Holmes_and_Watson

With there being only small variations on Plan A, you kind of know what you’ll get from us. Dominating possession, patiently looking to create chances, and hope we put enough of them away while our defence hold out at the other end. Some flaws are inbuilt, like the gaps the inverted players leave. Some are areas you’d hope we’d develop. Like being able to up the tempo to force more chances when we’re passing it around the middle. Today was no exception. 62% possession. We struggled to create for large spells in the first half. But we certainly created enough good ones to have finished ‘Boro off. They hit the post in the first half, as they pressed our automatic passing shape. Later, Stephens did really well to stop a one on one. Their other real chance was their goal. We looked organised enough to stop everything else they had. In the first half Sule was involved in a lot of the play. He offers pace and can pin back defences. He doesn’t offer a link to our passing game or a finish though. It’s not the only reason it wasn’t clicking, but was more disruptive when he switched flanks. That lack of creativity from the middle to the final third meant Che had a quiet half too. In the second half Che was getting opportunities when everyone remembered how well AA, KWP and Will paly when they link up. Stu was the outlet for those moves, and Che fed on those. It was working well. Sure, Che will be frustrated with the misses. Bringing Fraser and Brooks on, meant we had no one really in the middle to offer any physical presence. We were looking for dribbling runs and cut backs. We did create opportunities, but none quite as clear cut. Will put one well over. After they equalised, we looked disjointed and a little desperate. Martin still has to solve the issues that have dogged us all season. How to use that possession to move defences and create good chances. How to do that at a pace that stops their defence resetting to stop those chances being converted. How to adapt to seeing out games if we’re struggling to create with a narrow lead.

It was indeed

Edozie on for Will. More direct and time to get a late winner.

Oh sods...

At the other end, Will puts it well over.

Baz!

Downes did really well there. With KWP up the park he covered that gorund and stopped their attack.

AA off for Mara. Maybe to fill that role Adams was doing.

Despite that finishing, I've thought we'd missed Adams a bit since he went off. Someone as a target, and to put pressure on their centre halfs more than AA can do. Sule also capable of pinning defences back as they worry about his pace. Also off.

Just what we're waiting for. That Fraser offside is just a taste of us picking them off when they push up. 🙂

He's not super quick. I think it's his build that makes it look a bit slower too. He wasn;t powereing onto it as you'd expect form some others., but I'm not sure that's something he has.

Ooooh... offside. But if Boro keep pushing up...

Nice pass from Brooks there. We're certianly creating chances.

Oooft. They get it clear and Captain Shoehorn does great work to put a stop to their counter! Well done Stephens.

Both teams looking to exploit any spaces. Boro offside for their's. Brooks just overhit the pass for ours.

We've certainly looked more solid.

Off are going Che and Sule Che will be annoyed with that. It took a fair bit of the game for him to be getting on the end of the chances. He made a good run for the first, but wen too narrow. Lots fo time for the second, and overdid it the other way. But that KWP/Will/AA set up was really paying off.

Fraser and Brooks to come on...

Che's cut back went behind all of the runners there. Good work form Will getting that forward.

Really needed to take that on his other foot. Too narrow an angle for him on that one. AA creating more chances for us. Another cut back, Che.... oh noes drags it wide. He didn;t look put off by the pen/ offside appeals. Perhaps aware of going to the narrow angle with his last chance, so over compensating.

Che through. Saved! great move.

He did look offside, and really could have been watchign that line? But that was the KWP, AA, Will combo with teh ball then going across to Stu for a shot initially.

Ahhhh. Che denied!!!!

Jones getting booked. Get Sule to run at him more.

I didn't think Baz was in control of that. 'Boror striker within his rights to go for that.