Well, I'm lucky enough to be back from the game already... one of the few times being a NWBluesFan works in my favour.
Absolutely loved it - credit to NH and the team, they really battled hard today.
I can't lie - it's not pretty. But at this stage of the season and the situation we're in, you can play all the pretty football you like and it won't necessarily be any better.
Massive shout today to Vadaine - blimey, he put a shift in against those three massive centre backs. He was frequently double teamed, and on occasion jumping with 3 reds and he kept going. My MOM, although it's a real close call between him and Chapman who made several excellent saves, worth every bit as much as a goal.
The back 3 were solid - I can't get my head round why Stanley seemed intent on launching it forward first half so much, like us. That Bishop is clearly better than he played today but thought we did a collectively good job on him. Can't believe how much he whined though, my god, the amount of energy he spent squealing at the referee was laughable.
On the referee, I thought he was pretty poor. He seemed intent on letting all the handsy stuff go, which to be fair, he applied quite consistently, but it definitely helped us more than them. They didn't roll up their sleeves, they just complained. Weird mentality really - it was clear he wasn't calling it, but it took them 85 minutes to do much about it.
The goals were scrappy and, if I'm Accrington and I'm being honest with myself, I'm annoyed at my defenders for sure. They hung their young keeper out to dry on Vadaine's header and the Kellman header was also terrible defending.
Can't really complain about their penalty - didn't see it clearly from where I was - but it's never a good thing to see a lanky centre back run 40 yards unchallenged. Radio Lancs were absolutely wetting themselves on the radio on the way back - Coleman and Brett Ormerod both said their last penalty shout was akin to "assault" (honestly, at least 3 times - one said GBH. Talk about hyperbole...
) but they'd been whining all game. Perhaps if they hadn't been gobbing off at the referee for every little thing he might have been more inclined...
A word on Ross Sykes. On the radio on the way back, they were complaining Oliver's "flailing arms" meant he should have been red carded in their challenge together. They also said "he doesn't go down often." so it must have been bad. Well, I was lucky enough to be less than 30 feet or so from that challenge - it was next level drama from the guy. Absolutely nothing other than trying to get Vadaine booked. He was getting some pretty good grief from the fans near me. And then he had two Gills headers go in (both in his area of the pitch) and then got yellow carded in quick succession. Talk about letting the game go to your head. Look in the mirror kid, you cost your team. Nice karma.
And final thought, John Coleman said "you can see from the league table we're better than Gillingham" in an interview where he lost his head a little. Couldn't help but think it was more than a touch condescending. It was a poor game with two quite poor sides in all reality. Stanley aren't Real Madrid. I do love in when these teams get all sanctimonious about our football.
Just keep grinding and winning boys. Let the scoreboard do the talking!
COYG!
