It may not avert a standard feeding frenzy, but my take on tonight’s game was that:
We played pretty well overall and in the formation favoured by the first team.
We made some calamitous mistakes at the most inopportune moments, costing us the game.
Cardiff are not, by any stretch of the imagination, a good footballing side at this level. Strong and unflinching, yes, but it was clear to anyone present how elated they were to get that win this evening.
Jacob Jones again played deep defender. Having both Erickson and Cooper booked in the first half added to the pressure on a back three that otherwise had time and space to move the ball around.
Those who’ve seen the highlights footage will see where the key errors occurred. In the formation the team’s being encouraged to play and is still learning, sometimes mistakes happen because certain players are brave enough to take responsibility. Dan Williams was by far our most creative midfielder. It was ill fate that, within seconds of the Cardiff keeper preventing an equaliser from him, the visitors raced straight down the other end to snatch a decisive 3rd goal before half-time.
The team kept pushing – Whittaker, McFayden and Leverett all had decent chances saved or blocked – and Cardiff resorted to understandable gamesmanship to slow the game down and frustrate. It’s not often that the referee gets noticed at this level, but this evening’s was a right peach. Some of his decisions – or lack of them – were unfathomable.
Another defeat, for sure, but the display was a positive one.