Last Minute decide Points Again
After Saturday's stirring last minute grab of a win from a nil nil draw at the Valley, it was 'deja vous' but with boot on t'other foot as 'Udders smashed and grabbed a win from a nil nil draw tonight.
Team changes were KOC for Neilson (squad rotation we mutter or guess on New Rd?) plus Weston started for the injured Saunders, horses for courses. 'Udders had Jordan Rhodes returning to GP, a player who's time with us has gone, you think if only.. but money talks and we didn't have it, so that ship has sailed.
Early only Roberts, 'Udders winger gives KOC a chasing, Rhodes cuts in and curls a delicious right footed shot from outside the box, in all the waybut Lee clambers and leaps and pushes one handed away, top save, but you kinda expected it, he's setting his own standards now.
Warburton is in Nicky's ear, Byrne is not backing up, but NF wants him to hold, so Tourmani shuffles across to help more often and KOC gets the measure of Roberts, but in truth without Neilson, we lose 10 yards going forward, KOC only goes so far, but it's not far enough.
We feel our way in, the game is played at a frantic pace, both sides tippy tap and give back to each other, it's too quick and no control, plus the pitch has hardened up and there is a basketball bounce where there are more aeriel duels than passes to feet. Time for slow, slow but there is no Saunders to stop and stare and create so both team carry on to cancel each other out.
Alexander has a left footed shot from 18 yards go wide, Grabban has two digs from distance one low and just wide the other straight at the keeper, Byrne a deflected volley that needed stopping. Shoot on sight - this is fair, no moans. Best bit of first half Woodman plays low pass into box Reed pushing on, he receives the ball back to goal, does a Cryuff-type heel turn and floats curls a right footed effort just past the post. Close but this bit of skill brings prolonged applause and nods of approval from GP. This boy has talent
Half time it evens but we've had the better of it. 2nd half - Rhodes doesn't reappear we breathe a sigh of relief but Jordan never looks the same player against us, perhaps a twinge of conscience rather than twinge of a hamstring, a Bee at heart!
Weston volleys left footed smack straight at the keeper first minute in, good parry.
Udders play with a little fear, they are 2nd and they know it, hold on to what you've got is their motto, Lee Clark looks agitated and signals manically from the sides like he's bringing the planes Heathrow bound into land, this is management by blood pressure, it's only March, Forster looks on non plussed, mid table has it's virtues, he must think. We pass and move but to counter act this the long ball comes into play as we hita wall of blue and white.
So time for a change, Grabban is hooked for Bignall but gets a good hand, Lewis unlucky, he drifted and pulled the defence today but Forster goes like for like, pace for pace. Bignall gets his chance and gets clear and is pulled down in the box but gets back up, stay down son, we the cynics shout, but he's up and off and crosses to no one in the middle! Chance gone.
The next subs Nicky gets wrong - he leaves till 10 mins to go and goes Bean for Reed, Adam face like thunder disagrees, Nicky quiet word, but Adam, young man is not happy and we kinda get his drift, same time Jeffrey Schlupp comes on for Weston, Bignall then goes left wing, it goes a little all over the place, Byrne or Alexander could of gone before Grabban and Reed but Nicky's the man but in truth from the stand, called it wrong tonight.
Schlupp in green boots, smallish, reminds me initially of Caddette with his swagger, but he's rocket propelled, it gives him a yard start on the Yorkshire hoofers and he makes space straight away he has a chance in the area in his first 3 minutes and shoots straight at the keeper. Signs are good, pace = goals chances, Jeffrey will get his chance soon.
Time added on now, Kareligh gets pressed at the back thinks of going back but chips 20 yards across to KOC who is now running back under pressure, chests and hoofs out. Forster for the first time holds his head crouches and mutters and gestures, Nicky knows this is tippy tappy gone slappy happy. Udders press and get a corner. From the corner, free header down goalbound, Cadamarteri gets in front of Lee to nudge over line, Lee claws it back into play, Bees freeze, Clarke, centre half, takes no chances volleys in from 8 yards high, wallop and celebrates in a knees up Mother Brown styley in front of his own. Nil 1 game gone.
Goods tonight - Woodman - he is so good, he's the Bees prefect of the team, never does much wrong and always there to sweep up. Leon another strong game. Tourmani another good shift in the middle.
Byrne - hmm interesting, he's our new Weston, dividing opinion on New Rd, something about him, pace and a good attitude, but he needs a little more, bench for me on Saturday, with Grabban on wing and Jeffrey (great having a Jeffrey) up front.
Not so goods - Alexander running on empty, Weston, tip and run has to be more than that Myles, Karleigh going through a confidence blip and KOC proving we miss Neilson.
I seen two games in the past 4 days that both had nil nil written over both of them, but in the last minute of each, we end with a win and a loss, that's just the way it goes, glory glory or kick in the nuts. Forster got blinded with science tonight, Udders wanted anything, they got more than they bargained for, we are a team that is a changing for the better, personnel is new and settling but 2 goals in our last 5 games both from the centre halves tells a tale, no goals from open play - time for practice Nicky Thursday morning, ditch the brown brogues, bring your boots in and show them where the goal is !
