I can’t claim the honour to have known Norman Barker, only to have noticed him and been aware of his presence at games at The Valley and elsewhere. So full and proper tributes to him should come from others. That said, it is truly something that an individual can elicit universal acclaim and respect, not just from fellow Addicks. I hope that the genuine warmth and appreciation of him that has been expressed in various forums since Saturday provides some comfort for his family and friends. To that we should add thanks to the Middlesbrough fans last night for fully respecting his tribute. RIP Norman.
Facing the team second in the league, albeit at home, on the back of a run of four consecutive defeats, at least two of which were routs, and with none of the players out injured returning was always going to be a tough task. With the Portsmouth game taken out of the equation, we went into it with the primary task of not losing, keeping a clean sheet. Middlesbrough may have been sitting second in the table, but a record of 28 goals in 19 games doesn’t point to an especially potent attack, their strength being at the other end, where they’d conceded just 20. So on paper it pointed to a cagey affair.
In the event we were well beaten by a better side. The first half wasn’t a repeat of Southampton, but without Kaminski it might have been. We registered 28% possession and were almost entirely unable to do anything with the ball in the brief periods we had it, the foul on Berry in the box which should have resulted in a penalty the major exception. Our only complaints about being two down at the break were the nature of their goals, reflecting errors on our part, and the fact that we almost got back into the dressing room only losing by one, which might have made it a different game.
The second half was a different story, but only to the extent that we made a fight of it having made three changes (a manager cannot really talk about bringing on ‘game changers’ when he makes a triple substitution to start the second half, rather it is a reflection of the game plan having not worked), while Middlesbrough played within themselves, content with what they had. We pulled one back late on and might, just might, have equalised, but that would have been a truly great – and unmerited - escape.
The team was always going to be of some interest, whether Jones would stick with the team/squad he chose for Portsmouth, whether different opposition merited adjustment, and whether the extra few days might be sufficient for Bell and one or two others to be back available (they were not). I’ll make no bones about it, the team which took the pitch on Saturday was not one I would have chosen, but that’s neither here nor there. Jones is paid to make the calls, can assess what things look like on the training ground, and has forgotten more about football than I will ever know.
Jones did indeed make changes from Saturday. In came Knibbs, Berry and Leaburn for Hernandez (apparently out with a hamstring injury), Anderson (a bit tough to get dropped after getting a first start in the Championship and playing 12 minutes), and Olaofe. It meant a flat back four – of Bree, Jones, Gillesphey and Ramsay – and a four-man midfield – Coventry, Knibbs, Carey and Berry – and two up front – Leaburn and Campbell. On the bench Gough returned, there was a spot for Roussillon, both bolstering the defensive options, with Anderson, Rankin-Costello and Docherty, plus Olaofe, Apter and Fullah also available. My first thought was that we might be a little short of height (and muscle), not least for set pieces, perhaps that Roussillon might have started at left-back, with an out-of-position Ramsay coming on during the game, and that having all three of Knibbs, Carey and Berry – players which might normally be considered to be rivals for the more advanced midfield slot – might leave us vulnerable. But it wasn’t as if we were blessed with options.
Whatever the thinking was behind the team selection, it didn’t work. Middlesbrough dominated from the start, the first of Kaminski’s excellent saves coming in the third minute (to turn a powerful shot over the bar), the second in the seventh. We did have a couple of moments in between, with a cross not quite finding Carey and then Carey putting in a shot well struck but too close to the keeper (and no West Brom error this time). Otherwise it was all them.
With the plan not working out, just before the half hour we had a tactical Kaminski injury and sidelines discussion that resulted in a switch to a back five, with Campbell the left-side wing back, Ramsay moved back over to the right side of a central three, and Berry pushed further forward to operate alongside Leaburn. But a few minutes later we were behind.
On 32 minutes Carey was robbed of the ball and Middlesbrough sprang forward, leading to a shot saved by Kaminski. We didn’t learn the lesson as a minute later he was again dispossessed by a high press. This time the ball went to the right side, from there a low cross and a guy in space to casually score. For all their good play, the goal came from our error, albeit one forced by their press.
Curiously, a couple of minutes later we might have been back level. A ball forward in the air was flicked on for Berry to run onto inside their box. In real time it looked soft as their defender challenged and Berry went down, you can understand why the officials didn’t give it. But the replays were clear. Contact resulting in Berry not being able to get to the ball, should have been a penalty.
On 40 minutes Campbell received the ball wide left and skinned his first opponent, going on to put in a cross put behind for a corner. That corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble. But as we moved towards the end of stoppage time, with thoughts about how to improve in the second half, the ball went across their box to our left side. Campbell put in a weak challenge for what looked like a 50-50, their defender being by far the more determined. That left a good deal of space for him to run into, good movement ahead of him ended with their guy firing home from a tight angle. At the time it felt like a real body blow.
These details might give the impression that the game was fairly evenly balanced. They leave out long periods when we were chasing shadows and giving the ball away cheaply when we did get it. The goals may have been the result of errors, but nobody could deny that 0-2 at the break was a fair reflection of the game.
Jones decided to take off Carey, Knibbs and – rather more surprisingly (perhaps related to the yellow card situation?) – Coventry, bringing on Docherty, Anderson and Fullah. The changes pointed to greater resolution in midfield and begged the question why we had started with three number 10s. The fact that they failed to gel raised an obvious question, on what grounds did we expect them to?
We did improve after the break, the game becoming a scrappy but competitive affair. Middlesbrough gave every impression of feeling they had done enough, that they were quite likely to extend their lead but would focus on keeping things tight, which their defensive record indicates they are good at. We had flashes, the occasional moment, but it was still Kaminski making the saves.
On 66 minutes Olaofe was brought on for Berry, to provide greater muscle and height up front. And on 77 minutes it was Apter for Bree, that change reflecting the fact that we had a game to chase. And it paid off quickly as on 80 minutes Apter sent in a teasing cross from the right which might have been put in by Leaburn but ended up as an own goal.
We now had 10 minutes plus to pull something out of the bag. And we did fashion one more chance, with a long ball forward missed by Leaburn and his marker and Olaofe running in behind. It wasn’t easy but under pressure he shot over. And with Middlesbrough quite adept at running down the clock that proved to be it.
Perhaps the worst thing about last night was that there might be signs that we – fans and players – are becoming too accustomed to losing. Five on the spin, with a goal difference of four for and 14 against, it hard to argue against. We know the squad is stretched thin, that we badly miss Edwards, Burke, Bell, Godden and Kelman; and we know we’ve played very good teams. What (IMO) hasn’t helped has been some questionable – to the extent that in hindsight they haven’t worked – team selections. The impression given was that Hernandez would have started last night if he was fit, despite him not being in any way suited to a wing-back role, and Jones chose a midfield that was short on bite. That only changed when Anderson and Docherty were brought on.
Jones will have to come up with another plan for Saturday at Birmingham. Here too it surely has to be based on prioritising keeping a clean sheet. Hopefully more players will be available and increase the options, but whether or not we have to be dogged and resolute and build from that.
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