The Great Pride Park Agricultural Show

That was as horrible to watch as the pitch is to play on. We obviously set up to deal with "the Middlesborough Way" and did it well. But it meant that we went long ball. It was effective because I don't think Middlesborough quite knew what to do about it. It also means that we are no longer a one trick pony, because Wayne is above sticking to wanting pure football, and will obviously go for the basic or rudimentary. So we mathed the 'Boro in agriculture, but not with the dirty, skullduggery associated with Colin's teams.

So yet another match where our visitors thought they had a God given right to kick, push and foul, and mostly the ref played along. Two well worked goals, the second a stunner, and a sloppy goal given away, although it is another of those goals which wouldn't have happened if we had had a referee on the pitch. But to sit back and defend for a 2 - 1 win for so long , although it worked, isn't the way to go. I know they only got two shots on target all match, but we are better than that.

Nevertheless its 3 points, its 19th place, its win!

Good result, but what the hell has happened to our previously fantastic carpet????

valakari wrote:Good result, but what the hell has happened to our previously fantastic carpet????

Wasn't re-laid in the summer, as is usually the case, due to Covid. It's the same for many teams if you watch their games recently. At least we can actually put a match on after a bit of bad weather (cough... Rotherham, cough.... Barnsley....cough Sheff Wed). Ooohh... Errr... With all this coughing people will think I'm ill.

Very dour game with just the very occasional flash of quality.

Winning ugly is a nice habit to get into, and one that is required to get up the table.

Gregory I thought was very good indeed not only with his goal and assist, but also for his intelligent use of the ball and midfield-esque range of passing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jozwiak is another Tom Lawrence. Please do something to prove me wrong Jozwiak as I am beginning to think there is no end product to your game.

The CKR goal must surely be the goal of the season thus far.

3 points is 3 points. There is that age old adage of "it's a sign of a good side when you can play poorly and win". We played poorly and won. IMO there is a good side in there, we're not there yet though.

They had the best of both the first and last 10 minutes of the first half. In between we were far better than them. Well worked corner that saw Buchanan head back towards the near post (near in respect to the corner) where Gregory was waiting, unchallenged to nod home. Then we saw Kaz a his best. Good pass to Gregory from Waggy, LG lays it back into the path of Kaz who, well, simply smashed with pace and accuracy, in off the bar giving the keeper absolutely no chance whatsoever.

Their reply started with a foul on LG which, like so many fouls they committed, wasn't given. That was one of only two shots on target they had.

2nd half they had more possession, pressed us into our on half without ever looking like scoring. We had a couple of decent counters but that was it. Not much of a spectacle but a deserved ground out win.

Marshall not a lot to do but effective in what he did
Byrne had a decent game
Wisdom found himself out of position a few times but solved most of the situations himself, the rest were sorted by Clarke
Clarke had a decent game
Buchanan defended well, had an assist but probably his worst game yet in an attacking sense
Wagstaff better defensively than attackingly
Shinnie was not at his normal standard
Knight idem ditto
Jozwiak seems to have lost his attacking mojo seeming to get into a fight with the ball every time he gets on a run. Went over a little too easily a few times and the one that sticks out the most was the edge of the area one where there was a touching of arms. 2 more strides and thre was the chance of a good shot. Stay on your feet lad.
Kazim great goal but his worst overall game in a Rams shirt. Poor control and misplaced passes.
Gregory not perfect but very good and my MOTM with a goal, an assist and top all round play.

The ref? Certainly not a homer. At fault for their goal although I'm not too unhappy with it as I forecast 2-1