18-05-2015, 11:32
August
I was happy with our fixtures. We had avoided early fixtures against the promoted sides, Wolves, Rotherham & Brentford and we had early matches against Brighton, Millwall, Bolton, Birmingham & Reading, all sides that I expected to struggle. The only thing missing to make it perfect was to play Blackpool, who were in disarray and struggling to even field a side.
The run up to the opening match was disturbed by the news that we were selling Antonio. In pre-season, he had been integral to our play but two days before the season started, we sold our highest asset to Forest for what turned out to be £1.2m. This blow was softened by the news that SG had signed his number one summer target, Stevie May, from St Johnstone for £800k.
We started at Brighton and while many thought this was a tough match, I was heavily invested in Brighton to finish in the bottom half at even money.
We didn't play well but we did play professionally. Westwood & Lees made their debuts. Coke scored a wonderful goal from distance five minutes before half time and the task was made easier when Crofts was sent off five minutes after half time for a high tackle on Hutchinson.
I wasn't elated by the result because I expected to win with Brighton looking like a weak side with an inexperienced manager in charge but I was pleased by our calm efficiency and the fact that Brighton never looked like scoring.
Brighton 0-1 WEDNESDAY
After brushing aside Notts County in the League Cup, our first home match of the season was against Derby County, on paper the toughest of our opening six fixtures.
This was an entertaining 0-0 draw with May making his league debut. Maguire hit the bar from a free kick but we were indebted to Westwood, who made two great saves late on to earn us a draw.
This was a match that we could have won but could have lost so a draw seemed about right against a team fancied for promotion.
WEDNESDAY 0-0 Derby
Millwall at home looked like the perfect opportunity to push ourselves into the promotion frame as they appeared to be one of the weakest sides in the division. On the day, we didn't perform. We went ahead after an hour when Maguire's free kick was deflected in. Millwall blew the chance to equalise when Williams missed a penalty but levelled in injury time as we threw away two points.
WEDNESDAY 1-1 Millwall
Our next game was a tricky away match at Middlesbrough but it turned out to be probably our best performance of the season. The scoreline may suggest it was close but although there were squeaky moments at the death, we played brilliantly for 70 minutes. Maghoma had possibly his best game in a Wednesday shirt and created two of our goals with pin point crosses while Nuhiu twice & May were in the right place at the right time. We also hit the woodwork twice & had a good penalty shout denied. The fact that Boro made the score look respectable courtesy of two late penalties shouldn't take away from the fact that we thrashed a pretty good side on their own turf.
I went home that night believing that promotion was a very realistic possibility.
Middlesbrough 2-3 WEDNESDAY
After a good League Cup win at Burnley, we faced fellow unbeaten side, Forest at home next.
With hindsight, this match showed what was to come for the season - lots of endeavour but not enough skill or incisiveness when it counted. Forest executed the perfect smash & grab raid (as we had at Brighton) by taking their one chance then defending stoically. What made it all the more galling for our fans was that Antonio was their star performer and he created the match winning goal for Lansbury. It was evident then that we lacked the kind of pace and ability to change matches that Antonio provided.
WEDNESDAY 0-1 FOREST
We had two wins & two draws from five matches in the opening month and although the result against Forest was disappointing, there were still good reasons for optimism. We were one point outside the Playoff positions. Were we going to continue with our early season form or was the lack of creativity in the final third that showed up against Forest going to hinder our chances?
P5 W2 D2 L1 F5 A4 Pts8
I was happy with our fixtures. We had avoided early fixtures against the promoted sides, Wolves, Rotherham & Brentford and we had early matches against Brighton, Millwall, Bolton, Birmingham & Reading, all sides that I expected to struggle. The only thing missing to make it perfect was to play Blackpool, who were in disarray and struggling to even field a side.
The run up to the opening match was disturbed by the news that we were selling Antonio. In pre-season, he had been integral to our play but two days before the season started, we sold our highest asset to Forest for what turned out to be £1.2m. This blow was softened by the news that SG had signed his number one summer target, Stevie May, from St Johnstone for £800k.
We started at Brighton and while many thought this was a tough match, I was heavily invested in Brighton to finish in the bottom half at even money.
We didn't play well but we did play professionally. Westwood & Lees made their debuts. Coke scored a wonderful goal from distance five minutes before half time and the task was made easier when Crofts was sent off five minutes after half time for a high tackle on Hutchinson.
I wasn't elated by the result because I expected to win with Brighton looking like a weak side with an inexperienced manager in charge but I was pleased by our calm efficiency and the fact that Brighton never looked like scoring.
Brighton 0-1 WEDNESDAY
After brushing aside Notts County in the League Cup, our first home match of the season was against Derby County, on paper the toughest of our opening six fixtures.
This was an entertaining 0-0 draw with May making his league debut. Maguire hit the bar from a free kick but we were indebted to Westwood, who made two great saves late on to earn us a draw.
This was a match that we could have won but could have lost so a draw seemed about right against a team fancied for promotion.
WEDNESDAY 0-0 Derby
Millwall at home looked like the perfect opportunity to push ourselves into the promotion frame as they appeared to be one of the weakest sides in the division. On the day, we didn't perform. We went ahead after an hour when Maguire's free kick was deflected in. Millwall blew the chance to equalise when Williams missed a penalty but levelled in injury time as we threw away two points.
WEDNESDAY 1-1 Millwall
Our next game was a tricky away match at Middlesbrough but it turned out to be probably our best performance of the season. The scoreline may suggest it was close but although there were squeaky moments at the death, we played brilliantly for 70 minutes. Maghoma had possibly his best game in a Wednesday shirt and created two of our goals with pin point crosses while Nuhiu twice & May were in the right place at the right time. We also hit the woodwork twice & had a good penalty shout denied. The fact that Boro made the score look respectable courtesy of two late penalties shouldn't take away from the fact that we thrashed a pretty good side on their own turf.
I went home that night believing that promotion was a very realistic possibility.
Middlesbrough 2-3 WEDNESDAY
After a good League Cup win at Burnley, we faced fellow unbeaten side, Forest at home next.
With hindsight, this match showed what was to come for the season - lots of endeavour but not enough skill or incisiveness when it counted. Forest executed the perfect smash & grab raid (as we had at Brighton) by taking their one chance then defending stoically. What made it all the more galling for our fans was that Antonio was their star performer and he created the match winning goal for Lansbury. It was evident then that we lacked the kind of pace and ability to change matches that Antonio provided.
WEDNESDAY 0-1 FOREST
We had two wins & two draws from five matches in the opening month and although the result against Forest was disappointing, there were still good reasons for optimism. We were one point outside the Playoff positions. Were we going to continue with our early season form or was the lack of creativity in the final third that showed up against Forest going to hinder our chances?
P5 W2 D2 L1 F5 A4 Pts8
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.
The Fat lad would have worked out how to get the best out of him whereas I always thought that SG signed him to get one over on the local rivals rather than actually wanting him. He had no interest in playing to his best assets or building a team round him or playing a system to provide for him