[betterthanbaird]

I was away for the last 3 games, so first game I've seen in full since Millwall.

Don't really know what to make of today, as it was very good in patches but also very poor in others.

First half we gave them 2 goals but looked great going forward. Matheus Pereira was excellent, while Diangana showed a threat we lacked early season. Took his goal brilliantly as well. Austin generally looked like an overweight lump, but at least he had a presence up top which we missed earlier in the season.

Second half, we just lost the midfield and couldn't keep the ball at all. With the exception of his goal, Livermore was poor all game IMO. I think the full back areas are a worry, particularly with Ferguson at left back as he's a young lad, inexperienced, playing on his wrong side. This makes it difficult for him to offer himself as an option. IMO Slav should be playing Brunt at left back.

Definitely good signs, but we need to be better in the midfield. We shouldn't be incapable of keeping the ball against sides like Blackburn at home. Slav needs to see more quickly if we need an extra body in the middle.

Fulham next week will be the real test.

Yeah I agree with a lot of this, we're asking far too much of Ferguson putting him on the left, and I fear Furlong is a lot better going forward than defensively (but credit he is very dangerous going forward), there were a lot of times that blackburn tried to run into the space left in behind him but Ajayi seemed to have the pace to cover him. Was impressed with Ajayi overall, very strong in the air and happy to bring the ball out of defence and took his man on a lot (which was bloody terrifying but normally worked out for him).

Livermore took his goal well and can be handy defensively but his passing just isn't quite there, it's even more glaringly obvious with Sawyers next to him who's so comfortable on the ball and asks for it in any situation.

Austin tried to put himself about but didn't really offer much, the three in behind showed a lot of promise. Phillips looked somewhere near his best, the strength he showed for his goal and the chip in the build-up to the second were pure class. Pereira and Diangana both lost the ball a lot early on but grew into the game and their ability shone through for the goals.

Lot of positives overall that makes me think we should minimum be hovering around the playoffs but it's obvious to most of us that we might still be short of a keeper, full-back, midfielder and striker.