I was there with Bing and live a little closer. I am sure he will give his own version but..
It was a fantastic goal slotted through their Midfield and defence by Bailey to Ambrose (the sweetest ball since Song's to Young at Watford) comfortably put away by Ambrose.
Ambrose was one of the best for me. He was winning balls and making tackles (perhaps Ipswich not wanting him has been a wake up). Not sure why he was subbed - but I am not sure why Parky makes any of his substitutions.
Deon Burton was poor. Didn't have a shot as far as I recall. Worked hard for 60 minutes but faded at the end.
Jonjo made some good passes, lots of energy not sure why he was played on the right wing when Sam and Ambrose were on the pitch. An experiment? The other youngters had a good run out. Not great performances but they need more time and to be allowed to make mistakes/learn. Yousuff looked a bit like a rabbit in headlights when he came on for his debut. He beat two defenders and was through on goal but seemed surprised and stopped.
Moo2 had a better game. Still defensively vulnerable he seems to tackle best chasing back.
Hudson was fantastic made his tackles and was solid at the back. Was unlucky not to get our second goal from a header which Marshall did well to save.
We didn't play so well in the second half (again) we gave more room and defended deeper and deeper until we seemed to camp in the penalty box for the last 10 mins but got away with it.
The Norwich fans were calling for "Roeder Out" and there was a sizable group outside after calling for the board to be sacked.
Hopefully the start of Parky's turnaround but does anyone understand his substitutions? I don't think I would have made a single one he has made in his first 10 games.
Sorry Len, unfortunately I got home to 9 year old son who wouldn't go to sleep so I've been settling him down!!
I agree with everything Maglor has said. Hudson for me was by far and away our best player, with Randolf just behind him.
We got our noses in front with an excellent goal and thank god the pass fell to Ambrose and not Burton!! After that it was nip and tuck with Norwich understandably putting us under the cosh in the second half. For me we defend too deeply and concede territory and possession to easily. That said it was a battling performance and nice to see the youngsters getting a game. It was also great to see them celebrating at the end with the fans. After all this is their club and they will have been hurting badly as well.
It was great to be able to celebrate a win at last! I'll say that again, it was great to be able to celebrate a win at last!!!
My ratings are
Gandulf - 9 Excellent saves, good punches, safe handling. It's a hard choice between him and Elliott
Moo2 - 7 Got forward well on a few occasions, great when tackling running back occasionally not tight enough
Rock - 10 Back to his best, commanding in the air, nailed some great tackles, a real captains performance
Forts - 8 Solid assured performance. If he and Rock can keep this level, we will be much tighter defensively.
Basey - 7 perfectly decent performance, who needs McEverly?
Bailey - 8 worked really hard, made the goal with a great pass.
Wright - 7 Good effort, occasionally needed too much time and got caught in possession.
Sam - 7 Played on the left, worked hard, struggled to cross the ball with his left foot.
Waggy - 6 Tried his hardest but didn't really get into the game.
Ambrose - 8 One of his better games, tackled back well and took his chance well.
Burton - 7 Disappointingly lacked any real goalscoring chances. Worked hard for the team.
Subs
Cleanshorts - 6 Typical performance, buzzed around, nothing spectactular, not even his trademark shot over the bar.
Jonjo - 7 Not much time for him, played out wide right. Oozes class and intelligence.
Yussef - 5 Slipped over with his first kick, almost got in round the back on the left wing. Still it's a start.
Well done to all those who made the trip. Great celebrations at the end. Onwards and upwards!!
Must be a great feeling for you two, (and your lad at school in the morning, Bing) to face the Canaries Fairies with head held high and a big, big smile on your face!
Ambrose getting a realistic perspective on where he & his team are placed? He really can be a good player? Leyton or Sheff. Utd in the FA Cup. We should field an inexperienced side & concentrate on the league?
It was perhaps fitting that Norwich City's FA Cup campaign should be ended by a player who once wore the colours of their closest rivals.
When the yellow and green sea that was City's defence parted after just six minutes to allow Darren Ambrose the time to pick his spot, it was as if the cup's script writers once again had it in for the Canaries.
Going out so early has become the norm - that a former Ipswich player was the executioner just made it hurt that much more.
The crowd of just under 14,000 - which could become a familiar sight if there's much more of this - made their feelings known in the latter stages, and it would appear that major reconstructive work is required if this mess of a season is not to end in relegation.
Ten minutes in the early stages of the second half was as good as it got for City - but the fact that it took almost an hour for City to have their first effort on goal perhaps best illustrates this Norwich City performance.
Roeder made four changes to the team which lost 1-0 at Sheffield United on Saturday, with Carl Cort making a surprise full debut in attack, despite an apparent lack of match fitness, replacing the injured Antoine Sibierski alongside Arturo Lupoli.
It was Cort's first start in English football since December 8, 2007 when he played for Leicester in a 2-1 home defeat by West Brom.
With Middlesbrough loanee Jonathan Grounds ineligible, Elliott Omozusi was recalled to partner Gary Doherty in central defence, with Adam Drury returning to the side at left back, with Ryan Bertrand dropped to the bench. David Bell was reinstated on the left flank, with Wes Hoolahan on a bench which included rookie Korey Smith.
Charlton boss Phil Parkinson left teenager Jonjo Shelvey, who scored in the first cup tie between the teams at The Valley 10 days earlier, on the bench, with Yassin Moutaouakil coming in at right back in place of Graeme Murty and Grant Basey at left back in place of the injured Jay McEveley, now back at Derby. With Jose Semedo also injured, Parkinson started with Josh Wright and Nick Bailey in the middle, with Scott Wagstaff in a wide right role supporting Deon Burton, with Lloyd Sam on the left.
Darren Ambrose took a pot-shot at David Marshall's goal within the first minute, with a speculative effort from distance which the keeper saw by his right post.
City right-back Jon Otsemobor showed his terrific turn of pace in the fourth minute, cutting out a stray forward pass by Mark Hudson and powering down the right before he was crowded out by two defenders.
And then, with six minutes on the clock, City's old defensive weaknesses came back to haunt them. Bailey picked up a loose ball just inside the City half, slipped it down the right channel where it dissected the sliding legs of Omozusi and Drury, coming in on opposite sides, and found Ambrose, who calmly slotted it past Marshall.
It could hardly have been a worse start for the Canaries, now playing catch-up against a side who have been more used to the receiving end themselves this season.
They did manage to settle, but once again were struggling to find a decisive ball through to the front men - Charlton's tactics of leaving Deon Burton fairly isolated up front crowded the midfield in the visitors' favour.
The home fans were on their feet on 16 minuets when Cort managed to nod a ball forward to Lupoli, who headed for the area, but then tripped over his own feet - referee Clive Oliver was not impressed.
Bailey was looking lively and moments later almost got on the end of Sam's cross from the right, but Marshall nipped off his line to deny him a touch.
City enjoyed a spell of pressure, but it was frustrating for fans watching most forward movements ended by a sloppy pass. Cort got his first attempt at a header in the penalty area until the 20th minute, when he rose to meet Clingan's powerful cross from deep, but failed to get a clean connection.
City won their first corner on 24 minutes, and while Cort was beaten to it at the near post, it was a good spell for the Canaries.
Charlton's early forward exertions were waning as they spread five across the middle, but City weren't creating much in front of goal either.
It was pretty dire stuff, enlivened on 38 minutes when Charlton earned their first corner, Wagstaff's cross hoofed over by the back-tracking Doherty - and then heading away Ambrose's flag kick.
With half-time five minutes away, City finally started buzzing around the Charlton area, but the excitement was short-lived. A one-two between Lupoli and Croft almost came off, before Croft nodded an Omozusi cross just too far in front of Mark Fotheringham, who was making strides into the area. It was probably the highlight of City's half, in an attacking sense - which just about sums it up.
Croft's tireless run down the right earned City a corner with time added on in the first half, but nothing came of it - the story of their night so far.
The half-time whistle was greeted by boos - and deservedly so.
# Half-time: Norwich City 0, Charlton Athletic 1
Roeder made one change at the interval, with Bertrand on for Drury, while Parkinson kept faith with his starting line-up.
The City boss had moved to the dug-out, having spent the first half in the directors' box - presumably hoping his presence would lift his team.
Burton almost quashed that within a few moments, but couldn't quite reach the loose ball after Omozusi's wayward header. Sam then claimed a penalty after getting past Otsemobor and into the area, where his progress was halted, but referee Oliver quite rightly waved play on.
Bell had an opportunity to get in a dangerous cross from a free-kick, but hit it too hard and keeper Darren Randolph punched clear.
Lupoli saw a shot from the edge of the area on 54 minutes - City's first attempt - deflected for a corner, with Cort following up with a header that Randolph tipped over the bar, having taken a touch from Fortune on the way.
Parkinson made his first change on 56 minutes, replacing Wagstaff with Shelvey, while Doherty became the first player in the book two minutes later for a foul on Burton.
Charlton almost made it 2-0 on 61 minutes, when Grant Basey swung in a free-kick from the right and skipper Mark Hudson met it perfectly from five yards - but saw Marshall beat it away for a corner. Had that gone in it could well have been game over.
Moments later Fotheringham found Lupoli with a good cross, but the striker's header from the edge of the area went a foot past the right-hand post.
Roeder made his second change on 67 minutes, Cort departing for Hoolahan, who headed for the hole behind Lupoli.
It appeared to liven City up, with the little midfield getting in a short which was deflected before ending safely in Randolph's hands.
Matt Holland came on for Ambrose on 74 minutes - provoking a traditional reaction for former Ipswich players from the City fans, but it was a sign that Charlton were ready to see the game out.
Roeder responded by making his final change, Darel Russell replacing Fotheringham and going straight into the front line.
"Roeder, Roeder sort it out", urged the crowd - swiftly followed by chants of "We want Roeder out".
Frustration that had been just below the surface for most of the match was now bubbling over as the "experts" in the crowd had their say - and each groan from the crowd was met by a misplaced pass, indecision, confidence sapping each and every one.
When City did get forward the crowd responded - Russell had a shot blocked on the turn after Doherty, now in attack, won a back post header. Lupoli should have done better than head Croft's cross against Russell while Clingan's long ball brushed Doherty's head in time added on - when even the efforts of the loyal City fans couldn't save their team.
The result sparked a protest outside Carrow Road with a small but vociferous crowd calling for the heads of Roeder and the board.
It was definitely a 'I was there' game, a bit like when Leaburn scored at Villa. I agree with everything reports have said except for one thing, Deon Burton. He was playing up front, on his own against two big centre halves and absolutely ran his socks off harrying, chasing, battling etc. Inf act I would put him our second best player last night but Mark Hudson was absolutely immense, a real 10 out of 10 captains performance with, by memory, him not losing one header or one tackle all match and he got on the end of everything that was thrown at him. A great night and a very satisfying win with so many youngsters and supposed 2nd choices out there.
Brunello - that was my impression of Burton on Sat, which is also why I prefer him to Andy Gray (and he's probably about a quarter of the price). One of the problems is, he's not a lone striker - needs a fast runner to link up with, or needs to get used to this 4411 system. He certainly seems to keep their central defenders occupied, which in turn creates space for others.
[cite]Posted By: Weegie Addick[/cite]Brunello - that was my impression of Burton on Sat, which is also why I prefer him to Andy Gray (and he's probably about a quarter of the price). One of the problems is, he's not a lone striker - needs a fast runner to link up with, or needs to get used to this 4411 system. He certainly seems to keep their central defenders occupied, which in turn creates space for others.
I was really chuffed by him cos he has an unenviable task. I also think that oppossed to one comment on here Parky didnt play a negative game he just kept the same set up to help the players get used to it.
"Cort, whose career has been blighted by injury, was signed on a free by Roeder recently and he went close to repaying the boss with a powerful 55th-minute header from winger David Bell’s corner, superbly saved by Rudolph."
[cite]Posted By: Weegie Addick[/cite]Brunello - that was my impression of Burton on Sat, which is also why I prefer him to Andy Gray (and he's probably about a quarter of the price). One of the problems is, he's not a lone striker - needs a fast runner to link up with, or needs to get used to this 4411 system. He certainly seems to keep their central defenders occupied, which in turn creates space for others.
I was really chuffed by him cos he has an unenviable task. I also think that oppossed to one comment on here Parky didnt play a negative game he just kept the same set up to help the players get used to it.
I was probably a bit unfair to give him a 5 so I've amended to a 7 for his effort. I grant you he worked hard but surely he has to do more than that? On Saturday he had two decent opportunities and fluffed them both. Last night he never came close to scoring. Norwich had Doherty as their MoM and that was because he boxed up Burton so well.
[cite]Posted By: Weegie Addick[/cite]Brunello - that was my impression of Burton on Sat, which is also why I prefer him to Andy Gray (and he's probably about a quarter of the price). One of the problems is, he's not a lone striker - needs a fast runner to link up with, or needs to get used to this 4411 system. He certainly seems to keep their central defenders occupied, which in turn creates space for others.
I was really chuffed by him cos he has an unenviable task. I also think that oppossed to one comment on here Parky didnt play a negative game he just kept the same set up to help the players get used to it.
I was probably a bit unfair to give him a 5 so I've amended to a 7 for his effort. I grant you he worked hard but surely he has to do more than that? On Saturday he had two decent opportunities and fluffed them both. Last night he never came close to scoring. Norwich had Doherty as their MoM and that was because he boxed up Burton so well.
I have limited knowledge of football tactics but I assumed when you play a one up front his primary role would be to pull the defence about, defend from the front, harrass and through that make openings for one of the midfield 5 to fill. I think that is how we scored and I think he tried to do that all game.
From most of the above, it sounds as if a return to their early season form by Bailey and Hudson was the spine on which this victory was built. That and - I have to say it again - not a loanee in sight!
Wonder what happened with H & B? I've seldom seen form dip so suddenly and dramatically as it did with those two - and their loss of form coincided with the start of our dismal run. Let's hope they can play like they did last night for the rest of the season...
Comments
It was a fantastic goal slotted through their Midfield and defence by Bailey to Ambrose (the sweetest ball since Song's to Young at Watford) comfortably put away by Ambrose.
Ambrose was one of the best for me. He was winning balls and making tackles (perhaps Ipswich not wanting him has been a wake up). Not sure why he was subbed - but I am not sure why Parky makes any of his substitutions.
Deon Burton was poor. Didn't have a shot as far as I recall. Worked hard for 60 minutes but faded at the end.
Jonjo made some good passes, lots of energy not sure why he was played on the right wing when Sam and Ambrose were on the pitch. An experiment? The other youngters had a good run out. Not great performances but they need more time and to be allowed to make mistakes/learn. Yousuff looked a bit like a rabbit in headlights when he came on for his debut. He beat two defenders and was through on goal but seemed surprised and stopped.
Moo2 had a better game. Still defensively vulnerable he seems to tackle best chasing back.
Hudson was fantastic made his tackles and was solid at the back. Was unlucky not to get our second goal from a header which Marshall did well to save.
We didn't play so well in the second half (again) we gave more room and defended deeper and deeper until we seemed to camp in the penalty box for the last 10 mins but got away with it.
The Norwich fans were calling for "Roeder Out" and there was a sizable group outside after calling for the board to be sacked.
Hopefully the start of Parky's turnaround but does anyone understand his substitutions? I don't think I would have made a single one he has made in his first 10 games.
I agree with everything Maglor has said. Hudson for me was by far and away our best player, with Randolf just behind him.
We got our noses in front with an excellent goal and thank god the pass fell to Ambrose and not Burton!! After that it was nip and tuck with Norwich understandably putting us under the cosh in the second half. For me we defend too deeply and concede territory and possession to easily. That said it was a battling performance and nice to see the youngsters getting a game. It was also great to see them celebrating at the end with the fans. After all this is their club and they will have been hurting badly as well.
It was great to be able to celebrate a win at last! I'll say that again, it was great to be able to celebrate a win at last!!!
My ratings are
Gandulf - 9 Excellent saves, good punches, safe handling. It's a hard choice between him and Elliott
Moo2 - 7 Got forward well on a few occasions, great when tackling running back occasionally not tight enough
Rock - 10 Back to his best, commanding in the air, nailed some great tackles, a real captains performance
Forts - 8 Solid assured performance. If he and Rock can keep this level, we will be much tighter defensively.
Basey - 7 perfectly decent performance, who needs McEverly?
Bailey - 8 worked really hard, made the goal with a great pass.
Wright - 7 Good effort, occasionally needed too much time and got caught in possession.
Sam - 7 Played on the left, worked hard, struggled to cross the ball with his left foot.
Waggy - 6 Tried his hardest but didn't really get into the game.
Ambrose - 8 One of his better games, tackled back well and took his chance well.
Burton - 7 Disappointingly lacked any real goalscoring chances. Worked hard for the team.
Subs
Cleanshorts - 6 Typical performance, buzzed around, nothing spectactular, not even his trademark shot over the bar.
Jonjo - 7 Not much time for him, played out wide right. Oozes class and intelligence.
Yussef - 5 Slipped over with his first kick, almost got in round the back on the left wing. Still it's a start.
Well done to all those who made the trip. Great celebrations at the end. Onwards and upwards!!
Must be a great feeling for you two, (and your lad at school in the morning, Bing) to face the Canaries Fairies with head held high and a big, big smile on your face!
I hope Frank Butcher did! Poor sod!
Great point ! And cholland.
Hope you were there guys
Couldn't face running the gauntlet on the board, tut, tut.
;o)
Or saw how many people were online and run for the hills before it crashed !!
Losing 0-1 at halftime - but ran out 4-1 winners.
It was perhaps fitting that Norwich City's FA Cup campaign should be ended by a player who once wore the colours of their closest rivals.
When the yellow and green sea that was City's defence parted after just six minutes to allow Darren Ambrose the time to pick his spot, it was as if the cup's script writers once again had it in for the Canaries.
Going out so early has become the norm - that a former Ipswich player was the executioner just made it hurt that much more.
The crowd of just under 14,000 - which could become a familiar sight if there's much more of this - made their feelings known in the latter stages, and it would appear that major reconstructive work is required if this mess of a season is not to end in relegation.
Ten minutes in the early stages of the second half was as good as it got for City - but the fact that it took almost an hour for City to have their first effort on goal perhaps best illustrates this Norwich City performance.
Roeder made four changes to the team which lost 1-0 at Sheffield United on Saturday, with Carl Cort making a surprise full debut in attack, despite an apparent lack of match fitness, replacing the injured Antoine Sibierski alongside Arturo Lupoli.
It was Cort's first start in English football since December 8, 2007 when he played for Leicester in a 2-1 home defeat by West Brom.
With Middlesbrough loanee Jonathan Grounds ineligible, Elliott Omozusi was recalled to partner Gary Doherty in central defence, with Adam Drury returning to the side at left back, with Ryan Bertrand dropped to the bench. David Bell was reinstated on the left flank, with Wes Hoolahan on a bench which included rookie Korey Smith.
Charlton boss Phil Parkinson left teenager Jonjo Shelvey, who scored in the first cup tie between the teams at The Valley 10 days earlier, on the bench, with Yassin Moutaouakil coming in at right back in place of Graeme Murty and Grant Basey at left back in place of the injured Jay McEveley, now back at Derby. With Jose Semedo also injured, Parkinson started with Josh Wright and Nick Bailey in the middle, with Scott Wagstaff in a wide right role supporting Deon Burton, with Lloyd Sam on the left.
Darren Ambrose took a pot-shot at David Marshall's goal within the first minute, with a speculative effort from distance which the keeper saw by his right post.
City right-back Jon Otsemobor showed his terrific turn of pace in the fourth minute, cutting out a stray forward pass by Mark Hudson and powering down the right before he was crowded out by two defenders.
And then, with six minutes on the clock, City's old defensive weaknesses came back to haunt them. Bailey picked up a loose ball just inside the City half, slipped it down the right channel where it dissected the sliding legs of Omozusi and Drury, coming in on opposite sides, and found Ambrose, who calmly slotted it past Marshall.
It could hardly have been a worse start for the Canaries, now playing catch-up against a side who have been more used to the receiving end themselves this season.
They did manage to settle, but once again were struggling to find a decisive ball through to the front men - Charlton's tactics of leaving Deon Burton fairly isolated up front crowded the midfield in the visitors' favour.
The home fans were on their feet on 16 minuets when Cort managed to nod a ball forward to Lupoli, who headed for the area, but then tripped over his own feet - referee Clive Oliver was not impressed.
Bailey was looking lively and moments later almost got on the end of Sam's cross from the right, but Marshall nipped off his line to deny him a touch.
City enjoyed a spell of pressure, but it was frustrating for fans watching most forward movements ended by a sloppy pass. Cort got his first attempt at a header in the penalty area until the 20th minute, when he rose to meet Clingan's powerful cross from deep, but failed to get a clean connection.
City won their first corner on 24 minutes, and while Cort was beaten to it at the near post, it was a good spell for the Canaries.
Charlton's early forward exertions were waning as they spread five across the middle, but City weren't creating much in front of goal either.
It was pretty dire stuff, enlivened on 38 minutes when Charlton earned their first corner, Wagstaff's cross hoofed over by the back-tracking Doherty - and then heading away Ambrose's flag kick.
With half-time five minutes away, City finally started buzzing around the Charlton area, but the excitement was short-lived. A one-two between Lupoli and Croft almost came off, before Croft nodded an Omozusi cross just too far in front of Mark Fotheringham, who was making strides into the area. It was probably the highlight of City's half, in an attacking sense - which just about sums it up.
Croft's tireless run down the right earned City a corner with time added on in the first half, but nothing came of it - the story of their night so far.
The half-time whistle was greeted by boos - and deservedly so.
# Half-time: Norwich City 0, Charlton Athletic 1
Roeder made one change at the interval, with Bertrand on for Drury, while Parkinson kept faith with his starting line-up.
The City boss had moved to the dug-out, having spent the first half in the directors' box - presumably hoping his presence would lift his team.
Burton almost quashed that within a few moments, but couldn't quite reach the loose ball after Omozusi's wayward header. Sam then claimed a penalty after getting past Otsemobor and into the area, where his progress was halted, but referee Oliver quite rightly waved play on.
Bell had an opportunity to get in a dangerous cross from a free-kick, but hit it too hard and keeper Darren Randolph punched clear.
Lupoli saw a shot from the edge of the area on 54 minutes - City's first attempt - deflected for a corner, with Cort following up with a header that Randolph tipped over the bar, having taken a touch from Fortune on the way.
Parkinson made his first change on 56 minutes, replacing Wagstaff with Shelvey, while Doherty became the first player in the book two minutes later for a foul on Burton.
Charlton almost made it 2-0 on 61 minutes, when Grant Basey swung in a free-kick from the right and skipper Mark Hudson met it perfectly from five yards - but saw Marshall beat it away for a corner. Had that gone in it could well have been game over.
Moments later Fotheringham found Lupoli with a good cross, but the striker's header from the edge of the area went a foot past the right-hand post.
Roeder made his second change on 67 minutes, Cort departing for Hoolahan, who headed for the hole behind Lupoli.
It appeared to liven City up, with the little midfield getting in a short which was deflected before ending safely in Randolph's hands.
Matt Holland came on for Ambrose on 74 minutes - provoking a traditional reaction for former Ipswich players from the City fans, but it was a sign that Charlton were ready to see the game out.
Roeder responded by making his final change, Darel Russell replacing Fotheringham and going straight into the front line.
"Roeder, Roeder sort it out", urged the crowd - swiftly followed by chants of "We want Roeder out".
Frustration that had been just below the surface for most of the match was now bubbling over as the "experts" in the crowd had their say - and each groan from the crowd was met by a misplaced pass, indecision, confidence sapping each and every one.
When City did get forward the crowd responded - Russell had a shot blocked on the turn after Doherty, now in attack, won a back post header. Lupoli should have done better than head Croft's cross against Russell while Clingan's long ball brushed Doherty's head in time added on - when even the efforts of the loyal City fans couldn't save their team.
The result sparked a protest outside Carrow Road with a small but vociferous crowd calling for the heads of Roeder and the board.
Fair play to the fans who went to Norwich including a couple of my mates.
Like it! Whenever he makes a save the covered end should start screaming
YOUUU SHALLL NOT PAAAAASSSS
LLoyd Sam in cant cross ball shocker, show pony, thats all he is.
I was really chuffed by him cos he has an unenviable task. I also think that oppossed to one comment on here Parky didnt play a negative game he just kept the same set up to help the players get used to it.
"Cort, whose career has been blighted by injury, was signed on a free by Roeder recently and he went close to repaying the boss with a powerful 55th-minute header from winger David Bell’s corner, superbly saved by Rudolph."
Rudolph ...! LMFAO!
I was probably a bit unfair to give him a 5 so I've amended to a 7 for his effort. I grant you he worked hard but surely he has to do more than that? On Saturday he had two decent opportunities and fluffed them both. Last night he never came close to scoring. Norwich had Doherty as their MoM and that was because he boxed up Burton so well.
I have limited knowledge of football tactics but I assumed when you play a one up front his primary role would be to pull the defence about, defend from the front, harrass and through that make openings for one of the midfield 5 to fill. I think that is how we scored and I think he tried to do that all game.
Wonder what happened with H & B? I've seldom seen form dip so suddenly and dramatically as it did with those two - and their loss of form coincided with the start of our dismal run. Let's hope they can play like they did last night for the rest of the season...