Wimbledon (A)

Superb following at what is the least appealing away day for a spectator the football league has to offer.

 

Could've been 3-0 if Ball managed to finish unfortunately, finds himself in great positions and seems to work well with Payne

 

An awful lot of moaning on here tonight - can I remind people we actually won?

My constructive view of the game:

O’Donnell 7 - made some important claims, but don’t remember him making any crucial saves as such.

Wood 7 - becoming impressed with this guy. Turning out to be a good find.

McGowan 8 - much better from him after a dodgy start to the season.

O’Connor 8 - excellent game, and that clearance was Darby-esqe.

Mellor 7 - steady away. Thought he was better in the first half than the 2nd.

L O’Brien 7 - played a high pressure game, never stopped running, made some good tackles but passing needs a little work. However a steady game overall.

J O’Brien 6 - thought he looked tired before he went off, and passing was a bit wayward.

Scannell 8 - thought tonight was his best game and his running at defenders certainly puts us on the offensive and takes pressure off the midfield and defence.

Miller 7 - thought he was completely anonymous in the first half until the penalty incident. A much better second half as he grew into tha game.

Brunker 5 - seems he is our new scapegoat. Thought he had a quiet first half an hour but started getting a bit of joy in the last 15 mins of the first half. Second half I thought he grew into the game and started to do well, but was tiring when he was subbed off. Needs to put himself about a bit more. Some of the vitriol against him is a bit embarrassing. Try supporting him?

Payne 8 - can totally see why he was on the bench as he doesn’t fit into a 4-4-2. Hiwever when JOB went off, we changed to 3-5-2 and he and/or the change of formation turned the game more in our favour and thought we were much better after he came on.

Ball 6 - a willing runner, and put their defence under pressure. Had three clear chances but shooting was poor.

Overall the most pleasing thing for me was a committed effort on and off the ball - the players worked very hard for 90 minutes and it was great to see.

Three unbeaten (inc the window cleaner cup game) and two clean sheets in the league. Hopkin slowly but surely starting to make his mark.

 

Just as well we don't play in the Scottish league ?

The main worry is an injury to the Hamilton Academicals, or in the Heart of your Midlothians, caused by a sting from the Partick Thistles, however, the pain is Morton a Man can bear. The pain is said to Rangers between painful and really bad. A generous rub with Dunfermaline helps ease the pain. The nurses at the BRI do a Stirling job with this injury, and many greet recovering patients with the words Alloa !
As the hospice was in the grounds of a Monastery, thank goodness Motherwell knew the cure - She was *@?$ O' the North, despite protests from The Queen of the South, no matter how desperately She were to Ayr her views.

 

NKP so bad he didn't get a mention?

 

I agree about the dross in this league. Having to beat the dross is where we are at. Winning some of the relegation 6 pointers so far is the only positive I can find in this whole mess. Tonight was an important win.

 

Make it stop. Please.

 

How do you fit 3 strikers a right winger and an attacking midfielder in the same side?

We have some quality it’s finding a way to get them in a system and playing together

 

I’d agree with these, adding a 7 for NKP.

Payne was pick of the bunch second half. Two cracking cross field balls nearly resulting in goals.

My third game of the season, 100% win rate. Need to make more games!

 

I think when you have a side playing with confidence and on form you can; just

 

Yeah the same teams we usually always lose to? Imagine that eh?

 

I'll agree with you on Mellor, don't think hes done a great deal this season but did ok and what he had to do tonight. McGowan is a steady player reliable, I like him, don't see it with Wood though. I'm sure he has potential and will improve with game time just cant label him as excellent this evening.

I hate that were still hitting long balls up front from the keeper or defence. As you say it comes straight back, whether it's to Doyle or Bruenker. If we adopted a better build up style on the deck rather than hoof ball. I think we'd be much more effective with the players we have. Credit to Hopkin, we've got the 3 points tonight and it's an improvement on the bilge we witnessed under Collins. Hope his style of play will be enough to get us playing effective football and save us from the drop

 

Yes of course - missed NKP. Agree, a 7 is about right.

 

From those that watched it or went, was it 4 at the back?

If so seems to be helping. As said previously no hiding place in a back 4. You’ve all got your man

 

Agree totally, I just cant see the point in leaving the best and effective players on the bench in a team that's seemingly so unbalanced anyway. Maybe Payne behind Doyle n Ball with Miller wide left. Or Payne wide left, Ball centre behind Miller n Doyle. Its exactly like you said, how do we fit them all in, think it's worth having a bloody good go though

 

Put in a damn good shift tonight. Ball should have played him in earlier on his first chance whilst he was still onside, and he may have had a goal as well.

However Payne MoM for me.

 

Yes, it was a back 4. A couple of shaky moments, looked exposed from a gap in midfield during first half hour but after that coped very well.

O’Donnell escaped a clanger though. A bit of luck on that one!

 

Started off 4-4-2.
After Jim OB went off injured they went 3-5-2, so basically that formation for most of the game.

 

I think we stayed 4 at the back all game and O'Connor stepped into midfield when o'brien went off