I'm gutted that I couldn't go due to my health issues. Would anybody be so kind as to produce player ratings? Thanks.
Brilliant game to watch, some similarites to last season's opener. I was thinking at half time if we lose this game but play the same second half i'll go home happy. As the application, commitment and approach was excellent. Couple mistakes here and
there but overall it was a superb performance.
Some player rating's, which of course is each to their own. Just my view of today's game.
Marshall 7 - 1st goal was poor from the midfield and defence, Marshall has always parried shots that bounce in front of him away from goal. Playing the percentages, our player's allowed them to collect the ball twice far to easily. The positioning and marking in that phase of play was our worst moment in today's game. The 1v1 save was excellent, stood tall making Murphy panic and completely put him off. Commanded the box fairly well and started several counter attack's.
Robinson 7.4 - Was great on the overlap. Evans covered him when he went forward. Final ball let him down today in the final third, but he caused them problems and his positive play increased our momentum in the game.
Fox 7 - Made an error near the edge of our box, but set the tone early with a commanding run and played his usual way.
Dunkley 5 - Awful, doesn't bother marking, lost his man at will. Passes went in behind him with regularity. Consistently pumped the ball long even with acres of space around him.
Byrne 6 - Didn't cause as many problem's going forward as Robinson did, also was lazy on their second goal. Let the player run beyond him, Dunk's came across to cover, causing the other two to follow and sweep across the back four allowing Bogle an easy finish. But he had some difficult situation's on the ball with not too many options, he also did well generally defensively apart from their second goal.
Evans 7.8 - Mentioned this early last season, Evan's is a different animal on the left. His technique is base on curve. Playing on the left open's up many more possibilities to his passing and shooting. Was hitting volley passes on his weak foot under pressure and generally a very good game. Got beat in the build up to their first goal. But almost every player defensively got beat at some point during the game. The cover never arrived on that one occasion.
Mcleod 7.2 - Was comfortable, positioning was good. Always in control of the ball, won a couple 50/50 sliding tackles and generally had a very solid game without excelling.
Jacobs 7.8 - Involved a lot first half, similar to last season's start he did really well today. Wasn't running down the wing too often. Instead he was cutting inside regularly from deep and in the final third. Carried the ball well and i was delighted for him when he scored from Windass's deflected freekick.
Windass 8.6 - Excellent performance, ran the channels and in behind their back four. Was a threat on the counter from Marshall's long throws. Was high up the pitch taking up some dangerous positions. Came deeper in the final third a few times and went past player's with ease and also collected the ball in pockets of space. Not a penalty taker though, he's to emotional for that. Need some one who's calm or composed, he changed his running style which show's he play's in the moment rather than a natural training ground routine.
Pilkington 6.5 - Strange one this, i've forgotten his performance. I remember him being involved quite a bit first half, but i can't remember if he did well or not. Completely forgotten how he did today.
Garner 8 - Superb performance from a player i don't rate. He was one of our key performer's today. If he executed the back heel to Windass slightly better i would have gained even more confidence in him, it was so close to being very good. The amount of wasted long ball's hit from Dunkley he did well to win as many header's as he did in the initial phase of our build up in their half. Wasn't capable of winning any in the box though, but he was bailing us out time and again from the long ball's. Generally held the ball up very well against the odds.