kirsikka
UTC Legend
After the diabolical display at the weekend and with plenty of fresh blood from whom to pick, the pressure was on Parker to get the mix right. Happy to report he nailed it.
There have been numerous matches recently when we've hammered a team in one half only to see the picture change dramatically with the opposition switching their tactics up. I don't think that happened this time. Until the big incident the second half was just scrappy with nothing happening for anyone.
Defensively we looked much more solid with the ball on the ground but even in the first half didn't look solid against crosses. Brum responded to this at half time by changing their shape and shortly after the break bringing on a target man. Good to see we held out.
We seem intent on self destructing in games in which we are comfortable this season. More than one individual in red and black has turned the tide for the opposition with something utterly mindless. Lerma at fault tonight. It was a red card for a foul on a player going nowhere special.
Cantwell looks like he might be the player that was missing to make the system work. Far more energy across the board from everyone in attack but it helps having a player on the pitch who is more naturally a forward playmaker to disrupt defensive lines with runs and passes. I look forward to see him back to full match fitness.
Anthony has looked very inconsistent of late but the signing of Dembele seems to have given him a jolt as he was back to his early season dangerman form. Great to see. Persistence for the goal was great to see.
Phillips looked solid. The own goal was unfortunate and not his fault.
Season back on? Let's hope so.
Positive performances:
Solanke: On it from start to finish tonight. That's how you menace defenders and worlds away from that performance a few matches back. Nice finish as well.
Travers: Surely going to take some shifting from the starting role now. More great saves.
Christie: Back to his earlier season form and looks a different player having Cantwell as an option to bounce off. Fingers crossed his injury is minor.
The truth is, there were lots of good performances across the whole team and I could have mentioned quite a few here.
Room for improvement:
Lerma had a solid game but then... well he knows he's a marked man by refs so why on earth would he give the man in black a decision to make? Especially to prevent such a poor opening. For me it was a sending off for the foul alone, and his reaction after the challenge wasn't great either. It might actually have pushed the ref over the edge from orange to red. Especially since the Brum player was booked for his push. Lerma has to hold his hands up and learn from this.
Parker got a lot right tonight so credit where its due after all the grief on Sunday. The attacking was decisive, energetic and exciting and I'd also say he got his tactical tweaking during the game spot on as well.
Final thought. Birmingham fans must be starting to damn well hate playing us. That's nine times on the trot we've beaten them.
There have been numerous matches recently when we've hammered a team in one half only to see the picture change dramatically with the opposition switching their tactics up. I don't think that happened this time. Until the big incident the second half was just scrappy with nothing happening for anyone.
Defensively we looked much more solid with the ball on the ground but even in the first half didn't look solid against crosses. Brum responded to this at half time by changing their shape and shortly after the break bringing on a target man. Good to see we held out.
We seem intent on self destructing in games in which we are comfortable this season. More than one individual in red and black has turned the tide for the opposition with something utterly mindless. Lerma at fault tonight. It was a red card for a foul on a player going nowhere special.
Cantwell looks like he might be the player that was missing to make the system work. Far more energy across the board from everyone in attack but it helps having a player on the pitch who is more naturally a forward playmaker to disrupt defensive lines with runs and passes. I look forward to see him back to full match fitness.
Anthony has looked very inconsistent of late but the signing of Dembele seems to have given him a jolt as he was back to his early season dangerman form. Great to see. Persistence for the goal was great to see.
Phillips looked solid. The own goal was unfortunate and not his fault.
Season back on? Let's hope so.
Positive performances:
Solanke: On it from start to finish tonight. That's how you menace defenders and worlds away from that performance a few matches back. Nice finish as well.
Travers: Surely going to take some shifting from the starting role now. More great saves.
Christie: Back to his earlier season form and looks a different player having Cantwell as an option to bounce off. Fingers crossed his injury is minor.
The truth is, there were lots of good performances across the whole team and I could have mentioned quite a few here.
Room for improvement:
Lerma had a solid game but then... well he knows he's a marked man by refs so why on earth would he give the man in black a decision to make? Especially to prevent such a poor opening. For me it was a sending off for the foul alone, and his reaction after the challenge wasn't great either. It might actually have pushed the ref over the edge from orange to red. Especially since the Brum player was booked for his push. Lerma has to hold his hands up and learn from this.
Parker got a lot right tonight so credit where its due after all the grief on Sunday. The attacking was decisive, energetic and exciting and I'd also say he got his tactical tweaking during the game spot on as well.
Final thought. Birmingham fans must be starting to damn well hate playing us. That's nine times on the trot we've beaten them.