What a fantastic away day that was - plus my ratings

I've not come away from a game with such a spring in my step, so happy and enthralled at a victory for a good while.

Do you know what? We didn't even play anywhere near our best. But that almost made it more special.

It was a proper battling display, full of effort and commitment, and some good goal poaching - which makes a change!

It's been a long long time since we won a game coming from behind, and after previously leading ourselves, it made it even more special.

The fact the ref was giving everything to Boro made the win even sweeter. As did a clown from Sky (who supports Boro) calling us an awful club destined for League One this morning.

Jason Scotland is an absolutely fantastic impact substitute!

One point - the rules regarding goalkeepers picking up backpasses needs changing - O'Grady was about to have the easiest chance of his life to score before Jason Steele picked the ball up - yet the current laws state the keeper shall get no card. Absolutely unbelievable. If we hadn't scored from the free kick it would have been absolute robbery.

Some quick ratings:

Steele - 6 - couple of good saves but some shaky kicking and a little indecisiveness
Kennedy - 7 - did well in possession and made some good interceptions
Cranie - 7 - battled well against Jutkiewicz in the first half and held his own - not sure if the latter was subbed on performance or injury.
Foster - 6 - Could have done a little better with the first goal having seen it again, looked a foul live. Did okay apart from that.
Delap - 7 - Long throw lead to the equaliser, did well v Carayol considering difference in pace
Golbourne - 8 - rare goal and ran his socks off down the left.
Perkins - 8 - didn't have much chance with the ball today but ran around a lot and got stuck in - won the ball back a number of times.
O'Brien - 7 - another goal and some good runs, some disappointing crosses though.
Etuhu - 7 - seems a player transformed in his new position. Not a world beater, but far better than earlier in the season. Generally keeps possession and won some tackles.
Dagnall - 7 - worked very hard as always, a threat in inside left channel in first half and kept going till subbed.
Harewood - 6.5 - One great effort in the first half, was a handful too, but second half got bullied by Bikey and ineffective, rightly subbed.

Scotland - 7 - Another goal off the bench, great record. Added an immediate threat when replacing Harewood.
O'Grady - 7 - worked very hard, got stuck in and very strong. Won the free kick we got the winner from due to his persistence.
Hassell - 6 - Didn't have time to earn any more than 6 but was tidy in his short spell on the pitch.

 

Thanks for that. (My "thanks button" has not reappeared yet).

 

All in all a great day out. Totally agree about the backpass rule, the fact that the ref didn't even speak to the keeper was a joke. He denied a clear goal scoring opportunity by way of a foul so not sure how he got away with it. Anyway justice was swiftly done.