Yes, I was late, Darrell, Nozzer and I prioritizing conversation (well, listening to Darrell) while supping deliciousness. Despite beating Exeter on Satdy, enthusiasm was low for yet another no-doubt dismal midweek outing at The Well. Don’t ever let me become an optimist. I’ll only be let down.
Yes, I was in my seat for 5 minutes before the ball sailed over Shepherd’s head at left back for the winger to control it and play it across for the inevitable tap-in. Whatthehell is Coach Conor doing giving this klutz a game? It’s bad enough that he was incapable of stepping back to get his head on the ball, but he also makes a pathetic attempt to cut out the subsequent cross. He is not a footballer. (Shepherd proceeds to have a very good game, actually.)
Loko makes a fair point about perhaps the goal being on Luca, O’Connell pointing at Connell to track the bloke who scores, but for me the goalscorer is for the centre half (O’Connell). I don’t blame Luca for trying to help out the hapless Shepherd instead. As it was, Luca was right, Shepherd wasn’t going to be capable in stopping the winger. Where Luca got it wrong was in perhaps not getting over quick enough.
Not long after, Bland fails to stop a cross from their left and it’s a free shot on the backpost for the Bluebirds. Thankfully, he’s too precise in keeping it down and it bounces over the bar. A let off. Luca and Bland then make a mess of it on the edge of our box and Goodman comes to the rescue. This could be a long nite.
But what’s this? We equalise soon after with another super team effort. Yoga wins the ball back (after giving it away in the first place, cunning) and plays Bradshaw down the right. His cross is drilled across goal. McG doesn’t get there, but takes 2 defenders with him, leaving Banks free behind him. The loanee controls it, steadies himself, and finds the bottom corner. Composure.
Then McG blazes one over from close range. Incredible. I would’ve put Reedy’s new house on him scoring. I wouldn’t mind, but in the Wycombe programme last week he described how when everything’s going in, you just have the confidence to hit it 1st time. It might also have been the first Reds goal I’m describing this season that involved Bland kicking the ball FORWARD, playing in O’Keeffe for the cross. Oh well, next time! (I won’t mention the highlights showing Bland again failing to cut out a cross, though the fact O’Keeffe was upfield means that Conor’s ‘total football’ tactics include central midfielders slipping into right back when Corey goes wandering/marauding.)
It’d been an entertaining half, very open, and we more than matched them. However, the second half seemed spent mostly in our territory, but without Cardiff ever threatening. Yes, Goodman pulled off the odd save, but nothing I wouldn’t expect any 3rd division goalkeeper to do. Our defensive positioning was its strongest all season. Even Cleary chased back to make the odd tackle after coming on! (Up there with hen’s teeth and Bland forward passes. Maybe the message is getting through.)
Yes, Coach Conor sent on the finishers...Cleary and Phillips (for Banks and Bradshaw) and hopes were high we’d become more attacking, but it never happened. The one shot we had on target (McG, edge of the box) I missed cos I’d gone to the toilet. (Goodman was injured.) But we battled, and it was great to see. Indeed, even the crowd responded, with a few rounds of ‘Come on you Reds’. Small steps, but it’s a start. Now, if we can win our (other) games in hand...
Onwards and upwards!
*** Goodman. Regulation saves, but what impressed me most was his coming out for catches and punches. Someone’s had a word.
** McGoldrick. If he could finish…he was everywhere. His all-round game (doesn’t ‘all-round’ include goalscoring?) was incredible, again. At one point I definitely had him down as our best defender and best midfielder.
* Yoganathan. Continues to grow into his attacking role.
Official MOTM: Goodman
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Yoganathan 2. MdG 3. McGoldrick
Despatches:
Do I have anything to add? Not really. Everyone played their part in nulling the Bluebirds. But thinking of future games, I wondered why yesterday, Barnsley FC were giving me ticket details for a game at Easter (Burton away) yet Northampton in a couple of weeks is strangely quiet on the ticket front. Turns out it’s international weekend. What will we do? Have it postponed if our international superstars are away and we’ve a mathematical chance of the play-offs? Or just play it? Northampton are getting relegated, and increasing the fixture pile-up might risk injury in the run-in. I know I’ve raged against games getting postponed this season, but these were HOME games, which also cost the club money. This time it’s costing Northampton money, so I’ve not especially got an opinion. Well, actually, I have. Just play it. S*** or bust. (Oh, and wasn’t Northampton home one of those games we chickened out of, only to eke a draw against them in the replay!?)
Drink du jour: Duvet Vous New England IPA at Heaven and Ale. Very nice.
Away: 977 (9,677). I’m sorry, but this bunch really are Mickey Mouse. Chasing the title, from a city of 600,000+, they bring less than a grand. ‘But it’s midweek and so far away.’ Shut up. They only bring 1500 on a good day. File under ‘teams I irrationally really really dislike’. It’s a long list.
The Damage:
£7 petrol
= £7
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