I reckon we just have to put yesterday behind us and in hindsight, the team election may have been a touch different for a Coventry side with two such dominating combatants in midfield in as No6 Kelly who persistently fouled buy did a great job for his team and also their captain, No8, their 36-year-old captain who did a lot to manage the game. I don't attach any blame really to NJ for his initial team selection as after such a great run why not keep that group together? Simply the easy hindsight view of a jaded Stacey having a very difficult time against the tricky Coventry winger and receiving little support from the previously booked Olly Lee. This season has been very decent for Olly since NJ relinquished that defensive role from his shoulders yet when he comes up against a couple of tough midfielders, Doyle & Kelly, we are just about a man short. However, being realistic, if Olly had that tougher side to his game he would be earning in a league higher than L2.
The first goal by Coventry was a beautifully guided header but sadly for the Hatters, the marking on the cross was dreadful with a clear gap sitting between Mullins and Cuthbert. I am sure NJ is fully aware of our vulnerability at crosses as he has tried to sign a big man during the summer: for me, as I have said often before, Mullins is an average but fairly immobile CB & I would much rather see Famewo given a chance in that position, a far more mobile player able to play at left CB. Another player having the jitters yesterday was keeper Stech who was all over the place in the first half with his kicks out and indeed one dreadful low kick fell to a Coventry player about 35yds from goal who slammed the ball back high in the air and it hit the woodwork; not the best of days for our keeper. The front three who have been in great form in the recent run, looked jaded against the mean Coventry defence yet we did create chances and could so easily have equalised in the second period with Hylton having a few chances that I would have backed him to put away but credit to the “time conscious” Coventry keeper. In the end, 3-0 to Coventry was incredibly flattering to them with two goals in added time as we tried desperately to find an equaliser with Captain Cuthbert joining the attack; again, no criticism from me, we went for it in the final few minutes and got caught, it happens! In his post-match radio interview NJ got it pretty well right in my view with his comments and pleasingly was honest about the well prepared Coventry approach to the game. As he said, we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and go again. Definitely not the end of the world in terms of our automatic promotion target but simply a great run that has come to an end against a Coventry side that I would back to be in the top three at the end of the season
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Note: just a reminder that due to time pressures this site will only only cover Luton away matches that I attend. My reasoning is that the home matches are pretty well attended and well reported by supporters on other sites and also I am heavily involved with my other site: stockwhittler.weebly.com Blimey, my fifth visit to Accrington in four seasons and the weather despite being early October, was a touch more reminiscent of the awful foggy FA Cup day of last season with this time the water vapor being in bigger lumps called rain. Still not to worry and despite being ushered off a train in Leeds with the guard declaring in broad Yorkshire accent “this trains broken lad; you'll av to get on anoooother”, we arrived in Accy in good time to head for the Peel Park where I am beginning to feel a bit of a regular. I have to say if we had such an excellent pub in my village then I would be a regular. Nice welcoming town Accrington and to my mind always a pleasure to visit.
At the ground, I did feel for the hardy Luton fans on the terrace with the rain whilst not being really heavy, constantly drifting into their faces but in the end, even a wet Hatter is a happy Hatter with three points away from home. In truth, it was a very good professional performance from the Town at Accrington against a Steve Colman side that despite running on very meager finances, always produces a very decent football playing L2 side. In the first half, we dominated Accrington apart from the odd few minutes when they put a couple of attacks together and with real grit and determination we were winning the majority of 50/50 balls in midfield. Both flanks were working well with Dan Potts doing particularly well on the left side in terms of winning the ball, passing the ball and indeed crossing the ball: whatever happened to the young Dan Potts who used to look totally lost and in panic once he reached the halfway line? Note to Nathan: extend his contract ASAP matey as this lad is a real decent mature footballer now: tackles solidly, good positional sense, one of the best headers of the ball in the team and now learning wing play. With that domination, we put in a few very bright attacks and it was no surprise when the Hatters took the lead; again it was that determined style of play that got us in front. Just on the edge of the area, Hylton knocked the ball back a yard to Olly lee who looped the ball out to the advancing Potts on the left who was simply physically much stronger than his marker. Potts left his marker behind to send in a lovely chipped cross for the onrushing Olly Lee to head down for Collins to slam the ball into the back of the net: 1-0 to the hatters; nice! Indeed, we had taken the lead with a first-half away goal, probably a while since that has happened but not leaving it there we made it two from the penalty spot with a beautiful move involving a hack-heel from Hylton on the left of the box to find Sheehan who charged into the area to be brought down by a lunging tackle; the referee being only a few yards away, immediately pointed to the spot. Up steps Danny Hylton fresh from the video dissecting of his penalty technique on Channel 5; this time Hylton placed the ball to the goalkeeper's right-hand corner and to be fair to the keeper he was not that far away from making the save. Nice to have the 2-0 lead but I would much rather have the “laces through the ball” technique of James Collins than the clever stuff of Danny Boy. Another benefit of that second goal was that the drummer boy probably collapsed in tears as his drum was silenced; don’t you just hate those bloody drums! As you would expect, in the second half Accrington really did try to get back into the game with some more powerful play of their own especially in the first 20 minutes of that second period. However, the Hatters defence remained aware and very confident with the very impressive mountain of Stech dominating his area. How would I describe Stech? Well, to be fair he is a bit of a unique mixture of bravery, power and agility: just imagine the punching power of our ex-loan keeper Mitchell and the agility of Walton mixed with undoubted passion. Well done Nathan on bringing in such a decent keeper. Later in the second half, we replaced Berry with D’Ath. Berry was doing ok but not as yet looking a big fee player and I thought that was a wise move from Nathan to bring on the more competitive D’Ath to close down the midfield a touch more. In that second half that never reached the entertainment level of the first, there were a couple of other chances, one to each side. With Accrington's chance, Stech made a decent save and for ours, Hylton would have surely scored but for a super last-ditch tackle from an Accy defender. A few minutes before the end, James Justin came on to replace the excellent Cornick and from the moment he came on he looked more of a match for the speedy Accy left winger who was giving Stacey a tough time; the guy was simply really fast against Stacey's tired legs in the second period. So there we are, 16 points from the last 18 on offer and a very accomplished away performance against a side that before the match were a place above us in the league. Overall Impression: A very efficient away performance from our side that at last look like serious promotion contenders who dare I say it, are getting a touch more to grips with the needs of L2; is our Nathan at long last learning what it actually takes to gain promotion from this physical environment? Let’s hope so and full credit to him in the way he used his team and substitution yesterday. Generally, in the game, we were very pleasingly in there for the majority of second balls and that aspect alone is such an improvement on last season. Additionally, every Hatters player supported each other and acted as a real team unit with very few mistakes and bags of determination from all. Nest Saturday I reckon we will be without Dan Potts who has now by my reckoning collected five yellow cards and will sit the next game out. NJ, of course, has options at LB and could use either JJ or Senior for their first league starts of the season. Not a bad strength in depts position. A few thoughts on individual performances within a very good all round team performance: Stech: he is fast becoming a legend in our team. He did everything asked of him including making one top-notch save and commanding his area. Oh yes, full marks to him for keeping out of the argument that went on at the time of Potts booking. Stacey: whilst not his best game he did absolutely fine until he tired in the second half against the fresh speedy legs of the Accy substitute. Potts: what a solid decent defender this chap has turned out to be. Give him an extended contract Nathan; he's worth it. Cuthbert: solid as a rock at the back and seems to be really enjoying his football at the moment. Just ask the opposition to wear skin-tight shirts or preferably body paint instead of shirts. Sheehan: great anticipation in defence, missed very little; had a good game indeed. Rea: did what he does best in terms of a combative spirit. I thought he had one of his best games in a Town shirt and certainly he was miles better than on that foggy day back in the winter. Lee: some close clever play and overall very decent: I was impressed with him yesterday. Berry: still fairly quiet in terms of imposing himself on play but some nice touches and hopefully more to come. Cornick: very impressive once again with some superb close control. Lots of pace and determination. Collins: bags of effort and really only got one sight at goal and indeed he put that one away superbly belting in Lee’s knockdown header. Hylton: getting back to last seasons form and a continuous thorn in Accrington's side. However, Danny you scare me to death with your penalty technique. The Subs: D’Ath: busy in midfield; glad to have him back fit. As he will in my view be important to us this season. Justin: strong tackles and seemed capable of catching that speedy Accy winger who was getting the better of Stacey. A special mention for the referee who was very fair to both sides. I reckon one Accy call for a penalty in the second half was in truth mighty close and I would not have moaned had they been awarded one but the referee was very well positioned to make his decision. He also would not be rushed into making a decision during that handbags incident involving so many players in the first half. |
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December 2017
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