[madsteve]

A Point Gained or Two Lost?

In truth, it is both but it feels better when you come from two down to get a point. If we want to go up we need to beat the sides around us & that is where we are coming up short at the moment.

We started brightly but went behind when Westwood inexplicably dived in when the danger had already been averted & we went behind to the penalty. We nearly equalised when Joao hit the post.

The second came as we over stretched ourselves going forward. A long ball over the top which looked offside but as Westwood forced him wide, he slipped, leaving an empty net.

We didn't give up. FF equalised from nothing, firing in from 25 yards then we turned up the gas. Great play between Palmer & Wallace set up Bannan who's shot just went in off the post. Gradually Cardiff took over again & we seemed to settle for a draw at the death.

Westwood - 5
Palmer - 7
Loovens - 7
Turner - 6
Pudil - 6
Hutchinson - 6
Lee - 6
Wallace - 6
FF - 7
Bannan - 8
Joao - 6
..........................
Lopez - 6
Hooper - 6
Nuhiu

Stat Attack:

Goals: 1- FF, Bannan

Assists: 1 - Wallace, Bannan

Tackles: 3 - Loovens, Lee, FF 2 - Pudil, 1 - Turner, Bannan, Hooper, Nuhiu

Interceptions: 3 - Loovens, 2 - Palmer, Pudil, Hutchinson, 1 - Turner, Bannan, Hooper

Clearances: 5 - Loovens, 3 - Pudil, 1 - Westwood, Turner

Attempts: 4 - FF, Bannan, 2 - Loovens, Wallace, Joao

Attempts On Target: 2 - FF, Bannan, 1 - Loovens, Wallace

Key Passes: 4 - Bannan, 2 - Wallace, 1 - Palmer, Lee, Joao

Dribbles: 3 - FF, Lopez, 2 - Loovens, Bannan, 1 - Pudil

Dispossessed: 4 - Hooper, 3 - Joao, 2 - FF, 1 - Bannan, Palmer

Bad Control: 5 - Joao, 2 - FF, 1 - Palmer, Wallace, Hooper

Crosses (accurate in brackets): 7 - Palmer (2), Bannan (1), 5 - Wallace (1), 3 - FF (0), 1 - Pudil (1), Lee (0)

Passing Accuracy (total passes in brackets):

Nuhiu - 100% (1)
Turner - 94% (35)
Loovens - 92% (39)
FF - 88% (32)
Lopez - 87% (52)
Lee - 86% (36)
Wallace - 82% (61)
Bannan - 81% (74)
Palmer - 80% (50)
Hooper - 77% (13)
Joao - 75% (28)
Hutchinson - 73% (11)
Pudil - 68% (31)
Westwood - 40% (30)

It is probably no coincidence that we seem to score better when Hooper comes on. He may not be grabbing the headlines but is movement is excellent which creates space for our midfield players. Also a lot of credit to Loovens. He acted like a real captain, getting the best out of his team mates - something we have lacked for too long.

Bannan is so important to us. He gives us so much energy & is always involved. CC will need to shuffle his pack to keep players fresh but we need Bannan every match.