Well, well, well. Coming out of Oakwell at Nine forty five, I wasn't quite sure whether I feld dissapointed or fairly happy that we'd just matched one of so called, best teams in the Championship. Looking at the team sheets before the game, I was quite nervous about what side we would put out and how we'd cope with the Birmingham outfit. The way we lined up, I could only think that Davey stuck Mifsud in the middle because of the 'rift' that he had at Coventry, where he was unhappy playing on the wing. However, credit to Bogdanovic, I thought he played extremely well. He held the ball up. He ran at players. He beat players, and he put in some great crossed...trouble is, there wasn't a Bogdanovic in the middle to finish off the deliveries. The first half just ground out into a stalemate, with both sides creating a few half chances, but never really looking like scoring. The second half started in much the same vein, with both sides again carving out a few half chances, but nothing to write home about. Muller made two good saves to deny Jerome, who blew hot and cold all night. Just has the game looked to be peetering into a draw (probably fairly too), Davey played his trump card. On came Adam Hammill for the pretty ineffective Macken and within minutes of entering the fray, he delivered a sublime, pin point cross that fell straight to Mifsud, who took a touch before sending Taylor the wrong way to put the Reds 1-0 up. It was probably JUST deserved, but only just. Within 90 seconds of the restart, a clumsy tackle by the impressive Bogdanovic allowed another dangerous ball in from Larsson to be produced and the ball somehow crept through the crowd of players, bouncing off the unsighted Muller and straight to the feet of Martin Taylor, who made no mistake in tapping the ball home from 4 yards. 1-1. There were a few half chances once again after this, with Mounir El Haimour going close with a 25 yard volley, but I think both sides were pretty much keen on settling for the draw. I have to say, in the heat of the moment, after the sloppy defending that cost us the points, I was very dissapointed. However, I'd have taken a point before hand against a 'on paper' strong looking Blues side. However, the way the game panned out, leaves me a little dissapointed that we didn't take all 3, after coping quite comfortable all night with just about everything that Birmingham through at us. 10 seconds of pure sloppiness has cost us a valuable 3 points. Summary: Hammill has to start against Blackpool, in what is a MUST WIN match for us. A draw is simply not good enough, and a defeat is unthinkable. We also have to start hoping that the sides around us start slipping up, because there are some good, good sides around us and we are going to have to do our level best to stay up. Key matches are Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest whilst Watford away and Plymouth away may also be crucial. I believe we need another 15 points at least, to be safe. Anyways, a good performance tonight from the lads, and I have to say, I was very impressed with the midfield duo of Bobby Hassell and Hugo Colace who didn't look out of place against a strong opposition. Mifsud was good, but he just needs more balls to his feet - IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE! Get the ball to his feet, and he will do some damage. Bogdanovic was good on the wing - but that's where Hammill needs to be playing. Decisions for Davey here, and he has to get them right on Saturday. COME ON YOU REDS! PS - The second half atmosphere tonight from the crown was awesome. More of the same on Saturday!
Pretty fair summary, I agree with most of that, but 15 points at least to stop up come on? 52/53 I reckon will be the safety mark. Four wins and a draw required from eleven games. The next two home games are MASSIVE.....
Mate, 15 points at least. There are some bloody good sides around us, and they are starting to show the capabilities that are needed to stay up. Southampton have gone on a good run of late. Charlton are doing better and better each week. Watford are currently on a roll. Plymouth are doing pretty well. Forest are no mugs. Norwich are a very strong side, who are just blowing hot and cold each week. We have to make sure that we get 6 points from the next two games, or 4 points at the VERY LEAST. We have to make sure that we beat Forest and Swansea at home and we have to go into our away games at the likes of Derby, Watford, Sheffield United et al, with NO FEAR. I think we can do it. But we are going to have to start finishing teams off, and hope, just hope, that the teams around us slip up in a few of their fixtures. Quite a few of the bottom 6/7 play each other over the next month or so. It's going to be a close one, that's for dayum sure!
RE: Mate, 15 points at least. What you are saying is right, there are some very capable sides in the relegation battle. The fact is though, that many of them have to play each other. I'll put it this way....if we need 15 points to stay up then get the route map to Hartlepool out, cos we're doomed.
