Vital win for the team, a draw tonight would have been a huge deflation for everyone - especially given that Hartlepool got done 5-0 at home on the weekend.
Sets us up nicely for the O's next week - they have a very poor away record - and a win there puts us on track for Tranmere at The Valley - who have the worst away record in the division.
Nine points from these three home games would be HUGE in the context of the season and would really put the wind up Leeds and Norwich.
My feeling is that the home games against those two are going to be massive games in terms of automatic promotion versus the PO's.
I still think we are short of a striker, I don't like the back up to Burton/Mooney and would like to see Dickson out and Sodje or another target player come in.
First half I thought we were dire, yet created most of the chances, and were winning. Thought we were slow, and complacent and there was no urgency in our play at all. Second half started the same, but as soon as they scored we stepped up a gear.... albeit only one gear. Continued to create the better chances whilst still not playing convincing football.
Sign of a good team.... you play badly and still win. I wanted three points and we got them. Job done. Also thought Bailey was excellent second half picking everything up and helping us keep possession.
All in all a far from convincing performance yet I rarely felt that Hartlepool had anywhere near enough quality for it to matter.
Possibly the worst we've played all season....well apart from Colchester that is....boy oh boy did we ever get away with it tonight....a poor performance.
Two very nice goals though wern't they.
Why was Dicksons goal disallowed by the way....couldn't see anything wrong from the West Upper?
Good use of substitutes - Parky being pro-active - which he hasn't always been in his choice/timing of subs, and good to see one of his subs scoring the winner, he deserved that after being positive.
A lacklustre performance, but three vital points, happy for Waggy a very well taken goal. We lacked shape tonight, can't put my finger on why. But three ponta in the bag. Could the Valley have less atmosphere?
[cite]Posted By: SoundAsa£[/cite]Possibly the worst we've played all season....well apart from Colchester that is....boy oh boy did we ever get away with it tonight....a poor performance.
Two very nice goals though wern't they.
Why was Dicksons goal disallowed by the way....couldn't see anything wrong from the West Upper?
I thought we looked complacent
I thought Hartlepool were fairly solid but we should have been home and dry long before Waggys timely goal
Shelvey should have scored with his head in the first half, he hit the post, dicko had one ruled out for a push - it could very easily have been 4 or 5
I thought it wasn't a great performance but any result that gets us 3 points can't be bad. Funny thing is is that i think we're only 1 or 2 players from being a team that could easily win the title, which i know may sound mad.
[cite]Posted By: SoundAsa£[/cite]Possibly the worst we've played all season....well apart from Colchester that is....boy oh boy did we ever get away with it tonight....a poor performance.
Two very nice goals though wern't they.
Why was Dicksons goal disallowed by the way....couldn't see anything wrong from the West Upper?
[cite]Posted By: SoundAsa£[/cite]Possibly the worst we've played all season....well apart from Colchester that is....boy oh boy did we ever get away with it tonight....a poor performance.
Two very nice goals though wern't they.
Why was Dicksons goal disallowed by the way....couldn't see anything wrong from the West Upper?
Hartlepool showed little intent yet we still gifted them a goal and presented them with a couple of good chances.
No atmosphere in the ground and it seemed to rub off on a number of our players.
Defensively we still look ropey. Elliot still doesn't talk enough, we came very close to another Colchester-eque moment in the first half. Llera just worries me every time the ball goes near him. Penalty was a joke, he just watched the bloke run off his shoulder and then swung a leg at him.
Sam was totally ineffective. Yes he was being doubled up on, but he still offered nothing. Personally would have made the Wagstaff change 10 mins earlier.
Burton worked hard with little service.
Only ones who impressed me were Bailey and Richardson.
Win is a win and all that, but the lack of chances created tonight is a worry.
Fair play to Parky for getting the subs right, but tactically I thought we got it wrong from the start. The game was crying out for two wingers.
I don't mind this formation, however at home if Youga isn't playing it doesn't really work. You need the full backs overlapping and Basey doesn't do it enough.
By the way, how many of you realise Dickson was booked after he came back to the centre circle for the restart following Waggy's goal....I can only assume it was for 'over zealous' celebrations, anyone got a definate on the reason?
I suppose it happens to most people every few weeks / months / years, where the team isn't performing, the game isn't great, and 98% of the people around you turn out to be complete bell ends.
I had one of those tonight. Left on 64 minutes, had had enough of unsupportive twats. Earliest i have ever left a game (stayed to the final whistle when we got dicked 5-0 by Wham on Boxing Day, for example).
Really glad we won, but feels a very hollow victory.
I was happy with the result! not the greatest performance but a win is a win, excuse the cliche
Fantastic goal from Waggy i thought it was going wide then bent inside the post, however im not going to be pushing for him to start as i think he is more of an impact player at the mo
Sam & Shelvey did not have their best games, in minute spells they looked like they could turn it on but it wasn't happenning for them. although that said Sam did play much better in the second half, ill let shelvey of as was out of position and had his moments but he seemed to be trying to much when he had the ball- was very unlucky with his shot which hit the post especially as it didnt fall well to him
Mooney i thought was one of our best players and cannot see why people get on his back and he even scored today ;-)
Met few new lifers tonight also so all in all a very good night, special thanks to MOG who let me have his spare ticket for the night and was also nice to meet the others
Comments
That's certainly my view from up here...
Sets us up nicely for the O's next week - they have a very poor away record - and a win there puts us on track for Tranmere at The Valley - who have the worst away record in the division.
Nine points from these three home games would be HUGE in the context of the season and would really put the wind up Leeds and Norwich.
My feeling is that the home games against those two are going to be massive games in terms of automatic promotion versus the PO's.
I still think we are short of a striker, I don't like the back up to Burton/Mooney and would like to see Dickson out and Sodje or another target player come in.
Sign of a good team.... you play badly and still win. I wanted three points and we got them. Job done. Also thought Bailey was excellent second half picking everything up and helping us keep possession.
All in all a far from convincing performance yet I rarely felt that Hartlepool had anywhere near enough quality for it to matter.
Two very nice goals though wern't they.
Why was Dicksons goal disallowed by the way....couldn't see anything wrong from the West Upper?
Lovely move for the first goal and cracking strike from Waggy. Wondered WTF he was doing shooting from there!
It was for a push mate
I thought Hartlepool were fairly solid but we should have been home and dry long before Waggys timely goal
Shelvey should have scored with his head in the first half, he hit the post, dicko had one ruled out for a push - it could very easily have been 4 or 5
I'm glad we won but it sure was ugly!
really even though mooney scored for
us again?
blatant push soundas
By Dickson?
Hartlepool showed little intent yet we still gifted them a goal and presented them with a couple of good chances.
No atmosphere in the ground and it seemed to rub off on a number of our players.
Defensively we still look ropey. Elliot still doesn't talk enough, we came very close to another Colchester-eque moment in the first half. Llera just worries me every time the ball goes near him. Penalty was a joke, he just watched the bloke run off his shoulder and then swung a leg at him.
Sam was totally ineffective. Yes he was being doubled up on, but he still offered nothing. Personally would have made the Wagstaff change 10 mins earlier.
Burton worked hard with little service.
Only ones who impressed me were Bailey and Richardson.
Win is a win and all that, but the lack of chances created tonight is a worry.
Fair play to Parky for getting the subs right, but tactically I thought we got it wrong from the start. The game was crying out for two wingers.
I don't mind this formation, however at home if Youga isn't playing it doesn't really work. You need the full backs overlapping and Basey doesn't do it enough.
6/10 for me.
fully expect Basey yo go to left mid if Youga ever returns - and him and youga overlapping could be very good
If we continue to play crap but win I'll be happy.
Leeds got done by Carlisle at home in JPY Semi....Not sure they'll handle the run-in pressure, although not sure we will either!
Seconded...he's a good footballer.
I had one of those tonight. Left on 64 minutes, had had enough of unsupportive twats. Earliest i have ever left a game (stayed to the final whistle when we got dicked 5-0 by Wham on Boxing Day, for example).
Really glad we won, but feels a very hollow victory.
Fantastic goal from Waggy i thought it was going wide then bent inside the post, however im not going to be pushing for him to start as i think he is more of an impact player at the mo
Sam & Shelvey did not have their best games, in minute spells they looked like they could turn it on but it wasn't happenning for them. although that said Sam did play much better in the second half, ill let shelvey of as was out of position and had his moments but he seemed to be trying to much when he had the ball- was very unlucky with his shot which hit the post especially as it didnt fall well to him
Mooney i thought was one of our best players and cannot see why people get on his back and he even scored today ;-)
Met few new lifers tonight also so all in all a very good night, special thanks to MOG who let me have his spare ticket for the night and was also nice to meet the others
Strange, cos no one around me on the half way line spotted it.....obviously it was clear cut from other areas of the ground.