For the people asking about Hayes, he didn't really get a chance because we played to kermo's strengths and not his, Hayes plays best on the floor which is why I thought it bizzare when he tarted Russell instead of our most creative central midfielder, Stephens. But ye he isn't kermo in the air but we should of played to his strengths and not long balls all game!
Some thoughts on yesterday (in no particular order)
1. The referee was absolutely horrendous! 10. The conduct of that police officer pushing that young woman up stairs after the final whistle and moving to strike her was absolutely despicable and I hope he is reported and punished.
COYR
1. I think I've already given a fair in depth view of the refereeing performance!
10. If the incident with the young woman is the one I saw then...She and her male friends were gesticulating to our crowd for most of the match particularly the 'gentleman' in the dark polo shirt. What a sad prick he was! I don't condone any sort of violence but if he got back to his coach or car without being smacked he was a very lucky chappie.
The young 'lady' seemed to be loving the antics of her macho-mates and indeed the taunts of our fans (get your tits out for the lad etc etc.) Can I suggest if she wants to get involved in silly laddie games, she learns to deal with the consequences. From what I saw she was behaving like a total arse herself for most of the match and while I don't like to see women being physically threatened, if that's what it takes to make her calm down and see sense, then maybe its the only way!
Having seen the sending-off incident again, I think the ref got all three cards right on that. I don't think either the foul or the push on Russell, who went down very easily, were worth red cards. From the away end we couldn't have understood what Russell did, so it's not surprising it was seen as an injustice at the time.
Unfortunately, this came in the aftermath of the Wagstaff incident in the first half, which however bad a foul it was cannot properly have resulted in a dropped ball. Complete nonsense, and nothing the ref did after that was likely to be viewed objectively. The penalty was fair enough.
I expected us to lose that game - the only defeat to a current top six side this season - especially when Kermorgant dropped out. If we don't go up, it won't be because we lost at Huddersfield.
It's very unlikely we need 12 points to get promoted, especially with Hudds and Sheff Weds still to play each other. Eight or nine would probably be enough. The time to panic would be if we don't pick up 4-6 of them by the end of the Walsall match. Win two of the next three and I don't see much of a problem.
Until yesterday Huddersfield were my favourite team to be promoted with us, after my day out at Huddersfield yesterday all I can say is "come on United"
Until yesterday Huddersfield were my favourite team to be promoted with us, after my day out at Huddersfield yesterday all I can say is "come on United"
What I said outside the ground. Even said I'd rather MK come up than either Huddersfield or Sheffield Wednesday.
Some couple of fat 50+ers outside the ground heard our accents and gave it about how sh## we are and how we don't deserve to be top.
Such an air of arrogance around which is baffling as they haven't actually done anything yet.
The record stuff has gone to too many of their heads as beforehand they all seemed a decent enough bunch.
If the ref had done his job, would the outcome have been different, the answer is often know but yestreday was clearly yes. When you realise he is from Yorkshire, well the league has to look at themselves!
Certainly believe that the answer to your question is "yes", Muttley. You had to be there to acknowledge just how awful he was.
Even after their pen, I felt we would at least bag a point and if the ref had done his job properly , a draw would have been a fair result IMHO.
Went to bed last night with a thumping headache, stress induced but after a night's kip, now feeling more philosophical . A point yesterday and a point v Orient would be a poorer outcome than a clear win next Saturday which we should get.
We haven't played particularly well for some time now but thought we were marginally the better side at the Galpharm regardless of the appalling decisions which influenced the result. 3 points at home next weekend will go a long way towards making me feel more optimistic , with 2 more home wins against Walsall & Wycombe to follow ....the home fans noisily showing how important the "12th man" is in our promotion push.
Despite the loss the team looked up for it and only lost to a soft penalty. Kermorgant was missed but I suspect he was being held back for the last few furlongs of the promotion run in. Russell's dismissal was stupid. However he has always had a fractious personality and I suspect that he sees red (literally and metaphorically) before his brain ever gets into 'thinking mode' . I expected a loss and the loss was not so bad as I expected. Grayson has put a lot of steel and 'pragmatism' into the Terriers. We can go into the rest of the season with a good deal of confidence that there are not many teams as good as Huddersfield lying in wait for us.
It would not be proper Charlton if they didn't torture the supporters by making it a close run thing near the end of the season.
How very right you are. I could not agree with you more.
I have spent the last fifty years or more being tortured by the teams this club has turned out. If you are a Charlton supporter you will know expect the unexpected, clench your teeth ,sit on the edge of the seat but always enjoy the white knuckle ride. Championship he we come by the skin of our teeth. Come on you reds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought your lads 'put it about' quite a bit, particular in the first-half.
But you can't highlight specific incidents ? mainly because there were none ! The ONLY player who 'put it about' quite a bit was Kay. The Yorkshire referees inability to deal with the thug (check out the incidents again if you are still find our outrage a little 'strange') did have a huge influence on the outcome of the game, which was before and after Kay's 'incidents' a very even game, played out between two teams, not at their best, with neither showing anywhere near enough quality on the day to justify their lofty positions in the league. Fortunately for us we have a nice points advantage going into the final stretch, whilst Huddersfield based on what I witnessed yesterday are the least likely of the chasing pack to join us in the Championship next season. Congratulations on you win yesterday, your team worked hard to secure the points, but please don't expect those who were at the game to accept your attempt at suggesting that Mr Boyeson's decisions, didn't influence the game. Russells' red I agree was a 'cert' but you fail to recognise that Kay's two yellows (argable straight red for the first assault) were equally 'certs'. Is inequality in numbers not considered as influence to the outcome through your blue and white tinted glasses ? or maybe you choose what is fair and just in the same manner as your fellow yorkshireman ! If you can recognise as I do that your penalty and Russell's red card were correct decisions, then you should also be able to accept who the villans were and who's actions created the reaction of the away support at the end of the game. That reaction wasn't because of the correct decisions that were made.
Not worried about promotion in the slightest if we perform like we did yesterday for the rest of the season. The better team lost yesterday. Even down to ten men we still looked the more likely to score.
We played some lovely short passing and moving football and controlled their front two without much difficulty. I've now seen Rhodes twice live and have not been impressed either time - he's an old style poacher and needs to be more involved with team play like Novak.
Two reasons for us not winning yesterday were Russell and the ref. Russell made a couple of bad errors and two bad decisions - tackling in the box giving the opportunity for their player to go down and retaliating against a truly awful tackle. The ref made some poor decisions throughout the game, but not to send their player off for raising two hand and pushing Russell over was ridiculous. He also left it too late to book one of their players for timewasting.
Not disappointed as there is no way Huddersfield will catch us. Their team is just nowhere near as good as ours - even without Kermo and Jacko.
Felt we should have researched their set pieces more. I know it's difficult with a new coach coming in, but I've seen those plays a few times with Grayson and knew they were going to happen, yet we were caught cold a couple of times.
First, the positives. I thought we played ok & we were marginally the better team. Even with 10 men we had more of the posession and looked the most likely to score. We deserved a point.
As I get a bit older, I believe I take a less biased view & am more calm than I used to be. It always irritates me, the amount of people, who rant after many games that it was the worst ref I've seen etc etc.
However, yesterday the referee, was a complete bottler/homer (as I don't really believe he took a bribe).
The first 10 minutes we played most of the football & it was looking good. I remarked to Covered end junior though, that the same had happened at Scunny, so we shouldn't get carried away. Sure enough within a few mins, Russell lost possession on the half way line to Roberts, chased him back & brought him down in the area, which was exactly what Roberts was playing for.
1-0 and for 10 mins Hudds had the upper hand, but then we started to edge it again.
The game turned just after the half hour when Kay went straight through Waggy. It looked studs up/knee high. If I saw it right, it was a definite red card offence. Absolutely no doubt. A leg breaker of a challenge. Totally reckless.
I presume he wasn't bribed, so he bottled it & unbelievably gave a drop ball. In doing so & I said this at the time. He effectively gave the players carte blanche to do anything, because he had signalled, he was too scared to take control.
Second half, whilst still edging it & still giving 50/50's to them. (He twice gave fouls against BWP for excellent sliding tackles), Kay (who should have already been off), went through Russell, which was worth a yellow. Russell kicked out & deserved to go, but Novak, shoved Russell 2 handed in the chest, to the ground and should have gone as well IMO.
We still edged the rest of the game even with 10 men, but didn't have enough up front & they held out.
Hollands was dragged to the ground in the final minutes, for a definite pen from the corner, but we were never gonna get one.
I had the feeling that even if we scored, he would have disallowed it for any reason, he could come up with.
I was fuming at the end, which is unlike me & I have to say he was the worst ref, we have had in League 1, over 3 years.
Hudds took advantage & I can't say I blame them.
However, after that, I no longer want them to go up, in preference to the others. I now view them all equally. Shame.
PS Solly was MOM, most played well & all battled. but we never stood much chance with 14 v 10.
Hayes was disappointing (if only he jumped once a game it would be an improvement, I wonder if he has a medical issue, perhaps achilles problem ?)
...Sorry, I reckon there's a basket full of sour grapes on here. Compared to some of the mutts we've have to deal with at 'The Pharm' this season (Stevenage etc.) we're in a different football philosophical league to most and in fairness, your lads looked like a very good side. All this stuff about the ref's shortcomings from you lot is a complete 'red herring' really.
In truth, you just weren't good enough yesterday. Okay the ref was shite (maybe), that happens. Personally, I don't think where he lives had anything to do with his performance, he was just crap - end off!
Ref was bad. His decision for the Kaye "tackle" in the first half was just embarrassing, but then picked up on a couple of decent challenges from us. Russell had a mare (3 mistakes, 2 for the penalty & then the sending off). Both the penalty & sending off were right (not that I could see what the red was for from the away stand). We dominated the game for the majority, but didn't look like scoring. Used the width a bit more than in the last couple of games, but the final ball wasn't quite there. Hayes looked like someone who hadn't trained with the squad for a month, especially as we played our Yann game. N'Guessen isn't much better in the air than Hayes. Defended their "Premier League quality" striker well again but also didn't allow anyone else of their's to get in the game.
If we play like we did yesterday in the remaining games, we will secure promotion/the title with a couple of games to go.
Of all the remaining games Kermo and Captain Marvel could have missed through injury/illness this would be my very last choice, both at the same time was always always going to be problematic. Huddersfield played like a top six level side, but I saw nothing to make me think they really deserve to go up automatically. Rhodes took the penalty with aplomb, as well as.... erm... wait... no, that's about it. Didn't see what Russel did, but a very very silly thing to do, especially having already given away a penalty.
As for the ref, well, not impressed in the slightest, but the linos were not much better, the one on the left (as seen from away stand) seemed scared to make any decisions whatosever, once the whistle has gone THEN (and only then) the flag would go up.
Bad day in terms of result, but play like that in the next few games and we will win the league without breaking sweat IMO.
That was the worst reffing Ive ever seen in any sport at any level.I have never been so wound up at a football match in my life.They offered very little in footballing terms.I also cant believe how naive Russell was,lost the ball to Roberts and Roberts knew exactly what was coming when he went down as if a sniper had got him from the away end.Did they know he was the weakest link and had a bad tackle on him hoping he would lash out? Rhodes penalty was superb,I was in line with Hamers left hand post and couldn't tell which way the ball was going until it was on its way,that said he didn't threaten much in open play,having said that they didn't collectively threaten much.Just need a few more points to soothe my "Charltonized" nerves!
Here's my tupponce worth on yesterday's game, having spent most of the day trying to forget it !!
1) The ref had a big influence on the game - but we can't do anything about it now.
2) team / squad selection had a bigger influence on the game - and we can do someting about that for the following games.
3) we were without 5 first teamers (JJ, Kermy, Green, Taylor,Stephens) - all need to be back in the starting 11 asap. They were part of the reason we got were we did by early March and sometimes the sum of the parts are greater that the whole.
4) don't need loanees - use the sqaud players we have. No need for Rusell - play stephens or Hughes there instead. No need for N'guessen - play Callum Harriott there instead.
5) Powell really needs to sort it out NOW. we can not afford to lose against L-Orient and need to get that winning feeling again. I still beleive we have enough about u to get automatics...........and will only get to squaky bum time if we get to Easter with less than 85 point.
6) I still vow not to renew my season ticket if we fail to go up..........
Am I alone feeling uncomfortable at the lengths some on here will go to deny we just lost because we didn't score more gtoals than them. This result is disappointing, but no surprise. We don't have to go looking for conspiracies or bad refereeing (which seems pretty standard for this level and affects all the teams in the league sooner or later). We haven't been playing great. Our form is indicated by the fact that we got beat at home by teams we would have expecting to take points from. Hudds did what they needed to. Good luck to them, I hope they come second and we get a chance to beat them at home next season!
I'd leave it alone now Ace, cos I don't think you're gonna get much change out of the great anal-ysers on here.
...Sorry, I reckon there's a basket full of sour grapes on here. Compared to some of the mutts we've have to deal with at 'The Pharm' this season (Stevenage etc.) we're in a different football philosophical league to most and in fairness, your lads looked like a very good side. All this stuff about the ref's shortcomings from you lot is a complete 'red herring' really.
In truth, you just weren't good enough yesterday. Okay the ref was shite (maybe), that happens. Personally, I don't think where he lives had anything to do with his performance, he was just crap - end off!
AceT
Unfortunately for us, Ace, his crapness only affected those wearing the red shirts.....
Am I alone feeling uncomfortable at the lengths some on here will go to deny we just lost because we didn't score more gtoals than them. This result is disappointing, but no surprise. We don't have to go looking for conspiracies or bad refereeing (which seems pretty standard for this level and affects all the teams in the league sooner or later). We haven't been playing great. Our form is indicated by the fact that we got beat at home by teams we would have expecting to take points from. Hudds did what they needed to. Good luck to them, I hope they come second and we get a chance to beat them at home next season!
I'd leave it alone now Ace, cos I don't think you're gonna get much change out of the great anal-ysers on here.
Presumably you weren't there or you had your eyes shut & ears closed. Apologies if you were, but happened to see a different game to everyone else.
Only read the 1st 2 pages of this thread so apologies if I'm just repeating what has already been said.................
Wasn't there and listened to the match on player (jesus, that commentator was giving me kittens throughout).
Really can't see the sense of the league appointing a ref from Yorkshire as it just leaves any controversial incidents stinking of favouritism, even if they wern't. Sounded like a dangerous challenge on Waggy but ref deemed it to be a drop ball.
Couldn't understand Powells decision to play N'Guessan in front of Cook as it left us with no option on the bench for a forward and maybe make CP more reluctant to take him off because of that? Think I heard N'G mentioned 2-3 times through-out the entire game (and one of those was when he was eventually subbed) so I'm thinking he was pretty much a non-entity yesterday?
Plenty of corners and free-kicks for us yesterday with no end product which shows how much we missed JJ and Kermogant.
Not hitting the panic button yet. If the sheffield were both to win ALL their remaining fixtures, we'd need 15 points to ensure automatic promotion, as it is, I think 10 points will be enough to see us safely across the line.
Another Huddersfield fan here just wanting to give my views.
Not the best match in all honesty - I've seen much worse this year but chances really were at a premium yesterday. Thought you looked quite good in spells in the first half, particularly when attacking down your right. However, you didn't seem to create much apart from a couple of headers at corners. 2nd half, your performance seemed to get worse but you got a couple more chances - the best being the one blazed over from about 15 yards. We were more solid that we have been recently and could have had a bigger lead at half-time had Rhodes put away one of the 2 very good first half chances. Good save from Hamer for the first.
The penalty decision was correct (only our 2nd this season and our first at home in nigh on 12 months) as although Roberts was looking for it, and always does, there was contact. From first viewing, the first Kay challenge looked like a foul to me and probably a yellow card. Your site seems to put extended highlights up so maybe it will show it on there later on in the week, but a red card for that looked like it would have been very harsh. Really didn't think it needed your keeper to run 50 yards after the ref though. His second challenge was also a yellow card - no way in a million years was that a red on its own - although I don't think even he would have made the challenge had he already have been booked. Your player was stupid and kicked out for his red under the ref's nose and Novak was stupid in shoving him but it was correctly awarded a yellow card. I'm 95% sure that it is only a red if you push someone in the neck or head, whereas he shoved him below the armpit area.
Even if it was 11v11 or 10v10 (ie Kay hadn't or had made the 2nd challenge), I couldn't really see you scoring. For the first time in a long time we actually looked fairly comfortable defending a lead having thrown away 26 points from winning positions this year. However, you'll easily be promoted, don't see where all the panic's come from to be honest. You'll be up half-way through April IMO, and deservedly so. I'm not naiive enough to base a team on one performance especially when we didn't play particularly well ourselves. You're top of the league by some distance because you have been the best team, which was shown when we visited in November and were abysmal. Hopefully we'll see you next year.
Comments
10. If the incident with the young woman is the one I saw then...She and her male friends were gesticulating to our crowd for most of the match particularly the 'gentleman' in the dark polo shirt. What a sad prick he was! I don't condone any sort of violence but if he got back to his coach or car without being smacked he was a very lucky chappie.
The young 'lady' seemed to be loving the antics of her macho-mates and indeed the taunts of our fans (get your tits out for the lad etc etc.) Can I suggest if she wants to get involved in silly laddie games, she learns to deal with the consequences. From what I saw she was behaving like a total arse herself for most of the match and while I don't like to see women being physically threatened, if that's what it takes to make her calm down and see sense, then maybe its the only way!
AceT
Unfortunately, this came in the aftermath of the Wagstaff incident in the first half, which however bad a foul it was cannot properly have resulted in a dropped ball. Complete nonsense, and nothing the ref did after that was likely to be viewed objectively. The penalty was fair enough.
I expected us to lose that game - the only defeat to a current top six side this season - especially when Kermorgant dropped out. If we don't go up, it won't be because we lost at Huddersfield.
It's very unlikely we need 12 points to get promoted, especially with Hudds and Sheff Weds still to play each other. Eight or nine would probably be enough. The time to panic would be if we don't pick up 4-6 of them by the end of the Walsall match. Win two of the next three and I don't see much of a problem.
AceT
Some couple of fat 50+ers outside the ground heard our accents and gave it about how sh## we are and how we don't deserve to be top.
Such an air of arrogance around which is baffling as they haven't actually done anything yet.
The record stuff has gone to too many of their heads as beforehand they all seemed a decent enough bunch.
Even after their pen, I felt we would at least bag a point and if the ref had done his job properly , a draw would have been a fair result IMHO.
Went to bed last night with a thumping headache, stress induced but after a night's kip, now feeling more philosophical . A point yesterday and a point v Orient would be a poorer outcome than a clear win next Saturday which we should get.
We haven't played particularly well for some time now but thought we were marginally the better side at the Galpharm regardless of the appalling decisions which influenced the result. 3 points at home next weekend will go a long way towards making me feel more optimistic , with 2 more home wins against Walsall & Wycombe to follow ....the home fans noisily showing how important the "12th man" is in our promotion push.
BELIEVE !
We played some lovely short passing and moving football and controlled their front two without much difficulty. I've now seen Rhodes twice live and have not been impressed either time - he's an old style poacher and needs to be more involved with team play like Novak.
Two reasons for us not winning yesterday were Russell and the ref. Russell made a couple of bad errors and two bad decisions - tackling in the box giving the opportunity for their player to go down and retaliating against a truly awful tackle. The ref made some poor decisions throughout the game, but not to send their player off for raising two hand and pushing Russell over was ridiculous. He also left it too late to book one of their players for timewasting.
Not disappointed as there is no way Huddersfield will catch us. Their team is just nowhere near as good as ours - even without Kermo and Jacko.
Felt we should have researched their set pieces more. I know it's difficult with a new coach coming in, but I've seen those plays a few times with Grayson and knew they were going to happen, yet we were caught cold a couple of times.
As I get a bit older, I believe I take a less biased view & am more calm than I used to be. It always irritates me, the amount of people, who rant after many games that it was the worst ref I've seen etc etc.
However, yesterday the referee, was a complete bottler/homer (as I don't really believe he took a bribe).
The first 10 minutes we played most of the football & it was looking good. I remarked to Covered end junior though, that the same had happened at Scunny, so we shouldn't get carried away. Sure enough within a few mins, Russell lost possession on the half way line to Roberts, chased him back & brought him down in the area, which was exactly what Roberts was playing for.
1-0 and for 10 mins Hudds had the upper hand, but then we started to edge it again.
The game turned just after the half hour when Kay went straight through Waggy. It looked studs up/knee high. If I saw it right, it was a definite red card offence. Absolutely no doubt. A leg breaker of a challenge. Totally reckless.
I presume he wasn't bribed, so he bottled it & unbelievably gave a drop ball. In doing so & I said this at the time. He effectively gave the players carte blanche to do anything, because he had signalled, he was too scared to take control.
Second half, whilst still edging it & still giving 50/50's to them. (He twice gave fouls against BWP for excellent sliding tackles), Kay (who should have already been off), went through Russell, which was worth a yellow. Russell kicked out & deserved to go, but Novak, shoved Russell 2 handed in the chest, to the ground and should have gone as well IMO.
We still edged the rest of the game even with 10 men, but didn't have enough up front & they held out.
Hollands was dragged to the ground in the final minutes, for a definite pen from the corner, but we were never gonna get one.
I had the feeling that even if we scored, he would have disallowed it for any reason, he could come up with.
I was fuming at the end, which is unlike me & I have to say he was the worst ref, we have had in League 1, over 3 years.
Hudds took advantage & I can't say I blame them.
However, after that, I no longer want them to go up, in preference to the others. I now view them all equally. Shame.
PS Solly was MOM, most played well & all battled. but we never stood much chance with 14 v 10.
Hayes was disappointing (if only he jumped once a game it would be an improvement, I wonder if he has a medical issue, perhaps achilles problem ?)
Kermy get well soon.
...Sorry, I reckon there's a basket full of sour grapes on here. Compared to some of the mutts we've have to deal with at 'The Pharm' this season (Stevenage etc.) we're in a different football philosophical league to most and in fairness, your lads looked like a very good side. All this stuff about the ref's shortcomings from you lot is a complete 'red herring' really.
In truth, you just weren't good enough yesterday. Okay the ref was shite (maybe), that happens. Personally, I don't think where he lives had anything to do with his performance, he was just crap - end off!
AceT
Ref was bad. His decision for the Kaye "tackle" in the first half was just embarrassing, but then picked up on a couple of decent challenges from us.
Russell had a mare (3 mistakes, 2 for the penalty & then the sending off). Both the penalty & sending off were right (not that I could see what the red was for from the away stand).
We dominated the game for the majority, but didn't look like scoring. Used the width a bit more than in the last couple of games, but the final ball wasn't quite there.
Hayes looked like someone who hadn't trained with the squad for a month, especially as we played our Yann game.
N'Guessen isn't much better in the air than Hayes.
Defended their "Premier League quality" striker well again but also didn't allow anyone else of their's to get in the game.
If we play like we did yesterday in the remaining games, we will secure promotion/the title with a couple of games to go.
10 points to go. . .
As for the ref, well, not impressed in the slightest, but the linos were not much better, the one on the left (as seen from away stand) seemed scared to make any decisions whatosever, once the whistle has gone THEN (and only then) the flag would go up.
Bad day in terms of result, but play like that in the next few games and we will win the league without breaking sweat IMO.
1) The ref had a big influence on the game - but we can't do anything about it now.
2) team / squad selection had a bigger influence on the game - and we can do someting about that for the following games.
3) we were without 5 first teamers (JJ, Kermy, Green, Taylor,Stephens) - all need to be back in the starting 11 asap. They were part of the reason we got were we did by early March and sometimes the sum of the parts are greater that the whole.
4) don't need loanees - use the sqaud players we have. No need for Rusell - play stephens or Hughes there instead. No need for N'guessen - play Callum Harriott there instead.
5) Powell really needs to sort it out NOW. we can not afford to lose against L-Orient and need to get that winning feeling again. I still beleive we have enough about u to get automatics...........and will only get to squaky bum time if we get to Easter with less than 85 point.
6) I still vow not to renew my season ticket if we fail to go up..........
I'd leave it alone now Ace, cos I don't think you're gonna get much change out of the great anal-ysers on here.
Everything I wanted to say last night but was too emotional to do properly.
As Covered End correctly indicates, you are surely in the minority in your views.
Methinks you must have mislaid yours on the way to the match....
Wasn't there and listened to the match on player (jesus, that commentator was giving me kittens throughout).
Really can't see the sense of the league appointing a ref from Yorkshire as it just leaves any controversial incidents stinking of favouritism, even if they wern't. Sounded like a dangerous challenge on Waggy but ref deemed it to be a drop ball.
Couldn't understand Powells decision to play N'Guessan in front of Cook as it left us with no option on the bench for a forward and maybe make CP more reluctant to take him off because of that? Think I heard N'G mentioned 2-3 times through-out the entire game (and one of those was when he was eventually subbed) so I'm thinking he was pretty much a non-entity yesterday?
Plenty of corners and free-kicks for us yesterday with no end product which shows how much we missed JJ and Kermogant.
Not hitting the panic button yet. If the sheffield were both to win ALL their remaining fixtures, we'd need 15 points to ensure automatic promotion, as it is, I think 10 points will be enough to see us safely across the line.
Not the best match in all honesty - I've seen much worse this year but chances really were at a premium yesterday. Thought you looked quite good in spells in the first half, particularly when attacking down your right. However, you didn't seem to create much apart from a couple of headers at corners. 2nd half, your performance seemed to get worse but you got a couple more chances - the best being the one blazed over from about 15 yards. We were more solid that we have been recently and could have had a bigger lead at half-time had Rhodes put away one of the 2 very good first half chances. Good save from Hamer for the first.
The penalty decision was correct (only our 2nd this season and our first at home in nigh on 12 months) as although Roberts was looking for it, and always does, there was contact. From first viewing, the first Kay challenge looked like a foul to me and probably a yellow card. Your site seems to put extended highlights up so maybe it will show it on there later on in the week, but a red card for that looked like it would have been very harsh. Really didn't think it needed your keeper to run 50 yards after the ref though. His second challenge was also a yellow card - no way in a million years was that a red on its own - although I don't think even he would have made the challenge had he already have been booked. Your player was stupid and kicked out for his red under the ref's nose and Novak was stupid in shoving him but it was correctly awarded a yellow card. I'm 95% sure that it is only a red if you push someone in the neck or head, whereas he shoved him below the armpit area.
Even if it was 11v11 or 10v10 (ie Kay hadn't or had made the 2nd challenge), I couldn't really see you scoring. For the first time in a long time we actually looked fairly comfortable defending a lead having thrown away 26 points from winning positions this year. However, you'll easily be promoted, don't see where all the panic's come from to be honest. You'll be up half-way through April IMO, and deservedly so. I'm not naiive enough to base a team on one performance especially when we didn't play particularly well ourselves. You're top of the league by some distance because you have been the best team, which was shown when we visited in November and were abysmal. Hopefully we'll see you next year.
Impact