Nothings Changed

After watching Crewe suffer a 2-1 defeat it seems that nothing has really changed from last season. Here are my opinions on the game.

On paper we may be better than last year, but there is still certainly something missing in the team as it was the same old situation.

The scoreline should have been greater for Brighton if it had not been for a couple of last ditch saves from Collis and the help from both the post and the crossbar.

In the first half Grant made a couple of surging runs at the Brighton defence and managed to release a few shots at goal, none of which really troubled the keeper, but non the less showed us glimpses of what he could do. He operated all over the pitch switching from left to right as he tried to make life difficult for the back four. In the second half he seemed to tire but still did enough to be given the man of the match award before being substituted.

Bopp picked up an injury early in the first half, and was substituted for Rix. It looked like he was holding his groin before he came off so with fingers crossed it may only be a slight strain. Rix didn't play particularly badly and managed to put a good few tackles and passes in.

The defence was to blame for both goals, the first due to sloppy marking and defenders ball watching, and the second down to Baudet being half asleep and letting Forster walk past him. This was by far the worst I have seen Baudet, he was a real let down especially for the last goal.

Miller in his time on the pitch did absolutely nothing. The partnership with Zola was none existent and it looked like they had never met each other before. Miller is no where near this standard of football, that's for sure.

In the end the team resorted to the usual tactics of hoofing the ball up to the front two in the hope of creating something.

On the positive side when Elding came on the game turned on its head. He put it about a bit and made it hard for the defenders. He kept giving the team encouragement and pushing them on, and eventually he combined with Zola in the 85th minute to send Zola through on goal, a move which he completed with an expertly hit low curling shot past the keeper into the right side of the goal.

Nobody else stood out to me as being particularly good or bad, Bailey was ok in midfield (considering he's a young lad) and Zola put some good work in throughout the game.

One thing is for sure though, we need to improve the defence urgently if were going to stand a chance in this league. Something the fans have been saying for months.

My Best Player Of The Day
Grant / Elding

Worst Player Of The Day
Miller

Best Move Of The Day
Zola's goal was a great move and really well taken.

Biggest Mistake
Baudet falling asleep to concede the final goal.

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