I wouldn't have been there tonight had I not already been in Nottingham, but glad I went as it was a decent if frustrating game. Second time this season we've battered Notts in the first half and then sat back and paid for missed chances in the second. We created more clear openings in the first half than in any of the 6 wins in a row, just couldn't finish. Had Jabo or Winnall put us 2-0 up I think it would have been a massacre. We'd played with energy, vigour and really looked to try and give County a beating after Winnall's fantastic opener. His movement was superb, Scowen and Pearson were great in the middle and Smith had a good game at left-back. County were eager but lacked quality and were cut open with ease. However in the second half after John hit the bar with a heavily deflected effort we sat back, County attacked and after missing a few great chances finally scored from a hopeful ball in which should have been cleared. But, that happens when you've not won for 6 games (how quickly has our form gone from the best in the division to turd). Had we created that many chances a few weeks back it would have been 4 or 5-0 at least. Ratings: Davies - 6: Couldn't do anything about the goal and dealt with everything else well. Smith - 7: Defended well, put a few good early crosses in. Good game. Nyatanga - 6: Fine, but should have dealt with the ball in at the end. Ramage - 6: Same as Nyatanga Cranie - 6: Let a few too many attacks happen down his side but other than that ok. Hourihane - 6: Bit better than recent games, looked more involved and threaded through a few great balls that Jabo was too slow to get on to. Pearson - 6: Energetic, broke up play a bit but a but wayward with his passing Scowen - 7: His usual self, looked to close down quickly and then start attacks. John - 7: Best game for us so far, provided a threat down the left and put in a few noteworthy tackles to stop County attacks the other way. Winnall - 8 MOTM: Gets a mark added on and MOTM for that finish alone, fantastic strike into the corner. Made some intelligent runs and was unlucky with a later effort that hit the inside of the post, across the line and eventually just out. Ibehre - 6: Hustled and bustled but put a 1-on-1 straight at Carroll and was a bit too slow getting onto through balls, decent otherwise. None of the subs really had time to make much of an impact. Manager - 6: Set us up to attack and can't really take the blame for missed chances, but shouldn't have instructed his team to sit back after the hour mark. Well, I'm assuming he instructed them to anyway. Overall, promising signs for next season, but frustrating not to win.
