|
Post by hatter_in_macc on Oct 4, 2023 9:26:20 GMT
On we go with a second home fixture of the week - to be played, if weather forecasts can be believed, in late-summer-like warmth!
Post your thoughts and sun protection tips here...
|
|
|
Post by gazz on Oct 7, 2023 15:48:22 GMT
Tanto puts us in front late on, now up to second in the live table!
|
|
|
Post by hermannsays on Oct 7, 2023 17:17:06 GMT
As said the other week, we were always going to start facing sides that 'make it difficult' and today that was the case. Doncaster proved to be a tough nut to crack, with what I would call an almost perfect away performance.
It may be October but the heat and general mugginess in the CE made it clear to me that expecting players to be 100% 'at it' after Saturday-Tuesday fixtures was somewhat unlikely.
In the absence of an early goal, and with Doncaster having some joy with quick switches, the visitors probably felt like their gameplan was going great... and to be fair, it looked that way. We were basically put in an armwrestling match from the off.
Most of the first 15-20 was us but Doncaster had their period thereafter too. Olaofe broke down the right and attempted to find Barry at the far stick with a pass but it agonisingly ran ahead of Barry's slide. From the edge of the box Croasdale hit the target, forcing a good save, having earlier did well defensively to snuff out their attacker. At the other end (RE, they had turned us around) Ben had to smother bravely. MSH's speed got his toe to a ball on the touchline which drew a foul - a correct booking, while Croasdale also saw yellow for lunging after losing control of the ball.
Into the second half and we seemed to come out too slow for me. However we did pick up maybe 5 minutes in. MSH's defending today was superb, making several important backstick headers against taller opponents and getting out time-and-again to stop attacks. On the other side Pye tried soldiering on injured but ultimately got replaced by loanee youngster Pond, who did really well.
Bradford should have scored when Horsfall made a sloppy backpass, putting in their attacker 1-v-1 with Ben, but thankfully we have someone as brave as a firefighter between the sticks. Down he went to save the day, though it unfortunately fell straight to their forward who would surely score? Up Ben got to tip over and it felt like it would turn out to be a defining moment in the game.
At the other end, Olaofe had absolutely left his man for dead with an aggressive run towards the right of the box and his cut back rolled right across the box to Bailey, who had so much space and time to finish. Into the RE he shot - I held my head in disbelief. He's actually done well in balancing up the team with no Hippolyte but yeah, no hiding that was one where you have to score.
Thankfully we kept going and with Wootton (welcome back!) and Madden (did great) on, and Sarcevic now playing like a man possessed - holding midfield one minute and then charging to tackle their defenders - DC had well and truly sent out the message onto the pitch: we are playing to win this game from here, lads.
The ball came to Collar on the left and he teed up his right-footed cross perfectly for Olaofe, who nodded home, starting a 2-minute 'Tanto's on fire' chant.
We defended for our lives thereafter, blocking crossesd, clearing away and wrestling man-for-man all over.
I said to Mini-Herm on the way back that it's the kind of game that makes a side - while we all enjoy 4-0 games and the attackers especially love the pretty stuff, every one of them today needs to reflect that's (quite literally) the stuff of Champions. You earn the right to win through fighting as a team, suffering together and then, when the moments come you have the quality at both ends.
A largely horrible game, but the atmosphere stayed strong to aid the lads and we'll be all the better for knowing we can get such a game over the line.
|
|
|
Post by ceefer on Oct 7, 2023 17:44:59 GMT
Flat first half kicking towards the CE with too many stray passes and too much ping pong head ball, but a much improved second half. Valuable 3 points against a side who made it difficult and on today's showing should not be in 20th place. Superb performance from Macca who rode a tackle with their player getting booked, but pushed forwards. Also great to see Woots and Camps back. Paddy seems reinvigorated. And what can you say about Tanto that's not already been said.
Up to 2nd- I must admit I didn't see this coming.
|
|
|
Post by gazz on Oct 7, 2023 20:19:38 GMT
Great report, H.
|
|
|
Post by gazz on Oct 7, 2023 20:31:05 GMT
Congrats to DC, his staff and players on a gritty win, the kind of game that any side with title-winning ambitions need to win.
It's great to see MSH in great form and getting a sustained run in the team, long may it continue! We've got some exceptional talent in the squad, but for me he's one of the most exciting players we have.
It's fantastic to see Woots back too, let's hope he can get his sharpness back quickly.
|
|
|
Post by harrogatehatter on Oct 8, 2023 8:32:46 GMT
It’s easy to write a list of cliches after a win like this, so here goes:
A gritty win Ground out a result It’s all about results They were hard to breakdown Kept plugging away Got our just rewards We switched things up
At the end of the day, well done to all involved.
|
|
|
Post by gazz on Oct 8, 2023 18:56:22 GMT
It’s easy to write a list of cliches after a win like this, so here goes: A gritty win Ground out a result It’s all about results They were hard to breakdown Kept plugging away Got our just rewards We switched things up At the end of the day, well done to all involved.
|
|