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.
Your generosity does you credit BA.
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