One That Went According To Plan

It would be disrespectful to Bristol Rovers to have suggested this one had a whiff of banana skin about it. Our record against them is pretty poor and they beat us at their place early in the season. But on the back of a good rebound from Rotherham and six points bagged, making it five wins and a draw in the last seven (with 16 points taken out of 21), our hopes – and expectations - were high. Even to the extent of thinking how good it would be to score an early goal or three and turn on the style a little, being able to relax a little – but at the same time hoping the players had no such thoughts, have to win the game first and we badly needed another three points, no room at all for any complacency.

In the event, glory be for once it went (almost) according to plan. Bristol Rovers started brightly enough, but once we’d taken the lead we progressively took over and had a second before the break. One more and it would have been truly game over, but in truth playing within ourselves against modest opposition – but defending well - it wasn’t needed and we never looked like throwing it away. We were even able to conserve some mental energy at least for Saturday and had the added good news before the game of Jones (the player) signing a new contract. A satisfactory evening all round, although you did feel a little for the Bristol Rovers fans who had made the trip.

The team showed a couple of changes, perhaps surprising ones. Ramsay was selected to start, not as a wing-back but rather as the third centre-back alongside Jones and Gillesphey, with Mitchell taking a break. Edwards and Small kept their places as the wing-backs. No change in the central midfield three, but up front Leaburn was also put among the subs with Godden starting, alongside Campbell(T), breaking the ‘big man/little man’ set-up. It meant Leaburn, Aneke and Kanu were the forward options from the bench. No idea whether the changes were to rest some tired legs and freshen it up, slight knocks, or something in the Bristol Rovers set-up that Jones thought we might exploit.

Again, they started the brighter, keeping possession well and with Sinclair threatening to do damage down their right, once getting past Edwards. But nothing came of it and with 12 minutes on the clock, after Small had sent a weak shot wide, we took the lead. Small again, but his ball across seemed to have been dealt with, only for Campbell and Docherty to work it back. Campbell put in what might have been a shot or a cross and Godden sneaked in behind defenders to get on the end of it and poke it into the net. It was a goal that emphasised his intelligent movement and poaching instincts within the box, something we have too often lacked.

Godden almost repeated the exercise just before the half-hour. Berry hit a free-kick which was palmed out by their keeper only for the ball to be played back in. Jones headed it goalwards and again Godden appeared in the space, only this time his touch was not decisive and the keeper was able to block it. A good contact and it surely would have been his and our second.

We at least didn’t have to wait too long as a spell in which we were dominant and might easily have added to the lead – a snap shot from Godden was turned over the bar, Berry got on the end of a Small cross and turned it just over, an unmarked Docherty headed wide from a corner,  and a Gillesphey header from inside the box was saved well – was rounded off on 35 minutes with a splendid goal from an unlikely source. Another free-kick was half-cleared and came to Edwards outside the box. He cut inside and from a central position hit a sweet low drive into the corner of the net. Great to see him score and also nice to see a left-sided player able to shoot (well) with his right foot.

After that we really just needed to see it out to half-time, which we did with no alarms, although Maynard-Brewer had to save to his left a curling free-kick by Sinclair from just outside the box. The stats at the break showed Bristol Rovers had enjoyed 53% possession but we had registered 11 attempts on goal, six on target, against their three and one (that free-kick) respectively.

Rovers made one change at the break and three more before too long and, with our intensity and ambition reduced, the game in the second half turned into a rather boring stalemate. We were content to protect what we had and to look to get another on the counter, they pressed but we defended well in our half and they only occasionally looked like they might get one back to put the result in doubt.

Of the two possibilities we looked more likely to add to our lead and probably should have done. An Edwards long throw dropped to Godden close in but he couldn’t turn it home, Godden played in Small but his shot was easily saved. Aneke and Kanu replaced Godden and Campbell on 76 minutes and you thought it was laid on a plate for Chuks to score. In truth he made a mess of the opportunities that came his way, shooting when others were in better positions. Perhaps he was trying too hard – with Jones having resigned and the focus now on whether Small will do the same, he may have been feeling a little overlooked as his contract also runs out in the summer.

The closest we came was when Aneke moved it on to Kanu, who cut inside but saw his low shot turned aside and Small was only just unable to put the ball in the net. Towards the end understandably Ramsay was looking knackered – but still managed an excellent header away under pressure inside our box, taking a bang on the head for his pains. And when the change came it was Edwards replaced by Edmonds-Green, Small changing sides. In truth we saw out the game comfortably.

The final stats showed their possession percentage had risen to 63% - which implied 73% for them in the second half. They were unable to do anything with it, as the goal attempts numbers confirmed – 19 attempts for us, 10 on target, just five for them, only one on target (that first-half free-kick). Their manager Calderon said after the game: “In the last third, when we have to create something, we are not doing it. Still, I would say in the middle of the park, I think we have been better than them. It’s true that in the boxes, where you lose or win the game, we were worse than them.” 

Other results were mixed for us. Stockport, Bolton and Leyton Orient all winning kept them above us, but Reading, Mansfield and Barnsley all lost and sit below us in the table. Moving into the top-six gets more difficult. We’re four points below Stockport in fifth (and they have better goal difference) but with a game in hand, one behind Leyton Orient (they also have a better goal difference), and one behind Bolton with a game in hand on them (and better goal difference). Be nice if those three weren’t in good form – Stockport have won their last three, Bolton have rattled off two wins after we beat them (and they sacked their manager), while Orient have won nine of their last 11. But on Saturday Orient play Stockport and Bolton are away at Reading. Away at Blackpool is going to be tough (they are unbeaten in six and have won their last two), we just have to do our job and see how other results go.

More Options Available Now, Even Without Additions

I’d imagine that among the issues being knocked around by Jones and his team are two that have recently arisen and which could also influence priorities before the transfer window slams shut. First, the very welcome return from injury of Ramsay (and Watson too) but the related issue of how to accommodate him; and second, the evidence of the past two games that we have gone on score and win only when the formation has been changed with replacements from the bench.

I did comment during our lean spell, when we were suffering from an extensive injury list, that surely some way needed to be found to get Small into the team, even though the excellent Edwards was holding down the left-side wing-back slot. He was too good an asset not to be utilised. As it transpired, Jones – absent Ramsay and Watson, Mitchell(Z) too, and with Edmonds-Green and Asiimwe not considered strong enough for the position - has asked him to switch sides and he’s grown into the role, providing us with a powerful attacking weapon (even given the desire for sometimes a better end product, which he admits himself). It’s worked so well that we will all breathe a little easier if he is still with us when the window shuts, ideally with a new contract signed.

The (welcome) problem now for Jones is that if Ramsay is ready and able to start games, and to last through them, how does he get accommodated? If we stick to 3-5-2/5-3-2 and wing-backs, he has to take Small’s place – and then the decision would be whether to have Small or Edwards on the other side. Either way, with that formation one of the three misses out, at least to start, assuming that the central defensive positions are not adjusted to include Edwards.

Of course, with also Watson seemingly available again there can be an element of rotation as and when, giving players a breather and resting tired legs. We’ve gone from having one true wing-back option for two positions to four, with cover on both flanks (assuming Ramsay and Watson are - or soon will be – capable of playing a full game if required). Any thoughts of needing to get cover for these positions have surely gone out of the window.

There is a way of accommodating Small and Ramsay on our right side, but it involves changing the formation, to some form of 4-4-2 with Small operating in the wide role. That would also need Campbell(T) to revert to an outright winger’s slot. I don’t know about anyone else, but the thought of having Ramsay and Small down one side and Edwards and Campbell on the other sounds exciting to me, even if it would risk being overrun in central midfield (nothing’s perfect in football). Would be a case of sacrificing the third central midfielder (in this case Berry) and going with Coventry and Docherty to shore things up. Risks involved for sure, but the line-up would cause problems for the opposition.

That all feeds into the formation consideration. Against Bolton we were losing with 70 minutes played but scored twice to win after the formation was changed (it began with Anderson coming on to bolster midfield and a switch to a back four) and Aneke and Godden were introduced from the bench. Against a determined Shrewsbury we struggled to make things happen in the final third despite dominating possession, despite the best efforts of Campbell and Small, and once again turned to Aneke and Godden to provide something different. They caused the Shrewsbury back line more problems and we went on to win the game.

Nobody’s blaming Shrewsbury for their approach to the game, but they’re not going to be the last team to come to The Valley and try to shut up shop. When that happens and space is restricted, the physical presence of Aneke and the more astute running and anticipation (and finishing) of Godden are more likely to open up defences than balls lofted forward for Leaburn. I’d even suggest that if we had Ramsay/Small and Edwards/Campbell down the flanks, it would be reasonable to expect better and more frequent quality deliveries into the box, which might even allow for Ahadme to show us more than he has to date.

Here too there’s nothing wrong with deciding to stay as we are but being ready to switch the formation and personnel during the game, as we have done in the past two games (and in the previous two league games: against Reading, Aneke and Godden came on in the last 10 minutes, against Rotherham Aneke was introduced at the break, Godden not long after). Ramsay and Small ended up together down our right when the formation changed. To some extent that is forced on Jones by not wanting (for good reason) to risk more than 30 minutes or so from Aneke, but I'm sure there's also his impact on tiring defenders in mind.

When it comes to what player(s) we need before the window closes, the clamour normally goes up for a creative attacking midfielder, one to prise open defences. That’s fine in principle, we could use a fresh option. But in effect it means a replacement/alternative to Berry. With Campbell(T) tending to roam across the front line, often out of instinct I guess ending up on the flanks, and at least not yet a real poacher, we are relying on Berry in the 3-5-2 to be up quickly in support of Leaburn. So we want his new rival to combine the box-to-box energy of a young Bowyer, the creative passing powers of a Zidane, and the goalscoring instincts of a Messi. Also, Jones will require him to chase and tackle and generally work his socks off. If such a player is out there and available I’d love to see him brought in.

We are in the thick of it now and can focus on those immediately above us in the league. For sure we have to keep standards as high as possible and go out and beat Bristol Rovers, having lost 3-2 at their place at the start of October (having been 3-0 down until late in the game). Neither grounds nor room for any complacency. After all, if fine margins had gone the other way we could easily have found ourselves with four fewer points from the last two games, even six, and bemoaning a season lost.

As it is, we hope for Bolton to slip up at home against Northampton, Reading away at Burton, Leyton Orient at Exeter, and Barnsley at Wycombe (let’s leave Stockport out of it for now, but hopefully Shrewsbury will put up as determined a display against them as they did against us). Doesn’t look on paper like a set of fixtures likely to materially change the picture, but who knows? And looking ahead to the weekend, Leyton Orient will be at home to Stockport and Reading to Bolton. Where will we sit in the league come Saturday night (and isn't it a pleasure to be thinking in these terms)?

 

Small At The Last For Vital Win

Jones versus Ainsworth. Didn’t exactly point to a graceful, free-flowing contest. But needs must, on both sides. We were desperate for a win, to kick off our fresh mini-series (this time a run of five games against teams below us in the league) and to cement the impact of the victory at Bolton, with the knowledge that, with Mansfield having lost but Bolton rebounding with a win at Huddersfield, three points were even more needed to keep us in touch, even if the best we could manage was to move up one place in the league depending on the outcome of the Leyton Orient v Reading game. For Shrewsbury, the victory against Wrexham will have given them fresh heart, but especially with Cambridge winning earlier in the day they were still in deep doo doo and desperate for a something from the game.

In the event we left it late. Very late. About as late as possible. So late in fact that in stoppage time Shrewsbury, who to that point had registered one shot all game, came very close to the ultimate smash-and-grab, fluffing a golden opportunity. Then to send us all home delirious Small scored, giving us the points. Did we deserve them? Yes and no. With 70% possession we mustered only three shots on target as Shrewsbury contented themselves with keeping a clean sheet. If we had finished 0-0 we can’t have complained, grudgingly accepting that if we were in their shoes we might well have done the same. But what a difference a late winner makes.

Like for Bolton, there were decisions for Jones to make on team selection. On Tuesday he gave the same players who underperformed against Rotherham the chance to redeem themselves. Which they did – but with the help of second-half substitutions, including a good contribution from Anderson, and a change of formation. Proved to be another case of ‘as you were’ with no changes to the starting XI but one alteration to the subs, with the very welcome return from injury of Ramsay. He replaced Campbell(A), which did bolster the defensive options but left us with only Anderson as a replacement in midfield.

The first half was a frustrating affair. It badly needed a Charlton goal. Shrewsbury were poor in possession, failing to capitalise on balls given away by Gillesphey, and gave us all the time and space in our own half, but focused on shape and discipline without the ball and defending their final third in numbers. Campbell and Small both threatened to break the deadlock, with the former moving across the front line and deep to good effect, picking up free kicks and wriggling free, often beating his first man, once getting to the by-line with his cross almost converted. The latter was doubled up on but on one occasion simply went through and beyond the pair to get in a decent cross.

Nevertheless, we had very few actual chances. A Berry free-kick went through the wall but their keeper got down well to turn it aside. It was our only effort on target and we managed to waste set pieces from either side as Berry and Gillesphey floated ball into the box for their keeper to gather comfortably. You’d have thought Taylor might have teached them how to do it before he left. Leaburn was generally ineffective and with Campbell often in a wide position isolated.

The stats at half-time showed we had 68% possession but only three efforts on goal, just the one on target. Shrewsbury amassed zero attempts, their only real threat coming from a couple of corners. I doubt Ainsworth was worried about that, while we were left wondering whether Aneke and Godden would be called on sooner rather than later.

Nothing changed early in the second half, but the game would have panned out differently if we’d taken a good opening on 56 minutes. Campbell and Edwards on our left side combined and Edwards’ low cross was only parried by their keeper. It fell for Docherty and you would have backed him to plant it into the net, but he rather mishit the shot, which was probably going wide before it hit Berry.

That chance gone, the predictable first change was made on the hour as Aneke came on for Leaburn. Shortly after Docherty bursting through was fouled on the edge of the area, probably correctly given as outside the box. Aneke curled the free kick over the bar.

On 71 minutes Shrewsbury had their first shot, producing a fairly routine save by Maynard-Brewer and shortly after that Jones threw on the replacements. Anderson, Godden and Ramsay came on for Berry, Docherty and Mitchell, indicating a 4-4-2 with Campbell and Small operating as the wide men. Aneke’s presence was having the usual impact, at least causing mayhem for their back line, but if anything we struggled rather in the final 15 minutes of normal time to create that opening and score that goal.

Six minutes added time and that produced the game’s two key moments. First, Shrewsbury came so close to going ahead. A break down their right side was developed well and the ball squared. Their guy ran on to it, Anderson not able to track him back, and it looked odds-on he would score. But he scuffed the chance, his effort ending up being put behind for a corner. And before we’d had much chance to start breathing again, we won it. Godden and Aneke ensured a ball into their box was not cleared properly and it ran on for Small to get a deft touch past a defender. Suddenly he was clear and he hit it low between their diving keeper’s legs and into the net. Cue massive relief and celebrations, with just a couple of minutes seen out before the ref brought proceedings to a close.

Just a massive extra two points. They may not have moved us up the table, with Leyton Orient beating Reading, Stockport winning, and Bolton having won earlier. But they leave us just spitting distance from a top-six spot, two points behind sixth-placed Barnsley with a game in hand, four adrift of Stockport in fifth but also with a game in hand on them, or one point behind Leyton Orient, Reading and Bolton.

There will be issues for Jones to consider for Tuesday night and Bristol Rovers at home, including whether the 3-5-2 set-up works best at home against teams focused on defending. But those thoughts will be for tomorrow. Like us, I doubt he’s finished celebrating yet.

Mixed Messages From Fans Meeting

Have to start by admitting I was only able to watch/listen to the first hour of last night’s online fans meeting (French timings you know), so any comments/conclusions may need qualification if something more on the topic was said later. That said, within the context of appreciation for the time taken by all concerned and the information given, my overall impression was slight disappointment regarding ambitions for this season.

From all concerned – Gavin Carter and Charlie Methven at The Valley and James Rodwell and Nathan Jones at Sparrows Lane – there was the understandable emphasis on moving in the right direction, building steadily on and off the pitch etc, with openness on issues such as the state of the pitch (disappointing but the expectation it will be better from March and for next season) and some aspects of the club’s finances (although the figures were headline ones and gave no insight into key areas, including the balance on transfer dealings). When it came to hopes for this season the messaging was mixed.

Methven kicked off by acknowledging that it is pointless to talk about success as long as we are playing in League One, the only measure of success being a return to the Championship (the only other yardstick is the club remaining afloat). Amen to that. By implication, and with no disagreement from me, this season will be another of failure if we do not get promoted (of course a strong second half of the campaign and only just missing out on the play-offs or not winning them would make it a qualified failure, with reasons for confidence in next season’s prospects).

When we moved to Rodwell and Jones the message was relaxed. It was reiterated that this transfer window was about some streamlining of the squad and perhaps a little tweaking, possibly a couple more out and maybe, if the right target became available, one or two coming in. Rodwell said Jones was happy with the current squad and the club was under no pressure to either sell or buy. On the balance between loans and permanent signings and promotion of players from the academy, Rodwell gave a rather lame justification for preferring the last over loans, that with loans we are helping develop players to the benefit of their parent clubs (well sure, but the club benefits from the contribution of those players on the pitch here and now). He did acknowledge that if the squad was light in a certain area, and there was no available home-grown youngster, and a suitable loan signing became possible …

The question I would have liked to ask, given all this, was whether Jones being happy with the squad was because he felt it was strong enough to win us promotion this season, or just because he felt it was all moving in the right direction? The implication was the latter (Jones said the squad was stronger than last year, including in the forward department).

What was missing, for me, was any sense that this season we have the opportunity to get promoted, now that players have returned from injury and form and results have improved (Rotherham notwithstanding), and that on that basis that the club is working day and night to attract one or two influential signings, whether or not permanent, to help get us over the line. It is after all what most clubs around us are doing. Rodwell talked of an ambition to win more games than we lost (sure, that’s taken out of context but he had the opportunity to say we want to get promoted this season and that is the objective). Yes, we love a young player coming through the ranks, but I love promotion more.

Of course the club may announce today one or two signings to revoke all of the above. There is always that possibility. But nothing was said or indicated to that effect. It was added that retaining key players was as important as bringing some in, which is fair enough. Jones and Small were both cited. And with the news that Ramsay and Watson are both fit again it is like adding a couple of signings, or at least removing the need to bring in cover for a right-side wing-back.

With Taylor and Edun having left the building (and both go with our best wishes; it didn’t work out for Edun, not least given our style of play, and whether Taylor returns remains to be seen), it is apparent to all that we are light on midfield options. For the central three positions we have Coventry, Docherty, Berry, Anderson, and Campbell(A), if he is retained. The promising Enslin could be added to the list, but we are clearly thin on the ground in this department. An injury or two and/or suspension and we would struggle, plus we all know that someone to add more guile going forward would be welcome. Of course there’s no guarantee that a January loan signing will work out, it’s always possible that a new face or two will not help team bonding.

It all rather echoes an exchange with fellow Addicks over whether we need to get better over the rest of the season, ie to strengthen the team, to make the play-offs or whether with a fit squad now and form/results improved we are kicking on in the necessary fashion. If you take our results for all the season to date, you conclude the former. If you focus on recent form – 13 points from the last six games – you conclude the latter (and our season has been erratic, with three wins to start, then relegation form, now the upturn).

There is broad agreement on the need to average two points per game over the final 21 matches to make the play-offs. That would give us 79 points, probably enough (76 was enough last season, 77 in the one before). That has to be the target. If we end up falling short having lost players to injury/suspension (or loss of form) having failed to make material additions during the transfer window, that, with hindsight, you would have to conclude was a mistake. I hope the reality behind the scenes is different from the message conveyed on this front last night.

Optimism Back With Ultimately Merited Win

After Saturday’s kick in the teeth the stakes for this one were even higher than before. A win and some of the damage is repaired, we would at least end the three-game mini-series against play-off contenders with four points and would move up to 10th in the table, just four points off a top-six place; a draw and a return of two points would look inadequate given our position; a defeat and the cry would go up that the season is already over and the management team had better start planning for another season in this bloody division rather than shelling out anything in this transfer window (and we’re not exactly being flooded with rumours as it is).

We could take heart from the job we did on Bolton at The Valley back in August, but that was really water under the bridge and would in any event be likely to spur them on in front of their fans. After all, their need for the points was just as great as ours, with murmurings of discontent with manager Evatt not quietened by them having needed a stoppage time own goal to get a point at home against Cambridge on Saturday.

In the event we got exactly what we needed – and ultimately, despite the stats and Evatt’s comments, what we deserved. A win looked unlikely through the first half, as Bolton dominated possession and chances, highly improbable when they took the lead on 55 minutes, and almost impossible in the subsequent 15 minutes or so as they led us a merry dance. But Bolton didn’t put us away, thanks to good saves by Maynard-Brewer and some dogged defending, and the game turned on its head as our substitutes made an immediate and lasting impact and as we equalised shortly after the changes. After that, we gained in strength and Bolton quite frankly fell apart, exemplified by the disgraceful stamp on Small’s leg when he was on the ground (and for the record their captain should have been sent off before the break, which would also have changed the game). They lost their composure as passes went astray and, while our winner may have had an element of fortune, by then it came as no surprise.

Evatt reportedly after the game talked of their performance being one of the best of their season, adding that “they got the win but they were very direct, very simplistic; I’m not sure I would want to watch that every week”. And the match report on the Bolton site talked of ‘sucker punches’. They are deluding themselves if they don’t also look at their team’s lack of character when it mattered. For sure we’re not playing the beautiful game; if we’d set out to match them for passing and movement alone we would have been beaten. They are well versed in that approach. But there’s a time and a place – but it seems some have a rigid approach to the game and how it ‘should’ be played. That’s their choice. Every team has to play to its strengths and on the night ours proved superior to theirs (and if comparisons are to be made Rotherham looked a far better side than Bolton when it came to forward movement and defending).

Rant over (and I’ve just seen the reports indicating Evatt may have been sacked), back to the game. In contrast with recent matches, there were decisions for Jones to make on team selection. Give the same players the chance to make amends for Saturday, look at whether some tired legs might need a rest and tweak a little, or perhaps make more extensive changes to personnel and/or formation? Jones went for the first option, with an unchanged starting XI and bench.

The first half was an edgy affair, with the contrasting styles of play producing more stalemate with few chances than an end-to-end affair. After a lengthy early stoppage due to an emergency in the stand (we all of course hope the person involved is OK) Bolton’s first real chance came as their dangerous right-side wing-back got to the byline in the box and his low cross was nearly converted, perhaps kept out by Maynard-Brewer, then a couple of wayward Gillesphey passes threatened to let them in. Our threat came primarily down the right side with Small, who had the beating of his man but didn’t manage to make it count, with either shots from cutting inside or crosses. And having created the first chance their guy rounded off the half with an effort of his own, poking a shot from inside the box which needed a strong hand from Maynard-Brewer diving to his left to keep out.

The first half was notable for some inconsistent card choices by the ref. Mitchell received an early yellow for a tackle close to the box deemed a foul (which raised the question of a red if a goalscoring opportunity, although there seemed to be cover), then Docherty, seemingly for kicking the ball away. Then in the lengthy first-half stoppage time their captain was quite rightly booked, then shortly after took out Mitchell as he was clearing the ball. Mistimed perhaps but surely another yellow. Instead the ref opted to give him a lecture. Would have been the guy’s own stupid fault if he had seen red – and that would have changed the game.

We had come under the cosh late in the first half with a spell of prolonged Bolton pressure – and they started the second half in a similar fashion. A cross from the right resulted in a looped header from their guy which hit the top of the crossbar with Maynard-Brewer beaten, other balls across our box only narrowly evaded their target. So it was no big surprise that they took the lead, although the nature of the goal was disappointing from our perspective. We were caught upfield and failed to cut out the break, with their guy in space down their right. Plenty of defenders were trying to get back but none made it in time as his low cross was tapped in from close range.

After that Bolton dominated us and threatened to make the game effectively safe. Jones made a timely decision to change the formation, with Mitchell withdrawn and Anderson on to bolster midfield, with Edwards switching to the right side and Small over to the left in what was now a 4-4-2. That did help to steady us and we saw out a very rocky period, ahead of the cavalry arriving.

On 68 minutes Jones made a triple change, with Aneke on for Leaburn, Godden for Berry, and Edmonds-Green replacing Edwards, who had looked decidedly uncomfortable on that side. Campbell moved wider.

Aneke had an immediate impact with his physical presence and within a couple of minutes we were level. A corner was half-cleared but the ball was put back to Gillesphey on the right side. He curled in an excellent cross and with Bolton’s defenders not reacting Jones (the player) met it and deftly turned it into the corner of the net.

To say it was against the run of play would have been an understatement, but the game had changed with the substitutions and now Bolton’s frustrations at being pegged back fed into their play. They couldn’t handle Aneke, Godden was looking likely to get on the end of knockdowns, Campbell was a threat – and behind all this Anderson was giving an excellent display of disrupting their free-flow in midfield.

To perhaps even things up on the cards front, Small I think came close to an early bath. He was involved in some handbags with their wing-back, who had clearly lost his rag over something. Both saw yellow. And not long after Small took him out along the touchline. Fortunately the ref was consistent in his not handing out second yellows.

The game was up for grabs now and on 86 minutes we won it. A ball into their box was half-cleared and there seemed no danger at all as a high ball was contested on the edge of the area. But their guys failed to deal with it and an excellent first touch by Anderson and a turn saw him in on goal. His decent shot – which I think might have been going in in any event – took a wicked deflection and looped up over their keeper and into the net.

All that remained was to see out the time with some corner flag antics, which we managed to do. It was with one of those that Small ended up on the floor and their guy quite clearly stamped on his leg. The TV replays left no doubt. Just how the ref decided on just a yellow is a mystery – unless set alongside his previous reluctance to pull out a red. In the end it mattered not.

The win changes the picture once more (perhaps even with respect to the chances of an addition or two before the window closes). We now have games at home against Shrewsbury and Bristol Rovers, followed in February by away at Blackpool, home to Stevenage and away to Peterborough before a trip to Birmingham (something that nobody in history has ever enjoyed). Nobody’s suggesting that any of these five games are going to be easy, but it would be disappointing if we don’t take perhaps 10 points out of the 15 available. Where that would leave us is impossible to say, but teams above us will be playing each other – on Saturday Huddersfield play Bolton, Leyton Orient play Reading. We have to see this period ahead as a real opportunity to get truly into the mix.

Reality Check Or Just Bad Day At The Office?

We all knew that this would be a big one (same for Bolton away on Tuesday night), away against a team which has surprisingly underperformed for much of the season but which had seemingly founds its feet, having won two and drawn two of its last four to sit just three points behind us. I didn’t agree with the Trust’s comment that a draw for us would not be enough, too early in the season for that, but I’d have said it was a game we could not afford to lose and would be massively encouraging to win, to help close the gap on those above us – and to provide evidence that we can sustain the improvement in form. We were looking for a performance comparable to that at Preston in the cup but with a different outcome.

In the event we got spanked. Turned over from start to finish (well, to be technical we did win the last minute) in all departments, not just in our final third. Rotherham were fluid, passed well, got numbers forward in support, had a front two which we failed to contain whatever our formation, causing individual and collective confusion in our defence, and for good measure had the better of our attack despite conceding a couple. We started sluggishly, chasing shadows, were two down within the first 15 minutes, then, having been given a get out of jail card just before the break, contrived to restore their two-goal advantage almost immediately. Once the fourth went in inside the first 10 minutes of the second half we were more than beaten, summed up with Mitchell’s bizarre hoof from the touchline to their forward. Maynard-Brewer helped keep it to four and the only relevance of our late second was that it reminded us that Godden is the best goalscorer we have and to push us back above them in the table, having dropped below curtesy of what was a six-goal shift in goal difference.

For the record, the team/squad contained no surprises, with Jones reverting to the line-up that had started – and taken 10 points from – the last four league games. Maynard-Brewer back between the sticks, Mitchell, Jones and Gillesphey in central defence, Small and Edwards the wing-backs, Coventry, Docherty and Berry in midfield, Leaburn and Campbell(T) up front. On the bench Edmonds-Green was the only defensive option, Anderson and Campbell(A) for midfield, plus Aneke, Godden and Kanu for the forwards, which meant that Ahadme went from a starting spot against Preston to not making the squad, effectively third-choice ‘big guy’.

Rotherham’s first goal did have an element of fortune, but even after eight minutes had been coming. A cross from the left was allowed to drop and rather hit their guy, rebounding fortuitously to a possibly offside Green, with Jones and others ball-watching, rooted to the spot. He mishit his effort, but it dribbled in off the post. Their second saw from a throw-in Jones completely miss his attempted clearance, leaving their guy to take it on. He squared it to another in space who shot across Maynard-Brewer with just enough on it to prevent Gillesphey from a decisive block.

That seemed to spark a change in formation, to more of a 4-4-2 (call it a diamond midfield if you want), with Small switching back to the left and Mitchell covering at right-back. Didn’t make much difference, with Rotherham almost getting a third as their guy was able to round Maynard-Brewer in the box but this time from a tight angle Gillesphey was able to prevent the ball going in. We might have had a penalty with a rare foray forward as Campbell moved the ball into the box and was shoved over from the side, their guy not getting anything on the ball. Soft perhaps, but VAR would have given it.

As it was, out of the blue we were thrown a lifeline just before the break. Mitchell made a good interception on our right and Docherty took the ball on, played an excellent low ball in, and Leaburn dispatched it well into the far corner. Outplayed and outfought we now had the chance to get into the dressing-room only one down, sort out a few things and come out all guns blazing. Instead, criminally we let in another, a horrible one at that.

Coventry delayed a ball forward and ended up getting robbed, pulling back their guy to take a yellow. The free-kick into our box found defenders poorly positioned to be able to clear, the ball headed down weakly. Their guy’s first-time shot was blocked but the rebound sat up for the same guy to head it back, it looping over Maynard-Brewer off his line and into the net. It was a throwback to the defending of last season and completely altered the mood as the ref blew for half-time.

Jones made one change at the break with Aneke introduced early, for Small, cementing the shift in formation (he had failed to have an impact on either flank but quite frankly nobody could have complained about being taken off). It pointed to us going (very) long and keeping things simple, but before we had a chance to see if we might get back into the game we conceded again. Simple enough stuff but effective. A ball played forward to their forward with his back to goal. He played it on and the other guy read the intention well and time the run to avoid being offside. In on goal, Maynard-Brewer coming off his line, he duplicated Leaburn’s effort against Wycombe and chipped the keeper, the ball bouncing in just under the bar.

That was effectively game-over, if it had not been before. We had Mitchell’s moment of madness just before the hour, then Godden and Anderson introduced for Leaburn and Berry. Godden almost scored at the near post with just about his first touch. We were given a free-kick around the edge of the box for a foul on Aneke that never was. All went forward only for Coventry to send in a horrible attempt. Then it was Campbell(A) and Kanu for Docherty and Coventry, presumably with Bolton in mind, and the confusion was such that as the clock ran down Maynard-Brewer was needed to pull off some good saves to prevent a fifth.

Three minutes of stoppage time seemed three too many, but Campbell(A) got in the way of Rotherham breaking out of defence and the ball ran through to Godden, just inside the box. He steadied himself and from a difficult position hit a super shot into the far top corner, with Phillips only able to watch.

So, is there any way to make sense of what happened or do we write it off as just a very bad day at the office, one which we began very badly and failed to recover from? Let’s be fair to start, Rotherham were good, in form and confident, seldom gave us a look-in and could have scored many more than four. Perhaps it was just the style of their forwards which we couldn’t cope with. Jones (the player) has been excellent this season, but was partially culpable for their first two goals (in neither case were they real howlers but the errors cost us). He’s been so influential that perhaps with him shaky the others around him went to pieces. Their third goal was just rank bad defending collectively. At the other end Leaburn and Campbell(T) both struggled to have any impact in the first half, nothing came down the flanks from the wing-backs, and our central midfield was overrun.

I think we’ll only find out the answer to the question on Tuesday night. Another performance like this one and another defeat and it would be one point out of nine against three teams with play-off ambitions and with most ready to write the season off. A positive performance and result and the world will look different again. We began the season with three wins but couldn’t sustain that, albeit with injuries playing a large part. Three consecutive wins and a decent draw can’t be allowed this time to be followed by the same kind of drift.

I’ve no idea if Jones (the boss) will make changes for Bolton. But you do have to ask yourself one thing. We have scored 29 goals in 24 league games, fewer than any of the teams in the top 10. Our leading scorer is joint 18th in the division’s top scorers on six. But his goals per 90 minutes and minutes per goal stats are 0.53 and 170 respectively, effectively a goal every other full game. Only six players in this league have better minutes per goal readings than Godden. Why is it that a team which doesn’t score enough goals chooses to leave by far its most effective goalscorer on the bench? Of course there are other factors involved, including the attributes others offer. But the impression is still that we let May leave because Jones wasn’t that keen on him and it would appear that Jones isn’t that keen on selecting his erstwhile replacement (even though the other front man brought in, Ahadme, has so far been a disappointment).

Very Close To Great Win

Today we were set to either take a material step to closing the gap on the top six, to suffer the opposite and fall further behind, or emerge with a point and at least keep the unbeaten run going and remain on an upward curve. This was always going to be a big one, for us more than them as we have the gap to close. In the end we had to settle for a point as we failed to find the goal to win it as a pretty even contest for the first hour – with Reading having shaded the first half on decent chances and started the second better than us – turned in our favour as they seemed to wilt, perhaps suffering from the extra game over the holiday period. Well before the end they were looking content to hold what they had.

You could look on the game as highlighting that both sides lacked the quality to make the most of good positions. Both had decent chances but clear-cut ones were very few, and as the game progressed they fell to us. That we didn’t score, and win, was down to a Leaburn shot after their keeper dropped a cross being blocked on the line followed by some decent saves, not getting the rub of the green inside the box, plus sometimes a lack of composure in picking the final option, most obviously involving Small down the right side, who had them for toast but couldn’t convert that into a goal for himself or setting up one for someone else. It wasn’t one you’d say ‘two points dropped’ but we were very close to what would have been a massive win.

With the Crawley game having been called off, easing concerns over legginess and the possible need to rest some, to nobody’s surprise Jones named an unchanged side, for the third successive game (ie making it the same team for four in a row). But there was a change on the bench, with Aneke deemed ready to return to the fold, leapfrogging Kanu with Hylton dropping out. For the record, Reading – who had of course played on new year’s day – made three changes to a winning side, two enforced by injuries.

The first half was nip and tuck throughout. The stats at the break indicated we had 55% possession and six shots (one on target) against four (and zero) for them. But they don’t really tell the story. Reading got forward quickly in numbers and caused our defence problems throughout. We only kept a clean sheet by virtue of two outstanding blocks (first from Berry, getting in the way of a Savage effort, then Jones getting across to prevent their guy scoring from close in), plus a bad miss, when their guy was left in space at the near post only for his flick on the cross to him going wide of the far post.

For our part Small was a constant threat down the right and Campbell was close on a few occasions, especially when he caught a defender trying to shepherd the ball going towards their goal, cut inside, but shot too close to the keeper. Bulk of possession, more shots apparently, some decent crosses which almost found their mark, but nothing you could point to as clear-cut or which forced something special from their keeper. Perhaps the closest we came was a good shout for a penalty as Campbell seemed to be taken down after he’d laid off the ball.

There was a curious and possibly unsavoury incident just before the break as the ref – who never seemed fully in control of the game and made some poor decisions on what were and were not fouls, most obviously ignoring several deliberate blocks on our players moving forward – seemed to give Reading a free-kick only for the ball to run on and Edwards to clear, then for him to get cleaned out by their guy’s late challenge. The ref ended up giving them the free-kick but also giving a yellow for the challenge, perhaps the doubt over whether he was pushed and couldn’t stop himself preventing it being a red.

Reading did come out of the blocks the faster in the second half. They almost took the lead at the start as Gillsephey was bundled off the ball and their guy was in on goal, only for Maynard-Brewer to get a vital touch to turn the ball wide. They also had an appeal for a penalty as a volley at the far post was blocked by Leaburn, perhaps with an outstretched arm, but from close range.

That was to be about as good as it got for Reading as the momentum swung in our favour, leading to a procession of chances/near misses. We seemed to have taken the lead on 52 minutes as Leaburn played in Campbell to run through on goal and plant a shot into the net, only for the game to be called back for an offside decision, one which looked a close call (similar to Leaburn being played in to score against Wycombe). Then Docherty was caught late having headed the ball by their guy on a yellow, the ref deciding against a second one, Leaburn’s low cross was not converted, then a corner was half-cleared and Docherty hit it on the volley only for their keeper to gather it well low down.

On 68 minutes again we thought we had the lead. A routine cross from our right was dropped by their keeper and Leaburn was on hand to plant it into what we assumed was an empty net, only for a guy to have moved back to block the effort on the line. On 74 minutes their keeper kept us out again, with a badly worked ending up with Small on the other side and his ball back in met by Jones to divert it goalwards. Then on 80 minutes Small took on and beat two defenders. A third had come across and should have cleared but missed the chance, leaving Small in space around the edge of the box. But he shot wildly and wide.

Jones made our first change with about 10 minutes to go, introducing Aneke (this time leapfrogging Ahadme) for a tiring Leaburn. The stage seemed set for Chuks to win it at the death, but nothing fell his way. Campbell cramped up and was replaced by Godden and he had the final shot of the match, into the keeper’s midriff from close range but a narrow angle.

We can all look at the table tonight and think about where we would be if we’d taken one of the chances. The more positive aspect is that after three consecutive victories we’ve ended up dominating a team currently in a top-six position, one by the end very grateful not to have lost. If we maintain this level of performance, ideally improve with slightly more composure and better decision-making when in sight of goal, we have good reason to believe that we can be in the mix. So not a great day, but a decent one.

Next Three Games May Hold The Key

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to view the next three games – assuming they survive the weather – as potentially season-defining, especially as by the time they are done and dusted we will probably also have a good idea of our expectations for the transfer window. Home to Reading then (after the diversion of the FA Cup) trips to Rotherham and Bolton. Two of them above us in the league, a position we will probably have to reverse if we are to claim a top-six spot, and the third having surprisingly underperformed to date.

Of course with the season only half completed and with any side capable of going on a run higher (or lower) nothing can be said with certainty. But you’d get good odds on us overhauling any of the top three, and decent ones on us closing a 10 points gap to fourth-placed Huddersfield. There’s no current indication of anyone below us at present looking likely to burst onto the promotion scene (although no doubt one will), with Rotherham and Peterborough probably the two that would have expected to be higher than they are. So on that very provisional basis you could suggest that seven teams – Reading, Barnsley, Stockport, Leyton Orient, Mansfield, Bolton and ourselves – are in a scrap from now on for two play-off spots. No disrespect intended, but I suspect most people would be surprised if Stockport, Orient or Mansfield were to claim one of them. That leaves Reading, despite their problems, Barnsley, Bolton and us – ie in the next few weeks we play two of our three major contenders for a play-off place.

As things stand, clearly on a points-per-game basis extended over a full season we would miss out. So we have to outperform them in the second half of the season, starting with at least not losing to those we cannot afford to see move further away from us. I’d suggest five points (a win and two draws), arguably three (if three draws), might be the minimum requirement. It’s too early to call them six-pointers, but if we lose to Reading and/or Bolton it would be a serious blow to our hopes.

It's not as if we can draw any reliable conclusions about how we are likely to perform in the second half of the season. We started and ended the first half in fine fettle, with three consecutive victories to open the campaign and now three to finish 2024. In between of course we’ve gleaned just 15 points from 13 games. With the glorious victory over Wycombe (there was a bar in Aix-en-Provence that was, for a short period of time, more Charlton than Cezanne) we can point to having beaten Birmingham (crazily now being cited by the bookies at 50/1 on for promotion), Bolton and Wycombe and drawn with Wrexham, Barnsley, Stockport and Mansfield. We also have losses to Stevenage, Bristol Rovers, Exeter and Crawley (with no disrespect intended to any of them, the outcomes were not flukes).

So, have we rediscovered our early season mojo and are set to continue to close in on a play-off spot, or just had a second good run about to be ended, as was the first (at the end of August), by Reading?

Some things have gone right of late. Jones’ return has stiffened the defence, with a quite dependable trio of him, Mitchell and Gillesphey, while the switching of Small to the right side has been effective, reducing the impact of the loss of Ramsay, and has enabled Jones the Boss to return to a 3-5-2/5-3-2 (or however it gets described and sometimes tweaked). After suspensions Docherty and Berry have returned with what seems like greater purpose, certainly greater goal threat, with Taylor and Anderson now having to bide their time, while up front Leaburn’s continuing rehabilitation has come with goals and Campbell has added pace alongside him, notching a couple himself, even though being among the subs is harsh on Godden.

In addition, aside from the bug which seemed to influence selection for the Northampton game, we’ve not suffered recently from fresh injuries. As a result of all this we’ve come some way towards having a settled and reliable side, something which a month or so ago looked a long way off. The message ahead of the three games coming up surely has to be to not let standards drop one iota, which means more determined and committed displays over the full game.

Whether Jones will be pressing the owners to provide a signing or two in January to bolster a play-offs push I’ve no idea. Clearly we cannot afford to lose Jones to Wycombe (or anyone else), or Leaburn. Letting either leave would send entirely the wrong message. But if Ramsay and Aneke are close to being available again, however rusty, that will feel like two new signings (I’m assuming Watson is further away). There are plenty who would benefit from going out on loan, if Jones wants to streamline the squad and if temporary homes can be found, while others could be offloaded if there are offers.

The call normally goes up for a more creative midfielder, but I’m just not sure Jones wants to operate with a real playmaker. If you assume we have Coventry, Docherty and Berry as the current first-choice trio, that leaves Taylor, Anderson and Campbell(A) as the back-ups, under the current formation. It clearly is an area where some changes could be made.

Same could be said about the forwards. Leaburn, Campbell(T), Godden, Ahadme, Kanu, Aneke and Hylton suggests seven competing for two starting places and two or three on the bench. Each has their own story: Leaburn coming back after a long lay-off, Campbell(T) still being converted from a wide starter (but still used in that role as and when), Godden with a good goals-per-minute record but not having had as many starts as he would have expected, Ahadme proving disappointing so far but also not getting a consistent run in the team, Kanu returning from injury, Aneke as usual absent for so long, Hylton really viewed as a stop-gap. Fact is with half the season gone our leading scorer in the league is on five and just makes the division’s top 30.

It’s perhaps fairer to look at the return for all those who have played in the two forward spots. Godden (5), Leaburn (4), Campbell(T) (2), Ahadme (1), Aneke (1), Hylton (1), Kanu (1). That makes 15 combined (if my numbers are correct), implying a front-two contribution over a full season of around 30. That’s not terrible, but it isn’t great either. We have scored 27 goals in 22 games and that’s not good enough for a promotion challenge. No team above us has scored fewer and three below us have scored more. But we’ve scored 9 in our last three games, so is the problem already being resolved, with Berry and Docherty have chipped in 7 between them (8 from midfield if you add the one from Coventry).

You’ve got to assume that Jones and his team, and the owners, have been working on the changes we would like to make to make us better and propel us truly into the promotion mix. But before that can happen we have these three games to deal with.