Well we may be top of the league, three points clear etc but I am increasingly unconvinced about our promotion credentials. We scraped the draw we deserved but only because Tranmere lost their ambition in the second-half and increasingly played for the point. It was another indifferent home performance.
In the first forty-five we didn't muster an effort on target and whilst they didn't create a whole lot either, they were in front and looked far more likely to score a second than we did a first. Perhaps it's just what we have to deal with as table-toppers, especially when clubs come to London and our relatively impressive stadium (and crowds - 15,038 today). If that's the case then we have to learn to deal with it and make it a positive and not a negative. All the big clubs can intimidate you at their grounds and put you under immense pressure even if you are playing well. The atmosphere at the Valley doesn't help and we really need a couple of goals or some controversial decision making before the ground really wakes up. Telling us "to make some noise for the boys" over the tannoy sounds increasingly like a desperate and vain plea.
I felt the back four played well enough today and had to contend with the handful that is Enoch Showumi. Rhoys Wiggins was my man-of-the-match not only for his defensive play but for the urgency he showed in trying to prompt the game in the second-half and one or two of his over-lapping runs when he stormed past Johnnie Jackson.
It's the midfield where we need a shot in the arm. Stephens and Hollands are tidy enough and impose themselves much more when we are in front but neither finds it easy to press the game and get forward when we are level or trailing. Danny Green played his way into selection this week and then fell flat on his face with an insipid showing. Pretty much the same can be said of Yann Kermorgant although he improved second-half and laid a couple of fine balls on for Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Our goal, when it came, was a long delayed penalty as the referee dealt with a furious Tranmere protest and plenty of petulant pushing and shoving. My first instinct at the penalty was that one of our players was pulled down by another. I could understand Rovers' frustration in the circumstances. Johnnie Jackson wouldn't be put off and smashed home the equaliser. After that we had a couple of good chances to nick it but Lady Luck wasn't looking and we had to settle for the point.
I would love to see Enoch Showumi in a red shirt feeding BWP and Ian Goodison was excellent at the back for the visitors.
Off to Alicante on Monday for the last throw of the Scottish dice and I will be back in plenty of time for my first ever visit to Stevenage. The good news is we have played like promotion contenders away from SE7 so far.
In the first forty-five we didn't muster an effort on target and whilst they didn't create a whole lot either, they were in front and looked far more likely to score a second than we did a first. Perhaps it's just what we have to deal with as table-toppers, especially when clubs come to London and our relatively impressive stadium (and crowds - 15,038 today). If that's the case then we have to learn to deal with it and make it a positive and not a negative. All the big clubs can intimidate you at their grounds and put you under immense pressure even if you are playing well. The atmosphere at the Valley doesn't help and we really need a couple of goals or some controversial decision making before the ground really wakes up. Telling us "to make some noise for the boys" over the tannoy sounds increasingly like a desperate and vain plea.
I felt the back four played well enough today and had to contend with the handful that is Enoch Showumi. Rhoys Wiggins was my man-of-the-match not only for his defensive play but for the urgency he showed in trying to prompt the game in the second-half and one or two of his over-lapping runs when he stormed past Johnnie Jackson.
It's the midfield where we need a shot in the arm. Stephens and Hollands are tidy enough and impose themselves much more when we are in front but neither finds it easy to press the game and get forward when we are level or trailing. Danny Green played his way into selection this week and then fell flat on his face with an insipid showing. Pretty much the same can be said of Yann Kermorgant although he improved second-half and laid a couple of fine balls on for Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Our goal, when it came, was a long delayed penalty as the referee dealt with a furious Tranmere protest and plenty of petulant pushing and shoving. My first instinct at the penalty was that one of our players was pulled down by another. I could understand Rovers' frustration in the circumstances. Johnnie Jackson wouldn't be put off and smashed home the equaliser. After that we had a couple of good chances to nick it but Lady Luck wasn't looking and we had to settle for the point.
I would love to see Enoch Showumi in a red shirt feeding BWP and Ian Goodison was excellent at the back for the visitors.
Off to Alicante on Monday for the last throw of the Scottish dice and I will be back in plenty of time for my first ever visit to Stevenage. The good news is we have played like promotion contenders away from SE7 so far.
Have to agree with you on the "make some noise for the boys" shout before kick off. Bloody cringeworthy.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you have got a ticket for next weekend.
See you there.
Think you are a bit hard on the fans Dave. Its league 1, we are not playing the most glamorous of teams, so you expect it to be a bit flat. I think we make a better atmosphere than a lot of premiership clubs (e.g. Bolton and Arsenal)
ReplyDeleteAfraid you are spot on about the team though- very insipid> Wish BWP was a bit more up for it - reckon he makes such a difference for us when he is on song.
Pembury Addick
Unconvinced? Was you unconvinced last week when we gained a very credible draw at MK Dons and beat Sheff United? I suspect not.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what exactly you are expecting because to be 'growing unconvinced' would imply that at some stage you had to be convinced by something???
Charlton will not walk this division, and nothing I've seen to date has absolutely convinced me of anything in particular, but there is plenty to be positive about if you want to take that view.
Mark
Tranmere were never likely to roll over for us.
Anon - I'm not blaming the fans for the flat atmosphere - all I am saying is that the players need to play their part and can spark the crowd but they won't do that with first halves like yesterdays.
ReplyDeleteAnon - I am becoming increasingly unconvinced by our home performances as I said. We simply aren't playing like a top side at home. In fact, it's not unlike last season and if we can't step that up, then same thing is likely to happen - we will drop off the pace.
ReplyDelete