I know they say the secret to getting promotion is

picking up points when you aren't playing well, but I think we have interpreted it differently and we think that you HAVE to play poorly and pick up points.

If we are serious about winning promotion we have to be putting games, like tonights, out of reach of the opposition, we have to be getting 2 or 3 goals clear and not hanging on all the time.

It was difficult picking a man of the match tonight, Shuker had a mare apart from a well taken goal, Hayes did ok when changing position but didn't seem to have a clue what was required of him. In the end I agreed with the official call of Reid.

Nardiello seems to want to watch the game go by, he doesn't seem interested if it isn't to feet and on the one occasion he did chase a ball down he won a corner - now why can't he do that more often?

And trying to hold the ball in the corner, that would be fine if we had the faintest idea how to do it but it nearly led to them getting an equaliser - I'm sure that's not the idea!

I'm very pleased with 3 points but that's really the only good thing we can take out of this evening.

And b*st*rds Huddersfield getting a late equaliser!

 

I thought..

Hayes was excellent tonight. The only player who looked like creating in the first half, and in the second half he played Richards, Wright and Nardiello all through on goal for them to waste. Also worked back on the left wing while playing infront of no left back. Only player who seemed remotely up for it going forward.

Reid just edged him out for MotM for me.

 

RE: I thought..

Well I did consider him for MotM in that he didn't do too bad playing out of his normal position - in fact he played better there than he does in his regular position

 

We can take a few more things from the game than just the 3 points

Clean sheet, Colgan little to do

We can go 3 5 2 and without wingbacks

If we are determined not to bring in a centre half (if notwill cost us in the end) then Reid and Austin can play well together (ok acid test when we come up against the bruisers, but they did ok tonight)

Hayes (another one playing out of position for half the game) did well on the left hand side and tracked back to help out defensively - some cracking passes tonight which set others in with a run on goal, wright, Richards and Nardiello and only Nards could make the goalie save it.

Of course I was wearing mi rose coloured specs!

Reid, Austin and Hayes were, imho, the best of the bunch. Tonge had a poor start but improved, especially in a back 3. Williams struggled, even before his injury, and twice was caught out allowing the Gillingham forward to get into a dangerous position in the penalty area.

Burns covered lot of ground made innumerable challenges but was sloppy in posession and passing. McPhail drifted in and out and didn't dominate the game as he really ought to. Shuker (excellent goal) and Devanney started well, but with Devanney off injured Shuker, still full of running, found it difficult to beat his man or provide quality crosses.

Wright, apparently missed 4 chance against Chesterfield and missed another 3 tonight. Could have been knocking on the door of leading scorer in just 2 games. Still, early days - if he keeps getting in the position then (hopefully) the goals will come.

Richards came on for Devanney and didn't have his best game in a Reds shirt - missed 2 good openings too. Kell slotted into midfield, which second half was a little congested, and picked out some decent passes. Nardiello came on for the last 10 minutes or so and out of the only opening he had, did at least make the keeper save.

Baffling second half substitutions and line up - what's wrong with Laight, or was the 3 at the back 'tactical'?

 

Hayes Excellent..you thought..never!

<font size="4">He did have a very good game despite being forced onto the left. Though to be honest its where he spends most of his game in any case.</font> </p>



2nd to Reid in MOTM though</p>

 

Lol

Well someone has to defend him mate!

He created chances for other people in both halves and was very good IMHO. I agree that he was probably just second to Reid.