Anyway, there’s maybe a minute left of injury time and Slonina hoofs one up, Cosgrove gets the flick on and there’s Max to the max, sweeping it home as defenders run hither and thither. YOU REDS! Great finish, and a welcome antidote to all this tiki taka football that’s all the rage these days. Just get the big men on! Launch it! Cause chaos! Hit the target! Score a goal! I wept a small tear for Big Val. We could have 90 minutes of this, if only we’d contemplate bringing him back (please no).
But how did we get into this mess? Whilst not being great, it was certainly one of our better performances this season. Gent had a scorcher tipped over. Humphreys had an effort saved. Russell cannoned a snapshot off the bar from 10 yards and a couple of minutes later was denied by an unbelievable goalline clearance. Then Charlton brought on Luke ‘does nothing everywhere’ Berry. Can you believe it’s 10 years since he signed for us? The only player I’ve ever known purely for the way he’d flick his hair midgame EVERY time he stopped. And every time he didn’t. (Cos, to be fair, he ran about a lot.)
15 minutes later, Chorlton equalise. Craig appears to be having his own keepy-up tournament on the edge of our box, before the ball falls to Berry to lash in on the volley. How many chances did we have to clear this? I lost count. I’ve seen it again on telly and it’s painful. DKD, Russell, Craig (but mainly Craig)...all p***ing about instead of simply CLEARING THE BALL. Another most excellent substitution of our own from Coach Clarke, who’d brought on Craig for Yoganathan just after Berry came on. Please tell me he sent on Craig to nullify Berry.
Then, in the 3rd minute of 5 minutes injury time, Chorlton deliver a hopeful cross from their right. It’s hanging in the air long enough for Slonina to be tempted. After the debacle the other week (when he didn’t jump and a forward nicked in ahead of him) he simply has to take this. Indeed, he crashes through 2 Reds defenders to make it his…and punches it meekly downward to the edge of the box where Berry returns it first time back over his head. He looks quality this Berry bloke. Sorry, we’re making this Berry bloke look quality. How the hell is it possible to concede a goal from a cross that’s only heading towards your goalkeeper and two centre halves? Indeed, Roberts tries ducking out of the way, presumably having got the call from Slonina. Slow Nina. Christ on a bike, there can’t be another team in the WORLD concedes this goal. I am more than slightly narked.
Still, well done to the Super Reds for picking themselves up and having the temerity to grab that equaliser. A draw was the least we deserved. As well as the most. You simply can’t concede the goals we do. You can’t. Our home record is now an underwhelming one win in 6 games...against Mansfield Town, Bristol Rovers, Northampton Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and someone I’ve completely forgotten about. Exactly.
Onwards and upwards!
*** Humphreys. Dazzled up top, wide. Beat as many players in one game as the rest (minus Cotter) have all season.
** Russell. Strode forward like a colossus and unlucky not to bag 2.
* Watters. When the going gets tough...well, anyway, when the away side retreat and panic...who ya gonna call!?
Official MOTM: Humphreys
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Humphreys 2. Russell 3. Gent
Despatches:
Well done to the club for giving ST holders the chance to drag 2 mates to the game for free. Unfortunately, everyone I spoke to knew of no-one they could even GIVE a free ticket to. Well, no-one who wanted to come. Last nite’s made-up crowd figure was 12,441, and it’s true, there were queues pre-match, but rumours were this was for the free teas and coffees. (I hope the away fans were offered same.) The fanzone was open too, and we arrived to see some poor lady belting out that terrible Cranberries song to nobody. Darrell neatly summed up the offer of half price beer at the ground...’s*** beer at half-price will still be s*** beer.’ Still, the club tried. They are the Luke Berry of administrators.
I’d been hoping a slightly busier than usual midweek crowd might make for an atmosphere and it only dawned on me when I heard someone bleating on about it at half-time that I’d not noticed the (lack of) atmosphere, cos it was THAT quiet. Probably not helped by Chorlton not making a sound either. Still, one peep from the Ponty in the second half and THAT warning about racist, homophobic...blah blah...came on the PA. I’d not heard owt of this nature, but I can bl**dy hear that PA telling people to shut up or they’ll be barred (after copious use of CCTV).
The players? The coach? Why is POTY Cotter on the bench again? If he’s not fit enough to start, get him rested till he is. Don’t dangle him the ‘carrot’ of the bench. As it was, I thought O’Keefe did ok. Gent was also better than usual. The 3 centre halves, Earl, Roberts and MdG had an easy time of it, I thought. Till Berry came on and upset the rhythm. I’m not sure what to make of Yoganathan, other than he can’t be a footballer with that build. He has some nice touches, but he’s too skinny and too slow. But apart from that...Connell was hauled to make way for The Saviour (Watters) which shows you the level he’s punting at these days. However, I thought he played better in a deeper role, with Russell played further forward. DKD flitted around, and at least showed the sniffer instinct lacking in our actual centre forwards, when he bagged the rebound.
Drink du jour: Siren ‘Dogs in the Moonlight’ hazy pale ale in Heaven and Ale. Bootiful.
Away: 472. Looked half that. In terms of making noise, as bad as us.
The Damage:
c.£8 petrol
= c.£8
No comments:
Post a Comment