You have to be happy with 3 points from a poor display and I am. We will have to do better on Wednesday to get anything from Stoke.
All the second ball fell to them and they seemed more up for it. Why we, yet again, stumbled out of the blocks rather than getting at them is a worry. Not a problem I can put my finger on and say "this is the solution".
Their goal? Poor midfield, poor defence and, probably for the first, and hopefully last, time this season I think Carson could/should have done much better and at least got somethig on it.
They say the sign of a good team is one that wins when below par. For much of the game we weren't even at the races. Had Marriott's effort late in the 1st half gone in instead of hitting the bar, Wendy would have been done for. It didn't and they weren't. They gave it a good go 2nd half, hit the post and should have done much better with a couple of their efforts.
Carson - 6 - Adequate performance but no more than that
Wisdom - 4 - Not at the races for much of the game. Where is the player we had on loan?
Keogh - 7 - A rock in the 2nd half defending as if his life depended on it..... as usual and no blips
Tomori - 6 - Played well enough but was extremely lucky to still be on the park at half time. Hopefully he will have learned from this.
Malone - 7 - Not a perfect performance from him but a good one all the same. He overran the ball on a few occasions and seemed to be unable to get it under control but still one of our better players on the day
Holmes - 6 - One of a very lightweight front 5 that collectively failed to get a grip on things
Huddlestone - 7.5 - The only one to get near normal standards and that shot...... desrerved a goal
Mount - 6 - not his normal standard by quite a way, his being replaced may well have been tactical
Jozefzoon - 5 - 1 or 2 half decent runs and a couple of good tackles in an otherwise flat performance
Marriott - 7 - Only one of the front 5 to be anything like his usual self and resorted to coming back to get the ball. IMO he should stay up on the shoulder and do what he does. Took the goal very well.
Wilson - 6 - took his goal very well. Lots of decent runs but the final ball never came to anything
Subs - Davies - 7 - Defended well and he hit some crisp passes that went to the intended recipient.
Bryson - 6 - IMO a tactical switch. Bannan was starting to run the show and Bryson was brought on to close him down and not give him time to do any damage. Mission accomplished
Lawrence - 6 - No major errors but no major successes either
what is the news on the injured? but most of all what will the score be at Hillsborough?
