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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Hi there, welcome to my site where I chronicle various things about the Hatters, a team I have followed since the mid 60’sArchives
December 2017
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