Match Thread Away V Exeter City Saturday 6th February 1.00pm (with Poll)

Final thoughts on today. The lack of tracking back led to Watt and Sutton having frequently to move wide to stop their fullbacks moving forward instead of dropping back to cover in front of the defence. Result, big gaps in midfield which they tried to cover but eventually their energy fell away. Thinking about it, perhaps I judged them a bit harshly in an earlier post.

 

Vaughan is the best striker in our league so will score most weeks

 

Some would argue that Vaughan, Doyle and Novak are the best 3 strikers in the division......wait.......didn’t we have them all not long ago?

 

I know we scored 1st but you could see the side wasn't balanced from the start

 

I don't get this idea that Hosannah is the answer at RB. He's no better defensively than FCD is.

 

I think when available we have three good centre forwards now Rowe Cook and Novak

 

We lost because we did not change FCD at full back who was getting skinned all the game by a winger that was sending in great crosses, Had we changed and took FCD off and stopped the crosses we would have stopped the second goal and penalty and won the game, We lost because we changed to late after the damage was done

 

I know it sounds obvious but I think we were well in control up to Exeter's 2nd goal and it just seemed to deflate us then....

 

I don’t get the full back bashing full stop.
Playing one up top encourages the opposition to push their full backs forward, why would they keep 4 at the back when they only have one striker to deal with?
To counter this you need your wide midfielders to be disciplined and track back, helping out our own full backs and ensuring their not exposed.
Yesterday our wide players, especially Steven’s, kept switching off and not tracking back. Not only did this leave FCD & Wood exposed it also dragged Sutton & Watt out of position as they kept coming wide to plug the gaps. This in turn dragged Cooke deeper than he’s been in recent games to cover for Watt & Sutton. I appreciate that T&S had their hands tied with injuries but we set up far too open against the highest scoring team in the league.

 

18 points from 9 games, take that to the end of the season and the play offs are still very much on. One defeat won't kill us. Get up, dust down, go again. My favourite parkyism

 

Do we actually know that though? We've only ever seen Hosannah in a McCall team where every defender looked hopeless.

 

FCD wasn’t on the pitch when they got the penalty, we lost because we had nobody to hold the ball up front to bring others into game. Defending starts from the front and a Novak, Rowe or Cook would have held onto the ball much better than playing 3 wingers in the forward position. We also didn’t play very well, our passing was poor and they had far too much possession.

 

What disappointed me was the last goal we conceded a simple long ball over the top of the defence, I think generally Hornby hasn't let us down but when you come for a ball like their third you have to make sure you can take the ball and not the player.
I accept its easy sat watching but I thought he could have come out but stayed short of actually going for the ball forcing Bowman make a call on lobbing him which he did but it was not going in as or going as we cleared his effort.

 

I often think that you learn far more about the team as a whole and individuals separately when you have been defeated than if you have won the game. It wasn't the end of the world to lose to a decent Exeter team who aren't by any means one season wonders in this league. Let's just see what T and S have learnt from yesterday and what their actions are going forward.

 

He did similar against Port Vale, when he came charging out against Rodney. Now, I appreciate, he got the ball, just but its an area he needs to be a little more thoughtful. A red card in the waiting?

 

The positives were the two new signings on deadline day those two with either Rowe or Cook or Novak will be a potent forward line. Having said that I did think Vernham went missing a bit second half after a good first out of position

 

Hornby is a bit rash, he was fortunate not to give a penalty away against Port Vale at home. I like his handling from crosses though.

 

I think he was a bit unfortunate with the penalty Boden came in bravely with his foot high he would have been criticised if he had left it. Overall I think he has done well his distribution is considerably better than OD

 

Both teams had to make changes but it's not
a numbers game but more WHO is left out.

We have three competent centre forwards
and all three were unavailable. Exeter were no
doubt happy about that but our two wingers
showed that they have a goal in them and although
our second goal was ludicrous defending it showed,
along with our first goal, that instinct and anticipation
were rewarded.

In hindsight, FCD being the most inexperienced player
for us, should of maybe been on the bench and bring
Canavan in from the start and put AOC at right back.
Trueman said they had identified the threat Exeter had
down the wings but decided not to change a successful
team rather than take this match as a threat to our run.

It will show how confident the side is after a defeat but
as long as it's kept in perspective, who beat us and why,
we should learn and move on. Safety is first priority and
then build for next season.