Just back from the game (via the pub)... My views:

It was clear that Grant's game plan was to battle it out and defend, keep it tight and maybe snatch a lucky goal. Sadly we lacked any real attacking threat throughout. For 85 mins we defended well, Dion was amazing, fortunately Doc wasn't troubled too much and made a few good blocks. Marshall looked confident and solid, made a few great catches from crosses. Semi was quieter than I've seen, I think it'd been drilled into to to stay back. Drury looked nervous and there were a couple of hearts-in-mouths moments with a couple of stray passes. As for the midfield, I thought Russell had a good first half, but was anonymous in the second, Brellier was consistently average throughout, but I can see the potential in him. Chadwick was awful first half, Lappin was tidy but a tad lightweight, Hucks was frustrated and clearly isn't fit. His battle with Mills throughout the game was probably the most compelling part of the fixture, and the what got both sets of supporters going the most. Brown was tireless, put himself about, won a lot of headers but most of the time there was no-one to pick up the loose ball. He played well, I like him, but as people have said: he never looks like scoring. Croft looked ok, didn't do too much, but must have done enough to earn himself a start over Chadders. I can't believe Cureton was reduced to a bit-part role, he might've been the player to grab us a cheeky, and largely undeserved winner. As for the pens, well, it was too hard to tell from the away end... but as soon as I saw the Doc galloping towards their man I knew it would be a pen. To be fair, he'd been solid all night, but you knew it was gonna happen. Couldn't see what happened for the second pen, but the platers looked well pissed off, so I guess it was a bad decision. And as for Dion's sending off.... eh!? All I saw was your average protest, flapping of arms in dismay.. no intent, no swinging fist, no headbutt.. nowt. And then our best player of the night by a country mile was marching off to the changing room, banned for three matches. I can only hope it gets recinded... as he was head and shoulders above any one else in yellow & green tonight.

Posted By: Clipper, Sep 19, 00:52:17