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.