Match Thread Home V Mansfield Tue 2nd March. 7pm kick off.

my god that was painfull. Hard fought win based on rock solid defending.
Saturday is massive ,win there and who knows . Cook straight back in for me , Rowe can not lead the line, the ball hardly stuck up front at all tonight. Maybe play them both and bring Vernam or Crankshaw off the bench.

 

I cannot understand how Mansfield allowed Andy Cook to come to us on loan, they appear totally toothless up front

 

What a shame there'll be no fans there on Saturday. Given the form of both teams, you'd be looking at the possibility of a 20k crowd.

 

Defence was superb again. On the ball though we were really poor and gave it away far too much with either misplaced passes or poor touches - needs to be much better on Saturday against another good side.

 

Correct Dave

I’ve said similar

 

First half especially, and at times in the second half, I thought we lacked a bit of composure on the ball. We were sloppy. Can't fault the defensive performance though, it was outstanding.

 

I was thinking of the two most audacious overhead kicks I could think of off the top of my head....while still reeling from AK's comment, and trying to watch the game. Sorry.

 

Its great we keep picking up the points but if I have one moan, it’s the one up top using Lowe. This allows the opposition to push an extra player into midfield which in turn stops us getting into a rhythm. I’d love to see us going at the opposition at home with a second striker, but as we’re winning it’s a “like to have” rather than a must have.

 

It is the story of their season apparently. They did well though and much better to watch than when a team has 70% possession and the other 10 men behind the ball.

My concern is that while we had players on the bench who can come on and do a job I'm not sure any of those on the bench today could change the game. It'll be interesting to see who we bring in in the summer transfer window.

 

They were like me........Toothless up front. If the midfield , whilst strangling the game , cannot finish, you end up with your Orient, Walsall’s and Mansfield type games.

Be honest all three teams were poor up top and offered zero.

 

You are right but it's hard to be composed on the ball when teams are pressing you like Mansfield did tonight, that's the respect teams are showing us now at Valley Parade.

 

If we hadn’t scored fairly early we might have pushed our midfield forward more as the game went on. As it was we said come and have a go and they never looked like breaking us down

 

This league is about both boxes. I think we can and will be better with the ball. I think we'll need to be on Saturday. But tonight we defended our box superbly and for all that Mansfield were sharper in possession, their keeper was the only one forced to make any real saves.

 

The amazing thing is that we've now got the luxury of two prolific strikers who are battling it out to start a game before the other. When was the last time that happened at VP? Three goals each so far - game most truly on! Jeez, I am loving this.

 

NOVAK’s this season?

 

Not a classic but yet again we found a way to win, this is getting to be a very good habit.

Hats off to all the defense but particularly AOC who was immense, my motm.

 

Good result that but we looked very leggy (not a criticism, there's a saying about teams who play poorly but get results...)

Just hope they get plenty of rest before Saturday. Massive, massive game... both the form teams, if they win they go 7 clear, if we win we're within a point with 2 games in hand - can't describe how excited I am for it! The draw benefits us though so presures on them and I think we're better counter-attacking...

 

I think its harsh to say 'no shots on goal' when they smacked one off the post. Yes I understand why its classed as off target but that is the narrowest of margins
Compare that with two fairly tame Rowe free kicks that their keeper had covered which are classed as 'on target'

 

That's bang on. Cooke looked better when Rowe went off, seemed to have more space.