I might be one of the few to admire Oshilajs's contribution yesterday. Played out of position, confidently accepting passes (in particular with Naby Sarr first half) moving the ball on with I thought no misplaced passes, getting tackles in and one (like Adam Matthews) who did not melt at 1-2 down. Kept going and working all game. He has been utilised in several different ways by Bowyer and always man's up as best he can. Well done to him I say.
For what its worth i thought the ref had a good game.
Me too. He recognised good tackles when they were made by both sides and constantly waved play on as opposed to those that blow their whistle as soon as somebody falls over just because they’ve been tackled.
I might be one of the few to admire Oshilajs's contribution yesterday. Played out of position, confidently accepting passes (in particular with Naby Sarr first half) moving the ball on with I thought no misplaced passes, getting tackles in and one (like Adam Matthews) who did not melt at 1-2 down. Kept going and working all game. He has been utilised in several different ways by Bowyer and always man's up as best he can. Well done to him I say.
Thought he was largely fine but do feel we missed Pratley's bite in the midfield during the first half. A few times they played it out of defence and just strolled through the middle unchallenged. Pretty sure had Pratley been in his usual position he'd have closed that route off quicker.
For what its worth i thought the ref had a good game.
Me too. He recognised good tackles when they were made by both sides and constantly waved play on as opposed to those that blow their whistle as soon as somebody falls over just because they’ve been tackled.
So the tackle on Morgan just before half time which left him looking distinctly shaky until he got in for treatment.. that was a good, legal tackle, was it? Ditto the tackles on Gallagher which eventually added him to the injury list? As far as I (and the VP commentators) am concerned they were both yellow card tackles, and there were several others which were much worse than tackles which he did award cards for. Particularly the 97 minute one for Oshilaja which wasnt even a foul, and of course we should not even have been playing at that point.
Any ref can miss things. Those of us who were obliged to be amateur refs in Sunday League days because there were not enough proper refs available for the thankless task, know that better than most. The trouble with Stroud is judgement when he has time to make a decision, and attitude. Look at the way he made Morgan walk back all the way to him when he decided to book him . Why? Do you think he would do that if it were a senior FAPL midfielder like say Ross Barkley? He and Trevor Kettle have serious ego issues, the modern day equivalent of Poll and Barber, the two who had a video made of themselves as the 'hard man" refs.
A critical three points, given our injury situation (surely the worst in the history of the club ?) and the difficult run of fixtures coming up. It also gets the monkey off our back in terms of ending the long winless run.
I thought we played well in the first half and carried a goal threat throughput, in contrast to Bristol City, who had some neat possession but ran out of ideas when they got within 30 yards of our goal. Pratley seemed to bring some much needed composure to our defence, whilst Alfie Doughty was absolutely outstanding, picking up just where he left off at QPR. Albie Morgan’s chipped pass to Macauley Bonne was exquisite, as was the finish to give us a well deserved half time lead.
The one thing we couldn’t afford to do was to start slowly in the second half but, as in the Hull game, we allowed the opposition to equalise immediately. It was an excellent driven cross and their forward stole a yard on Lockyer to glance the ball into the far corner. Bristol City then started to dominate the game, cutting through our midfield at will and some sloppy defending saw us 2-1 down on the hour mark, compounded by Connor Gallagher’s injury. At that stage it looked as though the game was up but Macauley Bonne had other ideas, outmuscling the centre half to lash in the equaliser and then putting in a quite superb cross for Alfie’s winner.
We still seem to be quite incapable of managing a clean sheet, although Lockyer played well, as did Mathews, who looks fitter with several games now under his belt. There have been some individual howlers in recent games but I think that a lot of goals we have conceded are a consequence of being unable to control the game in midfield, as well as fatigue, with an inability to rotate the team or to freshen things up with the introduction of impact players from the bench.
Darren Pratley had another fine game, as did Albie Morgan - a class player, who also managed a few good tackles - and Alfie Doughty, whose pace and directness gives us a new dimension.
Up front, Bonne and Taylor put in fine shifts and their physicality and ability to run the channels really troubled the opposition. They both work exceptionally hard for the team and Lyle was charging around like a maniac in the latter stages to close people down when we were clinging on to our lead. Anyone who doubts his commitment after that needs to have a word with themselves.
Anyway, 28 points down and no more than 22 (maybe even 18) to go. Let’s hope Gallagher’s injury is short term and that we can grind out a result at Derby with our patched-up side. Thereafter, we can but hope that the takeover will be swiftly finalised and we can then get a few bodies in on loan to bolster the squad.
Comments
1-2 down and I didn't see that comeback happening, no way Jose.
They all did their best and played well, but I thought Pratley who was everywhere, Doughty & Bonne's goals were outstanding.
Magnificent stuff (ps I thought our winner reminded me of Hull's last gasp winner - karma).
Didnt see Diedhiou after their second goal till you said, proper little prick isnt he
His football commentary always sounds a bit flat to my ears.
Doesn't he also do a bit of cricket comms on Radio Kent?
Any ref can miss things. Those of us who were obliged to be amateur refs in Sunday League days because there were not enough proper refs available for the thankless task, know that better than most. The trouble with Stroud is judgement when he has time to make a decision, and attitude. Look at the way he made Morgan walk back all the way to him when he decided to book him . Why? Do you think he would do that if it were a senior FAPL midfielder like say Ross Barkley? He and Trevor Kettle have serious ego issues, the modern day equivalent of Poll and Barber, the two who had a video made of themselves as the 'hard man" refs.
He can **** off.
I thought we played well in the first half and carried a goal threat throughput, in contrast to Bristol City, who had some neat possession but ran out of ideas when they got within 30 yards of our goal. Pratley seemed to bring some much needed composure to our defence, whilst Alfie Doughty was absolutely outstanding, picking up just where he left off at QPR. Albie Morgan’s chipped pass to Macauley Bonne was exquisite, as was the finish to give us a well deserved half time lead.
The one thing we couldn’t afford to do was to start slowly in the second half but, as in the Hull game, we allowed the opposition to equalise immediately. It was an excellent driven cross and their forward stole a yard on Lockyer to glance the ball into the far corner. Bristol City then started to dominate the game, cutting through our midfield at will and some sloppy defending saw us 2-1 down on the hour mark, compounded by Connor Gallagher’s injury. At that stage it looked as though the game was up but Macauley Bonne had other ideas, outmuscling the centre half to lash in the equaliser and then putting in a quite superb cross for Alfie’s winner.
We still seem to be quite incapable of managing a clean sheet, although Lockyer played well, as did Mathews, who looks fitter with several games now under his belt. There have been some individual howlers in recent games but I think that a lot of goals we have conceded are a consequence of being unable to control the game in midfield, as well as fatigue, with an inability to rotate the team or to freshen things up with the introduction of impact players from the bench.
Darren Pratley had another fine game, as did Albie Morgan - a class player, who also managed a few good tackles - and Alfie Doughty, whose pace and directness gives us a new dimension.
Up front, Bonne and Taylor put in fine shifts and their physicality and ability to run the channels really troubled the opposition. They both work exceptionally hard for the team and Lyle was charging around like a maniac in the latter stages to close people down when we were clinging on to our lead. Anyone who doubts his commitment after that needs to have a word with themselves.
Anyway, 28 points down and no more than 22 (maybe even 18) to go. Let’s hope Gallagher’s injury is short term and that we can grind out a result at Derby with our patched-up side. Thereafter, we can but hope that the takeover will be swiftly finalised and we can then get a few bodies in on loan to bolster the squad.
Naby Sarr Retweeted Charlton Athletic FC
3 pts
well done boys Hard work always pays off 
thanks for the support yesterday 
#CAFC 
