Once again we score 3 at home and fail to win (Pompey / Preston) and we do now go into games thinking that we need at least 2 goals to have a chance of winning. Yes it is not to everyones taste, but me I am loving it (on one level). Not sure who Rich is going to blame for the goals but for me they happened as follows. 1st one - they came out of the traps like demons and caught us a bit off guard, a great low free kick that curved behind the defence was met by one of theirs and scrambled in - McCartney had a bit of a swing and maybe shinned it a bit and O'Brien had half a chance to clear it, but in fairness it was one of those very hard to defend freekicks when any touch by any player on either side was likely to end up in the net. The second the right side of our team went AWOL - Eric was nowhere and Snoddy miles the wrong side of the man when the ball was played across field and into the path of their left winger in acres of space and he took it well - poor defending. The 3rd , Watt gave away a bit of a needless free kick, Howson had just failed to foul the player who was running sideways just outside our box and the free kick was almost central just outside the D. Kasper did not take up the right position,Kilkenny moved out of the way of the ball, he was at the edge of the wall, and Kasper did not move as a weak free kick beat him. So two soft goals really out of the three. Going forward we were again excellent. Having conceded early on and with them running around like men possessed we slowly started to keep the ball and take over control of the game, Max had a header that hit woodwork, Becchio missed a reasonable chance on the turn and we threatened a few times, then a long cross from Kilkenny, keeper came and flapped at it and missed leaving an empty net for Becchio who leapt well and nodded it home. Later on Max was through and was just goal side of the defender and went over - ref gave a penalty . I was uncertain and around me it was about 70% to 30% that it was NOT a penalty.Having said that once the ref had given it , it should have been a red for stopping a goal scoring opportunity and not the yellow that was given. So 2 1 at half time and we felt that there could only be one winner - a freekick from Max had also hit the keeper then the bar then back onto the keeper and wide. During this half the largely ineffective Johnson who hit the bar from a yard out, tested the refs patience with a string of fouls that ended up with a well deserved yellow. Second half we were still the better team although did equalise and then Johnson got sent off - it looked a nothing foul from where I stand, when he committed it no-one thought that's it he's off, but the ref was a lot closer and off went Bradley, at least one gobby lad behind me suggested he should keep on going and never come back !! A bit later SG made the changes with Watt and Somma coming on, as expected off went Becchio, more of a surpise was that it was Snoddy (who had been quiet) and not Kilkenny who joined him. SG appeared to have got it right when Max burst into the area past 2 players and curled a beauty into the net. Surely that would be enough but it was not to be. Another 2 points dropped but with Leicester losing and Forest and Norwich both drawing what looked to be easy games for them the damage is minimal. I appeared to be in a minority leaving the ground who thought that once again, it had been great to watch, and while poor defensive teams never win things, I much prefer a 3 3 draw to a 0 0 one, and that since I am well happy with being in the play off positions, this attcking football is great and much better than the lets try for a nil nil and hope to nick one. Yes, at some stage if we want to go up we will need to tighten up the defence at the expense of our attacking outlook , but for me, enjoy it while it lasts. One last word in praise of Max. When we got him I thought he would be a Vince Hilaire type, great on his day but that day would be one game in four or five, but Max seems to do it pretty much evey week and his workrate is second to none Dave _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected]
MARCHING ON TOGETHER
