Ian Buxton's Bat

RTV

1Wildsmith  7.........one great save, one strange header after a bad mistake and slip

2Wilson  5.5........not his best night going forward but clean sheet and always tries to make things happen

35Nelson  6.5.......clean sheet, played well

6Cashin  7.......clean sheet and tried to get us moving forward

17Sibley  6.5.......got pelters in the match thread but clean sheet and thought he did OK, especially first half

11Méndez-Laing  5.....bad miss, some poor end product but doesn't hide

12Smith  6.5......another game where he looks good but hardly has any touches (32 in 77 mins) which isn't going to control influence any game. Don't blame him because he showed what he can do with the pass for NML's golden chance......must be frustrating playing as a proper central midfielder for a manager who only really wants them to defend

16Thompson  6.......OK...not much time

32Adams  7.5......really strong performance. He IS a midfield destroyer

27Blackett-Taylor  3.5......bad miss and hid. (16 touches in 59 mins). Possibly time to leave him out of the squad and try again next season in either another league or with another manager. Quality player in there but this isn't working.

4Hourihane  6.......should've started with Smith and Adams imo. Gets on the ball and tries to make stuff happen (27 touches from 59 mins onwards). Showed defensive weakness but showed defensive savvy.....he was the recipient of JW's last second header. If he wasn't there we may have lost. But.......that free kick...... FFS

14Washington  5.5.......strange one. He was our main outlet and threat but just isn't quite good enough. When he's fresh he's a threat with clever runs but when he's tired he's a passenger. Watched the highlights and I think the pass to CBT was actually quite cute....I think the pass on the ground would have been cut off so the chip-through was clever

7Barkhuizen  5....not involved.....but would start him on Sat. 

9Collins  5......hardly involved but seemed to be playing almost as a 10 which is a thankless task in a team told to avoid using midfield, and a role he's frankly not very good at

10Waghorn. 5.....sadly, added nothing. See Hourihane for thoughts on that free kick!

Another game where my ratings sort of taper down from back to front. It would be good if RD or Rams TV could ask PW if he is deliberately not using centre midfield as an offensive option - it drives me mad because a) we have players in the squad capable of dominating games at this (low) level and b) it gives the opposition something to think about rather than knowing full well we are going long or wide

Whatever we were playing resulted in 2 great chances being created and squandered so it was effective to some extent.

But as @DavesaRamand @Ellafellahave alluded to it was another game where the clear plan was to avoid playing on the deck through midfield which I just don’t understand.

The ball from Smith to NML was a beauty but suspect he was off-script.

Yes, missed chances but PW to blame overall tonight imo.
 

Safe journey to those going tonight.

I'm veering between the completely nervous and phlegmatic.

Nervous that we've had some horror shows on the road against mid table mediocrity.

Phlegmatic, in that we've got 2 games against teams that are dreaming of reaching the dizzy heights of mid table mediocrity....plus Orient (which in my brain has already been filed in the just turn up and win category) plus tonight.

Fundamentally, if you'd offered me these 4 games left with promotion still in our hands at the start of the season, I'd have taken it.

Barnsley have gone, win the next two and I think the wind exits Bolton and Posh's sails.

Don't hate Wycombe but hate their chairman for what he did during our admin. Give him plenty.

COYR

27 minutes ago, BatRam said:

Has warne decided that he prefers Smith/adams in midfield now? or has hourihane got a niggle. Smith has been brilliant in my opinion and the midfield has looked so much more mobile. Ward has taken over on set pieces and every single one has been class. Thompson has been brill when he comes on aswell. 

I think he plays Smith and Adams if he anticipates a battle - both are very good at breaking up play and getting back quickly to shield the defence.

However, if you look at Who Scored stats, neither of them have anywhere near the number of touches that Hourihane has in a game. Hourihane is capable of dictating play if - and only if - we decide to play through midfield.......and he's better in a 3.

Personally, I'd play all three of them if we intend to try and control a game - with NML, CBT and Collins ahead.

If we intend to sit back and play on the break, or have a 90 min scrap then Smith and Adams are currently the best bet imo.

1Wildsmith 5.5.......overall not great but made 2 very good saves

2Wilson 6.5.........defended well, didn't get forward much 

35Nelson 7.......under serious pressure throughout in horrible conditions. Not his best game but decent.

6Cashin 7.5.......same as Nelson but marginally more composed.......apart from an awful cross to unmarked Collins at the back stick

17Sibley 7........did well against a very good winger

23Ward 8........goals get headlines but a very good performance overall

16Thompson 6.........did OK 

12Smith 7.......a bit of a midfield Nyambe. Gets in defensive positions and jockeys players very well. Also a good organiser - one very obvious rollicking of CBT

4Hourihane 6....no time

32Adams 8.....another very good performance

27Blackett-Taylor 7.5......getting much better going forward. He must be very, very quick - for the first goal he looked like a bone idle stroller.....as he left about 4 of their players in his wake!

14Washington 6......no time

11Méndez-Laing 6......taking one for the team by playing up front. Not his best position and won't see him at his best until he goes out wide again imo.

9Collins 7.5........brilliant first half - genuinely excellent. Faded in second but you can see Warne's pecking order when Wash and Wag are kept on the bench until 80+ mins

10Waghorn 6......no time

Good game. Great point. Means Pompey won't be on the beach when they visit Bolton.

Watched on Sky TV. Interesting that, apart from Sir Curtis, the coverage - and commentary/co-comms - was inferior to Rams TV imo.

Proper game of football. Pompey very decent but we just about matched them. Nerves were shredded at the end.
Another tough watch where we sat back on a lead but doing otherwise could have cost us what could be one of the best points of the season.

Hopefully that’s the last time we go full park the bus this season.

4 or 5 nil vs Ambulance Chasers FC please.

How good was Collins for someone with 20 mins under his belt? 

1 minute ago, alexxxxx said:

Guess next q is do we want Pompey win against Bolton or are we still in title race?

Whaaaat?

Pompey to beat Bolton all day long.

20 minutes ago, BathRam72 said:

Does anyone know if it is being shown on any of the foreign sport channels like Bien sport etc?

It's on Rams TV I think

ATG

1Wildsmith 6.5…one v good save. Would like to see him come for crosses in corridor of uncertainty 

2Wilson 8.5…my MOTM. Just always wants to make things happen

35Nelson 8.5…..apart from one sliced clearance, utterly commanding

6Cashin 8…..another top performance 

17Sibley 7….did OK in the game. Did very well considering he’s not a left back 

23Ward 7……couldn’t work out if he’d got a free role or was failing to hold position but he did OK

10Waghorn 6…..no time

32Adams 8…..another great game. Goal looked very good from west stand. Just seen highlights from north stand camera and it’s sensational 

12Smith 6.5…..gets in good defensive positions but hardly gets involved on the ball. A good selection on the basis we chose to give Blackpool the ball and watch them play

4Hourihane 6….no time

27Blackett-Taylor 6.5…..more threatening on the ball than previous games. Takes him an age to twig that he has to do defending. Don’t know if it’s attitude or lack of awareness but he’s strolling when others have reacted immediately and are already busting a gut to get the ball back or back in position. Left Sibley exposed 

16Thompson 6…..strange that he came on instead of Waghorn. Did OK

11Méndez-Laing 6…..not his best showing but his presence was  huge lift and probably a huge disappointment to Blackpool 

22Fornah 6…..did OK. Good to see him back

14Washington 5…..tried hard. Battled well for some stupid high long balls he didn’t have a chance of winning. Sorry to say it but not surprised he didn’t score the 1 on 1

9Collins 7……showed what we’ve missed. Hold up and link up was good. Wardrobe-esque foul in our half was a thing of beauty 

PW knows what he’s doing and may well get us over the line. I just wish he’d stamp our style of play on the opposition rather than changing so much and making games bitty. Thought we played pretty well first half but no idea what the formation was!

But…..it’s the business end of the season and I was very happy with the result…..and results elsewhere were a right bonus.

17 hours ago, Boss said:

I have a couple of friends that are Blackpool fans - are there any recommendations of pubs that allow away fans in as well as home? Thanks in advance.

Harvester on PP is designated away pub but is always a mix.

A clock for, say, 60 mins playing time that stops literally every time the game stops is the best solution……goal kicks, throw ins, subs….the lot.

Doesn’t stop the antics that stop momentum but it renders time wasting a waste of time.

It would take a load of pressure off the refs and 4th officials 

RTV

1Wildsmith…..6.5 largely a spectator again. No chance with the goal

35Nelson…..6 looked a bit shakier than usual under the high ball. Did OK

5Bradley…..4.5 poor for their goal, edgy on the ball and utterly unprofessional with the red card, knowing that Fozzy is injured 

6Cashin….6.5…..did OK, tried to make things happen

2Wilson….6.5...played well first half

32Adams……5….missed that sitter and thought he had a poor game overall 

12Smith……6…..tidy enough

4Hourihane…..5.5….haters will hate him but offered a lot more than Adam’s today. Should play in a 3 though 

17Sibley….5….not a lot happened for him today

20Elder…6….OK

23Ward….6…Ok

10Waghorn…..5…missed a good chance and offered very little 

16Thompson…..5…played out of position and did little 

27Blackett-Taylor…6….did OK and made a few things happen 

11Méndez-Laing….6.5….lively….will be a big miss

14Washington…..6…..looked better than Waggy to me. I’d start him on Friday if Collo not fit

Wrong formation imo and too many players off colour. 
 

Agree with PW on Radio Derby to some extent…..didn’t play well but missed sitters cost us.

Clear foul in build up to their goal but Bradley should have put the ball and the player into the stand to stop the cross.

There’s been loads of talk about back 3 vs back 4 vs back 5 but the thing PW keeps getting wrong in my opinion is playing 2 in midfield.

Hourihane isn’t a good enough athlete to play there in a 2, Adam’s….despite all the plaudits…isn’t a good enough footballer to play in a 2.

Put in a third player and hey presto, they both become very good players at this level.

I don’t always agree with Eric Steele but I’ve no idea why you’d play Thompson anywhere else other than in midfield - really odd set up today.

4 minutes ago, S8TY said:

Again though too many long balls and not helped by players trying to run in behind so encouraging a long ball …I’d say at least 50 per cent of our long balls have gone to Northampton. 
The usual Hourihane haters moaning about Hourihane but he’s been no worse than anyone else and is at least trying to calm people down when they get on the ball 

take Bradley and Sibley off for Korey Smith and CBT 
 

I’ll agree with you rather than disagreeing with the haters…..CH passing is OK today

2 minutes ago, BatRam said:

hes supposed to be a brilliant set piece taker and has a decent shot on him but have we really seen any of that?

Not sure about ‘we’ but I have…..but then maybe I’ve been looking for the good in him as I think he’s a decent player.

5 goals, 7 assists plus lots of good deliveries e.g Cashin’s header that hit the post v …was it Reading?

Granted, he’s not scored any worldie free kicks as far as I can remember 

2 hours ago, Archied said:

Yes ,, that is odd

It's because he's no longer in his prime.

RTV

Wildsmith….8.5…..two magnificent saves 

35Nelson….8…..it’s getting boring now……Solid.

3Forsyth…8.5….superb return. 

6Cashin….8…..see Nelson

23Ward…..5.5……did Ok. Essentially played in a back 5 which isn’t his forte.

2Wilson…..7.5….good goal and runs the clock down better than anyone else. Really good.

32Adams…7….another very good afternoon. Everywhere.

4Hourihane….5.5….funny one. Thought he deserved to be hooked and then thought we really missed him for 30 mins. Needs an extra body in there if it’s a back 5 rather than a back 3

16Thompson….6….poor for 30 mins then came good at a vital time

17Sibley…..6….essentially played in a back 5. Did ok

20Elder…..6.5…good first touch!

7Barkhuizen…..6…..ok-ish in a poor-ish first half. Hope he’s fit as he’s great at relieving pressure when we’re under the cosh

10Waghorn….6….glad he’s fit….needs to find  proper decent form now Gayle is out 

25Gayle……6….quiet before injury

12Smith…..7.5……very quietly had a fantastic game

11Méndez-Laing….7…..not his best game but constant outlet and threat. Worked hard.

Rammie. Good lad.

Looking at Peterborough fixtures between Saturday and the last game of the season, it may not be a bad thing if they beat Portsmouth....provided we beat Bolton!

It would put a lot of pressure on our game V Portsmouth but I wouldn't be wholly surprised to see Posh +1 go up in the autos with Portsmouth in the play-offs. Portsmouth have a horrible run-in.

3 hours ago, Rich84 said:

This feigning injuries by goal keepers is getting beyond a joke, and annoyingly, I have to agree with this, but they can stop them having a mass team meeting with the coaching staff, maybe allow no more than 2 players to go over for a quick word.

I absolutely agree with you in principle but, to be fair, their keeper absolutely smacked into the post when he saved Ward's free kick.

ATG

1Wildsmith....6....Spectator. Looked a bit slow to get down for their one attempt on target.

35Nelson......7.......Solid. Again. Won everything when they put their big units on

5Bradley........6.5.....Played OK. Ultimately, at fault for their goal but plenty of opportunities for other players to have stopped it ever being a chance

2Wilson........7......thought he was excellent when he came on. Largely responsible for making 8 mins of injury time seem more like 5 rather than 15

6Cashin......7......another good game. Pity the header didn't go in 

23Ward.........7........Played very well first half and great ball for first goal. Deliveries are superb

27Blackett-Taylor.....6.....looked more on it. A bit more zip but still not really happening for him

32Adams......7........as with some other games, excellent until he gets booked. They wouldn't have scored if he wasn't on a yellow as he'd have definitely stopped their midfield runner rather than politely jumping out of his way (but at least has the brains to do that!)

4Hourihane.....7......played well. Great delivery for Cashin's header. Calmer than me for the penalty!

 12Smith........7........played really well when he came on. With hindsight he's been quite a big miss for the squad 

17Sibley........6.5......missed a decent chance but was there to miss it. He's a proper threat when we play a back 3 rather than a back 5

7Barkhuizen.......8......just MOTM. Always adds zip and forward momentum and gets on the end of things. Possibly our best player when we're winning as he's great on the counter

25Gayle......7.5.......great goal, great speed for the pen. Froze the highlights and think he's just on-side for the goal .....player marking Cashin plays him on. Did a tap-in go under his foot after about a minute? Looks fit, fast, classy and bothered. 

10Waghorn.....6.....denied by a worldie save. Did OK and is a good option off the bench

11Méndez-Laing.....6.....not his best game but they dished out some stick and doubled up because of how good they know he can be.

3Forsyth....6......great to have him back as an option

One of those games where no-one played badly. First half was a a joy to watch.......and, whilst I've not been in the PW out camp, I've pretty consistently said that it's been a tough watch this season.

Fully deserved to win that. Better team by a mile.

Thought we played really well first half and should’ve been up by a couple.

Second half wasn’t great. Ref cemented his position at the top of the cards chart and we were the beneficiaries.

Thought we went to pot with substitution roulette again. 4 subs in one go with a change of shape is what you do when you are losing isn’t it? And we kept the 3 players on yellows on the pitch which meant they couldn’t risk a tackle.

Ultimately it was closer than it should’ve been.

That said, I enjoyed it and agree with other posters that we’ve become easier on the eye in recent games.

Really disappointing to see Robbie Savage having to be told to shut up and sit down by stewards. He should’ve known better than to give it a large celebration in the Derby end when Reading scored and should not have then be surprised he got some chirp afterwards.

Don’t mind the bloke at all but he let himself down a bit imo.

4 hours ago, Crewton said:

Not only this - he's also the clown who cost us at least a point at Bolton this season. @Carl Saganis it too late to do a Madley on him? 😉

Seriously though, I don't know who allocates referees to EFL games but someone has seriously cocked up here. This guy is incompetent. If he costs us more points the club surely has to put in an official complaint against him.

Outrageous accusation.

If your job is to blow a whistle, give fouls and dish out cards then this bloke is anything but incompetent. He loves a penalty too.

Stats from Who Scored show Charles 'let-the-game-flow' Breakspear is currently top of the league, but others have games in hand.

He's home and hosed on total yellow cards but he's not quite there with yellows per game. He'll have one eye on Carl Brook, who could take this year's pens/ game award and he'll be keeping his fingers crossed for a fight so he can go neck and neck with Simon Mather on the total reds. The rescinded red at Bolton has him only in the bronze medal berth in that category, which may have him fired up for this evening

https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/8/Seasons/9623/Stages/22081/RefereeStatistics/England-League-One-2023-2024

3 hours ago, Donnyram said:

I’ve been to 3 of them……. plus Cremonese to make it 4 defeats out of 4.  All the others Derby have played at Wembley were wins.  I’d definitely take top 2 
 

Promise I won’t go if we get there! 🫣

Not quite as much of a bad luck omen as you, as I missed the Cremonese game, but I too have seen 3 play-off losses in the flesh and seen the solitary victory on TV.

I also missed just 1 home game game in 1996.......v Palace.

I'd rate our chances of winning a 10 game 'mini-league' with the teams in positions 2-5 higher than our chances of a knock-out with the teams in positions 3-6 so top 2 it is......and, for the right price, I'll miss the Carlisle game if it helps.

Happy with that draw.

Barnsley’s next fixtures are pretty easy and that’ll have dented their confidence nicely.