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| Welcome to the Bescot! |
It’s official. The natives are turning. Another poor excuse for a performance and defeat to 3rd division nonentities Walsall, having been a goal up. Meantime, we attempt to rescue the ghost of Keith Hill by passing square, square, backwards, keeper…HOOF! Things are going from bad to worse and if (when?) we lose on Tuesday to non-league Chester, Wilson’s position will surely become untenable. Yes, it’s that bad.
Still, all started brightly. Latest recruit from the juniors Holgate looked decent at right back, Brown (‘a centre half who’s mainly been playing at right back, playing at left back’) having the best game I’d seen him (I might commission a t shirt, ‘I’ve seen Reece Brown tackle!’ Hopefully it won’t come back ‘I’ve seen Reece Brown’s tackle’!) and Abbot looking the best defensive mid I’ve seen for a while too. And lo! A corner comes in, Nyatanga runs past his marker and directs a header to the far post where a defender on the line couldn’t have failed to clear it. But they didn’t have one. I celebrated by going for a p***.
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| Pre-match beers this way! |
While duly buttoning up my flies, I hear a small roar. A passing Reds fan gives the good news. ‘Equaliser’. Andy confirms it’s a blinder, a volley from the edge of the area from a corner. But still, this is the 2nd game in a row I’ve seen us take the lead then throw it away within a minute. But I needn’t worry about missing this one, cos another one has just turned up: Holgate leaves the ball for another player and their bloke nips in between them. Picking it up on the touchline he gets his head down, runs toward goal and as a defender comes in on the cover, he squares it and his mate sidesteps a desperate lunge and picks his spot in bottom corner. All very composed, well done that fella.
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| The Away End. Spot the Xmas jumper. |
Not to worry, we’ll pull it round 2nd half, this lot are no great shakes. We create one half chance for Hourihane to blast at the keeper from an angle, then we get a free kick in the 88th minute on the edge of the box, foul on Cole. Hourihane steps up and does what he’s done best for the past 2 months, chipping it high and over. Can Wilson finally be brave enough to put him out of his misery and drop him for a game or 2? If only there wasn’t a transfer window, we coulda sold him while he was worth something (early September).
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| Sometimes, you wish these posts were wider. |
Walsall looked the more dangerous (on the break) and so it proved in injury time when they took a short corner. The forward pointed out where he wanted the ball, our defence watched him, and he took a return pass to slip the ball home. It’s no use our defence reacting half a second after they’ve done something – it’s too late. Woeful. Cue chants of ‘What a waste of money’ and ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’ (a tad harsh on the promising 10 minute cameo of Jack Cowgill, possibly making his debut).
*** Jennings. Only attacking player who looked owt like. Is he heading back to being the player he should be?
** Brown. Tackled, chased, harried, all from left back.
* Abbot. Tackled, broke down moves, played it to his own players, booked, subbed. I think that sums it up.
Londontykes top 3:
1. Jennings
2= Crainie / No-one
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| Your number 1 West Midlands tile choice. |
Send Cole back. Wilson obviously has no idea how to use him, while Cole himself looks like the only player capable of worrying the opposition. Send Trotta back too. He’s another one who’d presumably look a lot better playing in a decent team, cos he looks awful for us. Stop playing Kane Hemmings as a right winger (though he came on and beat the full back twice). He didn’t score piles of goals in Scotland playing out wide. What does Berry do? Flick his hair with his hand, that’s what. I hate to sound like Salisbury, but give Digby a run. Yes, he’s not fast, but he does move the ball, often with his first touch. This bunch have to control it just to then pass it sideways (sideways, back). Cowgill impressed me too. Came on, looked far too tall and gangly, yet turned quickly when a player tried to beat him and easily dispossessed him. Holgate played well and while at fault for #2, I put this down to a lack of understanding. He'll learn.
But more than anything, can I have the real Danny Wilson back, please? Fast paced, attacking football, not anodyne, tedious, irritating timewasting nothingness. F*** me.
Otherwise, it was a perfectly fine day. Easy journey, plus pre-match pints (and steak and kidney pudding) in their social club. JD and coke on the train and still time to hotfoot it across London for Lynne’s birthday party (HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYNNE!!!) So it wasn’t all bad. And, perversely, the worse we’re getting the more I’m enjoying it. At least the (away) fans aren’t taking it lying down but there’s the sense these players really ought to be doing a lot better than they are.
Relegation anyone?
A
Away: allegedly 600 (tickets sold). Looked more like 400. With a couple of thousand in the home end. It really did look like a non-league crowd. There’s our future.
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| Pitchside at the Bescot. |
Ent £20.50
Programme: £3
Social club:
£2 ent, £4.85 pie, chips and gravy, £9 (ish) for 3 pints.
Well done Walsall, a most excellent and welcoming place to visit. (Other West Midlands teams take note).
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