Holmes_and_Watson

Another win for us. Close though, after we survive some early scares. Fortunately, they don't score, and we get a goal ahead. We start to flag, but Martin has put a rocket up the subs this time, and we see out the game.

Smart of them not to get tied down to a year.

Just had a moment imagining us loaning Tall Paul out to Luton next season, and him scoring a hatful, while we struggle with AA allowed to play up front, because he asked...a lot, loudly (pashun and bravery) and Stewart cheers from a mobility scooter beside the bench. Brrrr...

Night

Sacred

I was a little surprised at that too. Maybe teams are actually just standing around saving energy, while we pass it around to get that 70% possession stat.

Martin's whole set up was to prevent the outrageous fortune of being the subject of a sacking poll. But the fans sleep, perchance to dream of the Premier League. We still have every chance of going up via the playoffs. If we do, we've enough players leaving to reinforce his system. Need to see if that happens before knowing if it will thumped every week. If we don't, then the club can assess his deliverables for the season, the players coming back and the style they want to proceed with, before trying to move them all on again/ bring others in. He may well get next season as well. Seems a bit early for the poll.

I quite liked them.

Lots of possession. But we created less than half the efforts on goal that we did in the first half. It's not that we weren't looking for a chance. But mainly from safer, direct options, rather than creating and driving the game to get more. As Martin's system doesn't recognise things like momentum and human elements, it will continue to remain a mystery to him, why we let Coventry (and everyone else) back into it. Any Coventry pressure in that game was self inflicted. After the subs we looked happy enough to shore it up and stick with what we had. Inviting a few more attacks, where the players ended up congratulating Baz. I thought that the side would be more driven tonight, and hoped the Subs would know they had to be the same level. Mara was aware of where to be around their box. But nothing really came near him, as we'd given up being able to put an attack together with AA and Adams off. Defensively, Mara was poor. Rothwell was quiet again, while Charles was tidy enough, but isn't there to launch attacks really. Stu gave us some needed level headedness, while we didn't use Fraser much. Basically pretty disjointed after the switches. We lost a focal point when Adams went off. Aribo did lots well, with s few of those mixed bag moments. Both off meant we had no strength left in the side. Another reason they got more of the ball. Happy with the three points. Some early signs in the game of what Martin had been talking about in the press conference. But lots more of the same issues later on. And he's going to have to come with some solid instructions when making changes. We've players with particular strengths. If we're going to change things around, we can keep the system but look to maximise those.

Ghosted past 3 of ours to create that last effort.

Shot from them. Mara tracking back, without putting any pressure on them. Stephens and Has giving some folk a scary moment. Aribo off for Stu. Adams off for Rothwell. There goes any physical presence. Smallbone off too. He'd been doing fine.

And after midfield terrier Smallbone had won it, with one of his trademark crunching tackles.

Nice from Adams there.

Baz surel shouted for KWP to leave that?

He might have been tee total before...

Another little reminder from Coventry. Needed a challenge, and Has wasn't close from the corner. Meanwhile, we're getting chances, but well within ourselves, rather than upping our tempo across the team and driving to create. Same as we usually do. And as I type that, they score. Because that's the result when we do that. In nearly every game. When will Martin learn?

"Brooks, in the Championship, looks a real talent." As he blazes one across the box, pulls his shirt over his face, apologises, and gets subbed. 🙂

I know we like to start moves quickly. But that was so early a lot of their players were still around our box from their corner.

That was a decent chance for them. We got done by some simple passes. Aribo raced to make it up. But the ball was decent into the box. A little reminder to us about tempo and picking out a direct pass.

At half time?! Martin was busy with that, the team talk and putting stuff on his hair. 🙂

It's the relief of that second goal going in, talking. Not today going one up and faffing around until they equalise.

"Bazunu is quick to check on him" Baz collected the ball. Played it out. Eventually walked over after the ref blew the whistle. 🙂

Early effort from AA. We had lots forward too. Corner.

Lots of posession. A decent number of attempts A good number of crisp passing moves, at some pace. 2 goals from 4 attempts. They missed a penalty early, and had a little spell of momentum when we did one of our giving it away from a counter attack. But we're used to that, and we're solid enough. Coventry are either giving us a lot of space or simply can't deal with RussBall. I'm going for the latter. Good off the ball movement to create space. Also those balls into space Martin was looking for. He'll have told them if they hit it into s position where someone should get onto it, then it's the target player's responsibility to get into that area. Martin will be looking for a lot of the same, if not pushing for even more pace and tempo. Take advantage of being on top without taking more risks. He'll also be looking for the subs to get on and deliver the same, with no drop off.

Applause for that passing move at pace right from the back. That's the system at work.