41 shots 10 on target 2 goals 1 Point Shots conceded 17 Shots conceded on target 4 Goals conceded 3 Opposition 4 points I’m not quite sure what the main point is - as it’s clear we can’t defend the chances conceded and can’t take the chances we create.
Last line pretty much sums it up. As does Clarke when he said last night that we have been poor in both boxes. I imagine there will soon be a game where it all clicks for us and we hammer someone 4 or 5 nil. But most matches we will probably struggle to put games to bed.
Don’t think we’ve got the quality needed to comfortably put teams away by a few goals this season , i think most our wins will be by the odd goal unless something happens in the transfer window.
The two games were chalk and cheese. Wigan came not to lose two banks of four and that for me is the main problem we can't break down sides like that down tp lack of pace and individual that can beat a man. Last night was different they came to play which suits us we just missed chances it happens but we play more Wigan types home that problem needs addressing ASAP in January.
Number 1 priority in the summer was to sign at least one, preferably two, strikers. We failed. We claimed to have signed two in DKD and Humphrys but they're not strikers. They're attacking players who can complement a striker but they're not strikers. And we're not getting the best out of them because they're playing out of position and there's no striker on the field for them to compliment. I rate Watters much higher than most and I reckon he's done very well when he's played this season. But he's struggling with a reoccurring injury and after him we've nothing. With a half decent striker you score some of those chances you've highlighted, you break the opposition's resolve and there's far less pressure on the defence. We'll not always sign the quality we hope for. We'll sign players who won't perform as well as we would like. But this summer we failed to sign anyone in the priority position (that came from the club, not me) then pretended the players we did sign were something they're not.
To be fair I thought last night was just unlucky. No real clear cut chances missed (put Humphries one down to a good save not a bad miss) and their two goals were pure bad luck - compare first with Phillips shot in first half which took 2 deflections and ended up in keepers lap. Yes the second could possibly defend better but it's a great save from Killip and could have gone anywhere off the bar. Another day it's 2-0 and we go home happy. Good character to come back again and some really good defending in the last 30 seconds when they could have nicked it. Lots to improve on sure but for me it was bad luck last night not sloppy play overall.
I think that’s very generous on Humphrys’ chance - and the defending wasn’t great for me especially for the second - but I agree with what you’re saying overall I think.
Maybe. At time thought Phillips should have gone himself but looking at highlights it was the right ball and, for me, a really good save. Not seen a clip of Cosgroves free header back mind - that seemed pretty bad real time. Still think another day none of that matters as one or both of their goals don't go in.
I don't like to get on player's backs, but I'm quickly losing patience with Cosgrove. After the Play-off performance, I thought we'd turned the corner and had a sticker on our hands, but he has offered nothing so far this season.
Humphry’s was a sitter, there was also at least 2-3 headers at least which were bad misses (Cosgrove/Phillips - Roberts off the line was actually a very bad finish for a free header with the whole goal to aim at)
