Well we had enough chances to win three games tonight and should all be back home celebrating a 4 or 5 goal victory - instead we spent the last few minutes of the game hanging on, groaned when the ref added 5 minutes (and panicked a bit) and then heaved a huge sigh of relief at the final whistle. So what went wrong ? Well nothing really in some ways , every player bar maybe Hunt had a good game and we scored 2 good goals but we just cannot find the net often enough. Would Becchio have made a difference - who knows
McDermott had the bravery to drop both his 'big money signings' Murphy and Wootton and to keep faith with Mowatt and recall Green and allow McCormack to play up front with the recalled Hunt , and it largely worked. I was very impressed with Mowatt on my first proper look at him and the energy he, Austin and Green supplied in midfield allowed Tonge to stroll around and largely control the game. We looked decent from the start and missed two sitters as the ball fell to McCormack in the 6yd box but his poor attempt was straight at the keeper and the rebound fell kindly to Austin who must surely score - but no, his even worse attempt was shot straight at McCormack who was now yards offside. Hunt also had a header wide as we started brightly enough. Then on 30mins Hunt was put clean through and rounded the keeper and was brought down - nailed on penalty and since the ref (unlike myself) thought that Hunt would have scored a red card too. Bournemouth avoided a double punishment when Ross's shot low and in the corner but a bit soft was well saved. We continued to press and had a two minute spell of pinball in their six yard box and area which actually brought smiles to our faces so ridiculous was it that the ball never ended in their net. At the other end Bournemouth offered next to nothing and so we all thought it was just a question of time and that a 3 goal win was imminent. Second half we did most things right - Warnock (my man of the match) rampaged forward down the left wing and Peltier got forward on the other flank as we did what teams are supposed to do against 10men - spray it around, keep the ball and get some width. Despite that we just could not get either the final ball or the final attempt on goal correct. Rudy even had a long range shot on target but it was a weak one not his usual thunderbolt. Then the breakthrough - a cross by Warnock was swept it at close range by Ross. This is it now we thought, floodgates open. Instead we continued to miss chances or make the most of opportunities. Despite them being mostly toothless and content to sit back we suddenly stopped playing and there was a feeling of inevitability when they scored. Rudy made a really stupid tackle on the half way line when their player was going nowhere and Rudy just ploughed into the back of him , a daft challenge and a stupid booking. We just stood around as the player got treatment and were half asleep as Ian Harte (who else) hit the free kick into the box and they won 2 headers and then it fell to a another one of theirs who poked it home. Similar to QPR, Sheff Wed and Reading goals this season(If I remember them correctly) Whilst this was going on we took off Hunt - I am not at all convinced by him - and brought on Poleon and the game continued in much the same fashion. Then we had a corner and McDermott was about to bring on Smith and Diouff as a last throw of the dice, they were not to be needed and both sat down again as the ball came to Warnock whose cross was met by Pearce who headed it back across the box and Poleon waited for it to bounce at the right height and volleyed it in with great power - a really well taken goal. This still did not kill off a by now stubborn Bournemouth and a Harte corner right under the bar caused us problems and then Kenny was forced into making a great diving 'photograph' save to his left. I am not sure what Poleon has done wrong (his push at Watford perhaps?) but referees do not seem to like him.He gets no decisions his way as he is kicked pulled and generally fouled. Last night he was running alongside their forward , there was minimal contact and Poleon had been matching him stride for stride and yet, to everyones surprise the ref gave a foul and even more bizzarely gave him an undeserved yellow ! So a welcome return to winning ways but no where near as convincing as it should have been. Warnock man of the match, followed by Mowatt and Tonge, Mowatt does look to have it all. Lees and Pearce did well apart from the goal (that is our other major flaw, apart from goal scoring) that one lapse of concentration that costs us. Ross missed a few including the pen but did score again when played as a striker (a lesson there) One final point, at a time when we are complaining about chants against us (and I know a few of you disagree with me on that one) we totally blow it by starting (adopting it from City rather than making it up I think) about Fergiescum and Moyes being peadophiles !! Sorry this has been long but it is 4am and I cannot sleep due to pain and over medication so am lying in bed typing this drivel to take my mind of it all Dave _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER
