Derby County away

Overall the best side easily . 2-3 goals would have been a better reflection

 

Good to read other forums...

It's like this place after a defeat..

 

I see they can also be trusted with more emojis than us.

 

Did you go tonight SB? ... Talking to a bloke outside who said he was from Stafford

 

fair play. We were good value for the win.

 

I thought all the lads who came in tonight did well. Interestingly neither Taylor or Stubbs were caught out with their lack of pace tonight, having the experience and calmness of McDonald in front of them probably helped in that respect.

 

Your figures are slightly off. Total prize money earned thus far equates to just under £90k.

 

Doyle - generous 7 for the clean sheet. Think this was one game too many though, Harry back for the next round please

Gillead - 6 quieter than usual, unspectacular in yet another role for him. Possibly could have done better on two occasions in their area

Ridehagh - 6 silly booking, couldn't get involved after that. Couple of poor crosses early on in each half didn't help either, will be happy Mendez Laing swapped sides after coming on

Tomlinson - 7 again, caught out late over playing. Starting to look the part, pace got us out of trouble a couple of times

Stubbs - 8 vital goal and gave Collins a torrid time, solid and even a bit trickery bring the ball out (did give me kittens though)

Taylor - 8, absolute rock tonight. Will have a migraine tonight, didn't miss one header all night. Proper centre half performance, his best yet.

Smallwood - 6 quiet game, probably did some donkey work I've not picked up on. A few aimless balls over the top but that actually seems a tactic now

McDonald - 7 decent return, similar to Smallwood but scored above simply due to an impressive return after a long absence

Pointon - 7 flashes of skill, needs to be in the team more. Needs to be a bit proactive with decision making but that will come

Chapman - 8 frightened derby to death. Found pockets everywhere and even more so when they back off him. If he had a proper end product he'd be two leagues higher. Must start games in walkers absence

Oliver - very generous 5. I criticise cook when he doesn't get involved but I think it took until cook stripped to come on that Oliver won and header or held the ball up. Lacking game brain or confidence, always five yards away from a cross into the box. Needs to improve

 

Stubbs and Chapman were excellent.

Both rumoured to be available, or at least courting interest.

Hopefully this changes Alexander's mind.

The problem he's got is if he wants to cut 4 or 5 players, it isn't going to be the worst 4 or 5 that attract the interest...

 

Very enjoyable game of football against a strong team. Pointon, Chapman, McDonald and Stubbs all made a massive difference in changing how we played from the hoofball crap we’ve been served up recently. I hope they start on Saturday, they’re proving GA wrong, nothing wrong with that I just hope he isn’t too stubborn to change it when they have let their football do the talking. A rest for some of the regular 11 is needed anyway.

Hope we get a trip to Wembley, no matter the competition it’s a special day out and we deserve one after the last 5+ years of crap.

 

Agree. My concern was the lack of pace on a wide pitch with a decent surface. We didn’t appear stretched by pace over the top at any point. They did get down the sides a few times but they are near the top of the league above so I would expect us to be challenged. Overall a really solid performance. And walker who was sat next to us is back in a couple of weeks. Positive++

 

He certainly came back firing on all cylinders after his enforced absence and looked like he was out to prove a point, which he did very successfully. Whether that was to force his way back into GA's thinking or to put himself in the shop window I don't know but either way, it was job well done.

 

Bloody hope so he's been yet another terrible signing

 

How dare he turn up. (That is if you believe some of the crap spoken on here about the lad and his character).

 

Taylor had a very good game tonight .

 

I was surprised that any injured players turned up on such a freezing night. Is it part of their contracts, that they have to attend away games and home games for that master?

 

I guess its down to the manager. I noticed Adam Wilson had posted a video yesterday evening of him training in the gym, one of those posts which smacks of a very frustrated player. The problems of having a bloated squad.