Pool Panel: Blackpool v Doncaster (h) Draw 1-1

A new manager and a complete change in approach.  Freed from the shackles of a rigid 4-5-1 system, we looked far more threatening and actually capable of scoring.  In that first half, how Chopra alone didn’t score three, I’ll never know.  There was a much better balance in the side with full backs able to push on and support the midfield and attackers, and as a consequence, the defence were rarely pressed, as the ball was at the other end of the pitch.

The lost confidence started to come back, and with Perkins making an assured debut (echoes of Billy Ronson in his look and play), we finally could see that we’re not that bad a side.  When the goal came, it was because we had numbers in the box, meaning the ball had a better chance of falling our way.  The isolated lone forward was a thing of the past, and the goal was celebrated both on and off the pitch as a great lifting of a weight around the club’s shoulders.

With ten minutes to go, perhaps understandably, we started to drop deeper to save what we had.  With that nervousness, for the first time we stopped passing the ball and resorted to lumping it long.  A debateable freekick then found its way right across the goal into the far corner.  Not what we deserved from the game, but the plunge down the table has been halted and we can now build from here.

With Ferguson allowed to bring in his assistants and a few players, it would appear the job’s his if he wants it.  Onwards and upwards with a win at Reading.

STARMAN: Perkins

Pool Panel: Middlesbrough (h) Lost 0-2

The run of defeats continues with two very late goals condemning us yet again.  Having said that, the performance was better than we’ve had recently, with better balance to the side given to us by Tom Ince on the left and Tom Barkhuizen to the right of Ricardo Fuller.  The loss of Barkhuizen to a bad injury disrupted the balance of the side and consequently we lost momentum.  For me, our subs don’t change the game, as they are always like for like, rather than a switch in tactics.  As a result, opposition managers must see us as predictable and consequently easy to nullify.

We still lack a real attacking threat with no real creativity in midfield, leading to no service to the front man.  At any other club the manager’s position would be untenable after the run we’ve been on, but the Chairman insists he’s not under threat.  If that is indeed the case then he needs to be backed.  The threadbare nature of the squad is clear, having lost all the loanees, to the extent that we are putting youth players on the bench.

The upcoming games with Barnsley and Doncaster are key to the season, as victories would see us well clear of any relegation threat; defeat, and we’re looking over our shoulders towards the unthinkable.

The fans did their best to be upbeat on Saturday, giving the team support throughout, but there is an underlying anger at our failure to strengthen from a great start to the season.   The Chairman must support his manager by getting in new players, and not with empty words in the paper.

STAR MAN: Craig Cathcart 

Yorkshire Seasiders Update

Happy New Year to you all.

Middlesbrough Hospitality Draw

Thanks to all who signed up for the raffle for the Hospitality tickets at next week's Middlesbrough game.

The lucky winner is....  Dave Bentley.  

Congratulations!  You get a pair of tickets for the game, including a four course meal, balcony seats and a chance to meet the Man of the Match after the game.

Future away Travel

Our next bus trip will be Ipswich away.  Please get in touch if you are interested in travelling with us.

Further details to be announced closer to the time.

Up the Pool.

New Year Games - Sheffield (a) Lost 2-0 & Bolton (a) Lost 2-1

Another couple of games and two defeats.  On New Year’s Day we went to Hillsborough, missed a few chances early on then once again, fell away badly in the second half, conceding two without looking like scoring ourselves.

As a consequence, the pressure on the manager has ramped up a few more notches and we really need to arrest the slide and get some home wins.  At least on Saturday, despite going out of the Cup, we gave it a real go in the second half, creating a number of chances and probably deserved at least a replay.

What was a tight defence are now losing cheap goals and that was evident at the Reebok, where both goals were avoidable; the first saw Ngog allowed to turn and run at us without any real challenge.  While it was a decent strike, he should have been stopped further out.  Similarly, their second goal saw Mackenzie too easily pushed off the ball, leading to a tap in for Beckford.

As we’ve set our stall out to keep things tight, it’s giving us too much to do to recover.  At least Barkhuizen scored a great goal to give us some cheer.

Rumours are now going round that Tom Ince is to leave.  While he hasn’t been in top form, he remains far and away our most creative player, and he’ll be badly missed without any replacement.

We’ve got the stage where the upcoming games with Middlesbrough, Barnsley and Doncaster are becoming massive in our season.  A decent set of results from those three games and we can banish any suspicion of relegation and possibly reinvigorate a playoff push.  There is still half a season to play.  Onwards and upwards.

STARMEN: Gary Mackenzie (Sheffield); Tom Ince (Bolton)

Pool Panel - Christmas Time Leeds (h) Draw 1-1 & Brighton (h) Lost 1-0

Two home games at Christmas gave us the opportunity to arrest the recent slide; instead we gained a solitary point, had yet another player sent off and then fell to a miserable defeat to Brighton.

Against Leeds, there were some positives as we matched a side in good form, came from behind and then looked the most likely to score.  Once again, we were stopped in our tracks by a reckless challenge that saw Broadfoot sent off, disrupting the back four once again with ongoing disruption for four games.  Our disciplinary record has been shocking ever since the Bournemouth tunnel incident. 

Whether referees are harsher on us or whether we are simply not learning lessons is open to debate.

For the Brighton game, at face value it looked like we were going for a more attacking formation with Broadfoot replaced by Dobbie,  but that didn’t pan out.  We seem to stick rigidly with the same formation with personnel changing but always one up front with an expectation that the lone striker will then be supported by the midfield.

What we end up with is an isolated striker as neither Chopra nor Davies are suited to the lone stiker role, but there is a reluctance to play the two together which would seem to be the obvious solution.

Once Brighton scored through a poorly defended goal, we were unable to create one decent opportunity until five minutes remained.  To stop this slump we need to consider how best to set up the side for the players we have rather than persist with the same shape that just isn’t working.

STARMAN:  Barry Ferguson (Lededs); Mackenzie (Brighton)