Nearly but not quite just about summed up today's game, as hints of our pre-Coleman malaise popped up just often enough to allow Brum a point. The introduction of Maja and Asoro nearly worked, but at least we didn't loose, even if it was against the bottom club who gained only their third away point of the season.
It had been a pleasant week, what with last weekend’s result. It might “only” have been 1-0, but it showed, once again, that statistics can be misleading – Luton had by far the majority of possession, but we created more chances, looked more likely to win, and did just that. It’s been a pleasant week because the manager showed that he knows how to make a difference, and he’s got straight into the community side of things by visiting Bradley’s school. The only thing that slightly got on our wicks was Moyes’s proclamation that he “can manage anywhere.” While folks on Wearside, in Manchester, and certain parts of Spain would beg to differ, it must be remembered that “manage” has more than one meaning. I can manage, for instance, on two cups of coffee day. It’s also the question my mam used to shout when I was a small bairn using the toilet- “have you managed?” Anyway, it does mean that this weekend’s Hammers v Mapies clash can’t have an unhappy ending for us. Add that to surviving the works Christmas parties, Christmas ganzies, and black-eye Friday, and it’s been canny.
Of course, there is the injury situation, with no McNair and Oviedo just back into the squad, plus the longer-term ones, and the availability of Catts – which brings a whole week’s discussion on whether or not to play him. I’d say “don’t”, as Gibson showed last week, and in recent games, that he’s up to the job, and thrives when the likes of Honeyman, Gooch, and Ndong are doing the running about. Of course, being a Sunderland player, Catts has pulled up lame to save the manager a decision. There’s also the imminent transfer window, and the possibility that we’ll have to replace Grabban – unless the manager finds a huge wad of cash in his Christmas stocking. Plenty to talk about over the pre-match mince pies, especially the fact that if you’ve just won your first home game in ages, the ideal next match would be at home to the bottom team. That’s the theory, anyway……but we’re SAFC, and we specialise in ending barren runs by opposition teams and players alike. At least Coleman’s enthusiasm for the game, which includes preferring training on Christmas Day to opening presents seems to be rubbing off on the players, which can only be a good thing.
After a very posh ride to the ground in Mr Emmerson's deed posh taxi and the ALS Christmas bash (black pudding pork scratchings and Prosecco), there was an unchanged line up.
Ruiter
Love Browning O'Shea Wilson Matthews
Gibson
Gooch Honeyman
Grabban Vaughan
After a bright start, heading South, that included several crosses that missed their mark, we got to 15 minutes looking by far the more efficient team, with some desperate fouls coming in from Brum. Then we had a flashback to the bad old days, got in a tangle in the box, and they had a simple tap-in.
Bollicks, we thought. Is the curse of the former player striking again? Craig Gardner might not have scored, but he was amongst most of what the Peaky Blinders did.
Thankfully, we only had five minutes to wait, during which we curled one just wide, before a great crossfield pass was volleyed in from the right and Grabban was there at the back post to slot it home. A few minutes later Vaughan did well to shield the ball in the box, but fired inches wide after great work by Honeyman to keep the ball in play.
Brum were getting a fair bit of the ball coming forward, so there was no surprise when Ndong and Oviedo warmed up, with murmurs of a flat back four going around the stands.
A great save from Ruiter ended a bright break down their right, then we got forward to win a corner. Their 27, the love child of Micky Thomas and Joe Allen, was giving Matthews a hard time down their right, respite being all left peg as their superior numbers in midfield showed.
There was a single added minute, which we were pretty glad to see the end of. The five man defence hadn't really worked, so the manager had to decide on either a change of positions or personnel for the second half. The half-time crossbar challenge (Wise Men Say vs ALS) was won in spectacular fashion when Gareth hit the relevant piece of woodwork, so well done to him, and Chris (nit Thompson, I have been asked to clarify) - get yer finger out!
There were, however, no apparent changes to either, and an early trademark free from Gardner went just over. We broke out if defence and Vaughan carried it down the middle before shooting inches wide again, but mebbe a pass out right would have been a better option.
Their lad was booked for diving when Ruiter was first to a hoof over the top when Matthews's ball didn't quite reach Grabban, then Honeyman's cross was tipped onto the top of the bar as we screamed for Grabban to clatter the keeper. OK, it'd probably have been a foul, but it'd have shaken the keeper.
Their 18 was booked for blocking Love, then caught Vaughan late and was off on 68. Wilson was pushing into midfield a bit to even up the numbers anyway, so surely 20 minutes with a man advantage would be enough? Honeyman scooped one wide. On 74, on came Asoro and Maja for Grabban and Vaughan, as expected, and Ndong for Gibson, which was bit of a surprise. Several more Blues bookings came along for timewasting and fouls - one which was on the edge of the box and with only the keeper left, so another red could have been forthcoming. When they took off their long haired fella, I thought that was it and we'd win, but despite our numerical advantage, we didn't bother their keeper nearly enough. There were several decent chances, but the ongoing narrative of our game was one of decent build-up, but a final ball that wasn't quite right.
Four added minutes were announced, which were extended by another yellow for timewasting, and more nearly but not quite stuff from us.
Disappointing, but just what we've been doing for decades, particularly at Christmas, and showing that we're still very much a work in progress.
Man of the Match? Probably Honeyman, who, once again kept at it for the duration.
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