So it appears we haven’t turned the corner, like many, (including me) thought we had after that magnificent, battling performance against Chelsea. It seems to speak volumes about a team’s performance when the goalkeeper is man of the match despite conceding 4 goals. Maybe I’m being melodramatic but to me its almost unforgivable that the same eleven players who did everything right last weekend, seemed to forget everything they’d learned, and gave such an inept performance just seven days later. After Plymouth lost midweek Ian Holloway said that the players should pay for the supporters’ tickets and travel costs, maybe Aidy and the players should consider a similar gesture to the fans who went yesterday. After all (yet again) the fans who made the journey were the only bright spark by all accounts. I wasn’t at the game yesterday, I had planned to go, but my aunt’s 50th birthday party Saturday evening meant I couldn’t. It seems in hindsight like I had a lucky escape, not suffering the long coach/car/train journey home after such a miserable result and performance. Though of course we go to football to support our side whether that be a win, draw or lose and I know I’d rather have been at the game than stuck in my room listening to it on the radio. That is why despite the concerns at another horrific away performance against Blackburn next week I’m still hoping that I will be able to go. As soon as the referee blew the whistle to start the game we were evidently off the pace, the Watford against Chelsea (like last season) was quick to close down and make life difficult. The Watford yesterday gave far much space to two quality strikers, Viduka and Yakubu and the two wingers, Downing and in particular Johnson seemed to tear the defence to shreds. Though the extent to which this was a result of their skill as opposed to the lack of effort shown by our players to close down is open to opinion. It was 1.0 after just five minutes, Downing chased the ball when it looked like it was going out, and Viduka was allowed space in the box as the defence switched off. Middlesborough had a number of other chances and were dominating before in the words of Neil Price, Damien Francis ‘got an undeserved equaliser, but an equaliser all the same’. The set piece was well worked and the volley very well taken, it showed that like our defence the Middlesborough defence wasn’t stable (as would be expected with three of their first team players out). Briefly I started to hope that this would be the turning point, but like so many other times this season it was a false hope. Having got back into the game, arguably unjustly we should have raised our game, we didn’t which is why the performance was so infuriating. Just five minutes after equalising it was 2.1. Johnson twisting and turning wasn’t tackled, he passed to Boating whose shot took a wicked deflection. It may have been unlucky for Foster but that doesn’t excuse for the unforgivable amount of space he was given. Rinaldi could have made it 2.2 on halftime, a goal would again have been harsh on Middlesborough, but it showed how slender their advantage was whilst they failed to take their chances. The second half started much the same, wave after wave of attacks by Johnson and Downing with Viduka and Yakubu on the end, whilst only the reflex save of Foster kept us in the game. Yakubu could have made it 3.1 and it was only a brilliant block by James Chambers that prevented the goal. The defence was a shambles, Shittu and Demerrit in particular sounded anything but stable and both seemed to make as many mistakes as tackles, and according to Simon Oxley both received an earful from Malky Mackay. It was no surprise when the 3rd goal came, though of course it would ironically come as we were actually beginning to attack, having created three good chances to equalise, Kabba with the best chance. Whilst we attacked the defence switched off, a quick throw, Viduka surrounded by three players, but still given enough space to turn and a quality finish meant the game was over. Leaving my room in disgust and to get a drink in order to cool down, my temper reached astronomical levels when I returned to hear the fourth goal, yet again a lack of closing down responsible. Maybe it was just one of those days, but we seem to have suffered a lot of them this season, and the inept performances by certain players, which lacked determination always seem to be against those teams we could have beaten. I don’t like losing, but I can stomach it if the players show passion, yesterday they did not appear to. I for one expect one mighty big reaction from the players from now until the end of the season starting with a good display against a tough Portsmouth side.
Yeah, at times it would be nice to see the 'loyal' fans rewarded, or the club pay for travelling exspenses...but at the end of the day, we lost 4-1, I had a good day out as usual and all in all, I dont mind how much money it has cost me because Im going to go regardless and dont want money refunded just because of a poor performance Sorry if that makes no sense, I got a bit confused in the middle
