Match Report: City second best in 0-0 that had almost everything

[Olé]

A crazy match that had literally everything bedsides the one thing that for 90 minutes it looked certain to produce - goals. It had 45 minutes of City deciding not to turn up, it had 'inferior' opposition giving us a slick footballing lesson, it had a comically bad ref, it had us suddenly contriving waves of late attacking to claim an unlikely smash and grab win - and then wasting them all.

So as goalless draws go this was anything but uneventful, but for all the efforts of an exhilarating end to end second half, you can't help but ultimately feel concerned to see City so far off the quality of opposition that was expected to struggled, playing a substantially poorer brand of football, and only galvanised by a half time rocket from the manager and more so by our subs.

In the end City created but didn't convert the clearest chances of the match as the dominant home side over committed for a deserved winner and huge gaps opened up in their defence for our late onslaught. But in reality City were bright only for the first and last ten minutes of the second 45 whilst Rotherham were quality throughout the fixture and far far ahead on chances.

Rotherham started in a 4-4-1-1 formation not unlike City's best form last season, the 23, Williams, in the hole, dropping back to help dominate numbers in central midfield against disjointed City, repeatedly winning and passing the ball at speed through us, before springing their wingers to cause us problems. The hosts would continually win free kicks from a fussy, one sided referree. 

Pack barged the winger for the first on the City left, the setpiece flashed dangerously into the six yard box, where it could have diverted anywhere. An immediate warning of the refs intentions followed as Brownhill collected a loose ball in a crowd and lifted it clear for Diedhiou to run onto. Inside his marker he was clipped on the edge of the box, but the fussy ref for once was silent.

Instead all the set play awards were at the other end, where classy Rotherham would amass at least four deep free kicks before the half's midway point - City backs led by Webster with their work cut out. Only once did City threaten, Brownhill and Weimann combining to play O'Dowda down the right and from a resulting throw in, Hunt's cross was turned in by Famara - but offside.

Right after, Weimann on the break slipped Diedhiou into the box but his slashed shot across goal went wide. That was it for City who were reduced to aimless punts as the one-sided half resumed: Williams leading the visitors a merry dance - orchestrating a passing move from a Weimann mistake. It led to Hunt being out muscled and then the target man turning Webster to shoot. 

For all Williams guile in the hole, the hosts  also possessed a physical target man and he would barrel into City's centre backs to cause chaos, Rotherham then sweeping in from the right to drill a low ball across the box with players piling in. Before half time a corner would find their centre back race in late and free at the far post, his header tipped wide low at the base of the post.

City could count themselves lucky to go in level against far far better opponents and Johnson was visibly unhappy at the break. But the second period brought a dramatic change from the ref: less consistently one sided, now consistently awful to both. So suddenly City had dubious free kicks and from a foul on O'Dowda, Eliasson's deep set piece saw Pack flash in at the far post. 

That's not to say Rotherham were in any way less convincing than the first half and on the break a cross from the left teed up their target man but with only Maenappa to beat, he steered a free header just over. At the other end Weimann broke, touched the ball into Diedhiou, who raced into the area, squaring to Brownhill, whose instinct sidefoot to Eliasson squandered the move.  

City threw on Taylor and Watkins for both of their ineffectual wingers, with Weimann continuing to now play from out wide. By now the game was being played at quite a pace and after Diedhiou tested the keeper with a low 20 yard shot, a City break from the left saw good work by Taylor and then Brownhill on the run, setup Watkins, but his fierce low shot was beaten away. 

Next a Weimann crossfield pass released a rejuvenated Hunt - poor in the first half - and he had a blistering shot deflect wide. But then the chance of the match. Pack's free kick was cleared, but Hunt headed it back from 40 yards and on the edge of the box Fam nodded on. It put Taylor and Watkins clear on the keeper yards out, but Watkins failed to control or find a finish. 

An extraordinary miss, and inevitably the still dominant hosts would make City pay. Williams again led a rapid attack, racing in from the left and teeing up the target man who swivelled only to scuff his shot wide. Then following a free kick Rotherham had a series of shots as Maenappa clung on. Williams also drew a low stop after cutting inside a tired Webster from a long ball.

By now Rotherham had undoubtedly had the better of this sporadically competitive tie, but a breathtaking end to end closing ten minutes would finally make a game of it. Taylor forced a desperate corner at the far post from a deep Kelly cross and next he collected a high ball in acres of space to feed Brownhill, who yet again opted to pass, Paterson curling onto the crossbar.     

At the other end unquestionable man of the match Williams raced away again and forced a save, and from the rebound the Rotherham target man smashed a shot in on goal that was beaten away. Then their winger slipped inside two City players on their left, before weaving on a jinking run into the box before drawing another save with a low shot. Relentless for Maenappa.

Into injury time and amazingly it was City that went closest to a winner. A good run from Paterson along the edge of the area brought a cross back into the box - it was half cut out but fell to Taylor who saw his shot desperately blocked. Maenappa then claimed a final home corner before a long kick upfield put Paterson in on the keeper, who clattered City's man 20 yards out. 

After a very frustrating night punctuated repeatedly by variously inept, inconsistent officiating, that was it for City players who raced wildly after the referee in protest. In truth the keeper got there first, but it was a reaction to the ref's match overall, and the final whistle barely registered with the players amid unfolding bedlam as even LJ went into the book as tempers boiled over.

On any other day the anger at what must be some of the worst refereeing City have seen in the modern era, would be justified, but in truth it was unfair on the home side, who were far more worthy of victory. They played the sort of football LJ wants City to be playing and but for a very real chance of a smash and grab winner for us late on, the only real blame is City's inept tactics.

 

Maenappa 8 overworked but never beaten 

Hunt 5 poor defensively especially first half but grew into game going forward

Kelly 5 stretched by Rotherham interplay and didn't offer much going forward today

Webster 7 led an overworked defence with very little error, focussed throughout

Baker 7 also largely solid with no support in front of him to stem the home attacks

Pack 4 sorry not a game to remember for him, passing largely off, overrun in central midfield, didn't take any control of the game and gave away cheap free kicks

Brownhill 6 the most energtic and never say die of any of the players right to the end, involved in all our good stuff but part of a midfield that was second best, and on 2 occasions was setup central to goal but chose to pass again

O'Dowda 5 one good run in our only useful move of the first half but largely anonymous

Eliasson 4 see O'Dowda but without the one good run

Weimann 7 was asked to do a lot and bar one or two mistakes, wasn't the issue

Diedhiou 6 several shots, neat and tidy in patches, but too easily muscled out of the flow in others

 

Taylor 8 caused far more problems once he was introduced, mostly of his making

Watkins 6 definitely a more direct option than the two wingers before him, but loses a mark for seizing then wasting the chance of the match

Paterson 6 cameo

[Olé]

And this is late thanks to the second of three trains breaking down somewhere in Yorkshire and Trans Penine trains having to eventually pay for a taxi down the M1.

The red button has never felt so appealing.

[REDOXO]

I don’t know. I really think the fact we hit the post, crossbar had two players taken out when through, not given by an admittedly bad ref and a goalkeeper that took a boot at a player running through in the last minute have been overlooked.

They are ok at home and had nothing really more than weight and a bit of enthusiasm. How many chances did Mäenpää look in trouble for? 

Pack was a bit pony and Weimann and others suffered minimal service but we had the chances to win 3/0 didn’t take them and we rarely looked to me we were going to concede. 

Point won on the road move on...We need a goal, Pack to find a pass and Taylor to start right now and not get subbed per the usual LJ prctice

[Major Isewater]

Rotherham overcame their injury problems and were the more lively of the two teams. They were clearly not the same class as the majority of opponents we will meet in this league and I still think they will go down but credit where it's due .

They had a right go and if they could shoot may just have nicked it .

Our point was hard earned .

Maenpaa, looking a real bargain, played well . As did our two Centre backs . I will also give credit to Taylor who joined up the attack when he came on .The rest of the lads , all I can say is that they didn't give up and sometimes you just need to dig in . A point away from home is always a good point.

LJ got booked again and at this rate may get banned before Christmas !

All in all a match that won't live long in our memories but we go again Sunday against another Yorkshire club hoping for a win.

Finally a big shout out to the Red Army . 

[Hampshire Red]

Before lots of red spotters give opinions on a game they didn't make any effort to get to, well done to Ole for a massive effort and cost and then a great report. 

Always a decent point away in Yorkshire when only one out of ten teams last won and personally thought the draw was the fairest result. Bring on the Owls and let's get behind our good team, excellent coach and (generally) fair supporters. 

 

[maxjak]

Great honest reporting, why bother reading the clubs own cliched match report, of which it would be fascinating if they offered player ratings for a comparison? Too potentially controversial methinks?   Is there any solution to our current midfield malaise? Pack looks like he needs a rest, and we are badly missing Korey. LJ seems reluctant to use Walsh, and as he sees him in training constantly, he can't/won't trust him possibly?  Until January comes around, and hopefully LJ addresses what has been a blindingly apparent weakness for quite sometime, namely, a strong motivated midfield enforcer who can pass [I know! there not exactly plentiful?, but we do have a scouting system] is there anyone in the squad who could do a job there?   Any suggestions?

[Fiale]

2 hours ago, maxjak said:

Great honest reporting, why bother reading the clubs own cliched match report, of which it would be fascinating if they offered player ratings for a comparison? Too potentially controversial methinks?   Is there any solution to our current midfield malaise? Pack looks like he needs a rest, and we are badly missing Korey. LJ seems reluctant to use Walsh, and as he sees him in training constantly, he can't/won't trust him possibly?  Until January comes around, and hopefully LJ addresses what has been a blindingly apparent weakness for quite sometime, namely, a strong motivated midfield enforcer who can pass [I know! there not exactly plentiful?, but we do have a scouting system] is there anyone in the squad who could do a job there?   Any suggestions?

 

Teams know Pack is our engine - if he has a poor game then the whole team do. So it does not take much to subdue us, just subdue Pack.

[Red-Robbo]

Spot on @Fiale

For me, MOTM was Webster who just absorbed pressure and did more than anyone to keep that clean sheet.

Baker was OK, but his tendency to aimlessly hoof the ball 15 yards straight in front of him, meant that Rotherham retained possession in attacks when Webster would have been more likely to find a purple shirt, or at worst, kick to touch and give us time to regroup.

[RedM]

Great write up yet again @Olé, very accurate and for those not there, that’s how it was. 

My MOTM was either Webster who had a great game and worked hard to make sure we didn’t concede, or Maenpaa who was far too busy for my liking. If Rotherham had a finisher we might have been hit for six ( maybe not 6 but 2 or 3 at least).

I’m a big fan of Pack, but last night he was either annonymous or taking the wrong option. He isn’t alone but as Captain should be the person the the field who can influence when things aren’t happening without the immediate deployment of the subs. I read somewhere Rotherham hadn’t scored a goal in open play for over 800 minutes, so why give them the free kicks on a plate then! 

Matty Taylor made a huge difference, and Watkins at least tried to make things positive. An away point, all good but we got to win our home games if we are going to move forward in this style.

[1960maaan]

15 hours ago, Olé said:

On any other day the anger at what must be some of the worst refereeing City have seen in the modern era, would be justified, but in truth it was unfair on the home side, who were far more worthy of victory. They played the sort of football LJ wants City to be playing and but for a very real chance of a smash and grab winner for us late on, the only real blame is City's inept tactics.

Great review again, this bit summed it up nicely.

15 hours ago, Olé said:

Maenappa 8 overworked but never beaten Didn't like the punch when it looked like an easy catch, but went on to claim a few crosses and try to get us going quick when he gets it. One of the few pluses on a mainly negative night.

Hunt 5 poor defensively especially first half but grew into game going forward

Kelly 5 stretched by Rotherham interplay and didn't offer much going forward today Has , over the last few games, continued to get caught in possession. Needs to find a balance of when to hold onto the ball and when to get rid, funny enough my main criticism previously was he was too keen to pass back to the CB and not push on. Learning curve and I still expect him to be a top player.

Webster 7 led an overworked defence with very little error, focussed throughout The main thing we miss about Flint is his clearing headers, several of Webster's went looping forward with little distance. 

Baker 7 also largely solid with no support in front of him to stem the home attacks

Pack 4 sorry not a game to remember for him, passing largely off, overrun in central midfield, didn't take any control of the game and gave away cheap free kicks Probably my fault for saying he's our most improved player over the last 3/4 years. Passing was shocking

Brownhill 6 the most energtic and never say die of any of the players right to the end, involved in all our good stuff but part of a midfield that was second best, and on 2 occasions was setup central to goal but chose to pass again. Another one I rate and have been wanting to see him central . I think if we had a good defensive MF or holding MF we would see the best of him. Can go past players and causes problems but with 2 wingers in the team needs to be that holding MF himself along with pack.

O'Dowda 5 one good run in our only useful move of the first half but largely anonymous

Eliasson 4 see O'Dowda but without the one good run 

Weimann 7 was asked to do a lot and bar one or two mistakes, wasn't the issue 

Diedhiou 6 several shots, neat and tidy in patches, but too easily muscled out of the flow in others Seemed that anytime he did try and use his strength the Ref blew up.

 

Taylor 8 caused far more problems once he was introduced, mostly of his making Not a fan, but I thought he should have started with Fam last night to give Wiemann a rest.

Watkins 6 definitely a more direct option than the two wingers before him, but loses a mark for seizing then wasting the chance of the match

Paterson 6 cameo

Not sure where LJ goes from here, we've had two stinkers away from home and surrendered possession to a team with about the lowest possession stats in the League. I really hope they have their eye on a decent central midfielder, mind you, by January Brownhill and Pack will be running on empty.

[Bazooka Joe]

Good report, but I have to disagree with us being  "second best".

We weren't even good enough to merit "third best".