I'm trying to think of the last time I enjoyed myself less at the Vic. Maybe England v Denmark Under 21's. This afternoon I was ill (genuinely, not hungover) and despite it being a sun filled afternoon it was bloomin' freezing in the Upper Rous. Sometimes trying to maintain a 'not going early' policy is difficult. Today it was tested after 30 seconds.
In the programme Dean Austin continues the club mantra of how passing football is the way the game should be played (grrrr). It struck me that had Simpson et al been prepared to wait until the end of the 2004/5 season when we sacked Lewington, we could have had Gary Johnson as our manager. Had this been the case, by now, I reckon we would've been playing the sort of great passing attacking football we witnessed from City this afternoon.
Straight from the kick off their intentions were clear. No silly passing it back, or hoofing it out by the opponents corner flag. An instant attack resulted in a throw in. From it, they beat our offside trap and put the ball past Loach for 1-0. They continued the first half in the same manner and scored a second after Bromby failed to clear.
We obviously got a rollocking at half time and started the second half in better fashion. So it was completely careless to concede another straight after Raziak had got us back into the game, albeit from a deflection.
The own goal that got us back to 3-2 is probably the only reason to watch the Championship tomorrow (if indeed it is on) as it was probably the best goal of the afternoon. A great cross from Tommy and a brilliant header from the City defender ballooned the ball over their keeper. Even after that they still looked the more likely to score at the end and we can't begrudge them the fact they did. Had we got a point it would've been highly undeserved.
No one played that well. The usual good players did okay and the usual bad players performed as expected. BR's decision to take off Harley was roundly booed. Lewis Young looks like he needs a lot of weight training and a few balti pies to beef him up a bit. Despite scoring, Raziak looks like a poor mans Priskin, ironic as under Aidy, Priskin looked like a poor mans Raziak.
I saw my Dad after the game who enquired if BR has signed his contact yet. "Hmm, pity" was his response to the news. I think thats a little harsh, but it might become a common view if we perform poorly against a QPR side who we ripped apart under Malky.
