I have rarely been as vexed by a match as I was by today's. A combination of frustration at some astonishing refereeing and frustration that we threw away three points against what looked an incredibly mediocre side really just did for me.
Having been away for work since March, this was my first live game since Bristol Rovers at home last year (so apologies in advance for the long rambling thoughts). I was really curious to see what the new-look OUFC would resemble. And, as frustrating as today ultimately was, WOW - night and day. I know you've all already been treated to this for the last few weeks, but the team has so much structure, style and confidence. We looked great. Sure, we were lacking in ruthlessness in that first half, and we (arguably) lost some discipline second half, but the general performance, even with 10 men, I thought was of a very high standard.
Leigh looks brilliant, MacGuane and Brannagan absolutely bossed midfield (I liked the way RR would drop in to offer an out ball and bring in players, thought he plays into the system well) and enjoyed Harris' performance (until the obvious). Maybe not his best game today, but he was busy and added a threat with his running in behind, adds a lot for me. On the flip side, I wasn't wowed by Negru, after hearing such glowing reviews over the last few weeks, and I thought the wide players could have added more. Our depth was impressive though - Edwards and Mills looked very dangerous and MacEachran picked out some lovely balls.
The frustration is that we controlled the game so comprehensively but got nothing. Vale had barely had a shot before that dismissal. They defended reasonably well, but as others have said, you got the sense that we were slowly breaking them down, not panicking, continuing to exert pressure, and probably would have got something with Edwards and Mills getting in behind as late substitutions.
It is tempting to blame the ref. Certainly some of his key decisions were wrong and changed the match: the first Leigh yellow was a superb challenge, never a foul let alone a yellow, and obviously ultimately led to him being sent off; the 'offside' that was flagged just before the red (where the offside player did not touch the ball) killed our momentum in a key period; the 'foul' from which they scored the first was anything but; and the penalty, although I couldn't see clearly from the East and haven't seen any replays, so can't comment on whether it was the right decision or not, he initially gestured as a dive ('get up!' motion). That, along with the red card, where it's not clear that he saw the incident that led to the sending off, and was instead influenced by the Vale protests, seemed to suggest that he allowed himself to be swayed by their players. Weak and poor.
That said, we should have been comfortably ahead by the time of the sending off that changed the game. Failing to keep clean sheets is also becoming a concern - you'd expect to concede against some of the sides we've faced recently, but to concede from a set piece against a side that looked as if it had no other way of scoring is pretty unforgivable. And the Harris red, I didn't see - it doesn't seem anyone did (even the Port Vale accounts of the incident seem muddled) - but, assuming he did do something to warrant the reaction, is incredibly stupid.
In all, an extremely frustrating day, but one from which, in the cold light of day, I think there are a lot of positives to take. The stadium was also in better voice than I feel like I've heard it in years - great to see.