Frank says post match he knows the away form is a concern and it would help if we don’t keep conceding in the first few minutes.
In reality the rest of the season is done, The last few always have been painful. Wigan Away slow and turgid, They were so poor we got away with a nil nil, Swansea gave us the run around and put us out the game in the first 45, today 2 down after 15 before we even strung 3 passes together.
Apart from Boro, since Xmas we have had no shows at Forest, Sheff Wed and hustled off our game by Swansea and Sheff U.
Today, Frank look tired at the press conference and a bit of loss why we can’t perform away. Teams have sussed us away - high press on the back 3 and mistakes will happen. Reading and both Swansea played 3 up and target Sorensen, it’s cruel but true. Meite, Oliveira and Barrow were like a gang not 5 yards from each other standing by Sorensen when the ball was up the other end, Dalsgaard had nobody his side and Konza look bemused for the first 15.
It was a tactic that worked for manager Gomes as it did for Potter at Swansea, the smarter managers have caught on, if Plan B is to perform Plan A better then we have failed away from home. Sawyers and Da Silva never picked up the runs by Barrow and Oliveira dropping deeper just gave the space whilst our back 3 thought do we stick or twist.
Meite with two smart finishes one from a through ball between Jeanvier and Sorensen and the second when Sawyers failed to pick him up from a standing start with only Maupay’s smart header from a fumbled Benrahma freekick kept us in the game.
Maupay is a shining light - bottle his will to win and you have character, his frustration at his team mates were there for all to see. Reading weren’t fantastic but I couldn’t disagree with Franks comment they deserved to win, they wanted and needed the win, our players wanted warmer climes and some sun and sand than a chilly Mad Stad.
When we are good the football is just a joy, when we are bad we look like we could concede for fun. 14th is about right for this side this season. We are the good bad and ugly this season. I’d imagine a lot of ins and outs over the summer as Frank really puts his marker down. When we play Reading next season it will be interesting to see how many names will be still on the team sheet.
Championship football six seasons running that’s good enough for me and most but let’s not dress today up - it wasn’t good and following the aways this season the errors seem to be on loop more often. Off to the Den on Friday and if Brentford show like they did today, let’s not kid ourselves they will get a wallop. Millwall is always a good Away to go to, let’s see if the players agree.
