Ricardo's report v P.N.E.

[ricardo 7,395]

It was coming down like cats and dogs when I got up this morning and biking didn't look like a sensible option, thankfully my daughter came to the rescue and gave us a lift to the ground. the rain had passed through by 2pm and conditions seemed ideal come kick off time. I wasn't surprised to see Idah keep his place after last weeks heroics while yet again Hernandez continued to be first choice despite indifferent form.

midfield congestion stifled the early play until in the fifth minute, Idah rode a couple of tackles and sent Sara away to the right of goal but he couldn't shake the defender who blocked his shot for a corner. It was about now that the sky suddenly darkened and a storm of almost biblical proportions swept across the ground, driving several in the front rows of the South Stand to seek shelter. Thankfully it passed through quickly and as conditions cleared Hernandez raced away down thr left and managed to cut thee ball back to Nunez just outside the box. The little man struck his shot well enough but it skimmed a foot wide of Woodmans right post.

We saw almost nothing from the visitors who appeared to be more concerned with getting everyone behind the ball than attacking. City racked up the pass count and seemed to be turning the screw as we reached the mid point of the half. Nunez and Sara both had shots blocked as the Preston defenders closed ranks. It was difficult for the home side to create a clear opening but just before the half hour Ginny got Hernandez away down the left but Woodman judged his angles well and was able to block the shot away. It was frustrating stuff as City were passing Preston off the pitch but just couldn't find a cutting edge. The closest we came to an opener in the first half was when a defender misjudged a cross from the left and Fassnacht was able to chest the ball down at the far post and shoot past Woodman only for a defender to hoof the ball away near the line.

I thought Wagner might have slung Rowe on for the second half but he persisted with the starting eleven for another ten minutes durng which time the match continued to follow the same path as the opening forty five. Preston finally won a free kick in our half and a header skimmed just wide of the angle with Gunn relieved to see it go over. Wagner took the hint and swapped Barnes and Fassnacht for Gibbs and Rowe and the pass count continued to tick up without any clear cut openings emerging. Rowe did get on the end of a cross but with so many defenders in the box the ball was cleared after a bit of ping pong.

At the other end a rare Preston foray ended with a shot that clipped the bar after Gunn didn't get enough on his punched clearance. It was a warning that despite all the City domination of possession, one mistake could be fatal. The crowd however roused themselves and we did get a bit of noise and even some chanting back and forth from the Snakepit to the Barclay. Unfortunately it couldn't drum up a goal although with fifteen minutes left Gibbs had what was the best opportunity of the match. Kenny surged forward and found Sara who quickly cut the ball into the box where Gibbs, having timed his run perfectly, had space to pick his spot but could only roll the ball agonisingly wide of Woodman's left post. You somehow know after something like that that it isn't going to be our day.

We had Sainz on for Hernandez and Fisher for Stacey but things continued to roll in the same old way with plenty of passing across the eighteen yard line but little of note that might bother the Preston keeper. In the final knockings Duffy got a good header on target and I was half out of my seat before disppointingly seeing it bundled away from the line. After that it was just huff and puff until the final whistle.

A couple of months ago we would have lost this game one nil because of a silly defensive error so I suppose that is some sort of progress. Kenny, Sara and Nunez were our best players on the day and I wouldn't begrudge either of them getting MOM. In all honesty it was an averagely middling contest between two average mid table sides. One didn't do enough to win it and the other did enough not to lose it.

 

[Myra Hawtree 124]

Usual good summary. Thanks.  When Hernandez at that “shot” in the first half we had two players waiting in the box for a pull back.

Gunn had virtually nothing to do but made a hash of the two punches out he did need to do.

[Badger 2,407]

Thanks Ricardo.

It seems that Hernandez is getting regular stock from some sections of the fanbase including today but in a game that lacked creativity he was involved in two or three of our best moves and created a decent chance for Idah with a great pass. I've never seen anything (yet) from Sainz to see why fans seem so keen on him and would be surprised if he is anywhere as effective "against the ball" (as they say nowadays 😄).

I know his form (offensively) hasn't been great, as you say, but his efforts defensively are why he's been picked recently.

Edited December 9, 2023 by Badger
Inserted but

[Branston Pickle 3,667]

30 minutes ago, Badger said:

Thanks Ricardo.

It seems that Hernandez is getting regular stock from some sections of the fanbase including today but in a game that lacked creativity he was involved in two or three of our best moves and created a decent chance for Idah with a great pass. I've never seen anything (yet) from Sainz to see why fans seem so keen on him and would be surprised if he is anywhere as effective "against the ball" (as they say nowadays 😄).

I know his form (offensively) hasn't been great, as you say, but his efforts defensively are why he's been picked recently.

Agree about Sainz - he had a good cameo at Fulham but apart from that hasn’t done a great deal in his (short) time on the pitch to suggest he ought to be starting. But perhaps it is time to given him a go to see whether he can find that spark.

One thing is for sure, that we have been missing Sargent badly, and Hwang too (given he’d found his feet).  idah just doesn’t seem to put himself about quite enough, I am hoping desperately that he’ll learn some ****housery from Barnes as think Idah could yet come on to be a very good player.

 

Edited December 9, 2023 by Branston Pickle
Sp

[Creedence Clearwater Couto 1,288]

Agree re Nunez, Kenny, and Sara. Said the same in the match thread, I want to see Nunez stay in the side of an extended period now. There was a clear purpose to his play second half, where he’d split the centre half’s and recycle the ball forward effectively. Picked up lots of second balls. My MOM.

Edited December 9, 2023 by Creedence Clearwater Couto

[canarybubbles 1,924]

13 hours ago, ricardo said:

In all honesty it was an averagely middling contest between two average mid table sides. One didn't do enough to win it and the other did enough not to lose it.

Perfect summary, Ricardo.