MOTM Luke Chambers
Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Forest
15/09/09 19:45 Category: Championship
Bit disappointing last night to be honest. Another away game where we seemed intent on stopping the opposition playing rather than trying to cause them problems ourselves. Given the choice of "another valuable away point" or "chance missed to beat another mediorce opposition", I'm tending towards the latter camp, especially after seeing similar on Saturday. However, it does show signs of improvement that we can go away from home get a point and still have expected more. It's frustrating to know that we have the squad capable of winning at these places but not giving ourselves the best chance of doing so.
For the first hour we contained Ipswich but never really held onto the ball for long enough to worry them. Every time Camp got the ball, it went straight downfield for Blackstock and McGoldrick to scrap for. Their centre halves had an easy time, heading away clearances as we struggled to build up enough play to get Anderson or Garner into dangerous areas. McKenna was a shadow of the early season force in midfield and proceeded to give the ball away time and again. The midfielders roles seemed to consist of spoiling the home side and then pushing the ball forward as quickly as possible.
Defensively, we looked pretty good. Camp was very rarely threaten. MOTM Chambers and Morgan continue to develop an understanding and dominate the opposition. Gunter frustrated Martin throughout, even though Lynch did okay, he always looks the most vulnerable. One lapse early in the game, allowed a cross from their right to find their unmarked player who looked to score with yet another deflection. The closest we came to scoring was a cross/shot from Garner that hit the bar and bounced to safety. Cohen put a dangerous free kick over the bar.
We started the second half much better but it was Earnshaw's arrival that got us going. Having picked the ball up in midfield, he found Adebola on the edge of the area, took the lay-off beat a defender and scored with ease.
They had one effort cleared off the line but we looked the most lively to sneak the win. Suddenly the midfield starting looking for passes with a front two willing to drop deep to help out. The extra experience of Earnshaw and Adebola was making a big difference and we looked a different side from the earlier rubbish, especially with the extra pace which they couldn't cope with.
It was Adebola's strength that nearly won the game in the last minute. He hassled their lumbering centre back into giving the ball away and was through on goal. Their player tried to bring him down a few times before eventually getting there just as our man entered the area. Deserved red card but Earnshaw could only hit the wall with the freekick.
Getting Tyson back down the left, allowing Anderson on the right will make a difference. Garner is no right midfielder and Ipswich seemed to play on his dodgy temperament throughout. Adebola and Earnshaw both did more than enough to justify a start place on Saturday. Out of all the striking combinations we've used this season, their's looked the more dangerous and well suited last night.
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0 Comments
QPR 1 - 1 Forest
22/08/09 15:00 Category: Championship
There were certainly positives to be taken from the game. We restricted them to very few chances with Chambers, McKenna and Majewski all prominent. As with most opponents this season, QPR were nothing special and we didn’t make the most of the game.
At times we looked bright and incisive but these were all too infrequent with us often drifting into aimless hoof ball. We have to keep the ball on the floor and play more football, the players are clearly capable of doing this. Instead, we launch aimless balls to Adebola and expect him to compete against a defence full of 6 foot plus defenders.
I don’t think there’s too much wrong with the side. We’ve lacked a little bit of luck or benefitted from a refereeing decision, an early goal would do wonders for our confidence. The deficiencies in defence are obvious and Lynch’s new injury just compounded this. In midfield, we badly miss Cohen’s consistency, effort and enthusiasm and his presence would benefit the side. Up front, the selection of the strikers seems pretty random at the moment and some stability would be nice.
During the opening spell, there was only team in the game and we should have taken advantage from a string of chances. Majewski, carried the ball forward to the edge of the area, the shot was well saved and the rebound fell to Garner whose bottom corner effort was turned around for a corner.
Garner missed the next chance that came our way. Cohen’s perfect cross from the left only required the slightest touch from six yards but an air shot resulted in the chance wasted. Shortly after, McGoldrick cut inside from the right and put his left foot shot wide of the far post.
Predictably, QPR came back into the game but the opening goal came from nowhere, a long range effort destined for the top corner with no chance for Camp.
We started to put some pressure on the QPR defence after the break and eventually our direct approach paid off. The move was started by Camp’s long ball, Adebola’s flick on, with McGoldrick applying a smart finish.
After we equalised, we stopped pressing them and barely threatened. For the closing stages we even reverted back to 451 instead of believing we could win the game.
Camp didn’t have much to do, one full length save from a free kick stands out, plus one late incident where he found himself without the ball in midfield. Fortunately, the offside flag came to his rescue.
MOTM Chambers was outstanding at centre half as he eased himself back into the side after suspension. He cruised through the game, looking calm in possession and a steadying influence. He was ably assisted by Morgan who didn’t do much wrong alongside him and kept the QPR forwards very quiet.
We looked a bit weak at full back where Gunter, Lynch and then McCleary struggled to prevent crosses and didn’t make things hard enough for their opposing wingers.
It was a similar story with the wide midfielders in front of them. Neither Garner nor Cohen look settled in this positions and it seems a weird choice with the likes of Anderson waiting in reserve.
McKenna protected the back four as well as ever and competed with their midfield all afternoon. Numerous last minute tackles and interceptions, standing up to their midfield. Majewski showed some very nice touches in patches, unlucky not to score but struggles to contribute for the whole game. If we’re going to persist with someone out of position down the left, then I’d like to see him out there and get Cohen back in the centre where he belongs.
Up front, Adebola worked tirelessly for the team and ran himself into the ground in the end. Too often, the service he received was poor or his team mates didn’t get close enough to him to take advantage of his good play. McGoldrick took his goal very well but drifted in and out of the game too often.
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