Another key game before a well earned and needed break. A few injury doubts surrounding Rathbone and Barlaser - hopefully the latter will be fit.
I'd like to see REG return on the right and Harding on the left with Icky in the middle of the back three. Definitely start with Ogbene and Miller with Lindsay filling in if Barlaser is injured. Smudge and JJ up front.
I've purchased the seat next to me and fitted a defibrillator as I think we will probably tire as the game progresses and I imagine Shrewsbury will be aware of our fatigue and will be ready to pounce! Three first half goals for us should see us through!
I think we need to manage the game a bit better Glenn. The work rate first half was phenomenal but some of these lads are knackered and they cant sustain that tempo for 90 minutes. There are times to slow it down a bit and times to keep the ball without charging forwards. I hate to say it, but a little bit of Wycombe might be the order of the day. I'd take a very dull 1-0 win thanks. I agree with you about the back three. Shrewsbury have some pace in their forward line. It's a good game to rest Woody and Angus struggled at their place.
Half time. So frustrating. Shrewsbury at least matched us before the goal. Bad, bad mistake by Kayode to lose the ball there. I dont know if Angus deserved his red card but you could see it coming. He had a nightmare of a game up to that point. Sorry to say it but he has looked miles off it to me since he came back. If Harding isnt injured I dont understand why Angus would be in ahead of him. We have created very little. Not sure if we deserve to be a man down but I cant complain about us being a goal down.
That was a nightmare. We were marginally second best when it was eleven v eleven. Eleven v ten we never looked like getting back into it. Shrewsbury were strong at the back and always looked sharp on the break. They consistently got in behind Angus just as they did at their ground. I'm amazed he played today. I dont blame Angus for being off the pace. It's understandable. I do question Warney for picking him to start against a side with some very sharp forwards. He had a shocker. Some people are saying the red card was harsh but at best it was a clumsy effort. Im afraid the Osei-Tutu signing hasnt worked. Its Josefzoon all over again. He just doesnt do it for me. He looks lost. Shrewsbury fully deserved the win today. The only good news for us is that we now get a break to get our beat eleven for and well. The fans need to get a grip too. We are top and in a cup final. Not a bad situation. We have to regroup and get back on it and have a right good go at the last few games.
Just a poor day all round. The crowd were up for it at the start but for 50% to leave when we went two down - excruciating! We had our two best chances (only chances) afterwards and I was preying that one would go in to teach the fickle bunch a lesson! This break is badly needed and we need to come out against Charlton with all guns blazing otherwise it could be a tortuous end to the season.
I've had a few hours to digest what exactly happened today & yes it was just as bad as I first thought.
The pressing game that has brought us so much success this season was non existent, no creativity, no intensity, yeah the red card didn't help (BTW that HAS to be appealed as it was a nonsense decision) but spending the entirety of the second half in damage limitation mode isn't even approaching good enough. Too many players half fit & half arsed deserved the supporters response.
It's a terrible decision to produce a red card there. If you watch the Shrewbury player he turns his back on the ball, makes a back and waits for the contact. That makes it awkward for McDonald. You could argue it's a free kick to us for making a back. Notice aswell in this day and age when teams are quick to surround a ref not one of their players even appealed for a foul. An awful decision. With respect I disagree with you Brad about the crowds response. We are struggling at the moment. Confidence seems low and we are limping along a bit but if you sit back and look at the table they have exceeded all expectations so far and I dont think any of them do anything but try their best. The last thing they deserve when they have a rough patch is the crowd turning on them. People pay their money and have a right to say whatever they want within reason but it's not a good reaction from the crowd in my opinion.
MacDonald 's contribution before his sending off was terrible but i agree it should be contested. Not that i want to see him back in the first team. Wouldn't be surprised to see Warnock brought in on a consultatory basis to get us over the line. Bet it's been discussed on the golf course ! It's such a shame that we may now be in for a slow ,painful disappointing end to the season which could easily have been avoided by strong recruitment in January.
Angus was having a nightmare. There was a terrible moment when he had a heavy second or third touch and went flying onto a tackle. It was reminiscent of his red card against Norwich. My thoughts are the same as Splinters. I think it was an atrocious decision to send him off but I wouldnt bother appealing it. I dont think we should write the season off just yet. It is still in out hands. We need to regroup during this break and come out fit and firing again. I bet there isnt a single supporter of the club who wouldnt have snatched your hand off at the start of the season to be where we are now with seven games to play.