Oh, what a horrible bitterly cold day to watch football on and after a fairly reasonable trip to Adams Park situated somewhere near hell at the end of an one horse road industrial estate, I looked forward to a couple of pints of ale from the previously very good beer Marquee. Sadly this year, no barrels of real ale, not even something that masquerades as beer. The offerings were 400ml bottles of either cider or Heineken at a ridiculous £4 a bottle. The Wycombe hospitality now rates on a par with my opinion of Gareth Ainsworth, the master of the black arts of lower league football.
Nathan made three changes from last Saturday’s starting line-up with Cook & D’Ath relegated to the bench and Sheehan suspended, their places being taken by Smith, Gambin and Senior. Some fairly notable stuff there with first starts for Senior, new boy Gambin and maybe NJ finally grasping the nettle with the ineffective Cook not being risked. In effect, the starting line-up was the “Crewe second half 10” plus the mighty Gambin. Also worth noting, the relatively youthful average age of the team at around 23 to 24 years of age. In the first half, we were the better side with Wycombe hardly getting a look in on Walton’s goal. Indeed it was really encouraging to see the continuation of that team togetherness we saw last week in the second half at Crewe. Unfortunately from fairly early in the game, the referee started to display his total lack of competence as Hylton got dumped on the deck time after time by the Wycombe bouncers yet the substandard referee just waved play on! A couple of times in that first half we could have taken the lead once with Jack Marriott racing in from the right and sending a shot onto the top of the bar and another with a well struck Pelly effort from the edge of the area that resulted in a save. Yes, we were the better side in that first half but despite that, we went into the break on equal terms with the Ainsworth’s dirty dozen. When the second period got underway we looked even more impressive as a team as we continued to press the “lump it forward” chair boys further back. My god, the good folk of Wycombe have to watch this dreadful physical long ball football every week and also get to the ground along that awful lane; I would simply hate it! Our pressure finally told in the 56th minute when the man who never scores combined with the team that can’t score from corners to give the Town the lead. Gray hit a corner over and Cuthbert making a late run into the area sent a powerful header into the back of the net. Honestly, no more than we deserved as we had been much the better side. Wycombe had the odd chase into Walton’s penalty area but most of it was based on the lumping the ball up-field whenever the possibility arose. What really is a shame is that despite continuing to press forward we could not add to our score and put the game to bed; still not to worry as up to the first 72 minutes we looked to be fairly calmly in control of events. The referee then gave Hylton a final warning in the company of Captain Cuthbert “listen, son, if you keep protecting whilst the Wycombe lads kick the shit out of you, I will have to send you off; take your kicking like a man”. However, to be fair, Hylton as well as receiving stick was dishing some out himself and a red card for him would have been no help to us at all. Now, this was getting a touch dodgy and it was obvious that Nathan was going to have to replace Danny with Vassell some time soon. That “some time soon” arrived in the never to be forgotten 72nd minute which I am sure I will remember for a very long time: Mullins received the rolled out ball from Walton with Senior screaming away down the left in open space just waiting for Mullins to release the ball to him, surely he would make the pass. However, Mullins dithered lost control of the ball and made a silly challenge to the onrushing Wycombe player right in front of the linesman who immediately flagged like fury: result, a red card for Mullins. Mullins, the most experienced player in our team, to my mind made a complete and utter mess of the whole needless situation, certainly a game changer if ever there was one. Just so sad as the situation was not imposed but one of Mullin’s own creation. Nathan then immediately withdrew Hylton and Gray sending on Rea and Vassell. From that moment our shape changed, our dominance evaporated and we were under pressure. With Hylton off the field, our outlet play became much more restricted but we could still have snatched a second goal had Vassell, running in from the left, been a touch brighter and crossed to the unmarked Marriott rather than shooting from a terribly tight angle. Then as the Wycombe pressure mounted with the man advantage and loss of Hylton really telling, they did what they are good at, simply sending ball after the ball into the area. That old war horse Akinfenwa rose to head an equaliser; yes, good goal but Glen Rea is no Cuthbert in the air is he. So we played out the final stages of the game clinging on to a point when we really to my mind should have had the game sewn up with all three points safely in the bag; such is football. Overall Impression: Well although I felt we deserved all three points, a point from a Wycombe side that has been on a good run, is not a bad result. I honestly believe that had Mullins not been dismissed then we would have quite probably have seen the game out for a 1-0 win. Note: up to the sending off Mullins had been playing well at the centre of the defence. The pleasing parts about the overall performance and that from the second half of last week’s Crewe game were that we actually look far more of a complete side with a working midfield and a holding player in Pelly who simply looks more of a natural in that role than Lee. The difference of course between our 10 men last week and yesterday’s starting line-up was also having that little industrious tiger, Gambin, in midfield; looks to be another good signing by Nathan. Sticking with the positives, maybe Nathans preferred formation will now start to fly as by the looks of Senior, we have a natural wing back far more gifted in that role than others tried this season: note I base that on the four times I have seen him play not just yesterday’s effort alone. The Sunday Rant: Well, I think that has to be the awful refereeing performance of Mr Heywood but I have moaned about that man enough. Also, I feel that Ainsworth gave his central defenders a clear brief to “rough up” Hylton as much as the referee would allow them and goodness, they got away with a lot; I am absolutely no fan of that publicity seeking Wycombe manager who schools his side in the darker side of L2 football. Some thoughts on individual performances Walton: decent enough game and well beaten by a very good header from genial Akinfenwa. Justin: usual solid defending, made some excellent clean tackles and always looking to get forward. Cuthbert: simply outstanding yet again, now playing like a captain. What an incredibly improved player from the one we were unsure about for a good half of last season. Also, at last, Cuthbert scored a goal for Luton. If you have Hatters Player, then take a look at a very honest and dignified interview from him. Mullins: he was really playing well up that dreadful dithering moment that resulted in his early departure. His second red card of the season, so I suspect he will now miss a few, four possibly, games. Senior: his first league start for the Town and what a solid game he had; another good find Nathan. Pelly: a very decent game in his new holding position where he gets continually involved in the game and is always looking for a constructive outlet ball. Smith: as ever, what you see is what you get. Gray: continually involved in the game and scrapped for possession when it required it. He deserves a run in the team. Gambin: what a good first game this impressive slightly built lad had for the Hatters. I was really impressed with all aspects of his game, continually fighting for possession, tackling, crossing, and even winning a few headers. It was only a first game but a very encouraging start. Marriott: although he did not score, he did come close and gave the Wycombe bouncers quite a hard time. Hylton: despite being targeted by the two centre back giants of Wycombe, he gave them a terribly tough time despite getting no protection form a simply incompetent referee. Maybe at times Hylton himself was overly competitive but that’s our Danny. The Subs: Rea: usual battling performance but for me, his form has slipped since November. Should he have picked up Akinfenwa for that equaliser? Vassell: a bit disappointing to be honest; I don’t know what instruction he was given by NJ but just not really effective or smart enough: he has done much better in the past. O’Donnell: only really on for a few minutes. The Teams: Wycombe: Blackman, Jombati, Jacobson, Stewart, Pierre, Gape, O'Nien, Wood, Cowan-Hall (Kashket, 66), Hayes (Saunders, 66), Akinfenwa Luton: Walton, Justin, Senior, Cuthbert, Mullins, Smith, Gray (Rea, 72), Mpanzu, Gambin, Marriott (O'Donnell, 88), Hylton (Vassell, 72) Unused subs: King, Cook, Mackail-Smith, D'Ath
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
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
Categories |