05-04-2015, 11:00
Seen it all before - sluggish start, rigid 442, Nuhui misses easy chance and another bore draw.
I had hoped that SG might have changed after the success of 433 in the final 15 minutes at Rotherham. With two weeks to practice, we could have changed to something more progressive. Sadly, it was more of the same - another snorefest!
There were some good individual performances and a few decent moves. Sadly the way we are set up, we rarely are able to take advantage of any good situations. The defence generally looked solid although that may be partly due to the fact that Huddersfield were a very poor side.
In the first half, we got in three great crosses from Vermijl, Mattock & Isgrove yet no-one got on the end of any of them. Lavery had two chances but failed to hit the target. He looked our most likely scorer in the first half and showed plenty of energy.
The nearest to a goal in the first half came at the other end when Vermijl headed off the line to keep the scores level. Vermijl was a live wire down the right flank throughout, reminding me of Mel Sterland (the half time celebrity) in the style of his marauding runs. He should be a real asset next season.
We lost Mattock to a head injury early in the second half. While he was receiving treatment, Nuhui was presented with an easy scoring opportunity but he contrived to underhit it into an empty net and a defender got back to clear. We still hadn't forced their keeper into a save.
The match was heading for 0-0. We looked livelier when Bus & May replaced Nuhui & Lee with Lavery moving back to midfield. Maguire replaced Lavery as we stuck rigidly to 442. We had a free kick in the area McGugan loves but Maguire was allowed to take it & tapped it into the keepers arms. With time running out, we scored in a goal mouth scramble. Bus took two attempts but showed good instincts to force the ball home.
Within a couple of minutes, the visitors were level. Miller fired home after Zayatte failed to head clear and no-one else reacted quickly enough. Huddersfield should have won it a minute later when they had two players free to tap home from six yards but they contrived to tap it straight to Westwood.
Drop of the Black Stuff - 6 - nothing to do except goal
Poirot - 7 - very good going forward
Mr Reliable - 6 - easy afternoon
Mr Bean - 6 - looked good until late error
The Mummy - 6 - never threatened
Hobbit - 5 - not enough
Biscuit Knees - 6 - solid, no moments of madness
Rolls Royce - 8 - a class above anyone else on pitch
Milky Bar Kid - 6 - one good cross, tackled back well
Balloo - 5 - missed easy chance
Lavs - 6 - bright but tired second half
..................................................................
Braveheart - 5 - hardly involved
Meadowhall to Killamarsh - 7 - looks like a real striker
Mr Angry - 6 - added little
This was clearly a game we should have won. Huddersfield were hopeless and offered very little yet we contrived to give them a easy afternoon. Apart from the goal, I cannot recall their keeper having to make a save of note. There is little point getting the ball in from wide if we have no-one attacking the ball in the centre. We put in three beautiful crosses in the first half but no-one got near them.
There were a few pluses. Vermijl looks like a real prospect on the right and could be outstanding if we switch to 352. Helan could do a similar job on the left. Bus looked like a goalscorer. He attacked the ball and would surely get 15+ goals if a regular. Lavery looks like he could step up to this level. He neshed a couple of tackles but that is understandable after his injury and given game time, he will get there.
Sadly, Huddersfield were there for the taking and we never set out to go for it. While we will be better next season, I suspect that they will be struggling to stay up if any of the promoted sides are half decent.
Another dour display does little to convince me that SG is the master tactician that we need to get promoted. That was our easiest remaining match so we could face a demoralising end to the season unless we show more inspiration.
I had hoped that SG might have changed after the success of 433 in the final 15 minutes at Rotherham. With two weeks to practice, we could have changed to something more progressive. Sadly, it was more of the same - another snorefest!
There were some good individual performances and a few decent moves. Sadly the way we are set up, we rarely are able to take advantage of any good situations. The defence generally looked solid although that may be partly due to the fact that Huddersfield were a very poor side.
In the first half, we got in three great crosses from Vermijl, Mattock & Isgrove yet no-one got on the end of any of them. Lavery had two chances but failed to hit the target. He looked our most likely scorer in the first half and showed plenty of energy.
The nearest to a goal in the first half came at the other end when Vermijl headed off the line to keep the scores level. Vermijl was a live wire down the right flank throughout, reminding me of Mel Sterland (the half time celebrity) in the style of his marauding runs. He should be a real asset next season.
We lost Mattock to a head injury early in the second half. While he was receiving treatment, Nuhui was presented with an easy scoring opportunity but he contrived to underhit it into an empty net and a defender got back to clear. We still hadn't forced their keeper into a save.
The match was heading for 0-0. We looked livelier when Bus & May replaced Nuhui & Lee with Lavery moving back to midfield. Maguire replaced Lavery as we stuck rigidly to 442. We had a free kick in the area McGugan loves but Maguire was allowed to take it & tapped it into the keepers arms. With time running out, we scored in a goal mouth scramble. Bus took two attempts but showed good instincts to force the ball home.
Within a couple of minutes, the visitors were level. Miller fired home after Zayatte failed to head clear and no-one else reacted quickly enough. Huddersfield should have won it a minute later when they had two players free to tap home from six yards but they contrived to tap it straight to Westwood.
Drop of the Black Stuff - 6 - nothing to do except goal
Poirot - 7 - very good going forward
Mr Reliable - 6 - easy afternoon
Mr Bean - 6 - looked good until late error
The Mummy - 6 - never threatened
Hobbit - 5 - not enough
Biscuit Knees - 6 - solid, no moments of madness
Rolls Royce - 8 - a class above anyone else on pitch
Milky Bar Kid - 6 - one good cross, tackled back well
Balloo - 5 - missed easy chance
Lavs - 6 - bright but tired second half
..................................................................
Braveheart - 5 - hardly involved
Meadowhall to Killamarsh - 7 - looks like a real striker
Mr Angry - 6 - added little
This was clearly a game we should have won. Huddersfield were hopeless and offered very little yet we contrived to give them a easy afternoon. Apart from the goal, I cannot recall their keeper having to make a save of note. There is little point getting the ball in from wide if we have no-one attacking the ball in the centre. We put in three beautiful crosses in the first half but no-one got near them.
There were a few pluses. Vermijl looks like a real prospect on the right and could be outstanding if we switch to 352. Helan could do a similar job on the left. Bus looked like a goalscorer. He attacked the ball and would surely get 15+ goals if a regular. Lavery looks like he could step up to this level. He neshed a couple of tackles but that is understandable after his injury and given game time, he will get there.
Sadly, Huddersfield were there for the taking and we never set out to go for it. While we will be better next season, I suspect that they will be struggling to stay up if any of the promoted sides are half decent.
Another dour display does little to convince me that SG is the master tactician that we need to get promoted. That was our easiest remaining match so we could face a demoralising end to the season unless we show more inspiration.
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.