Managed to survive the game in enemy territory - at two nil up I really was bursting for a big grin but managed to hold it in
How did we not win that game ? First half, especially, we were all over them (don`t know where BBC get their % stats from) . Really good high press frustrated Bolton into plenty of errors and Lloyd and Dempsey, in particular, made the most of them.
Big John also had an excellent first half and was causing Bolton no end of problems. The Wanderers crowd certainly didn`t like it up `em and there was more than a little displeasure emanating from around me - I felt obliged to add a few jeers in the direction of Ian Evatt - you know, just to keep my cover
(actually I really admire Evatt). To be quite honest Gillingham were well in command as we went into half-time.
Thoughts turned to how many times this season we`ve seen our Gills team have a brill first half then chuck it away in the second. But things were a bit different today (to start with, anyway). Vadaine Oliver will be seriously disappointed with himself as, within the first ten minutes or so of the second half, he had at least two clear opportunities to increase the lead. At twenty minutes or so into the second we should have been "doing a Wigan" on them with a 4-0 lead.
But it wasn`t to be and Bolton started to force their way back, partly assisted by our out-of-puff pressers ! Lloyd and Akinde (especially) were clearly spent at around 70/75 mins and it was a bit baffling that we did nothing about it but watch on as Bolton gained more and more of our end of the pitch.
I suppose, pre-game, we`d have taken a point but this really was two points lost - think we should have handled the last twenty a bit better tactically.
Back four were pretty good; McKenzie and Bennett looked very comfortable. Jack played in front of them again at the base of a diamond - not sure it`s working that well but with a lack of w/back speed options, it`s understandable why SE is putting him there. MOMIMHO, toss up between Lloyd & Dempsey.
Didn`t hear any Scally Out shouts - but then we were winning for most of the game.