A true team effort of commitment and endeavour

If you want to come and see a team playing sparkling football and setting the division alight or a team that could score five one week but get hammered the next then the Memorial Stadium is not the place for you but on the otherhand if you want a team that will give every ounce of blood for the shirt, very well organised and a tough side to beat then come on down- the place is right!! If somebody had told me that we would have twenty one points by now three or four weeks ago then I would have asked them for what they were on such is the difference in the side with not that many changes. No defeats in the last six games and it is ironic that the defeat at Burton was probably one of our best overall performances and deserved much better than a 0-2 defeat. To say this team does not play some good football at times would be an insult to the players in this team because make no mistake we do have some good solid players many of whom look so much better now that they have settled in the side- some of the passing and decision making is sloppy but there is a grit and determination about this side  and for those who tell me that it doesn't matter who captains the side then I say the proof is in the pudding as we finually have some leadership on the field that keeps everybody on their toes. There will be blips on the way and injuries will see us a bit thin on cover and my hope is still that we can get 50 points as soon as possible and then see where we are but lets make the most of this success and get right behind the man who has guided us from relegation fodder to our present position with a good record since he took over.


van Stappershoef 7.5 Could this be the two best keepers we have had at the same time for many years? He didn't have a lot to do by his own admission but what he did do he did well and looked safe as houses when crosses did come in I will go as far as to say that I think Bonham will be regretting his decision to sign for the Gills and probably Jacubiak as well! 


Davies 9 MOM His match winning goal was enough for him to pip Tony Craig for Man of the Match and I am sure  Clarke-Harris would have been pleased with the superb finish that decided the match.
Craig 9 Captain supreme and as solid and uncompromising as ever. He is a born leader and the perfect person for the upcoming Alfie Kilgour and the settling in Davies to have alongside them. We at last look a team who are not going to be out fought or over powered by teams at the back. 
Kilgour 8.5 I have said it before but what a prospect he is and he's not the final product in fact probably the complete opposite. He has and will continue to make the odd mistake but will learn his trade from those alongside him and his performance yesterday was a reminder of the wonderful player and clubman we lost this week in Stuart Taylor. RIP big man and my condolences to his family and friends for memories that nobody can take away.


Rodman 7 He has revelled in his new role and if he can start to get more consistent with his crosses then he could have a big part to play for the rest of the season.  
Ogogo 8 Continues in a great vein of form and covers every inch of the pitch  and another great example of the type of players that GC has brought in. He too is a natural leader and gives us a bite and an edge in midfield by closing down quickly and is the perfect foili for the excellent footballer that Upson is and the reimergence of Sercombe. 
Upson 8 Unlucky to be kept off the scoresheet by one of a number of good save by our ex keeper Lee Nicholls. He will never be the quickest but has the ability and skill to play in tight situations and his positioning means he is always getting a foot or a head in to break down attacks when the opponents manage to get past Ogogo! 
Sercombe 7.5 Back in his favourite position and unlucky again not to hit the net but if he stays fit and in this form then his goals will return. I just hope that his latest injury is not bad enough to keep him out next week because it is good to have the attacking talents of Rodman and him to balance the others. 
Leahy 7.5 Underated by many but he has come through an indifferent start and looks another good addition to the team as he always seems to be available in space and works hard with it. 


Nichols 6.5 Not one of his better games and he should have come away with two goals as his shot in the first half and his header in the second should have found the net. Its a tough ask to play up front for both the strikers yesterday as they both lack the physical presence but there were a number of clever hold up play by Tom but a little too much time on the floor. 
Smith 7.5 There is something I like about him when he gets the ball ,turns and runs at players. It is a shame that he cannot develop as our own player because it is sad that the only way we will probably keep him is if he doesn't continue to develop and show so much promise!!


Subs: Bennett 6 Has the confidence to hold on to the ball but does for me slow the game right down at times but has the ability to excite which is good to watch . 
Hargreaves 6.5 Impressed me at Plymouth and gave a good account of himself in a short appearance for the injured Upson. He's at the age where he should be starting to develop if he is going to make the grade and I hope we are able to see a bit more of him this season. 
Adeboyejo 6.5 Showed some clever hold up play and a willingness to run at players. He might be better than I have thought but I would have liked to have seen Deon Moore given a bit of time yesterday. 


Crowd 6.5 Slightly up on previous games but still 1000 short at least on what we should be getting and certainly helped vocally in the last half hour to hold on to what we had for a very deserved win. 
Ref 6 A bit up and down on the bookings but again I would rather that than see these referees who give us a game with numerical advantages with constant use of yellow and red cards.
MK 5.5 Lots of footballing ability on the ball but punchless and never really looked like pulling the goal back and can consider themselves lucky to only lose 1-0. Can see them struggling as a Tisdale team who make pretty patterns and pass the ball well but probably overdo it and also do not have the ability of his previous team. 


GC 10 I take my hat off to what he has achieved although it is very early doors but he seems to have an eye for a player and his transfer dealings have been very good and just a bit of a shame that he was not backed just a little bit more.


So we move on and I almost said dust ourselves down and go again! Doncaster is not really a happy hunting ground even though they took a bit of a hammering at Oxford yesterday, most teams seem to be suffering that there at the moment. it is a shame that Clarke-Harris will be missing for probably another month but as GC says when one door closes another opens. I can just about put up with anything to be 4th in this league even though we do not appear to be getting much luck with injuries this season! UTG