Yes, we stumbled to defeat at Wimbledon, a side just promoted from division 4. But to see their centre halves stand tall, stand in the RIGHT PLACE and simply do the simple things right, while we...we...left their players alone, stepped out to give them chances where there were none, to constantly look like an accident waiting to happen. Well, that’s us. Good job we had Cooper in goal, without him they’d have had 5, minimum. I’ve avoided mention thus far this season of XG (expected goals) but what a world where THREE times Cooper denied them clean through, as he read their attempts at rounding him and yet none counted towards XG. (XG is based purely on shots taken.)
Yet still Cooper takes some criticism for giving the ball away for their opener. I’m sorry? He kicks the ball to the HALFWAY LINE and by dint of him being the last Red to touch the ball, it’s somehow HIS fault? How about having a forward there to hold it up? Or a defensive midfielder there to prevent the easy ball coming back? It’s on the halfway line FFS and every single Barnsley player is behind the ball when they pick it up. Cooper palms away the initial one-on-one but the ball is recycled, the cross comes in and EARL is easily manoeuvred out of the way for the flick. Then SHEPHERD and WATSON stand and gawp while their player sticks a leg in between them to hook home. Awful.
‘But we had chances too’. Yes, we did. Ogbata whips in a ball from the left and McGoldrick taps it in on the back post. Only he doesn’t. The keeper gets across superbly and makes the save. (I’m sure McGoldrick doesn’t get any sleep Sat nite, wondering why he either didn’t a) put his foot through it or b) sidefoot it into the opposite corner. But at least he made the keeper make a save.) Phillips has an opportunity, apex of the 6 yard box, hesitates, and pulls it back to no-one. On the opposite side, DKD turns down similar, but only an amazing fingertip from the keeper prevents a tap-in for whoever’s coming in on the back stick from DKD’s pass. Then there’s McG’s slow-mo acrobatic attempt coming off the post and somehow cannoning across the goal and BEHIND standing defenders.
But we deserved nowt and we achieved it with 20 mins left as a harmless throughball sees Shepherd stepping out and leaving himself in no-man’s land. A Womble turns and drills it in off the far post. Great finish. That’s how it’s done.
In response, after 70 odd minutes of Reds fans losing patience with our players for not shooting, Connell finally hits a 20 yarder past the post. But rather than the onslaught, that’s it, aaside from McG’s volley. He’s off, Kelly’s off, Ogbata’s off, Connell’s off...and no-one who comes on improves the situation, Cleary being particularly disappointing after his 2 other efforts on the wing.
A bad day at the office? The inevitable happening? Listen, we looked great for the opening 15-20 minutes, completely dominating possession and the match in their half, but once we conceded, Wimbledon never looked back. Cooper saved a one-on-one (an actual shot) and tipped another shot over, while another clean-through saw their player drag it wide in surprise (surprise that our central defence had let an innocuous ball get to him).
Onwards and upwards!
*** Cooper. Did I read he got 19 clean sheets at Stevenage last season? STEVENAGE. He’ll be lucky if he gets half a dozen with us.
** Ogbata. Looked dangerous on the attack and solid in defence.
* Kelly. A couple of great runs through the midfield. Needs to learn how to shoot though.
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Cooper 2. Ogbeta 3. McGoldrick
Despatches:
The positives: Well, I didn’t have to hear anyone say ‘we woulda lost this game last season’. And the pre and post match were great, on Reedy’s pubcrawls of the markets of Tooting Broadway. And all those food choices! If I miss one thing about London, it’s the international culinary choice. (Do Reform voters eat ‘foreign’? Just wondering.)
Big thanks also to the Future Mayor of Chesham for putting Reedy and I up. Or for putting up with Reedy and I. One of us is very sorry we took your dog for a walk and let it roll around in fox s***. The other one of us thought it was very funny.
Drink du jour: Wild Lands hazy pale and Keller Pils pre and post match at We Brought Beer, with some other hazy pale at Tooting Craft pre and post match in Tooting Market. Highly recommended.
Away: 1,206, sellout. (8,361)
The Damage:
£27 ent
£67.50 train
= £94.50
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