To be frank, I thought we were awful. Regardless of the improved second half performance, we showed over the course of 90 minutes that we are just a team largely made up of players who will work hard without providing the enterprise needed to break teams down. Brentford looked similar to us in terms of the way they play, but they looked stronger and like they wanted it more. Deano can't settle for that.
Our main problem for me is that we don't have a midfield player who can link defence with attack. Of Taundry and Chambers, Taundry is probably the better but still has a tendency to get caught in possession too easily. Despite impressing me in pre-season, Chambers isn't doing it for me - too slow to second balls and seems to be more of a 'scrapper' than the quality midfielder we need. That said, it's the chicken and the egg scenario - is it the midfield's fault for not collecting the ball from the back four, or is it the back four's fault for hoofing the ball forward without a second thought? I think Manny Smith is a capable defender, but today showed why you need a defender to do more than just clear the ball from the back. We didn't get a foothold in the game for 45 minutes thanks to aimless long balls forward. It's Lancashire over Smith for me, every time.
Ignoring the weakness of our squad, the team selection was also poor today. I could understand why Smith decided to play Macken even though he probably wasn't quite ready, but dropping Gnakpa was, in my opinion, a huge mistake. Gnakpa is a huge threat in the air and at least gives us an out ball when we can't play the ball out from the back. He showed when he came on that the ball sticks in the final third for much longer when he's on the pitch. The number of chances Nicholls has been given to prove himself is beyond a joke now, I'm afraid.
Yes, their 'keeper made a good save from Hurst and Jarvis came mightily close to adding another goal of the season contender but to be completely honest, picking those highlights out is papering over far too many cracks.
I realise this post probably gives the impression of an overly 'doom and gloom' outlook, but we got what we deserved from today's game..
By: Rob Jones