparently, now nine). But perhaps its a measure of our altered expectations that at least ahead of the start we would have been disappointed with anything less than another win. Those expectations were blown out of the water in the first half.

The team did indeed show changes from the Shrewsbury game, in each unit. No sign of Mitchell, with Edmonds-Green, who wasn’t in the squad for Shrewsbury, put in from the start ahead of Potts, who stayed on the bench. In midfield Berry was rested and Campbell(A) given a start. Up front Campbell(T) dropped to the subs bench with Kanu (rather than Godden) chosen to partner Ahadme. Curiously (for me) again the bench looked unbalanced with no back-up wing-back (Watson, Edun and even the returning Edwards overlooked) and Potts the only defensive option, with two for midfield (Anderson and Berry) and three up front (Aneke, Campbell and Godden).

The early exchanges were mixed, but it soon became apparent that going forward Blackpool were causing us problems, while we settled into our familiar approach of not causing a threat to the opposition in the first half. Docherty picked up a yellow, followed by Edmonds-Green, all of which was a sign of the confusion in the ranks. Without Mitchell directing who should go where and do what nobody seemed to step up to do that job. Blackpool had gone close a couple of times, with Mannion called into action after a deflection from a set piece put into the box, and duly took the lead on 26 minutes, curtesy of a forward trying to do his defensive duties and messing them up. A ball in from their right to the far post saw Ahadme challenge from the side. He managed to get his head to the ball first but only to send it into the corner of the net. It would have been a super goal had it been at the other end, but then that would have required us to deliver a decent cross.

If the first could be considered an individual error, capable of happening any time, Blackpool’s second was worse as we were pulled apart, failed to shut down, and ended up conceding from an unmarked Morgan inside the box, his low shot beating Mannion. This was no strike from distance (Reading, Rotherham), rather the sort of soft goal we conceded frequently last season but appeared to have been stamped out.

Half an hour gone and a mountain to climb. Jones made the first change before the break with Campbell(T) replacing Small, prompting a change in formation to a back four, with Campbell himself going on to provide plenty of evidence that he is a winger by training and ability trying to convert to central striker.

As for the second half, Jones said “I thought we had all the territory and opportunities”, which was a forgivable exaggeration. We did improve, managed to create as many good opportunities as Blackpool, but ultimately failed to get the decisive next goal until stoppage time, then thanks to a howler from their keeper, as we were throwing caution to the wind and Blackpool were not surprisingly focused on keeping what they had, which involved plenty of play acting and time wasting.

The result might have been different if we’d pulled one back on 51 minutes, when a Campbell ball in from our left found Jones free, but his close range header was too close to their keeper, who saved well. By the same token, it was almost 0-3 not long after as Ramsay lost out on our right side, leading to a shot which Mannion managed to get something on, enough to divert it to hit the post and out, then a guy was free in our box for a second ball and his low cross should really have been put away.

Just after the hour we’d sent on Anderson and Berry for Docherty and Campbell(A), and the more predictable change of Aneke and Godden for Ahadme and Kanu came not long after. We were pressing towards the end, Godden’s shot was blocked, possibly by a hand, but it was only five minutes into the 12 of stoppage time that we managed to actually score. A header in their box meant a routine save, but for some reason their keeper dropped the ball, leaving an astonished Berry to get it over the line. We did have a free kick just outside the box with pretty much the final kick, but the shot was saved and the game was up.

A defeat leaves us focused not on still being in a play-off spot (albeit with some having a game in hand) and still averaging almost two points a game, rather on three wins to begin the campaign having been followed by a win, a draw, and two defeats in the next four. And on the lessons which we can learn from yesterday’s game.

First, Mitchell leads our defence and without him to do the organising we are back to confusion over who is doing what. Jones the Boss might have thought that Jones the centre-back’s good form might see him assume that role, but on the evidence of one game he’s not comfortable doing that. Perhaps Potts would be. Unfair to blame Edmonds-Green just because he was the actual change, it was rather the guy left out who we missed. If the decision to leave out Mitchell was taken late it would be even more incomprehensible. There will no doubt be games Mitchell is not available for, through injury or suspension, and then to cover his absence we will need time for planning. Otherwise his name is one of the first on the teamsheet.

Second, we know Small is an exciting player and prospect, but if Edwards is fit again he comes back in. He looked outstanding in both defence and attack in the first two league games.

Third, assuming we stick with the same starting formation, getting the right blend of three from Coventry, Taylor, Docherty, Berry, Anderson and Campbell(A) is still a work in progress. Despite having an extra man in the central area yesterday we were unable to dictate the play. I don’t know the best available three, but we expect more from this area collectively. Three of them are new to the club, but not new to the Boss.

Fourth, we’re not getting the best out of our forward options either. It is very tough on Ahadme to have him feeding off scraps, trying to win and hold the ball with his back to goal, when his real strength is his arial threat in the box (preferably theirs rather than ours). He needs service from the flanks and better support from midfield, plus the partner who can best feed off him. That surely is Godden. If Aneke comes on as usual to replace Ahadme, it isn’t written in stone that the other forward has to be replaced at the same time. If we look instead to pace and movement to cause the opposition problems from long balls forward, I’d pair Campbell(T) and Kanu to start a game. Of course we hope Leaburn will be involved too, perhaps Dixon, even Hylton (and/or Mbick or Casey), but for now we’re not getting the best out of our available options.

Sure, there’s a danger of overreaction to a bad afternoon. But this was a bigger setback than Reading. For me the conclusions are there to be drawn and if the game helps Jones to clarify his thinking around key questions it will not have been an entire waste.

Another Very Pragmatic But Very Welcome Win

Another game, another shift in pre-match expectations. No disrespect intended, but I think most of us looked on this game as an opportunity, despite playing away, to get back on the winning track after a loss and a draw, perhaps even the sort of game we need to win if we are to challenge at the top. Victory and we’ve started with four wins out of six, anything else and the focus is three without a win. Of course it’s too early to be thinking this way, but there’s no stopping it.

We did get the win, very welcome it was too. As a game it was like the others. We were tough, competitive, strong, disciplined at the back, and struggled to make anything happen with the ball. Like all before it bar Bolton it was one where we failed to trouble the scorer in the first half (although we did start the game brightly and might have gone ahead) and ended up with one to our name. Like all bar Reading and Rotherham that proved to be enough as we marked up another clean sheet. Pretty is wasn’t, effective it certainly was.

The team showed one change to the starting line-up from Rotherham, with Campbell(T) and Godden changing places again. Perhaps a curious decision, given it put a stop to the chance to develop an Ahadme-Godden partnership, but perhaps Jones was thinking in terms of playing away and the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. Otherwise it was as you were, to nobody’s surprise. With Kanu available again he was named among the subs, with a switch back to three forwards (him, Aneke and Godden) for some reason. With Potts and Watson retained Edmonds-Green dropped out and Campbell(A) remained the only midfield replacement option. Would have thought going with two forwards and adding Anderson would have made sense, but there you go. That said, it seemed to me at the end of the Rotherham game that Aneke was struggling and he wasn’t introduced yesterday, so perhaps he was not fully fit.

Again, we started brightly and it was all us in the first 10 minutes. Berry was almost in but chose not to shoot, it ended up with Small who did, well over the bar. Berry also poked the ball over the line from a corner but was obviously offside. And having conceded goals from super shots from distance in the previous two games we almost had one of our own as a cross into the box was headed out for Coventry to meet. He hit it sweetly from a difficult position but it flashed just wide.

The game then seemed to shift as Shrewsbury came more into it – and they may well have taken the lead against the run of play. A free kick sent into our box found a guy surprisingly in the clear but he put it wide. As we were pushed back they enjoyed most of the play in the remainder of the half, but we generally kept them at bay. They had a scramble at the far post which saw a close-range shot diverted wide, plus a couple of headers over the bar and a couple of appeals for a penalty, one where the ref had to decide if there had been enough contact from behind to send him to the ground. I think the ref got it right, but you’d say ‘seen ‘em given’. Mitchell and Ramsay picked up yellows in quick succession, which obviously caused concern about the risk of a red later in the game.

At the break my note was ‘all up for grabs, will we have Wigan, when we scored and won, or Reading, where the opposite applied?’ Just no telling. Shrewsbury had caused us some problems and after the opening spell had generally been on top, but we’ve seen all that before and still won.

The answer to the question came early on when we finally scored from a set piece (Jones’ effort at Wigan doesn’t really count). A corner from our left was swung in to the far post, where Jones looped a header back towards the top corner of the net. A cluster of players jumped for it and happily it ended up in the net. Replays seemed to indicate that a defender had nodded it out but the ball then hit Ahadme’s shoulder and went in. They talk about forwards needing one where it goes in off their backside. This was the equivalent, but he’s off and running.

Thereafter we probed and prodded, with Campbell(T) causing them problems with his pace and movement, while their increasing desperation led to them taking risks and a more open game, just that neither side managed to score or fashion a really good chance. Our substitutions came on 70 minutes, with Kanu (rather than Aneke) and Godden replacing Ahadme and Campbell(T), while Campbell(A) came on for Berry. Mannion was called into action to block a dangerous cross and came out well a few times to deal with high balls. For us a Kanu shot going wide took a nearly fortuitious deflection but went over the bar, and Godden headed into the net but after an obvious shove on the defender. Overall we saw out the game reasonably comfortably.

We learnt nothing new from the game, but no doubt it raised questions. The most pertinent for me is does our style of play simply preclude attacking football or is this just an area we can get better at and perhaps will as players gel? The evidence so far points to the former. The no-nonsense, take no chances approach to clearing our lines puts the emphasis on long balls in the direction of Ahadme or finding channels for Campbell(T), for them to try to do something or hold up play to give midfielders the chance to get up in support. More often than not the ball is lost and those midfielders have no chance of getting anywhere near it (the notable exception was our late goal against Orient). It’s just asking too much for them to make up the ground and then get back into place when we’ve lost it. Can we get more out of the wing-backs as an attacking threat? We need to if we are to provide Ahadme with the arial service into the box he needs. And do we prefer the contribution of Campbell(T) outside the box or the greater goalscoring instincts of Godden?

It’s tempting to suggest that all this might change as and when Leaburn is match-fit, but that’s really asking too much too soon. For me, for now it’s just an area we have to work harder at, to improve understanding and play to strengths. In the interim, we appreciate the excellent defensive work (such a contrast to recent seasons), the effectiveness of Jones’ approach in terms of grinding out results, and accept that most games are going to be determined if not usually decided by who scores first. To say that we are going to win few friends is an understatement; we’re not going to win any. For now at least I’m in the camp that cares less about that than getting promoted.

Glass Half Full Game

Nobody was expecting anything pretty and in that sense we were not taken by surprise with the game overall. It was another classic League One encounter: tough, competitive, both teams working hard out of possession and unable to do much against resolute defences with it, likely to be decided by whoever scored first, if at all. The surprise was that we had two goals, both the result of quality strikes. Having gone behind we can’t be too unhappy with a point, especially as Chuk’s shot was our only one on target all game.

The team showed a change that many of us thought might have happened last time around, with Godden getting his first start for us, Campbell(T) dropping to the bench. If the front pair haven’t scored in four starts you can’t blame Jones for adjusting things, even if the assumption was still that whoever started would be replaced around the hour mark. Otherwise it was no change to the starting X1, but with Kanu and Anderson unavailable there were places among the subs for fit again Watson and new signings Potts and Campbell(A). That moved the bench from one containing three forwards previously to two, from one defender to three, and only one midfield change option (perhaps there was a case for Edun if he could give cover both at wing-back and central midfield).

After a frantic start we had a very good chance to take an early lead. A long throw, a bit of head tennis, and the ball dropped to Ahadme. It wasn’t easy, he was under pressure and stretching, but he was able to get to the ball first but from close range hit it over the bar. Disappointing. In a game which ebbed and flowed in terms of ascendency (nothing else) Rotherham had a bright spell around 20 minutes, with one shot taking a deflection off a cluster of defenders and Mannion saving with his legs, then another more routine effort. We came back with a nod down from Ahadme which didn’t quite sit for Berry and under pressure he shot over. Mitchell picked up a yellow for something he said to the ref, and that was about it. At the break 50-50 possession, four shots each (two on target for them, none for us but two over the bar).

The second half saw nothing change until out of the blue they took the lead just before the hour mark. They turned the ball over as we were trying to play out and their guy had the ball in space but still a fair way out. Three in red converged on him but nobody seemed to take charge and instead his strike from distance screamed into the net, the second consecutive game we’d conceded from a long-range strike (no criticism of Mannion implied).

That was the cue for a fairly early introduction of Aneke, Campbell(T) and Campbell(A), replacing Ahadme, Godden and Berry. The pattern of the game didn’t change but both Campbells had an impact in different areas and Aneke was to make his contribution in fine style, on 71 minutes. There was some good scrapping in their final third resulting in Campell(A) sliding the ball square to Chuks around the edge of the area. He took it first time and hit a lovely curler into the opposite far corner, with the returning Phillips able to get fingertips to it but not deflect it wide of the net.

In the final 25 minutes both sides carried on huffing and puffing but neither managed another strike of quality or to create a clear opening. Evans picked up a yellow for complaining about his side not being given a penalty (it was a cute challenge by the excellent Ramsay which prevented their guy getting to the ball). When the final whistle came nobody in the ground could have felt they were robbed or that their team had been sufficiently on top to deserve the win.

Both managers understandably stressed their own positives. Evans expressed disappointment at not winning, which is understandable in that they did take the lead in a tight game. He also said they caused us “havoc” at times, something of an exaggeration as we defended our box as well as in previous games. Jones focused on 10 points from five games and our defensive solidity, while adding that we displayed “not enough quality” and that he expects us to “be better”. With Evans mentioning that his team contained seven, eight or nine new players still learning how to play together. With our starting line-up containing six players not with us last season, perhaps that’s the main take: two sides fully committed but not yet as cohesive as they’d like to be – or expect to be.

I’d say the Ahadme-Godden combination worked well enough in that both were involved, albeit still feeding off scraps, usually balls played up to them with backs to goal and few if any decent crosses. If Ahadme had taken his chance and/or Berry scored when set up by him we would be talking in more glowing terms. The defence, with the minor criticism about three players going to close down their guy and nobody getting in the way, remains impressive. What disappointed me was the inability of our midfield three to do much with the ball or to be able to control the game for any length of time. So it all added up to more of the same. When that delivered three wins on the spin we were very happy, especially as the performance against Bolton marked a step up, now it has meant one point from two games of course we’re more inclined to focus on what needs to improve. And the stat of five goals in five games stands out like a sore thumb. We're spreading them around - two from forwards, two from midfield, one from a defender - but not enough of them. 

After a tough start on paper we now have four games – away at Shrewsbury, home to Blackpool, away at Stevenage, away at Bristol Rovers – which looks winnable, before Birmingham come to The Valley. OK, three are away, so perhaps a couple of wins and couple of draws and eight points from them might be the benchmark, more a bonus. In the latest CATV monthly show Curbs was talking about wanting to see where we are after eight games and that indeed encompasses these next four games. Bring it on.

Scoring First Always Helps

No, certainly not what the doctor ordered, an unwanted reality check. Our start to the season, plus their well-documented problems, sent us into this one feeling confident of the outcome, while being painfully aware that nothing lasts forever and this is football. They may have had players out with injury and a thin squad, but they were in front of their own fans and no doubt had plans of their own. We didn’t need reminding that last season our 4-0 trouncing of them at The Valley in October was one of the highlights of a dreadful campaign while our 0-2 defeat at their place in February probably marked our low. In that game we were directionless, clueless, supine and anything else you care to mention; after it for the first time I thought we were in real danger of relegation, instead we went on a 14-game unbeaten run under Jones. Football.

Yesterday game was difficult and like those which have gone before finely balanced, probably decided by who scored first. You have to give Reading some credit for that, they were lively and inventive going forward, playing with a tempo and style that outside our box we found difficult to live with. But as we’re coming to appreciate we defended that box resolutely and efficiently. While we were outplayed in the first half we actually had the better chances and failed to deliver what would have been an excellent sucker punch. In the second half we were gaining in ascendency as we progressively wore them down and for a while looked the likely winners. Then they scored out of the blue, were nearly gifted a second by Mannion, were subsequently gifted a second, and it was game over. For me the game was similar to the one at Wigan, who troubled us with their formation and had a couple of good chances not taken. We got the breaks in that one, yesterday Reading got them. Fine margins.

The team was unchanged from the Bolton game. No real surprise, although I thought Jones might have decided to start with Godden instead of Campbell, to give a chance for an Ahadme-Godden partnership to work and to use Campbell as an impact sub against tiring defenders. Instead the only change was on the bench, with new signing Campbell given a spot and Watson left out of the squad. That meant effectively a switch back to just one defender in reserve (Edmonds-Green), two midfielders (Anderson and Campbell) and the retention of three forwards (Aneke, Godden and Kanu). I still don’t see the need for that and not having Watson (or Edun or Asiimwe) available seems to me rash. What would happen if Ramsay or Small got injured or ran out of puff? To be fair, after the game Jones confirmed that Watson has now been well and was unavailable.

No matter. It’s fair to say Reading through the first half were brighter and faster to the ball than us. It’s also fair to say that all they managed to deliver from 68% possession was a cross which flashed across our goal and a couple of shots wide of the mark. With the little possession we had we fashioned three openings. First, after just five minutes Ahadme did well and played Campbell in for a run on goal. Obviously you fancy him in a footrace with a central defender, but his first touch was poor, moving the ball towards that defender, who was then able to get in to avert the danger. Second, on 24 minutes a ball headed away from a set piece landed to Campbell on the edge of the area. He connected well with it on the half-volley but sent it wide. On both occasions he should have done better. Third, just before the break we had our clearest opening. Docherty did well down the right side and sent in a cross for Berry to run onto. He didn’t connect cleanly but the strike still required a save from their keeper. Ahadme couldn’t get to the rebound (I thought at the time he was fouled but would need to see a replay).

So at the break it was a case of we need to improve, perhaps Reading will wilt, and how will our subs alter the game. Anderson came on for Berry (who had picked up a yellow) to add energy to midfield, with Jones saying Berry had the same problem as Watson. And for a while we did get on top, making better use of possession and creating a chance or two. Docherty managed to control Coventry’s cross but the ball wouldn’t sit and he shot over the bar, then Campbell gave a decent imitation of Reading’s first-half low cross which evaded everybody.

Then, on 66 minutes, it all went pear-shaped. A couple of challenges in midfield went their way and Savage emerged with the ball and advanced towards goal. He wasn’t closed down fast, but the danger still appeared slim as he was a fair way out and we were regrouping. But he unleashed a powerful shot perfectly placed, going in off the post and beyond Mannion’s despairing dive. Against the run of play but that mattered little.

The goal triggered the normal introduction of Aneke and Godden for Ahadme and Campbell and Chuks set about doing what he does – although he can’t be blamed for one of their guys going over his shoulder and landing badly. Mannion then almost gave away a second, being dispossessed playing the ball on the edge of the area, only for Ramsay to come to his rescue with a goal-saving challenge. It was a brief reprieve to a couple of minutes later we did concede again, this time in controversial circumstances.

Coventry did well to win a corner and that saw the big guys move up from the back. The corner was punched away by their keeper for, what everyone assumed, was a Charlton throw. Gillesphey shaped up for a long one into the box and the central defenders stayed forward. Instead the ref gave the throw to Reading. As Gillesphey and others remonstrated – a fellow Addick was apoplectic over his behaviour – Reading took full advantage. Quick throw down the line, their winger took it on well and delivered a low cross into the right area. Their centre-forward timed his run, leaving last defender Coventry stranded, and scored from close distance. Who to blame? The ref for sure (I’ve not seen a replay but had no doubt at the time), Gillesphey too – although it’s doubtful that he or the other centre-backs would have been able to get back in time even if they had seen the danger and ran back. Others have to take a bite as this was a case of us being seriously stretched and calling for someone to take one for the team, either with a professional foul or by blocking or ensuring that they couldn’t take the throw quickly.

In any event that was pretty much that. We did force their keeper into a couple of smart saves before the end, Kanu did come off the bench, replacing Small (and resulting in heaven only knows what formation), but it was all to no great effect. Reading saw the game out comfortably and celebrated in a way that we would have done had it been us.

For sure there’s no need for despondency. Disappointed for sure, not least as with Huddersfield having lost, Stockport going behind, and Wrexham then not ahead for a few minutes a 0-0 we were top of the league. There are things that need to be worked on, including the set pieces and getting the best forward combination (Leaburn back training with the first time is great news but surely he will at least need time). Jones may have said we were “miles off” and he’s right to demand standards do not drop. But again I don’t think there was much difference from the Wigan game, the defence still looks very good and likely to provide a solid base week in, week out (at least ahead of injuries and suspensions).

If the Rotherham game is postponed it’s going to be a long wait for the trip to Shrewsbury, but there’s plenty to be working on, especially now that the transfer window has closed. Confirmation of Fraser moving on surprised nobody, but I’m still disappointed we didn’t get the best out of him consistently. We wait to see if Potts – or any other free agent – is added, and whether Taylor has a role to play and whether Campbell comes in. So once we’re over it we’ll start to focus on what is still a very good start to the season, just will take a day or two to adjust.