0-0 draw I think. We’ll keep it tight and prioritise getting a result over anything. I think players like McGuane and Taylor will benefit from a week off, too, so could maybe see us even sneaking a win late on.
Nostradamus!
Terrible game hahaha. Truly awful stuff from both sides. A draw probably fair - although they came closer, with the two woodwork shots and that scuffed shot after the square ball in the first half - which for me represents a good result. Another clean sheet, another point at a tough side away from home. Say what you like about KR, but he knows how to tighten a team up and make them tough to beat.
I just don't know what Kelly offers. He's not physical enough (quick, strong, quick feet) to make any impact on games, and he's not technically good enough to link play or to be a set-piece wizard. I get that games like today, where we were looking to be compact and play a bit of hoof ball, are clearly not the types of game where he is going to thrive, but then why not play Forde? He's the kind of experienced League 1 veteran that you'd rather have in there for this kind of fixture I would have thought. I also wonder if Taylor is getting away a bit lightly this season for underperforming. Again, I appreciate the chances aren't really being made for him, but the whole value of a player like Taylor is that he doesn't
need chances made for him - he's always been so good at putting away the little half chances and making something out of nothing. Is he offering enough? I'm not sure. That ball hooked in late in the second half that he nearly got to is exactly the kind of half chance he used to make something of. And that's before you consider some of the bona fide chances he
has missed this season.
Last year we were the fittest team in the league, we were regularly outrunning teams and snatching late wins. This year the complete oposite is true - we seem to collapse half way through the second half. It's a bit worrying, as it doesn't seem to be getting any better, it's a recurrent problem.
Well played the whole back six. Stevens a little indecisive on a couple of occasions but very strong in the air. Eastwood's going to struggle to get back in the team I think. Long my MOTM. So, so solid. Fingers crossed Atkinson's injury isn't too bad - growing to love him. Ruffels has had a real examination these last few weeks, he's come up against some tough opponents, and despite some hairy moments has more or less held up I think.
We're slowly rebuilding our season. It's not very exciting to watch, it's pretty attritional, but we're getting there.