Good performance but frustrating defeat
Aug 22, 2018 9:10:55 GMT
philbemmygas, Captain Jayho, and 4 more like this
Post by stevek192 on Aug 22, 2018 9:10:55 GMT
After Saturdays first victory it was a chance last night to build on that even though it was a very tough home game against second in the table Portsmouth who had a 100% record. With a big away support I was confident on a 10,000 plus crowd but on arriving at the ground there were signs that we would not see this figure and it turned out to be about 1000 short which i suppose represents the general feel of the club off the field at the moment and not helped by the Accrington home defeat. Dc sprung his usual surprise by leaving out Broadbent despite a good performance Saturday, reinstating the more attacking Leadbitter and swopping James Clarke to left back and brought in Bennett for Matthews who i assume was injured as he was not even on the bench.it appeared to be a straight 4-4-2 with Nichols partnering Payne up front. The central midfield pairing of Ollie Clarke and Upson was for me another negative move by DC but I suppose it was a tough fixture even though I would like to see a more attacking approach for home fixtures.
The game turned out to be a very exciting affair and the signs were good when we managed to get through the first 20 minutes without conceding and although we went 1 down to a cracking shot we were in the game throughout and spent most of the second half on the front foot. We had about twice as many shots as Pompey but were thwarted by poor finishing and some good saves. The equaliser came after a handball following sustained pressure and Lines despatched it only then to get himself sent off for a poorly timed challenge and that really was the key moment as our defence fell asleep late on for a customary poor goal conceded but even then either Bennett or Jakobiak should have put the last gasp chance in the net although it was a fine reflex save by the keeper. There is little doubt that we will play far worse in games and win.
Smith 6 Didn't really do much wrong although his kicking is poor at times. Could he have done better on the second goal I think so but again like Saturday he was left exposed by a terrible defensive error. Although I am not a great believer in loans I feel that DC should be looking to loan a new number 1
Leadbitter 6 Defensively weak other than his pace and was involved in both goals conceded and slack on both counts. Attacking play was strong but what is the use of strong attacking when the final ball is poor on numerous occasions. For me he needs to concentrate more on marking an opponent and defending than on his attacking
Lockyer 6.5 Overall had a reasonable game but his mistakes are costing us goals and for the third time already this season Tom's slackness has been directly involved in us conceding a goal. The trouble is that he is undroppable mainly because we don't really have anything better. Our defensive problems have existed in each season under DC and he has managed to turn it around but for me we need a tall, competant centre half who dominates play because even when we play well defensively we always look liable to conceded a goal. Part of this could also be down to our keepers and I would question whether it is a case of a shaky defence making the keeper look shaky or vice versa. IMO DC has failed to deal with the problem directly by not signing a player capable of challenging Tom for his place. We have too many plain average defenders for this division.
Craig 7 His experience shows but you feel that he has played most of his career with a tall commanding centre half as he is not great in the air. Reads the game well and knows all the clever tricks when marking players.
Clarke J 8.5 mom On his wrong side but dealt with the most dangerous attacking threat superbly and other than the rugby tackle that rightly received a booking he was rarely beaten and formed a good partnership with Craig on the left side.It was just a shame that the right hand side of defence could not perform to the same level!!
Upson 6 I see a good player here who is struggling to show his full potential. Too many slack moments were mixed with some class moments and I feel that definitely for home games you can only play one of Ollie Clarke or Upson as neither are really creative enough. I would put Ollie Clarke just ahead of Upson at the moment but the question is do you give Upson the time to gel by playing him into form or use him as a bench option at the moment. He should have at least got a free kick from a good position on target in the first half but cleared the crossbar.
Clarke O. 7 Overall had a good game apart from a few slack passes and won possession but the problem is that with Upson you have two similar players who are basically defensive and because of this you end up with slow build ups
Sercombe 6.5 Should have come off with at least a goal and probably two as he fluffed an easy chance in the first half with just the keeper to beat and seemed to react slowly from an acute angle in the second half following a save from the keeper. Although he was playing in the wide position he did quite often make runs across the box and put his usual few shots in but they lacked pace.
Bennett 8 the pick of the midfield and for me was exceptional in the first half in everything he did regularly beating two or three players and the only player with the pace to attack the opposition. he faded in the second half but should have scored a late equaliser which was prevented by a great reaction save from the keeper but in truth the keeper should have had in the favourite Colin Howlett words "no chance whatsoever". This was Bennetts best performance so far this season
Nichols 7.5 Best performance from Tom since he joined us but the key point is that his goal drought goes on and he is there to score goals. at least last night he managed to get a couple of shots on target and hopefully he can get a goal soon. If he keeps up this level of performance then the goal will come and it could well result in us seeing the Tom Nichols we thought we had signed
Payne 6.5 Not as good as his previous performances but the service to him was pretty poor although he did chase everything but was up against a very good centre half. Seemed a bit strange to substitute him when we were down to 10 players as logically you would think he would play on his own up front. I can only think that DC wanted Jacobiak to provide fresh legs for the lone role.
Lines 5 An eventful few minutes for Chris. Took the pressure penalty very well, dispatching to the lower right corner and then probably costing us at least a point by receiving his marching orders for a rash tackle which many referees would have issued a yellow card for.
Jakubiak 6 Not on for very long but held the ball up well and brought a save from the keeper
Rodman mole
DC My main criticism would be that many of our players lack consistency in performance which IMO is down to the Managers constant changes and I would almost suggest that the first four League games this season represent what four pre season friendlies should have provided as in all areas I would say that DC is not sure of his best team . The change of James Clarke to mark the dangerous Lowe was a success but in doing so weakened the right side that was poorly exposed on both goals. Last night was the first introduction of Jacobiak but that meant no place for Reilly to come on and I feel
Crowd 8 Again we are right down on last seasons home support which shows the disillusionment with the lack of ambition from the owners. Still it was a good atmosphere and a good game to watch.
Ref 3 The one thing you should expect from a referee is consistency for both sides
Portsmouth 7 A very good side who have both the physical presence and the pace to trouble most teams in this division and it is encouraging that we actually competed well and produced double the shots on goal however it is goals what win matches. Although it is very early in the season I fully expect Pompey to be up there all season.
So after another poor result we are left languishing near the bottom but the consolation is that we played very well last night whereas the worry is that we just don't look like keeping a clean sheet and we don't appear to have our shooting boots on! We have another chance to get our first points at home on Saturday but I will not even waste my time trying to name the side that DC will select. UTG
The game turned out to be a very exciting affair and the signs were good when we managed to get through the first 20 minutes without conceding and although we went 1 down to a cracking shot we were in the game throughout and spent most of the second half on the front foot. We had about twice as many shots as Pompey but were thwarted by poor finishing and some good saves. The equaliser came after a handball following sustained pressure and Lines despatched it only then to get himself sent off for a poorly timed challenge and that really was the key moment as our defence fell asleep late on for a customary poor goal conceded but even then either Bennett or Jakobiak should have put the last gasp chance in the net although it was a fine reflex save by the keeper. There is little doubt that we will play far worse in games and win.
Smith 6 Didn't really do much wrong although his kicking is poor at times. Could he have done better on the second goal I think so but again like Saturday he was left exposed by a terrible defensive error. Although I am not a great believer in loans I feel that DC should be looking to loan a new number 1
Leadbitter 6 Defensively weak other than his pace and was involved in both goals conceded and slack on both counts. Attacking play was strong but what is the use of strong attacking when the final ball is poor on numerous occasions. For me he needs to concentrate more on marking an opponent and defending than on his attacking
Lockyer 6.5 Overall had a reasonable game but his mistakes are costing us goals and for the third time already this season Tom's slackness has been directly involved in us conceding a goal. The trouble is that he is undroppable mainly because we don't really have anything better. Our defensive problems have existed in each season under DC and he has managed to turn it around but for me we need a tall, competant centre half who dominates play because even when we play well defensively we always look liable to conceded a goal. Part of this could also be down to our keepers and I would question whether it is a case of a shaky defence making the keeper look shaky or vice versa. IMO DC has failed to deal with the problem directly by not signing a player capable of challenging Tom for his place. We have too many plain average defenders for this division.
Craig 7 His experience shows but you feel that he has played most of his career with a tall commanding centre half as he is not great in the air. Reads the game well and knows all the clever tricks when marking players.
Clarke J 8.5 mom On his wrong side but dealt with the most dangerous attacking threat superbly and other than the rugby tackle that rightly received a booking he was rarely beaten and formed a good partnership with Craig on the left side.It was just a shame that the right hand side of defence could not perform to the same level!!
Upson 6 I see a good player here who is struggling to show his full potential. Too many slack moments were mixed with some class moments and I feel that definitely for home games you can only play one of Ollie Clarke or Upson as neither are really creative enough. I would put Ollie Clarke just ahead of Upson at the moment but the question is do you give Upson the time to gel by playing him into form or use him as a bench option at the moment. He should have at least got a free kick from a good position on target in the first half but cleared the crossbar.
Clarke O. 7 Overall had a good game apart from a few slack passes and won possession but the problem is that with Upson you have two similar players who are basically defensive and because of this you end up with slow build ups
Sercombe 6.5 Should have come off with at least a goal and probably two as he fluffed an easy chance in the first half with just the keeper to beat and seemed to react slowly from an acute angle in the second half following a save from the keeper. Although he was playing in the wide position he did quite often make runs across the box and put his usual few shots in but they lacked pace.
Bennett 8 the pick of the midfield and for me was exceptional in the first half in everything he did regularly beating two or three players and the only player with the pace to attack the opposition. he faded in the second half but should have scored a late equaliser which was prevented by a great reaction save from the keeper but in truth the keeper should have had in the favourite Colin Howlett words "no chance whatsoever". This was Bennetts best performance so far this season
Nichols 7.5 Best performance from Tom since he joined us but the key point is that his goal drought goes on and he is there to score goals. at least last night he managed to get a couple of shots on target and hopefully he can get a goal soon. If he keeps up this level of performance then the goal will come and it could well result in us seeing the Tom Nichols we thought we had signed
Payne 6.5 Not as good as his previous performances but the service to him was pretty poor although he did chase everything but was up against a very good centre half. Seemed a bit strange to substitute him when we were down to 10 players as logically you would think he would play on his own up front. I can only think that DC wanted Jacobiak to provide fresh legs for the lone role.
Lines 5 An eventful few minutes for Chris. Took the pressure penalty very well, dispatching to the lower right corner and then probably costing us at least a point by receiving his marching orders for a rash tackle which many referees would have issued a yellow card for.
Jakubiak 6 Not on for very long but held the ball up well and brought a save from the keeper
Rodman mole
DC My main criticism would be that many of our players lack consistency in performance which IMO is down to the Managers constant changes and I would almost suggest that the first four League games this season represent what four pre season friendlies should have provided as in all areas I would say that DC is not sure of his best team . The change of James Clarke to mark the dangerous Lowe was a success but in doing so weakened the right side that was poorly exposed on both goals. Last night was the first introduction of Jacobiak but that meant no place for Reilly to come on and I feel
Crowd 8 Again we are right down on last seasons home support which shows the disillusionment with the lack of ambition from the owners. Still it was a good atmosphere and a good game to watch.
Ref 3 The one thing you should expect from a referee is consistency for both sides
Portsmouth 7 A very good side who have both the physical presence and the pace to trouble most teams in this division and it is encouraging that we actually competed well and produced double the shots on goal however it is goals what win matches. Although it is very early in the season I fully expect Pompey to be up there all season.
So after another poor result we are left languishing near the bottom but the consolation is that we played very well last night whereas the worry is that we just don't look like keeping a clean sheet and we don't appear to have our shooting boots on! We have another chance to get our first points at home on Saturday but I will not even waste my time trying to name the side that DC will select. UTG