Yes, exactly the player you need when down to ten men. High work rate, mobile, covering the whole pitch.
I thought all our subs paid off to be fair, some forced with the timings but others not. Big credit to Hourihane
An excellent team performance overall. I'm giving my MoM award to the much-maligned Luca Connell, who produced a captain's performance.
Fantastic victory and deserved. Massively feared for us when we went down to 10 men, but we showed some fight and determination. Was great to see. The ref was a joke by the way. I don’t want to give him loads of attention but how Shepherd has been sent off today I’ll never know. I’ve said a few times before today that there will be goals in our games this season and today shows why. Big shout out to Connell today too. Exactly why I’ve been shouting on here to beg us not to sell him. Can’t wait for next Saturday at home now. I’ve missed Oakwell.
Be interesting to see if he puts Ogbeta left back, Earl and Barrett centre halves and mael back to right back
I felt we were quite solid at the back all things considered. The midfield tracked runs which helped massively.
Looks like I blocked all the right haters, enjoying reading the replies to ghost posts I don’t see lol.
Given what he said in the interviews before the season started about MDG being a right back, it wouldn’t surprise me if we do that. I suppose it’s probably down to either Bland at right back with MDG in the middle or as you have put it. Decision to make early doors.
On reflection the words ‘haven’t played well at any point’ aren’t right - we did very well out of possession and were calm on the ball in the back and middle third. What I was eluding to is that we weren’t much of an attacking force - the chances we created for ourselves were half chances and snatched at with rushed finishing; the three goals were absolute gifts (though I accept two and three were well finished, the chances were gift wrapped). But no you are correct - the negative tone wasn’t the intent. We didn’t objectively play poorly - we just didnt click much going forward. DKD ended up scoring but he might as well have sat in the stand for eighty five minutes; McGoldrick put himself about but didn’t really do a deal of note. I don’t think we created enough to win the game as handsomely as we ended up doing; we could not have complained had we not won it over and above the refereeing aberrations that we’ve all mentioned. The bbc report is a giggle too. Controversial, dominant, etc etc. Yeah ok buddy. Though I thought Vickers looked bright on the right, Phillips behind / alongside him had a good game too, and Luca Connell had the game at centre midfield we need him to have - both he and Vimal’s covering running was excellent. Cooper looks decent. We need fullbacks though.
Just a superb, professional performance from the Super Reds. I had feared something like a 3-0 defeat, but all eleven players were controlled, kept the ball well, pressed well enough when we weren't in possession and kept going to the end. Hard to pick out a star man from that - they all contributed to a great team performance. Excellent keeping from Cooper. The back line were resolute, but I thought missed something of the aerial dominance of Roberts when he left. Lovely, controlled passing for much of the game, at least until after the sending off. I also liked the discipline when Connell took the captain's responsibility and ushered the other players away when Shepherd was shown the red card. That discipline must have been instilled into the team and the captain by Conor. If I did have slight beef it was that we went rather for hoof-ball when we were down to ten, which meant the ball just kept coming back at us. The two rows of four, I thought, needed to try to keep as much possession as possible to run the clock down. The ref was a complete joke. He was so indecisive and, in the case of two yellows for Shepherd, wrongly decisive. The first yellow was given when all Shepherd did was to try to free himself from the abysmal Wiredu. The second, he had his back turned to the ball and his arm seemed to be in a natural position. A crazy red. Can we appeal two yellows? I thought Shepherd had an outstanding game. McGoldrick has great skill in his touch, but he ain't gonna win the Grand National. Good to have his skill and calming influence, but I think we need another centre forward to prop and cop with him during games. Well done Conor, too, for making the right subs. A great day. I hope the travelling fans have time to enjoy the sun and sea down there over the weekend. COYR. Excellent all round.
Personally i think it was a good performance we looked much fitter than last season no one looked like they were just on the pitch to make up numbers and take a pay cheque the press looked good and yes it had to be sacrificed a lil after Robbo and Shep had to go off but for me we didn't look out of shape even with those two off so a battling performance that showed they can do this when they trust the man at the helm. Phillips looked more like his old self again so did Luca , the new guys put in a good shift as well, Yoga was all over the pitch trying to pick up the ball on run at their defence and after the red and reshuffle DKD found himself affecting the game more and scoring a great goal. All in all to all the naysayers on the thread today we have beaten what is seen by those in the know as a real potential automatic promotion side(not that you would think it on todays performance) but they did what was asked of them they beat the team that was in front of them we can't ask for more than that at this point. we are not the finished article ourselves yet still needing signings to give us that edge we need but today was a statement all the same ,First away win season opener since 1996 when we were promoted to the Premier league and all that done by a team that isn't what it could be by September and window closes so i think under the circumstances it was a fantastic victory and 3 POINTS IN THE BAG !!!!!............COME ON YOU REDS !!!!!!!!!
Yep agree with all that. Sadly I don’t think it’s possible to appeal yellow cards, which is a joke because neither should’ve been given. I hope the FA or whoever it is that decides which referees have which games next week take a look at this game and makes sure he has a few weeks “rest”.