Bluemike wrote:It's not often we take the points and I find myself pretty much disappointed with nearly everything ive seen today. A game against a struggling Burton side who can't score for toffee's seemed the perfect game for us to bounce back from the derby day defeat and while we eventually won the game there is little doubt we really didn't deserve to do so. With a strong wind blowing into the faces of the Town players we struggled to get into the game at all and it was Tweny minutes plus before we really even got close to their box, Burton on the other hand had been pressing and trying to create openings but again little was coming by way of chances. It must have been around the half Hour mark before we mustered our first effort on goal with Didsy seeing his shot saved after being put through b y the hard working Waghorn. From the next passage of play garner tried his luck but this time the effort sailed well over. Shortly after Burton had their best chance of the game so far, first Bart was called into action to block a shot from distance but again he spilled it into the path of an advancing striker, thankfully this time he redeemed himself in time to block the follow up, moments later Bart spread himself to block an even better chance as Dyer looked to put the hosts ahead. The poor half came to a close with first Didsy firing into the side netting and then the Burton striker putting a shot wide when clean through but albeit from a tight angle.
It really had been a p*ss poor game between Two woefully weak sides although Burton had by far the better of it they just lacked any quality at all, Towns Midfield had failed to create anything of note although Waghorn had caught the eye at times with his endless running and movement, Sears, Nydam and Skuse had not really been in the game while McGoldrick was nearer to our half than he was the Burton half for much of the time. At the back Webster had been in the right place at the right time a few times but even his distribution was nothing more than hoofing it away. Don't know if was just our imagination but there was a feel about the Town performance that something just wasn't right, there seemed little passion and at times interest, it just felt was an underlying issue other than what was on the pitch, hard to explain but several fans remarked upon it.
The second half could only improve and thankfully it did although still far from spectacular, especially from Town. The first few minutes were as you were with Burton coming forward but again creating little but Ten minutes into half we really should have gone ahead, Didsy bursting into the box after being set up by garner & Waghorn but just as he was about to pull the trigger a Burton defender got a foot in to flick the ball away, it would surely have been a goal. Even at this early stage it was evident that we were upping the tempo from the first half and the hunger seemed a bit more like it. It was Bart to the rescue with a good save minutes later as Burton looked to get back on top, not long after we fell behind from a header from Turner who rose to head home from a corner, the goal was instanlty greeted with jeers etc from the Town end as fans started to voice their displeasure at what we were seeing. What followed left me totally stunned and not just a little bit angry as MM decided to bring on Kevin Bru as our first sub !!! Now don't get me wrong as it turned out bru did ok to be fair but WTF was Mick thinking ? A player who he has openly stated has no future at the club, who has no squad number, who was told he wouldn't play for us again comes on instead of celina, Downes, Ward etc ? Absolute bullshit decision in my opinion, pretty fuming at the time and even though it worked out still angry now.
As the game entered the final quarter we somehow got ourselves back level, it was in fact Bru who curled a decent ball into the box, a defender half got it away before a Town player, not sure who steered it into the path of waghorn who fired home his Seventh of the season to the delight of the travelling fans behind that goal. It was barely deserved but welcomed all the same. Town started to get on top and were having by far their best period of the game, waghorn almost getting his second but putting the ball just wide of the post when a pass to Sears would probably have resulted in a certain goal. Next it was McGoldricks turn to fire a shot just wide but the omens were good that Town had finally come to the party. We had been singing Celina's name for some time and finally with time running out the on loan winger got his chance, it was a chance that was to change, and ultimately win the game for Town. Straight away he caused the Burton defence problems with his direct running at, one run across the edge of their box resulted in him being fouled and from the resultant freekick the kosovan curled a glorious shot into the bottom corner to win the game for Town, the fans went wild as did celina himself, his celebration spoke volumes about how frustrated he must be, the shirt was thrown into the crowd as evert Town player celebrated with him except for Chambers who stood in front of the Town fans punching the air like we had won the bloody cup, it was a moment of sheer joy on a afternoon that by and large had been woeful. Town still had a couple of chances to increase their lead with Waghorn & Celina trying their luck. The last 20 minutes really had been out of character with the rest of the game as we finally looked like we wanted it and were finally playing some football, the final whistle was greeted with massive cheers which was relief as much as anything as the points and the win was badly needed.
Is it papering over the cracks ? Quite possibly but whatever our thoughts on the manager etc we must always be pleased to win no matter what, Micks decisions today and after match comments do nothing to heal any rifts that may be resurfacing, to bring on a player he doesnt want anymore is just mind boggling, to keep Celina on the bench for so long again and then to basically have a pop at him in his post match interview beggars belief, to say he couldn't give a f*ck about what Town fans call for etc and that he is less likely to do it is downright stubborn beyond anything we have heard before, it comes across as though he couldn't give a toss if he stays or goes and that can't be good.
I never take too much notice of rumours from fans but a a couple of things we heard today is that Mick has supposedly told people at the club he is going to see how the next 4 or 5 games go and will make a decision, he is also supposed to have told the players this a few days before the Norwich game !!! Can that be true ?? If so its crap management. Celina is obviously all the talk at the moment with his cryptic Tweet but what is a fact is that he was seen and videoed etc on the town some weeks back pissed up and slating MM for not playing him and saying he is unhappy, the footage has been online and is there for all to see so maybe there is a reason that he has not been flavour of the month who knows ?? Either way it doesn't bode well going forward if all this stuff is still going on. For now though we should be pleased that we somehow got it together at the end to get the win, that says something about the boys I guess but let's not kid ourselves,
Burton are crap and for Seventy minutes they were better than us.
Bart (6) Spence (5) Chambers (6) Webster (7) Knudsen (6) Nydam (5) Skuse (6) Sears (6) Didsy (6) Waghorn (7) Garner (6)
SUBS :- Bru (6) Ward (5) Celina (8)
Off to Cardiff Tuesday......I really can't wait
Superb!
