Back from the game - Keeping the Wolfs from the door... 🐺 2 - 2 🐤

In summary, a great performance and a well deserved, if unexpected, point at the runaway League leaders who have been crushing most of their opponents all season. For me the tactics were spot on and provided an insight into the quality of Farke as a head coach. We contained and constrained the game. Controlling things using a patient, short-passing game which frustrated both Wolves and their fans by giving them a lot less possession than they are used to and running the clock down pretty effectively.

That said there were some mistakes; Zimmerman for their first, and Klose/Watkins for their second, meant that we were 2-0 down after 25 minutes but against the run of early play and after a teasing Vrancic ball found (Worthing’s own) Reid in the penalty area with just Ruddy to beat only for him to fire over the bar.

In previous years this opening away from home would have played out in either a miserable capitulation or a dreary, half-hearted response followed by a breakaway 3rd goal. Not now though! This City side are more mentally resilient and in better physical condition giving them the amity to work their way back and dominate the last 20 in a lot of games.

The well delivered Maddison free kick which found Zimmerman at the near post, and his flicked header and first City goal, brought us back into a game which was a lot more even than many appear to have thought. Yes Wolves are incisive when attacking and strong at the back but we matched their passing and kept pretty solid overall.

The second half was pretty much all under our control, Maddison pulling most of the strings but the Vrancic/Leitner partnership worked really well and really contributed to our possession and pass % stats. Watkins and Sir Benny worked hard and harried the Wolves back three in a game where chances would be at a premium. Zimmerman was a colossus and just wouldn’t be beaten. His commitment and effort highlighted by his “headed” tackle.

The subs allowed the pace and pressure the ramp up and did change the game. Again, I’ll say this was planned once the previous controlling and time-consuming tactics left the game still in our grasp. Maddison was unlucky with his late effort, saved well by Ruddy. Josh gave us a bit more on the wing and we did get behind them a few times. The late, late show of an equaliser was deliciously unexpected and will be a real boost for Nelson. Reminded me of two late goals at Old Trafford in ‘88 by Townsend and Phelen that saw us turn a 1-0 reverse into a 2-1 win in the last couple of minutes.

An interesting point is that, when Angus came up for the late corner, Ruddy caught it cleanly and seemed hold the ball fir an age... almost as if he was waiting for Angus to get back! Why not release someone fast, or even have a pop himself at the empty net? Anyway, he didn’t and Nelson’s 35-yard cannonball went through his Teflon gloves to send us home happy.

Can’t quite understand some of the downcast views after; on here, on Canarycall and on some of the medias. This was all positive and I feel that we’re building something really special, but... three words please for everyone;
BELIEF
TRUST
PATIENCE

OTBC Wrathers 💛💚

Posted By: Worthing Yellow on February 22nd 2018 at 02:43:49

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