Gritty, battling performance but not our best. I'm philosophical about it in that we lost a point. Ok, we could have won, had Pratley's excellent effort been a little higher or lower it would have been 2-nil and they equalised soon after.
What did for us was the two injuries. Not that those that came in didn't do well, but it prevented us bringing energy into the team when it was needed. You could see with 15 minutes to go that we were looking a bit leggy in certain areas and Palmer came on and was very fresh.
Look at it this way. We are playing the better teams in this league and they do not look better than us. The biggest worry is all the injuries. You can't help but miss Taylor and Williams and then we didn't have a left back etc...I liked what I saw in terms of the spirit and when (if) we get those players back, we are going to be very strong.
We lost by a last minute goal and missed an opportunity to pick up a point but, hey, shit happens and there’s another game on Saturday. Another goal from Bonne and a good all round performance from him as well I thought. Hurry up Lyle, that double act promises to be awesome.
Bonne took his goal really well. Unclear why Solly is being blamed for both goals by some?
Solly tamely kicked the first one off for a throw in, when he could have got a bit more distance or looked for a pass in the position he was in . In defence of him it was he’s weaker foot but at the time when he did it before the goal I thought it was a bit chuff
The Solly criticism is getting a bit OTT in some quarters. If you go back far enough in the build-up to a goal you can probably find something to blame him for if you're that desperate - you can't really attribute their goal to him conceding a throw in.
Solly came in and had to play outside of his normal position. In that context he did more than OK. The issue was we put a lot into the game and because of the injuries, Bowyer wasn't able to inject the energy we needed in the later stages to maybe go on and win it. City were lucky, we will be lucky in future games, that is football and the late goal only cost one point, not two!
They were better than us for the last 20 minutes, which I can accept to some extent. However, how could they be so much better than us when down to ten men? That’s the bit I find hard to accept.
Because we had about four players who were completely shot. You can cover that by bringing legs on in the right positions but that option wasn't there as we had enforced subs in the first half.
Watching the last twenty minutes I really fear for us on Saturday. We looked absolutely buggered including Gallagher. I have a feeling our high intensity game is beginning to take its toll on the team .
It is why Bowyer rests players that need rests, but when you have injuries your ability to do that diminishes. I think Saturday will be tough, but this Charlton team always surprises.
Watching the last twenty minutes I really fear for us on Saturday. We looked absolutely buggered including Gallagher. I have a feeling our high intensity game is beginning to take its toll on the team .
Totally agree and you know me, mr negative, I’m fearing a proper walloping
Defensively, Sarr and hopefully Purrington can come in. Then Oztumer and Aneke ought to be quite fresh. I think Lockyer, Gallagher and Cullen are the types that will be fine.
Thought in the main we played well. We played on the break very well and Bonne got in behind them time and time again. We were definitely unlucky to not be 2-0 up before they scored their first, but we were naive at the end and it's very unusual for us to be in such a poor shape defensively right in the last moments of the game.
They had a 5-10 minute spell where Dil had to make some important saves, but other than that spell, we were good and they didn't really cause us any problems.
Pratley's effort was fantastic and unlucky not to score.
I do believe the game changed when Kayal came off and Aneke came on. Kayal, I thought, was excellent and if he needed to come off, it had to be someone different because I am not saying Aneke doesn't work hard, but it looks like everything off the ball is just such an effort for him. For me, if we were dropping into a back 5 as we did, it had to be Sarr coming on. He gives us balance, height, defensive positioning, and it allows us to have a midfield 3 of Pratley, Cullen, and Gallagher, far more industrious.
Losing Field and Forster-Caskey really hurt us as late on we were crying out for another change but we just couldn't. It made us play players who were so tired at the end and maybe tired minds didn't help.
Regarding those two and the other injuries, I now make it at least Matthews, Page, Purrington, Field, Forster-Caskey, Lapslie, Williams, Taylor, and Hemed, all unavailable to us. That really is desperately unlucky.
In terms of their red card, I hope that Diedhiou gets a longer ban than just 3 games. To kick Pearce not just once, but twice, is disgusting so he should really be out of action until the very end of November in my opinion.
Overall, it was gut wrenching to lose in the way we did when we deserved so much more, but I am sure we will recover quickly and put out a good enough side and performance on Saturday against the league leaders. You've got to remember that had we been the one to win it late on, we would be joint second, instead we conceded and are now 10th. That's how tight it is. A win on Saturday and we will find ourselves in the top 6. Let's not get too down and critical because it's still been a fantastic start to the season.
Did the commentator on Sky red button realise that Bowyer was serving a touchline ban? I heard him say in the first half that it was unusual to see a manager at the very back of the stand next to their commentary position, but if he linked it to him serving a ban I didn't hear it. He had to apologise on a couple of occasions if viewers heard any swearing in the background
I think Aneke came on because the plan is to start him on Saturday but it is a fair point. Oztumer would have ran about more. It isn't a criticism of Aneke, they have different games. It is just what happens in football, it can go for you and against you.
My final point is a follow on from Bowyer's at the Fulham game where he said we needed to be a bit more cynical. I thought Palmer (our youth product nicked by Chelsea) looked strong and fresh when he came on and started to make them tick. At the end, one of ours should have clattered into him before he played that killer ball. I was thinking that before he played it.
Watching the last twenty minutes I really fear for us on Saturday. We looked absolutely buggered including Gallagher. I have a feeling our high intensity game is beginning to take its toll on the team .
I thought the same after the Swansea game with Fulham up next. What I've learnt is never to underestimate this team under Bowyer.
Bonne took his goal really well. Unclear why Solly is being blamed for both goals by some?
Because he hasn't played well at LB in the past so he's targeted by people who need someone to blame for a result going badly. Blaming him for clearing the ball from our box for a throw is insane, especially considering that what followed was a midfielder being left completely unmarked (not by him) to put a cross in from the throw and no-one tracking their striker so he could win the header. If you're going to blame Solly for the goal because he cleared the ball then you may as well blame Kelly Youga for not winning a header in 2009. You can drag blame as far back as you want if you don't want to blame the people who are actually at fault. As for the second goal, it sort of came from his side so must be his fault. It wasn't though, the fault lay with us having a massive hole in our defence allowing their player to run through uncontested and finish calmly in the 98th minute, despite them having ten men.
Did the commentator on Sky red button realise that Bowyer was serving a touchline ban? I heard him say in the first half that it was unusual to see a manager at the very back of the stand next to their commentary position, but if he linked it to him serving a ban I didn't hear it. He had to apologise on a couple of occasions if viewers heard any swearing in the background
No, he didn't say it at all. He just thought it was unusual for him to be up in the stands giving out orders. Then justified himself by saying you get a better view from up there. Clearly didn't know about his ban.
I have been kicking the proverbial cat until now. We will play worse than that and win .The injuries didn't disrupt us too much .Thought we were the better team until we scored and for some reason after that we lost a bit of composure. I don't think Bristol city are that good and hope we stuff them when we get back them back to the valley..as others have said not sure what aneke gave us when he came on ..very promising game from Kayal...we move on and probably good to have another game coming up quickly so we can get the result out of our system
We were so brave for so long but burnt out. But six minutes to start with? What can you do with a ref like that who cares less than Hitler and the nazis did for the Jewish people did in the 1930s and 1940s? But it is what it is. We move on. I feel we have a positive enough to bounce back.
With Pearce unable to play in quick succession, Kayal last night proving what a good player he is, Leko and Field unavailable, add in the other injuries, that is about as good as we can really get right now.
Did the commentator on Sky red button realise that Bowyer was serving a touchline ban? I heard him say in the first half that it was unusual to see a manager at the very back of the stand next to their commentary position, but if he linked it to him serving a ban I didn't hear it. He had to apologise on a couple of occasions if viewers heard any swearing in the background
No, he didn't say it at all. He just thought it was unusual for him to be up in the stands giving out orders. Then justified himself by saying you get a better view from up there. Clearly didn't know about his ban.
Yes, that's what I thought. Clearly hadn't done much research.
Pwr, watched the crappy (one camera low res) coverage on the Sky red button.
We actually played very well I thought but could not break through enough at the final moment, mainly due to their excellent defending and goal keeper. They mainly contained us to long shots although we had at least a couple of those that deserved a goal against a lesser keeper. Some our passing and movement was brilliant and reminded me of hunting in packs against Arsenal on black sabbath, and all this with key players out. Bowyer might have to try and sign a free left back..
MB is turning into a fantastic player although needs to add more to his game, play him alongside Taylor when fit as who know what’s might happen. Can’t complain on his goal return and finishing.
Kayal looked a bit better although perhaps shouldn’t have got booked so early on. Leko slightly less frustrating and growing in confidence.
Phillips made some great stops as usual but I’m a bit frustrated with his punching and kicking - the former unnecessary a lot of the time, and both often giving the ball straight back to the oppo bringing pressure
The injuries are becoming concerning and although I can’t fault Bowyer, our style of play constantly chasing the ball may make this more likely. Or is is those 4g training pitches? JFC probably shouldn’t have started due to only recently coming back.
Anekie not had much game time but really needs to do better, I’d rather have Naby playing there..
Gallagher, love the guy but he seemed under the weather again (altho he scored last time I said that) he’s playing every game tho so probably knackered. Would like to see him develop a bit more into bossing the midfield, but he’s doing good. We need someone who can retain the ball a bit more and slow the game down.
With Pearce unable to play in quick succession, Kayal last night proving what a good player he is, Leko and Field unavailable, add in the other injuries, that is about as good as we can really get right now.
With Pearce unable to play in quick succession, Kayal last night proving what a good player he is, Leko and Field unavailable, add in the other injuries, that is about as good as we can really get right now.
With Pearce unable to play in quick succession, Kayal last night proving what a good player he is, Leko and Field unavailable, add in the other injuries, that is about as good as we can really get right now.
Comments
What did for us was the two injuries. Not that those that came in didn't do well, but it prevented us bringing energy into the team when it was needed. You could see with 15 minutes to go that we were looking a bit leggy in certain areas and Palmer came on and was very fresh.
Look at it this way. We are playing the better teams in this league and they do not look better than us. The biggest worry is all the injuries. You can't help but miss Taylor and Williams and then we didn't have a left back etc...I liked what I saw in terms of the spirit and when (if) we get those players back, we are going to be very strong.
The Solly criticism is getting a bit OTT in some quarters. If you go back far enough in the build-up to a goal you can probably find something to blame him for if you're that desperate - you can't really attribute their goal to him conceding a throw in.
Other defenders are not blameless.
They had a 5-10 minute spell where Dil had to make some important saves, but other than that spell, we were good and they didn't really cause us any problems.
Pratley's effort was fantastic and unlucky not to score.
I do believe the game changed when Kayal came off and Aneke came on. Kayal, I thought, was excellent and if he needed to come off, it had to be someone different because I am not saying Aneke doesn't work hard, but it looks like everything off the ball is just such an effort for him. For me, if we were dropping into a back 5 as we did, it had to be Sarr coming on. He gives us balance, height, defensive positioning, and it allows us to have a midfield 3 of Pratley, Cullen, and Gallagher, far more industrious.
Losing Field and Forster-Caskey really hurt us as late on we were crying out for another change but we just couldn't. It made us play players who were so tired at the end and maybe tired minds didn't help.
Regarding those two and the other injuries, I now make it at least Matthews, Page, Purrington, Field, Forster-Caskey, Lapslie, Williams, Taylor, and Hemed, all unavailable to us. That really is desperately unlucky.
In terms of their red card, I hope that Diedhiou gets a longer ban than just 3 games. To kick Pearce not just once, but twice, is disgusting so he should really be out of action until the very end of November in my opinion.
Overall, it was gut wrenching to lose in the way we did when we deserved so much more, but I am sure we will recover quickly and put out a good enough side and performance on Saturday against the league leaders. You've got to remember that had we been the one to win it late on, we would be joint second, instead we conceded and are now 10th. That's how tight it is. A win on Saturday and we will find ourselves in the top 6. Let's not get too down and critical because it's still been a fantastic start to the season.
My final point is a follow on from Bowyer's at the Fulham game where he said we needed to be a bit more cynical. I thought Palmer (our youth product nicked by Chelsea) looked strong and fresh when he came on and started to make them tick. At the end, one of ours should have clattered into him before he played that killer ball. I was thinking that before he played it.
Oshilaja Lockyer Pratley Sarr Solly
Cullen
Gallagher Kayal
Oztumer
Bonne
With Pearce unable to play in quick succession, Kayal last night proving what a good player he is, Leko and Field unavailable, add in the other injuries, that is about as good as we can really get right now.
We actually played very well I thought but could not break through enough at the final moment, mainly due to their excellent defending and goal keeper. They mainly contained us to long shots although we had at least a couple of those that deserved a goal against a lesser keeper. Some our passing and movement was brilliant and reminded me of hunting in packs against Arsenal on black sabbath, and all this with key players out. Bowyer might have to try and sign a free left back..
MB is turning into a fantastic player although needs to add more to his game, play him alongside Taylor when fit as who know what’s might happen. Can’t complain on his goal return and finishing.
Kayal looked a bit better although perhaps shouldn’t have got booked so early on. Leko slightly less frustrating and growing in confidence.
Phillips made some great stops as usual but I’m a bit frustrated with his punching and kicking - the former unnecessary a lot of the time, and both often giving the ball straight back to the oppo bringing pressure
The injuries are becoming concerning and although I can’t fault Bowyer, our style of play constantly chasing the ball may make this more likely. Or is is those 4g training pitches? JFC probably shouldn’t have started due to only recently coming back.
Anekie not had much game time but really needs to do better, I’d rather have Naby playing there..
Gallagher, love the guy but he seemed under the weather again (altho he scored last time I said that) he’s playing every game tho so probably knackered. Would like to see him develop a bit more into bossing the midfield, but he’s doing good. We need someone who can retain the ball a bit more and slow the game down.
Still puzzled where six minutes injury time came from, especially after there only being five in the first half?
Four games I have seen us on TV, four times we have scored first and failed to win.
Probably just as well I am going to miss the Hull game...
Oshilaja | Lockyer | Sarr | Solly
Cullen | Pratley | Kayal
Aneke | Gallagher
Bonne
Solly at left back is just wrong