We didnt play well for large parts of the game but we still won. God help teams when we click. Definitely a goal from Exeter in the first half the ball had daylight between it and the line. Nardiello, what a way to get sent off. It could have so different without those 2 incidents.
No moaning from me either. I think the rocket that Powell gave the players after the second half v Sheff Wed when we knocked it long instead of passing meant that today when we needed to be a bit more direct we over egged the passing pudding. This team is still gelling and I would prefer we continue to pass our way out of this division. We have quality in depth everywhere now exept at striker which need to be addressed that apart we are a work in progress and I fully expect us to get better and better.
A win is a win, not playing that well and Exeter closed down the space and sat back after the sending off (deserved as the verbal abuse was easily heard in the lower east - not nice). Not happy about the crowd booing Hayes and booing the passes going backwards, what do people want. The person next to me wanted fast, long balls and when it happened he complained that we were hoofing it. What a joke, no wonder players get 'Charltonised'. Also saw Matt Taylor getting on a train at 5.17pm, he got out quick!
We cruised to 2-0 win over an exeter side a man down and two fans short. Easy game in which we were never troubled after the sending off, apart from the shot that nearly crossed the line in the 14th minute we had nothing to deal with. Solly's thumping strike defiantly crossed the line on the other hand and he had yet another terrific game. The only thing Hayes did all game was set up BWP goal which was a classy piece of play. Played well against 10 men and where patient and kept the ball very well. Stephens took his goal well, if only he'd done that against Sheff W. Even though BWP missed two chances today I thought he played well as he dropped deep at times and got more involved with the play. Best game I think Wiggins has had but he needs to learn how to shoot as all of his shots were off target. Really need a target man if we are going to cross it at much as we did today. Great team performance today against a team that never really challenged us.
Special mention for the ref who was my MOTM
out of the people who kicked the ball it would have to be either Solly or BWP as MOTM
Those booing can't have suffered the hoofing of mon night. They must also only watch the ball. As a team they are doing well considering they hardly know each other and Powell hardly knows them either.
Thought we were ok today. Solly was great and improving all the time, as is Wiggins. Think the criticism of Hayes is harsh and he does a lot of the ugly work that goes unnoticed, as well as an important assist today. Still think we're short on the bench and don't think Euell offers anything near enough any more, however nice a guy he is. Looking forward to Green's return and think a new forward will sign sooner rather than later. The great thing is that even when we looked average, we won and how we would have loved that last season.
Excellent performance by Solly again, likewise from Waggy, Hollands, Wiggins and BWP.
I thought Hayes was on-off today, some great touches let down by some poor ones at times. Stephens again had a 50/50 game, but his goal will no doubt do him the world of good for his confidence. I think sometimes he tries to hard when he can relax more.
I'm still a little concerned about our bench. Hopefully when Green is fit that gives us that other attacking option, although I think Benson is still a better option than Euell off the bench. I'm guessing his broken fingers are still a problem.
The main thing though is 3 points and still unbeaten.
First thing to sort out is the Exeter "goal." In my opinion, judged from close to the front of Covered End Upper, THE WHOLE BALL did not cross the line therefore no goal. The whole incident appeared to elapse almost in slow motion and Hamer suddenly realised that the whole ball had not crossed the line and got back in time. The lino was well placed to judge as well. For once we were on the right end of a (correct) decision.
As for the rest of the game it was a rerun of Scunthorpe and Sfeffield Wednesday. Some lovely stuff intermingled with sitting back and letting Exeter play. The second goal came as a real relief because I was convinced it would end up 1-1 prior to that point.
Hard to single out individuals BWP was probably stand out player for me and Hamer looked far more assured than on Monday night. Others flitted in and out of the game. Hayes had one of those days where nothing seemed to stick, especially in the second half, but to his credit kept battling away. I think bringing Euell on was probably right today.
The sending off was a direct result of the goal being disallowed but overall i think we would have won. BWP and Solly were joint MOtM to me. Dissapointed by Hayes and Stephens today, better performance by Wiggins. Made up my ind, I will go to MK Dons.
More and better performances to come, still like to see that big lump forward to take advantage of the crosses
Good win today thought we overplayed it in the first half and it's a good job BWP knows were the net is. We will struggle without his goals if he gets suspended or injured. Thought we missed a great opportunity to beef up the goal difference and the second goal took too long coming imo. Also sit in the North West Upper directly in line with the goal line and as Shooters Hill Guru has stated a few times earlier Exeter did not score the whole ball was NOT over the line so their man got himself sent off for nothing. Top of the league still unbeaten though happy days.
Getting on a London bound train with his kit bag and suit bag. Seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere, Oxo Tower? He was talking to a few people in the carriage and someone mentioned as soon as the final whistle went he sprinted down the tunnel.
It was à goal but don.t realy care Hayes final touch was bad infact i got à better touch then that .
You didn't see the first goal then. What a plum.
I think Hayes is one of those players, he has some good touches and some pretty poor ones. Today he had more poor than good but did have a decisive touch for BWP's.
Don't see a reason to be negative about today. Fair enough not a game to remember but it was a comfortable win, we kept the ball well and created some decent chances. Room for improvement, the squad isn't perfect but I'm confident we'll be challenging for the top 2 all season.
Clear to see Powell encouraged them to be more patient and keep the ball on the floor. It's even more important if the opposition go down to 10 men. For the rest of the first half Exeter pretty much had 10 men behind the ball and made it hard for us to find space in their half.
A win is a win, not playing that well and Exeter closed down the space and sat back after the sending off (deserved as the verbal abuse was easily heard in the lower east - not nice). Not happy about the crowd booing Hayes and booing the passes going backwards, what do people want. The person next to me wanted fast, long balls and when it happened he complained that we were hoofing it. What a joke, no wonder players get 'Charltonised'. Also saw Matt Taylor getting on a train at 5.17pm, he got out quick!
Never understood that myself. Have heard some Brighton fans were the same early on last season. Seems some want passing football but at the same time don't want to see the ball passed backwards.
good result today the lads had to be patient but i feel its the best squad we have assembled for years and powelly should use this to his advantage ,ok we are unbeaten but maybe by making a couple of substitutions a little earlier might keep players on there toes.
For all those who say Hayes performed poorly - he's at least consistantly effective, for the 2nd consecutive match he laid on a goal for BWP.
I wonder how many assists he has so far this season, let alone laying on chances for others not taken?
About five assists I think.
I'm not too worried about his goal tally - his job is to hold the ball up and bring the midfield into play and allow BWP to goal poach. Any goals he personally gets are the icing on the cake.
For all those who say Hayes performed poorly - he's at least consistantly effective, for the 2nd consecutive match he laid on a goal for BWP.
I wonder how many assists he has so far this season, let alone laying on chances for others not taken?
He showed a poor touch at times in the second half especially but kept coming back for more and deserves credit for not going mising which many would.
Agree, as I said in the ratings thread he got in the right areas and tried the right things. He can and will play better than he did today, but he wasn't terrible.
Hayes seems to be one of the only players we have that is able to deliver a quick pass, most of the others seem to dither about with it. Thought BWP could have been played in a few more times with quick thinking. Solly was brilliant, MOM for me. Wiggins needs to run the wing a bit more, Didn't think waggy was at his best today. Taylor and Morrison looked good. Looking forward to having Green back on the bench/ starting so we have someone that can influence the game when they come on.
I agree with ShootershillGuru (also in the NW Upper) the ball had definitely not crossed the entire painted line. Good to see someone sent off after obviously foul mouthed abuse to the official - not before time.
Comments
God help teams when we click.
Definitely a goal from Exeter in the first half the ball had daylight between it and the line. Nardiello, what a way to get sent off.
It could have so different without those 2 incidents.
are unbeaten and playing decent stuff purely for keeping the ball."
They are not fans, they are idiots. Hung by their own petard.
Phil Brown was in our se train carriage on the way to match! Times must be hard at pne.
I thought Hayes was on-off today, some great touches let down by some poor ones at times. Stephens again had a 50/50 game, but his goal will no doubt do him the world of good for his confidence. I think sometimes he tries to hard when he can relax more.
I'm still a little concerned about our bench. Hopefully when Green is fit that gives us that other attacking option, although I think Benson is still a better option than Euell off the bench. I'm guessing his broken fingers are still a problem.
The main thing though is 3 points and still unbeaten.
First thing to sort out is the Exeter "goal." In my opinion, judged from close to the front of Covered End Upper, THE WHOLE BALL did not cross the line therefore no goal. The whole incident appeared to elapse almost in slow motion and Hamer suddenly realised that the whole ball had not crossed the line and got back in time. The lino was well placed to judge as well. For once we were on the right end of a (correct) decision.
As for the rest of the game it was a rerun of Scunthorpe and Sfeffield Wednesday. Some lovely stuff intermingled with sitting back and letting Exeter play. The second goal came as a real relief because I was convinced it would end up 1-1 prior to that point.
Hard to single out individuals BWP was probably stand out player for me and Hamer looked far more assured than on Monday night. Others flitted in and out of the game. Hayes had one of those days where nothing seemed to stick, especially in the second half, but to his credit kept battling away. I think bringing Euell on was probably right today.
We MUST learn to play for 90 minutes though!
More and better performances to come, still like to see that big lump forward to take advantage of the crosses
I thought that it was a piss poor performance today. Perhaps I have been expecting too much after listening to recent hype.
Thoroughly enjoyed watching the B team beat Reading.
If this is what the first team serves up against a poor 10 man Exeter side, then i think that a level of complacency is setting in.
Why have eleven men defending a corner and not leaving an outlet, when the opponents are a goal down.
I expected more from todays game.
I wonder how many assists he has so far this season, let alone laying on chances for others not taken?
Never understood that myself. Have heard some Brighton fans were the same early on last season. Seems some want passing football but at the same time don't want to see the ball passed backwards.
good result today the lads had to be patient but i feel its the best squad we have assembled for years and powelly should use this to his advantage ,ok we are unbeaten but maybe by making a couple of substitutions a little earlier might keep players on there toes.
About five assists I think.
I'm not too worried about his goal tally - his job is to hold the ball up and bring the midfield into play and allow BWP to goal poach. Any goals he personally gets are the icing on the cake.