Geordie Al's Groundhopper Scrapbook: BFC 2-1 Rochdale, Saturday 26th January 2019

Sunday, 27 January 2019

BFC 2-1 Rochdale, Saturday 26th January 2019

‘How many Jagerbombs for t’toast?’

Welcome to ....

Christ, we made hard work of that. Hill’s Lidl had come to Harrods, scene of previous 5 and 6 goal beatings…not to mention the 4-0 we meted out to them away this season…and at half time the talk was more of the chances of defeat than winning. Rochdale had broken a few times, 3 on 3, but usually got so far then chose the wrong option. Meantime, we were choosing the RIGHT options, but were failing with the pass. It was 0-0 and the only save I remember wasa comfortable take for Davies. Nozzer was most downbeat; ‘if they score we’ll struggle to equalise, let alone win.’

The old (new) market hall bites the dust.

Within 9 minutes his prognostication proved ill – it was one-all. Dale went ahead when Beckenbauer (AKA Jim McNulty – remember him?) took a quick free kick for their striker to be clean through. The pass was along the floor and went through 3 lines of Reds players, though I blame Pinnock the most. WAKE UP! No need to worry about Davies saving it. I remember when we had Steele in goal and the opposition would be lucky if they scored 20% of one-on-ones. Yeah, yeah, not his fault, I’m being harsh, I have my own agenda, etc.

Darn t'well.

Luckily, before worry truly set in, we equalised. Ben Williams made a barnstorming run to the edge of their box before being brought to an abrupt halt. While time stood still and everyone wondered whether a free kick would be awarded, Kiefer bangs the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards. The ref had better not give a free kick…

This woke the (home) fans up too, as up until now Oakwell really had been my favourite Pete Namlook and Dr. Atmo album – ‘Silence’. Anyone would think we’d rocked up expecting the team to rack up the goals against mediocre opposition. Oh. For a minute and a half we played with some intensity, before we slipped back into complacency and watched time slowly running out.

New friezes (well,the horizontal bits)) in the East Lower. About time.

Then we scored. 75 mins in and Jacob Brown again shows we’ve not missed Potts by turning his defender and, instead of shooting, cleverly crosses the ball low. Dougall’s miscontrol being his one positive contribution to the game, as he inadvertently flicks the ball up for Woodrow to volley in. Thereafter, we waste various counter attacks as Rochdale leave space behind them. Their keeper is even managing to hurry up a bit, now he knows they’re losing….so it was with some mirth Davies got booked for trying to timewaste (he can’t even manage that).

'Good game Good game Good game Good game Good game'

Then, with injury time looming, an almighty scramble. Davies has ONE thing to do, catch or punch the ball clear. He fails magnificently and Rochdale have 3 or 4 bites at the cherry before we scramble it away. As everyone else said, we won ugly. It’s 3 points, you can’t win in style every game. Make no bones, this was a big, BIG win.

Onwards and upwards!

*** Ben Williams.  Sublime.  Didn’t put a foot wrong (apart from missing a long clearance, recovering, then slicing it).  Got forward in support, defensively sound.
** Cavare.  I had various arguments throughout the day about Dimi.  Yes, his final ball wasn’t always all that, but he had just run 50 yards with the ball (twice).  And didn’t get beaten all day by his winger.
* McGeehan.  Never flustered.

Londontykes' MOTM: 1. Ben Williams 2. Cavare 3. Brown

Some bloke who's signed and never played for Cardiff has died.

Despatches:
Davies was back to his best. Can’t catch, can barely save and couldn’t keep a clearance on the pitch. Lindsay was very good, including his distribution. Pinnock passed the ball around looking classy. Hopefully the scouts blamed him for the goal too. Mowatt was so-so, while Brown looks better and better (by the way, I notice Potts has scored a 2^nd goal for his new club Preston). I don’t remember Thiam doing much, though he worked hard. Dougall came on at half time for Thiam and didn’t put a foot right. He can’t even get out of the way of players, which was his undoing for his customary booking. Not impressed. The front two were very quiet – yet scored. Imagine the damage they could do ON form. Oh, and a lively cameo from new signing Green on the wing. He was lightning. Within 5 mins of coming on, he’d chased back and won the ball, put in another tackle, and skinned them down the left. Shame he went for glory with the shot that went about 10 yards wide, but he’ll learn.

Also, big thanks to Mrs Reed taxis, there and back from Donny station.

If you squint enough, you'll see some Dale fans.

Drink du jour: Schneiderweisse in #7, Weihenstaphaner in Kings X, vodka and orange inbetween.

Away: 334

The Damage:
£24 train
£3 prog
= £30

The Tunes:
Lunatico (Gotan Project)
Last Train to Llasa (Banco de Gaia)