Just Back...on the bus.

Good game to watch. An early defensive blunder from the first corner of the game for our now customary early concede gave the huge Town turn out palpitations. I'm pretty sure the formation was three at the back but Glennon and Clifton spent so much time defending that it was hard to tell. For much of the first 20 minutes midfield were chasing shadows. Cannot recall Khan or Richardson getting a pass.
Gradually Town worked their way into the game with Hunt in particular finding his passing touch. From a truly excellent corner which swung in and hit the bar Richardson forced the ball home for a deserved equaliser from about 2 yards.
Second half was very similar. Crocombe (looking more confident by the game) made a couple of good punches. Khan went off-unclear whether injured or just replaced after showing real promise. Pepple was disappointing. Orsi could have won it late on but fluffed his effort not once but twice. The good thing is that our current form allows us to have a degree of patience with the younger lads which they need.
Waterfall, Smith and Maher were our best with Hunt definitely our most creative player. It was important not to lose.  Point gained.

Excellent point away at one of the top sides in the division.

I know that some recent results have been disappointing but we have to retain some perspective here. Nine months ago we couldn't buy a win and looked to be stuck in the NL for the duration. Twelve months before that we were the worst team in the EFL, with the likes of Scunthorpe looking down on us. (And beating us!).

So to be competing well at the right end of the table right now is fabulous given where we were not so long ago.  

A game that could have gone either way but always felt we was in the game against a top team away from home we are not a zillion miles away from been a top team in this league , our back 3 all played well today along with hunt

We look really good at times, play it well and look to press forward. I think we're doing alright, lots to improve but nothing is dire so I'm feeling confident that we'll have a very settled first season back in the league.

Agree with all of that. Thought Holihan had a decent game as well. Special mention to Crocombe. I don't half feel safe with him between the sticks!

I don’t expect us to go up (or down) this season so in that case I want to be entertained as often as possible and I have been today.

Positives - the 3 at the back worked. I think Clifton is a RWB after years of searching for his perfect position. CBS were all class. Good performances from Hunt, Holohan and Richardson.

Negatives - Pepple looked like a competition winner. Glennon looks really off the boil as well. We’ve still not found a proper striker and with one today we’d have won that game 3-1.

I think if we go 3 at the back going forward then Bennett coming in is inevitable.

A good game, a good point and some really positive things!

Crocombe error for their goal.

3cb’s excellent. Clear handball missed with 5 to go by linesman and referee to deny us a pen

We need to cut the errors out, several times in the 1st half we gave the ball away and with 1 pass they were in behind us, if their number 9 had any pace, he'd have had afield day!

Other than that gripe though, I though we played OK once we settled, 2nd half was much better.

Really not sure on Pepple, he looked lost today. He doesn't seem to have much pace, not does he seem to be strong enough to hold the ball up. We looked alot more mobile when he went off.

Orsi looked like he's pulled a groin, he was holding it a few mins before he went off - hope it's not serious 😬

Richardson deserved his goal - several.occasions where his twists and turns and sharp runs kept possession in tight areas.

Not scared to run at players with the ball. A couple of times he could have broken through if he had been able to anticipate where the pass was going.

One to persevere with to make progress.

I wonder if playing him with Orsi for a few games could get a better understanding?

Overall - their passing and positioning was mostly crisper than ours, we had short spells that looked good - their passing seemed better with players clear and ready to receive in space, which made our guys chase more !

Obviously still a work in progress to adapt against teams used to this league !

I am really trying to be positive this season but if Pepple plays another game for us I'll be very surprised. He was so far out of his depth it was embarrassing for the lad . I think Clee Town will be his level