We did enough to win in that second half, a bit more composure required at key moments. To be able to say that after the first half and with that refereeing performance is something and I’ll take that.
Yeah, but the second half was very encouraging. We're not going to concede three stupid goals in a row every week. If the roles had been reversed and Barnsley had got those three goals in the first half, I have no doubt that this forum would be full of people annoyed that our players didn't close down the game. We'd have seen it as a lucky one, given the last 15 minutes. And i think Portsmouth are a good team who I'd expect to be up there.
So what's your thoughts on where this group of players will finish? I personally think Collins has got some quality players to choose from and should be aiming for promotion.
Defensively we were an absolute shambles tonight and have looked incredibly poor defensively against any decent team we’ve played.
I'd like to think we won't, but we've conceded 9 at home in the three matches we've played against some of the better sides. That's a worry. McCart looks solid but quite one-dimensional and not very quick. I really can't understand the logic in dropping Shepherd. We're going to score loads of goals, that much is clear. That alone will have us in the top 8 or 9. But unless we tighten up our defence dramatically, we'll drop far too many points against the other challengers, and that's likely to be very costly.
They did, but not that much. And after we got our second they couldn't really get it back on, apart from the odd counter.
I think Collins is green and not used to managing Saturday-Tuesday turnarounds. With the players we have there should have been rotation. Our defence is very raw and our season will depend on how quickly they can get it together, but 6th should be a minmum expectation.
That was definitely a lot better than it could have been, after one of the worst 45 minutes you will ever see. Credit for turning it round in the second half. Definite things to take from tonight. O’Keefe and Styles have to start next game. Russell utterly exposed for me tonight. Plays the game at snail pace, and as soon as he comes up against midfielders with movement, he may as well not be on the pitch. Phillips needs to seriously start raising his game too. Been disappointing for me so far this season. Back three are a sad shadow of what they were last season. Needs serious work. Up front Cosgrove looked clumsy, but at least he got himself in the game and into positions. I just do not know what Watters brings. Poor even by Div 3 standards. A knackered Cole still looks more threatening than a ‘fresh’ Watters. A terrible sub for me, immediately after being gifted a lifeline. I still genuinely don’t know what Collins’ plan is.
Did the bone idle watters touch it tonight? Worst signing for many years because we all saw how lazy he was last season yet bizarrely we've committed to a 4 year deal
I applauded the effort at full time, I thought for a young team after having that disaster of a first half they showed character to pull that second half performance out of the bag. Another 5 minutes and we'd have levelled imo. Learn lessons from the first half and take encouragement from the second. I also think as bad as we were in the first half Pompey were excellent in the same period.
I’m obviously not a qualified manager, but I would have thought 2 obvious things were, if we are playing a mobile opposition where running and mobility might be required, don’t play Russell and if we are in dire need of a goal there is little point in chucking Watters on !
We're covered okay upfront with Cole, Mcatee, Cosgrove, Watters and then Marsh waiting in the wings too. Throw in Jalo who'll be knocking on the door soon. Our problem isn't attacking, we've scored the most goals in the league. Our problem is the defence.