Pool Panel - Sheffield Wednesday (h) Win 2-0

Saturday was ultimately a comfortable three points in a potential banana skin of a game against a struggling Wednesday side.  After taking a swift lead from a well worked corner routine we possibly got somewhat complacent but fortunately Wednesday were unable to capitalise on some decent chances.  In what was a scrappy first half, we rallied towards the end, giving a taster of what was to come.

Right from the second half whistle, I thought we were really focused and ran the game, with Sheffield showing no threat at all, while Fuller was unstoppable at times, harrying their defenders and causing real problems.  As has been customary in recent matches, we couldn’t relax until the second goal went in and that eventually arrived following good work by Ince and Blackett on the left.  As the ball broke to the latter, he played a great ball back to Gosling who calmly sidefooted home off the foot of the post.

After that, it was a case of whether Blackpool would add more to their tally and they came close to doing so.  The late substitute, Zeegelar put over a fine corner and Mackenzie was desperately unlucky to see his header cannon back off the ball.

All in all, a good three points on a day when a number of our rivals slipped up.  As a consequence, we have closed the gap on the top three, with the immediate two both to play in December.

It may not be too pretty to watch, but we are quietly and effectively enforcing our position in the promotion shake up.  Long may it continue.

STARMAN:  Ricardo Fuller

Birmingham (a) Draw 1-1

Another point gained on the road, but overall there was a feeling among the fans that it was two points dropped.  Birmingham were are a side lacking in confidence and you got the feeling that if we’d really pressed them, then the win was there for the taking.  It took a mistake from the normally reliable Broadfoot for them to have a sniff of goal.  He sliced a clearance and it fell nicely for their player to slot home.  That’s the first time this season we’ve conceded the first goal in a game.  Fortunately, we were able to respond, and Ince had a great spell where he set up three great chances.  For the first, we moved the ball nicely leaving Ince in a position to lay back the ball for Fuller to slot home and restore parity.

By half time after another two great passes from Ince splitting their defence, we really should have been out of sight, but great chances were missed by Fuller and Gosling.

In the second half, we continued to defend comfortably and attack dangerously but couldn’t quite force home our advantage with Ince, Bishop and Gosling all going close.

Having said that, in the last five minutes, we defended in numbers and rode our luck slightly as Birmingham rallied and created a couple of their own chances.

We are now seeing players coming back into contention.  For me, we need to see the forwards we have unleashed in games like Saturday, and really press home our advantage.  A little more adventurous approach and I’m sure the win was there for the taking.  As it is, we’re still right in the mix.  A point away is always one gained but it puts more pressure to maintain our home form.

STARMAN: Thomas Ince

November International Break

A weekend without a game has come at the right time for us with a number of key players out injured but close to recovery.  The likes of Ferguson, Basham, Osbourne and Harris, plus the suspended Robinson have reduced the options available to the manager.  In addition, Thomas Ince has been struggling for form, not aided by the shape of the team leaving him isolated.  Despite that we’ve picked up some good results and are well placed as we approach the Christmas period.  The manager must feel that to pick up points while without key players has been a bonus and we can now build on that with a sustained push to remain in the promotion pack.

I note the manager has said that Chopra and Davies still lack match fitness, but it’s a Catch 22 as they’re not getting much game time, with 10 minute cameos here and there.  Fuller has done well up front as a lone striker but I’d like to see him given the support of someone like Chopra who has always done well on the shoulder of the last defender and would be ideal to prosper from the knockdowns Fuller provides.  If we can ally our defensive strength to our attacking options with a resurgent Ince I see no reason why we can’t remain right in the mix and go back up to the Premier League; unlike a number of the teams in contention, we’ve played the majority of our rivals and done well in those games.

We are right in there without particularly playing well.  Let’s hope the team can really express themselves and press right on.

Christmas Drink and Meeting

We are holding our annual Christmas meeting, drink up and AGM on December 8th.  York has won venue of choice.  We will circulate details of venue and location nearer the time.

Pool Panel - Forest away - Won (1-0)

Another big test against Nottingham Forest, unbeaten at home and a real contender for a promotion place, especially with a rehashed defence due to the ongoing injury situation.  Yet again, the team rose to the occasion, kept their heads and patience and got their rewards, albeit late on.

After a steady start, I thought we were looking comfortable when Mackenzie played a great ball into the area for the onrushing Bishop to catch out their defender who was forced to concede a penalty as Bishop looked certain to score.  Abdoun then took an age to trudge off, a factor that possibly affected Ince who shot tamely to the keeper’s right, allowing him the opportunity to make a fairly comfortable save.

With over half the game remaining, we then took a stranglehold on the game, with Forest retreating into a defensive shape, while we constantly probed and sought to work the ball through.  Far too often we were breaking at some pace then losing impetus once we got near their area, resorting to flicks and high risk passes.  Ince in particular often took the wrong option. 

We made a number of attacking substitutions to try and force the issue, with Forest clearly happy to take a point and it finally bore fruit as Ince played a ball in to Davies who laid off to Chopra.  He then set up Dobbie to calmly sidefoot home to send the 900 or so Blackpool fans delirious.   Once again we came away from the City Ground with a great result.  With other results going our way, we are now firmly ensconced in a playoff place.  One more game to see through and we can go into another International break with a real sense of positivity.

STARMAN: Neal Bishop

Notts Forest Travel and Christmas Meeting

Just a reminder that we're taking a bus to Forest on Saturday.

We'll be leaving Leeds station at 10.15 and can pick up en route down the M1.  Expect to be at Meadowhall around 11.00.

We're also thinking about having a drink and a meet in early December (Sunday 8th December).  I was thinking about either in York or Leeds.

Let me know your preference.

Pool Panel - Blackburn (h) - Draw 2-2

Saturday’s game was once again, a tale of two halves.  First half, we were unplayable at times, with Dobbie causing Blackburn real problems.  We could easily have been two up before Fuller was hauled down for a certain penalty.   Ince coolly slotted the ball in the opposite corner from the previous week to give us a deserved lead.   

Blackburn got themselves back into the game with their own penalty after Robinson threw himself to block a shot from Rhodes and the ball struck his hand.  After that, we were controlling the game, with the midfield again looking dominant with Bishop and Gosling winning plenty of ball and finding the forwards.  That pressure told as Gosling moved forward and fired a shot through the legs of the Blackburn player into the bottom corner for a deserved half time lead.

Second half Blackburn came back into the game but we were coping well with the pressure, which mainly consisted of long throws and free kicks and trying to pick up something from the second ball. 

The turning point in the game came as DJ Campbell, applauded onto the pitch five minutes earlier, became the villain as he went in late on Gilks, then clearly aimed a couple of headbutts.  Robinson got too heavily involved and they both received their marching orders.  That disrupted our shape far more than Rovers and it paid off as they launched yet another ball into the box in injury time. 

A deflection from the stretching Davies saw us concede.  Better communication would have seen a comfortable clearance from Bishop immediately behind him. 

Two points dropped but still right in contention.  It’s now a massive game at Forest.

STARMAN:  Dan Gosling