As I eagerly await Red Rain's Minority Report and Bossman's Majority Report, here is my Median Report. It was nice to see the players all come and clap the fans at the start of the game and was also nice to see them having a little huddle before kick off. I took that as a request we get behind them as well as a nod to the fact that fan support is appreciated by the players. From where I was sat in the Upper East it was definitely Mads and Cauley doing the majority of the talking. I thought we looked good until they scored, plenty of sharp passing, Benson always looking to spray it to the wingbacks running on. Only down sides were lack if end product, Brittain and Adeboyejo particularly guilty. After they scored though there was another conflab between the players and we came out with more of the same. Victor's goal got a slight deflection but his graft alone earned it for him. Brittain git the assist which bumped him up from a 5/10 in my book to a 6. Second half again we came out quickly and the passing around to draw the press but then quickly passing the ball up the pitch reminded me as much of Struber's system as it did Val's. If there is a happy medium between the two, I don't think we were too far away tonight. The second goal was class. Quick thinking from Brittain still gave Leya Iseka a lot to do but good control and a classy finish in front of the Ponty was as impressive a goal as I've seen at home this season. Iseka and Benson were out on their feet after 70 minutes and I'm sure if Gomes hadn't taken a knock one of those two would have been replaced. Iseka perked up again after getting MOTM. Obviously we were under the cosh for the last 10 minutes and got a bit lucky when they hit the bar, but over 90 minutes we were the better team and I think if we can get another 3 points on Sunday, we've a great platform to build off. Credit to the players coming for their well deserved applause and the fans for staying and clapping them. Also credit to Benson for giving his shirt to someone in the East Lower.
Sunday? I can’t see how we fail to beat Hull Saturday. The fly in the ointment is having to play Fulham after the break, but we have to face em sometime I suppose.
Agree with most of that. There was a 5-10 min spell after the 2nd goal where we played the best football I've seen all season, it looked like confidence had returned to the team and they'd pick Derby off with ease. I don't think Styles going off helped, then Gomes going too disrupted us. But we dug in and got the points. I think the boys knew that they needed to engage with and draw some energy from the crowd tonight and they did it well. Was interesting that Laumann came back out for 2nd half a good few mins before the team. Given that there aren't any other coaches, I'm assuming he left them in the dressing room to gee one another up. It worked.
