How much better was that?

We were unlucky at Bristol, but also their goals were too easy, and all too familiar. It's good to see some attempt to address that finally. And that was more down to organisation than effort.

 

I agree to an extent, There was a wider deeper back 3, a deeper midfield and Woodrow stepping into the middle. I've just finished watching the game and we could have lost. I think that would have been harsh, but we easily could have. Just like we could easily have won several f the games under Schopp. But there was effort there from our wingbacks that has been absent much if the season.

We've also benefitted from Andersen and Benson being back in the fold who walk into the team when fit.

But my over riding sense is relief.

 

Agreed. But weathered it with players battling and throwing their bodies in the way. The last 20 minutes was nervy for sure but I actually enjoyed it. At one point I was convinced that the scoreboard clock had gone wrong.....

 

It could easily have finished differently, but I guess my point is, I think we would've lost that game under Schopp. Not because I think the Adeboyejo shot wouldn't have deflected in, or because I think the header would've bounced in off the bar at the end. We would've lost because he set us up to be easy to create chances against, so Derby would've created more chances and probably scored an extra goal or two. So I think Laumann deserves some credit.

We missed a lot of chances at Bristol, but the biggest failing for me was, with a lead and a home crowd turning on their team, we were still too easily carved open and conceded two against a very poor team. I didn't really care about how Schopp looked on the sidelines, or even much about his interviews. It was his failure to address such an obvious flaw, 15 games in, that infuriated me, and why I think he had to go.

As for the wing backs, there may have been more effort, but I suspect they'd reached a point of disillusionment, with confidence shot. The ask of them seemed to be to cover the whole flank on their own, with no cover, they weren't setup with any chance to succeed. Styles' cause wouldn't have been helped by the numerous switches from wing back to midfield.

 

I think our win was down to a whole host of things. Some slight tweaks. Derby not having the attributes to hurt us like some other teams. A bit of luck going our way. Extra effort from players who whether they realised it or not, weren't giving it previously, the return of Mads who is much better at all round duels than any of his peers, the return to fitness of Benson and Iseka.

We can't do a sliding doors analysis as its just impossible, but for varying reasons, we both agree we likely wouldn't have won that under Schopp.

 

True but they were attempts you would expect any keepe to save.