The gaffer rightly picked the same team (and squad) as Boxing Day. We didn't put as much pressure on the ball, nor did we find the moments of quality that we did against Wolves. It was a scrappy game and we worked hard to pick up a lot of the 50/50 balls. Until Campbell was forced off, we looked like we might get some joy working through Campbell and Folan or releasing them quickly. They both had chances that they allowed to escape them and we were on top in the first half, although not finding any cutting edge. We were quite panicky at the back, which didn't help. We built quite nicely down the left side when Dawson and Hughes where involved but when the ball found Ricketts or Brown, it was booted unceremoniously forward. As the game progressed, Daws fell into the same trap. Neither Ashbee nor Livermore could find any room in a crowded midfield, so Hughes and Garcia carried the threat again. In the first half, we couldn't really find them in space. Passing wasn't easy on that pitch, either. It was very bobbly.
The only real bit of quality before the break was Windass' superb free-kick. 25 yards, top corner, One-Nil. The free-kick for the goal was well won by Folan, who collected a clearance from a Wednesday corner and committed 3 defenders with the last one bringing him down. Hughes hit a curler just wide, Folan was denied by an incredible last ditch tackle after a run from his own half took him past everyone and then Campbell mis-controlled when through on goal. There weren't many more chances in the second half, not for us anyway. We had some good possession but over-played, especially after Barmby came on. There were three occasions when Barmby, Ricketts and Garcia had the ball on the right and one each occasion, they passed it and passed it without ever managing to deliver. On another occasion, we worked the ball well into Folan in the box, but rather than turning and shooting, he turned away from goal and attempted to pass it (badly). We needed to be more clinical and to deliver the ball into the box earlier. We over play often and end up either failing to get the ball in or delivering it from Ricketts in a deeper position. If we had the cutting edge out wide to match our defending and work rate, we could easily be a top six side.
Folan was frustrating. He's a super player and showed his incredible running power and skill twice with runs from his own half. When it comes to pulling the trigger though, he's either too ponderous, or too selfless. He needs to be as greedy as Windass if he wants to be a potent goal scorer. He also failed to connect with a header in the second half that any striker worth his salt would have nodded in. His work rate is incredible, he's got a great tough, good skill and a great energy but he needs to work on scoring goals. If he does, he's going to be some player. Fraizer Campbell had a lively 20 minutes, finding room on the right and causing a problem. Unfortunately, he went off early with a hamstring tweak. Deano came on and did what he does well, he annoyed the defenders, won free-kick's and pulled out wide to find and create space. His goal was a belter.
The pair in the centre of midfield had a hard afternoon. There was plenty of ground to cover but no time at all to play football. They had to make a lot of tackles, win a lot of headers and stop their wide players coming inside. They did everything superbly. Ashbee even found time to get in and around the edge of the box. He really shouldn't bother! I thought the wide players were our best performers again. Both worked hard and helped out defensively as well as carrying the ball forward. They provided some threat too. Hughes, in the second half, cut inside a bit more and played 2 fantastic passes into Deano. As the season goes on, they look better and better by the week.
Defensively, we were shakier than at any time against Wolves. In the first half, Wednesday passed poorly into the strikers, so our back four mopped everything up easily, but in the second, they put in a bit more quality and we were found wanting on a few occasions. When they played the ball in long, Brown lost the aerial battle with Burton. He resorted to holding and pushing and was penalized three times in the last 5 minutes, which gave Wednesday great set piece positions. He was caught out by Akpo's pace early in the second half but fortunately, the Wednesday striker shot against the post. It wasn't a good game for Brown personally, but he led as well as always. He was even marshalling the ball boys in the second half, making sure they slowed down the return of the ball. Turner did well; he made some crucial interceptions and won the ball in the air. Ricketts was well off colour. He wasn't a threat going forward and he didn't do a great job of subduing Esajas when he came on. Dawson defended well though and was our best distributor. He and Hughes couldn't find the space they had in previous games, but the promising partnership continued. Myhill, generally untroubled, took responsibility for most things that hit his box. He very nearly picked up a ball outside the box in the first half after losing his bearings, his only aberration. In stoppage time, he saved brilliantly from Jeffers after a Wednesday free-kick found our defence in dreamland, saving the three points.
We spent the last 7 minutes defending after PB replaced Windass with Delaney. It isn't a great position to be in, especially when Barmby is your lone striker but it worked out OK. It was one of those managerial 'tinkerings' that some of them just cannot help doing. We faced a few set pieces in stoppage time, so Delaney's height helped. Had Windass stayed on though, we might not have relinquished possession and territory so easily. We'll let him off but I hope he doesn't make a habit of it.
I thought the referee had a good game today. He was a bit fussy with the aerial challenges and a bit gullible, but he got a good percentage of decisions right and didn't appear swayed by either set of supporters. The game started with a minute's applause for Phil O'Donnell which was well observed, as you'd expect.
So we come to the end of 2007. We started the year in 22nd place in the Championship and survived by a whisker in May. Yet, here we are at the end of December in a fantastic and barely believable, 8th place. Just one point outside the play-off spots. We've played 45 league games in 2007, won 17, lost 17 and drawn 11. At the end of 2006, we had 24 points in 26 games. Phil Brown's side then picked up 25 from the remaining 20, a big improvement. This season, we have 37 from 25, another great improvement. We're averaging 1.48 points per game so far this season. We need another similar improvement to start hitting the 1.6/1.7 points per game mark that guarantees play-off football. Dare we dream?
Whatever happens, we're only 13 points from safety! It took us until March 10th to hit 37 points last year. We've won 7 of the last 14 and lost only 3. We should definitely be a Championship side next year. Onto Stoke we go.
Thanks to all the players and the management for an emotional, incredible and more recently, a highly enjoyable 2007. Thanks for the effort, thanks for the investment and thanks for giving us a pick-me-up after last year's struggles. Here's to a prosperous 2008.
Thanks for reading, everyone, I wish you a very happy new year.