Are we becoming draw specialists?

Although this game looked on paper to be the easiest game we had this month it has to be said that this has not exactly been a happy hunting ground for us over the years and so although I was feeling confident of a good result with our newly found defensive solidarity it has to be said that there is a distinct lack of goals in the side since the Taylor fiasco and this makes even the easier games tough ones to win. It seems strange to be saying this when for the majority of this season it has been our defensive frailties that has caused us concern. The team sheet when it came out yesterday only really held one surprise and that was a debut for Bob Harris as Lee Brown was dropped for the first time and such is the changes in our squad this year that even DC's selections are almost becoming predictable!! The performance in yesterdays game is best described by going through the individual performances

Lumley 8 Another accomplished performance without having to make the saves of the previous few games

Partington NOLE Game ended very early on with what looked like a hamstring injury and a few weeks out, Great shame because he looks the part and with Leadbitter also injured it couldn't come at a worse time especially with our defence looking to be the strength of the team now.

Lockyer 7 Nearly gave away a goal very early on with an awful pass straight to the opposition  but settled and looked composed until being replaced at half time due to an eye injury.

Sweeney 8 Was turned a couple of times but overall this was a dominant performance where he rarely looked in any trouble. We have certainly tightened up our central defence and at last we have a player who knows how to head a ball clear.

Harris 5.5 Reasonable debut but IMO not as good as Lee Brown and was beaten too easily at times. Certainly showed our strikers how to finish with a clinical blast into the net under no pressure. In all honesty it was the only way Port Vale were going to score as they are a team who we should have beaten easy but there again our strikers looked no more likely to score than theirs!

Sinclair 8 Played the majority of the game in an unaccustomed position but performed admirably at right back; always pressurising their winger and trying to get forward. For me it was his best game of the season and the only time he was caught out was on the goal where he got caught going forward  and the Vale player managed to charge in on goal and pick out the deadly Bob!

Bodin 6 One of his poorest games but then he pops up and does what only Billy can do with a thunderous drive after picking up a Montano pass and it was in the net almost before the keeper had moved for a well deserved equaliser as it would have been criminal if we had lost that game against poor opponents who were even more shot shy than us. It was a 4 or a 5 performance from Billy  that one piece of pure magic makes a 6 because it has so much bearing on the result.

O Clarke  7 Worked hard to get the team on the ball, battled for possession and then tried to keep the ball moving but our forwards are proving to be pretty hard to find and gave away the ball far too often which meant that our midfield then had to battle to get it back. Ollie kept plugging away and whilst not at his very best did get through a lot of work in an industrious performance. Tired towards the end and it is at that time where we really lack strength in depth in the midfield area.

Lines 8.5 MOM Stood head and shoulders above the rest of the players with an accomplished midfield display which must have left Vale supporters wondering what they missed out on/ Ok he is never going to be  a great defensive player but that is not what he is there for and thankfully now Ollie Clarke is proving to be an able foil. Chris had a fantastic run in the second half where he should probably have scored but put the ball narrowly wide but overall he showed ability on the ball throughout and was always at the heart of our play

Harrison  4 Hard to describe just how bad he was but he just is not getting into the right positions or having any shots at goal and am struggling to think of any positive contribution yesterday.

Gaffney 4.5 Marginally better than Harrison but certainly nota  lot in it. Is really struggling for confidence and on yesterdays showing for ability as well. Had one shot in the first half that many thought had eluded the home keeper and crept in and should have done better in the second half when James set him up but he took too long and the chance was gone but those aside did very little.

Subs

Montano 6.5 At least he is a player who is willing to have a shot at goal and try and make something happen which is something which is sadly eluding both our main strikers. Ok one flashed well wide and the other cleared the bar by a distance as well as two being blocked late on in the penalty area but he is at least finding the space and the opportunity to do this which others are not. Is he worth giving a chance up front? Well in all honesty he couldn't do any worse. He worked hard and set up the goal for Bodin and has that eye for a pass and clever feet.

Burn 6.5 Did OK but it is difficult to see sometimes at the far end which is where he played his half of football but of course by that time we had the unusual back four of Sinclair, Burns, Sweeney and Harris so to be fair to them they restricted Vale to very few opportunities and it is not hard to see why Vale are struggling- they look a very poor unit.

James NOLE Set up Gaffney late on with a  good pass but he does look a bit lightweight.

Ref 7. Made some decisions we didn't like but overall  a reasonable display although a couple of the bookings looked harsh and missed a few decisions but he was only human so in comparison to many we have had this season he was good!
 
P.Vale.4 I would go as far as to say that they are the worst side we have played this season and we really should be beating a team like this. I couldn't really see them scoring and they wouldn't have if it hadn't been for the unfortunate own goal from Harris who showed the other strikers on the pitch  (other than Billy) how it is done!

Crowd 6 Good numbers again which was surely nearer a 1000 than the 760 odd given as the official travelling fans. Cannot really comment on the "trouble" as was way to the right of where it took place but in all honesty why should there be fights when there are plenty of seats available. I really feel sometimes that the few let down the majority but enough said on that as this was a game of football and best not reported on.

DC Brave substitution to bring on Monty and switch Sincs to full back as I am sure most would have brought on Burns and moved Lockyer to full back but in hindsight got the Brown/Harris decision wrong and not sure about his after match comment where he "took the blame" and said he should have "freshened it up more". The trouble is what has he got to freshen it up with? We do look to have a bit of a thread bare squad in the attacking part of the pitch and would anyone have done any better than the Harrison/Gaffney partnership. It is only in hindsight that you can say that any other partnership would have done better than those and Darrell does not have the advantage of having this. It is unfortunate that Lockyer and Partington both suffered injuries at the same time as we have Leadbitter out because the defence is the one area which it appeared had been sorted out Other than giving Monty, Moore or Lucas a chance up front it is difficult to see what DC can do to turn this around and I am sure that DC already has the summer on his mind as regards our attacking options.

So we move on to the next two matches which really sums up what this month has been like for difficult fixtures and I would not be at all surprised if we come away with six points from the six games  played as we don't look like conceding many but even less look likely to score many! UTG