[madsteve]

A disappointing 45 minutes when we were all full of hope and expectation at HT.

On the plus side -

Palmer looked like a very decent CM player
Maghoma was much better in the central role (madsteve has mentioned this on various occasions, it is where he was so successful at Burton)
Buxton's match fitness will be much improved
May looked bright and full or running

Negatives -

Kirkland looks completely past it, time for a youngster to step up and get him off the wage bill in Jan
Madine hasn't got it, out the door with Kirkland in Jan
Zayatte still has one big error in his game that costs us.  He was outstanding in the 1st half

I just hope now that this isn't the start of a 3/4 game losing streak.  I see little point in analysing this on the training ground and rubbing salt in the wounds.  Onwards and upwards at Cardiff on Saturday.

One final note, the noise in the away end was unbelievable

Largely agree. Agree with the positives.

Nuhui looked no better than Madine when he came on & missed our easiest chance. Both held the ball up well against quality defenders. Not sure that Zayatte made much of an error. He was just beaten by international standard quality.

Although there is little point analysing the match, where we can learn (when we have time), is to watch the off the ball movement of players like Lampard & Milner & try to emulate it.