Post Match Reactions - Round 23

[JB@Norwich]

Missing


Errors


Error Watch

[Freddie]

Sociedad 2-3 Leipzig

Missing three of our key players including our keeper so having to play a 16 rater in nets was probably never going to end well. We held the tactical advantage but ultimately didn’t have the quality on the pitch to get the win. It’s a shame as it was a big game against a side level on points with us and pushing for promotion too. We have to move on though and put this defeat behind us, we’ve been in good form and can definitely do something positive this season.
Played Mike.

[Tim@Leeds]

Porto 2 - 2 Sunlun

Annoying read game # 2. Very much deserved to beat Sunderland based on the stats and the flow of the game but as with the Leeds game the score line did not reflect that and we end up dropping two points.
We do not expect to hold our position in and around the promotion spots given that we have to play all of our squad players to avoid the club becoming potless eos so we have to weaken our selves. A suspension to Zouma next game and a 2 game injury to Horta makes the next week or so tricky. #

Well played

[Ian]

Villarreal 0 - 1 Wolves

The boys put up a good showing in this game and were unlucky to come away with zero points on the board. Playing against a good side whose intention was to attack from the off we gave Wolves plenty to think about but ultimately just couldn't convert. On another day this could have been a victory for us as the stats indicate but it probably boiled down to the higher rated players that Wolves had at their disposal that was the difference.

[Ray@Wolves]

Villarreal 0

Booked : L_Ajorque (67)

Wolves 1
A_Kalajdzic (93)

MotM: M_Neuer (Wolves)
HT: 0-0

Well that was a classic case of a last minute smash and grab raid with a goal from almost the last kick of the game and totally against the run of play. Yes on paper we have the better players, but on this showing the Yellow Submarine can rightly count themselves cheated out of at least a point here. It says it all when the player of the match was our keeper Manuel Neuer! We need to do much better going forward and that probably means consigning the A tactic to the bin. But at least we got the three points despite our poor showing which keeps us neck and neck with the team we play next, Middlesbrough.

Very unlucky Ian. ESMS can be a fickle mistress. Good luck for the rest of the season.

As mentioned our next game see's us play hosts to the current Conference table topping side Middesbrough. Who will no doubt pose a very stern test of our promotion aspirations.

[Johnboy]

Derby County 5 - Atalanta 0

Since we drew in Atalanta earlier in the season both teams have replaced their managers and replaced them with caretakers.

Following our defeat at Wolves last time out we didn't change a lot in terms of playing staff, although we did push Dallas further forward on the pitch playing in midfield rather than just in front of the back 4.

Derby came out of the traps flying and were 3 goals in front within the first 6 minutes as Harrison, Pukki and Elvedi all hit the back of the net.

Newly appointed captain Icardi grabbed a fourth for Derby before the break and we got a fifth shortly after half time as Pukki got his second of the game.

A clean sheet and 9 saves culminated in a stunning game for Ramsdale in the Derby goal and has earned him his payrise while Pukki is also pushing his claim for a payrise in the coming weeks if he can maintain this form.

This result doesn't change anything in the league positions but coupled with defeats for PSV and West Brom just above us means that we have closed the gap on the teams above us.

Good game Ryan, good luck for the rest of the season.

[Neil@Fiorentina]

Watford 4-3 PSV

Back to business as usual for PSV, though we did have a couple of players out, which eases the pain a bit.
We started with the counter, but going a goal down early meant we switched tactics, but it wasn't until later in the game we got into it, after going 3-0 down. Nearly a good recovery, but not quite there. It was fairly even on the stats, and I guess we proved that playing 5 at the back doesn't always help keep the goals out, gg Tony.

[AB@Juventus]

Middlesbrough 1 - 0 Fulham

Another good result as Boro remain top of the league (Bridgey come take them off me please)

A half decent team came to the Riverside today and looked to be hard to beat, taking TA with a solid back line.

After a first half controlled by Fulham, the second half was more even and substitute R_Cutrone gave us the lead 9 minutes from time, which we saw out after taking TA against the visitors.

Statistically Fulham shaded it, however perhaps HA saw us through this one.

It's still tight at the top of this division so anything can happen, good game Joe.

[ChrisS]

Schalke 2 - 2 Feyenoord

A little disappointed with the result. We were fortunate to win a penalty early to go up 1-0. Followed by a Sebastian Polter strike just over the 20 minute mark. Feyenoord cut the lead in half at the 69th minute off a deflection. Under pressure toward the end, Konate committed a clumsy foul giving up a penalty which Veron had no trouble converting. 11 shots off target not good enough. Missing our top striker due to suspension was definitely felt in this match.

All that being said Feyenoord are a top side with a top manager and a point is a point. We'll learn from it and move on to the next.

Good game Nick.