Away vs Swindon Jan 4th 2020

So Radio Leeds reckon we should have won today.

GB said the performance today was good.

Lots on here during the game using the regular adjective of shite or forms of that word to describe our performance.

Which is the most accurate description of todays performance?

PS it does feel rather satisfying to be THAT team that scores with their only shot on target and doesn't lose.

 

The truth is somewhere in between. In a tight match, I never comment on the actual play as how can a performance be judged until the result it known

In fairness even Wellens thinks we deserved a point....

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/18138146.richie-wellens-outlines-january-transfer-window-plans-following-1-1-draw-bradford-city/

 

Carlisle at home, 3-1 and should've been 4-1 but was disallowed

 

Deserved at least a point though we created few real chances. Swindon were crap and time-wasted from their goal onwards. Great free kick. Hilarious when some Swindon kid invaded the pitch, threw some pop in our direction then bared his a*se.

 

I'd hoped it was going to be Doyle

 

Chicken & egg situation which comes first, I've sat watching the Wolves V United game and for two Premier League teams it hardly been entertaining.

 

For me, we were poor the first 20 mins and not great throughout the whole first half. We definitely improved towards the end of it but we seemed slow, lots of heavy touches, poor passing and very little movement. Swindon on the other hand were quick out of the blocks and threatened to a point, without creating anything of note aside of the goal.

Vaughan was isolated throughout the first half and aside of a solid back 4, no one stood out. I thought the starting formation was good, but the midfield three failed to assert themselves and all 3 looked a bit all over the place. Taylor should have done a lot better and apart from the flick onto the post from a food Reeves corner, we did little else.

Second half was much better. Didn’t start till 55-60min but after that we started to stretch Swindon and Connolly began to get much more of the ball and get at the LB. Cooke dramatically improved once Reeves went off, who looked leggy and perhaps an suggestion the Christmas period was a bit too much after such a long time out. Palmer should have scored his chance after good work from Connolly (I think).

Free kick was absolutely superb, real class from McCarten. After that the cut back from Connolly wasn’t great for Vaughan and it was a really good chance missed.

On the whole 1-1 was the fair result. Criticism of Bowyer is harsh IMO. The players in the first half were off the pace. That said, as soon as he changed the formation with more support up front, we were better.

Swindon didn’t offer a great deal outside of the first 20mins. They stifled the game and didn’t allow it to flow with taking time to stop any momentum.

MOTM was O’Conner by a country mile for me.

Given the players we have to come back, plus be Doyle conundrum, we have more than enough to push on and get out of this league. For me Donaldson, Pritchard, Ismail walk straight into the team. Also think Devitt and Doyle (in theory) should also walk straight in to the team - it’s just how you fit these in.

 

I think Crewe away was a good advertisement for league two football, going in front and playing some decent stuff, conceded then went behind but kept playing football and trying to get back in the game.
Without doubt Crewe are the best footballing side I've seen us play this season, our next game at Crawley wont be easy a very good result today against Cheltenham, Crewe go to Swindon on the same day.

 

Agree completely with this. Also had O'Connor as my Man of the Match. He didn't put a foot wrong. I thought Cooke improved greatly in the latter stages of the game and did a lot to win the ball. McCartan's free kick superb. Thought Oteh fought well to win the free kick.

 

He's certainly been as good as anyone this season, after last season most had written Anthony off but at the moment he's the better of the two O'Connor's on show and I don't think many would have predicted that at the start of the season.

 

I think Crewe will finish above Swindon, especially if we recall Doyle. They're 6 points behind Swindon with 2 games in hand and play them on Saturday. If they manage to get a win out of that then expect them to be top in two weeks time

 

Thanks for that balanced post.

Its frustrating many, many city fans that we are not slamming teams from the off but its league 2 and general standards are low. So it seems GB is ensuring we concede as few as possible and nick the odd 1 or 2 goal win.

Performances have been unspectacular but the run of form is above average.

And we are now just 8 points of guaranteed safety from relegation.

And finally Donaldinho is due to be back soon.

 

Nah.

I don't think either team deserved to win today. Both were poor.

 

I agree. Paudie looked all over the shop against Mansfield, going for headers that AOC was also going for.

 

So Anthony O has faced arguably the two best attacks in Swindon and Exeter (with respect to Crewe) and been MoM in both. I think we can move on from last season and realise what a good player, he actually is

 

I thought Crawley were the best to come to VP

 

This is Bowyer's take on today.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p07zjkwd

And the video clip of the highlights .

https://www.skysports.com/football/swindon-vs-bradford/report/410763

 

You don't sound disappointed.

 

You have to laugh. He's citing our goalscoring threat from midfield. Goals this season Reeves = 0, Cooke = 0, Palmer = 0, Taylor = 0, Connelly = 0

 

I am dissappointed, of course.

On the other hand, injuries have hurt us. Tired players are being forced to play because we we are down to bare bones. Wellens didn't want to take a risk with Fryers, who was not fit, but had little choice. He ended up going off injured. A couple on our bench today were kids that have hardly played. Grant is arguably our best player but had to play in defence. That hurts us twofold because he is not a defender, and it means he is not in midfield.

Plus, we were up against a team that sets out to stifle other teams. It's not pretty, but you're clearly rather good at it. You are in 4th (?) after all.

We're going through a spell of tough games (and injuries). Personally, I'd take being in or around the top 3 when the tough spell is over. We're looking on course for that so far.

So, yes, I am dissappointed, but still looking at the big picture.