22-03-2015, 20:47
Blaze of Glory
This was a match that is difficult to sum up.
For 75 minutes we were rubbish, as bad as the Wolves & ipswich matches then we finished in a blaze of glory which gave us an unexpected three points and probably masks how poor we were for most of the match.
I always look for performance over points because with performance, the points will come in the long run. However, it was impossible not to feel lifted by our stirring finish to the game.
The first half was poor with Westwood keeping us in the game with three fantastic saves. Our only effort of note was a McGugan shot from 20 yards, well tipped round the post by Martinez. We set up with what appeared to be a 451 although McGugan played just behind Nuhui in a 4411. Isgrove also got increasingly forward as Nuhui dropped deeper to try to get involved. It didn't help that Isgrove & Helan barely contributed.
Unusually for us we didn't wake up at the beginning of the second half. Rotherham controlled the match and looked the only team likely to score. Lavery was already stripped to come on when Rotherham took the lead. They probably deserved it on the balance of play but there was a massive slice of luck with a deflection leaving Westwood dead.
Lavery replaced Isgrove and we went back to our more usual 442. We still looked lame and there were no clues that this poor game was going to have a sensational finish. SG threw on May & Maguire for Hutchinson & Helan. The introduction of May seemed to spark some urgency into our attack and we switched to 433.
From being boring & embarrassing, there was a feeling that we might get something. Lavery headed us level from McGugan's cross. Before we had finished celebrating, Rotherham were back in front. Sloppy defending and another deflected shot. However, we had stirred and it was now a siege on the Rotherham goal. In the 94th minute, Nuhui headed in McGugan's free kick and in the 98th minute, Lee sidefooted home from May's clever flick.
I loved all three goals. These are the sort of goals that we haven't scored enough of this season - the sort of goals that successful sides score regularly. Lavery's header was simple, easy to knock home but only because his run was excellent to get into that position and McGugan's vision & delivery was spot on. The second goal was pretty much identical to one of Nuhui's goals at Boro way back in August. Again, the header is easy. With a delivery like that, all Nuhui had to do, was get there & get a touch on it. The third goal was mostly down to Lee's determination to get into the box. There was a wave of inevitability about our stoppage time attacking and May's flick epitomised our growing confidence.
I can understand that Steve Evans feels robbed but Rotherham, despite having most of the meaningful possession and attempts for 75 minutes, never played at the intensity we did in the final 15 minutes.
Westwood - 7 - kept us in the game
Vermijl - 6 - one good run
Lees - 6 - generally solid
Dielna - 5 - a bit shaky
Mattock - 6 - kept his side secure
Isgrove - 5 - looked like a lost boy
Lee - 7 - 98th minute hero
Hutchinson - 6 - still reckless
Helan - 5 - added little
McGugan - 8 - only real quality on the pitch
Nuhui - 6 - neatly taken goal
........................................................
Lavery - 6 - well taken goal, needs more game time
Maguire - 6 - one good run
May - 7 - sparky, set up winner
Today it feels like the morning after a great night out. That great feeling has gone & the realisation is sinking in that all we had was a glorious moment but little of substance going forward. The match stats suggest we dominated the game but we had 8 of our 15 attempts and 5 of our 6 on target attempts from the 80th minute onwards.
There were a number of plus points - McGugan again, better attacking runs and good substitutions, which all could help us in the future. It is also not the first time we have switched to 433 and improved.
A sparkling finale shouldn't hide that we were poor for 75 minutes but it does show our potential.
We now have two weeks break to allow a few players to get fit. Maybe our success again playing 433 might give SG food for thought as to how we might tackle our remaining matches.
This was a match that is difficult to sum up.
For 75 minutes we were rubbish, as bad as the Wolves & ipswich matches then we finished in a blaze of glory which gave us an unexpected three points and probably masks how poor we were for most of the match.
I always look for performance over points because with performance, the points will come in the long run. However, it was impossible not to feel lifted by our stirring finish to the game.
The first half was poor with Westwood keeping us in the game with three fantastic saves. Our only effort of note was a McGugan shot from 20 yards, well tipped round the post by Martinez. We set up with what appeared to be a 451 although McGugan played just behind Nuhui in a 4411. Isgrove also got increasingly forward as Nuhui dropped deeper to try to get involved. It didn't help that Isgrove & Helan barely contributed.
Unusually for us we didn't wake up at the beginning of the second half. Rotherham controlled the match and looked the only team likely to score. Lavery was already stripped to come on when Rotherham took the lead. They probably deserved it on the balance of play but there was a massive slice of luck with a deflection leaving Westwood dead.
Lavery replaced Isgrove and we went back to our more usual 442. We still looked lame and there were no clues that this poor game was going to have a sensational finish. SG threw on May & Maguire for Hutchinson & Helan. The introduction of May seemed to spark some urgency into our attack and we switched to 433.
From being boring & embarrassing, there was a feeling that we might get something. Lavery headed us level from McGugan's cross. Before we had finished celebrating, Rotherham were back in front. Sloppy defending and another deflected shot. However, we had stirred and it was now a siege on the Rotherham goal. In the 94th minute, Nuhui headed in McGugan's free kick and in the 98th minute, Lee sidefooted home from May's clever flick.
I loved all three goals. These are the sort of goals that we haven't scored enough of this season - the sort of goals that successful sides score regularly. Lavery's header was simple, easy to knock home but only because his run was excellent to get into that position and McGugan's vision & delivery was spot on. The second goal was pretty much identical to one of Nuhui's goals at Boro way back in August. Again, the header is easy. With a delivery like that, all Nuhui had to do, was get there & get a touch on it. The third goal was mostly down to Lee's determination to get into the box. There was a wave of inevitability about our stoppage time attacking and May's flick epitomised our growing confidence.
I can understand that Steve Evans feels robbed but Rotherham, despite having most of the meaningful possession and attempts for 75 minutes, never played at the intensity we did in the final 15 minutes.
Westwood - 7 - kept us in the game
Vermijl - 6 - one good run
Lees - 6 - generally solid
Dielna - 5 - a bit shaky
Mattock - 6 - kept his side secure
Isgrove - 5 - looked like a lost boy
Lee - 7 - 98th minute hero
Hutchinson - 6 - still reckless
Helan - 5 - added little
McGugan - 8 - only real quality on the pitch
Nuhui - 6 - neatly taken goal
........................................................
Lavery - 6 - well taken goal, needs more game time
Maguire - 6 - one good run
May - 7 - sparky, set up winner
Today it feels like the morning after a great night out. That great feeling has gone & the realisation is sinking in that all we had was a glorious moment but little of substance going forward. The match stats suggest we dominated the game but we had 8 of our 15 attempts and 5 of our 6 on target attempts from the 80th minute onwards.
There were a number of plus points - McGugan again, better attacking runs and good substitutions, which all could help us in the future. It is also not the first time we have switched to 433 and improved.
A sparkling finale shouldn't hide that we were poor for 75 minutes but it does show our potential.
We now have two weeks break to allow a few players to get fit. Maybe our success again playing 433 might give SG food for thought as to how we might tackle our remaining matches.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
just wish we'd play like the last 15 mins over the course of 90mins because we would batter teams every week
big fat sweaty sock 
tickets which we sold out 