I really enjoyed today. That was proper, attritional, gritty football, a real battle. Some general takes:
On them first, thought Eaves exemplified what a mediocre player can do when playing with confidence, especially in the first half. It just seemed like every touch he made came off for him, with one little first touch dink off a goal kick in the first half of particular note. Our defence did a brilliant job of just containing him, and in the end just nullified any threat he had. Thought their 33 looked useful and their two black attacking players (sorry if that’s not PC, don’t remember their names or numbers) looked like on their day could dismantle a side. Today wasn’t their day though ?
We looked seriously off for most of the match. Little touches werent being read, passes being played into the wrong spaces, final ball lacking etc. On the few occasions we ‘clicked’, though, we looked great. And my goodness we looked solid at the back. That final half hour Nelson and Dickie we’re heading absolutely everything away, a superb backs to the wall performance. The whole back line deserves immense credit. Long is better both in the air and on the ball (magic feet on that right touchline in the second half at times, and that beautiful shifting lanes moment in the first) then I had given him credit for, and Ruffels is becoming undroppable imo. He’s just so good at left back! So many little nicking the ball away from the attackers, setting up sensible attacks, athletic, I am so so impressed. Nelsons distribution was poor at times but as I say, him and Dickie we’re aerial rocks.
From an attacking perspective, we don’t QUITE click, do we? Everyone is crowing about Bradbury coming on and changing the game, but to be honest I felt it was taking Holmes off (a decision that baffled me at the time) was the game changing moment. Both he and Browne are unbelievable individuals, and regularly beat their respective men, but I felt like we were more of a unit with Holmes off and Browne as a solitary pacy outlet. I wasn’t impressed with Bradbury. I feel people want to love him because he’s not obika or Smith, but he really didn’t do that much when he cane on. Beaten in the air frequently and made a few poor first touches. Those are forgivable - but what I really didn’t like was how he seemed like he came on with the intention of ‘getting in the defenders faces’ and was outsmarted by two more experienced pros. Nearly got pulled into an unnecessary scuffle that could have seen him sent off. Browne too was a bit hotheaded. I thought it showed brilliant maturity from Nelson to haul him away from one ruckus, as Browne looked almost certain to get too involved.
Also, Brannagan is turning into a brilliant little midfield player. Torreira (of Arsenal)-esque. That one little run he had in the second half where he powered through two big gills fuckers and won the foul was monumental. Decision making needs improving but an important player for us.
Thought the ref was very good. A group of the usual idiots sitting near me swearing blind at the ref and Lino at every decision that didn't go oxfords way. The peno was soft, but he let a few fair but robust challenges from Gillingham go, which I like to see. We all complain that the ‘games gone soft’, but then go nuts when a strong tackle goes in on one of our players! I say, love it, let the game go - so long as you’re consistent. Which I felt he was.
Overall, a wonderfully gritty three points against a team who could have been a hiccup. I’m not sure whether the Robinson out comments are tongue in cheek or not, but come on - were unbeaten in bloody ages and slowly but surely rising up the table. Unfit players at the start of the season are hitting form, we’re becoming a solid defensive unit, and we’re scoring with regularity. We’ve had a generous run of fixtures, so I’m not going to get carried away, but we’re winning the fixtures we should be winning and we’re picking up points way from home. I’m excited for the next few months.