Match Report: Paterson single-handedly keeps tame City's season alive

[Olé]

I’m often accused of hyperbole but tonight that’s a claim I’ll wear. With our last remaining chance to keep the season alive we produced simultaneously the worst team performance and the best individual performance of the season. Jamie Paterson, often derided - by me included - the man who on his own breathed life into our fading season when everything around him appeared ready to surrender the fight.

City dominated a one sided first half but with one up top against the most organised and most defensive team in the division, putting aside the bright runs in and around the box from Paterson, City were utterly bereft of any threat and could hardly complain when Millwall stole into an improbable but perhaps unsurprising lead with their first serious attack - showing the visitors how to convert quickly and clinically.

It got worse early in the second half as ragged City became increasingly wasteful around the box, Pack the primary culprit, but with the tricky Kasey Palmer on there was always a threat, and it was ultimately all about Paterson, the only player outstanding from start to finish, he turned the match in the final 15 minutes, easily converting a free kick in front of away fans before cueing up Diedhiou’s stunning winner.

Johnson’s men actually dominated the first half, but rarely created meaningful chances. After 10 Diedhiou was played in by Paterson but his deep shot was blocked. A minute later City again worked it smartly between the lines but Hunt fed Walsh who flashed a shot across goal from right to left. On the quarter hour the busy Paterson was released from the left and cut in and slammed in a low shot the keeper held.

City’s best move of the first half - a rare moment of fluidity for the game - came just after 20 minutes, a stunning passing manoeuvre which carved a Z through the Millwall team having started breaking from our own defence - passing left and then right before crossing into the box for Paterson to see Romeo cut out the chance - from the subsequent corner kick, Weimann heading over from Walsh’s cross.

Millwall had offered little or nothing but minutes later right back Romeo was set clear on the right and Brownhill hacked him down clumsily - the resultant free kick a classic Millwall move, headed back at the far post and bundled over the line, City grateful to simultaneously clear off the line as the referees assistant also flagged for offside. City next would go on to lose Hunt to injury, Pisano coming on for him.

The injury would bookend a 10 minutes of scrappy, forgettable football as City’s one up top failed to threaten Millwall’s defensive backline, although on 40 minutes City would finally break as Webster characteristically stepped up onto the ball to build, feeding Weimann clear on the right, whose low cross was missed by Diedhiou but turned back in by the irrepressible Paterson, and scrambled away by Millwall.

It offered scarce warning that they - rather than City - would go in front. Yet a minute later Millwall got the ball in space on the left, crossed into the box, and as if to highlight City’s pedestrian play with just one striker, Morrison headed it back across goal and fellow striker Gregory leaned off his market and hooked the ball sharply goalwards with a fierce shot that O’Leary had no chance to get near. 1-0 to the hosts.

Before halftime Paterson, seemingly on a solo mission to keep City in this match, ran at Millwall form the left, turned his marker twice, before lashing a curling shot across goal which flashed past the far top corner. At this point the City forward, playing a free role around Diedhiou, was apparently on his own in his desire to get a result, the rest of the team nowhere close to breaking down the defensive home side.

Although the quick footed Palmer came on for Liam Walsh after half time - Walsh sharper with his touches than most around him, but sacrificed after a yellow before the break - in truth City simply became even more laboured after the interval, lacking presence or ideas up front and increasingly picked apart by a more confident and dangerous looking Millwall as the season appeared to be quietly slipping away.

Before the hour mark Millwall would hit the angle of post and bar from a corner and see the loose ball cleared off the line, while minutes later rookie keeper O’Leary would be forced to save from a home player clean through on goal. City threw on Matty Taylor, but in response they only got worse - just after the hour Brownhill took a free kick in front of his own fans which he lifted wildly many metres over the bar.

It went from bad to worse as Pack, repeatedly careless a week ago, was twice fed centrally outside the box, only to pass straight to the nearest Millwall player with his first thoughtful touch. The groans in the away end were palpable - this was the depressing fag end of City’s season. And to make matters worse, before 70 minutes Lloyd Kelly’s corner was overhit and nearly went out the other side for a throw in.

Yet alongside Paterson’s stunning solo battle to galvanise his faltering side, young keeper O’Leary had his own chance to spark a revival as on 71 minutes he tripped the on-rushing Gregory in the box, but from the spot kick Shaun Williams tame left footed shot was pushed wide. City had a packed away tier at the opposite end, and it erupted into noise, providing self-belief that City quickly took advantage of.

Minutes later City won their second dangerous free kick central and in front of their massed ranks. Where Brownhill had been reckless with the previous set piece, Paterson noted the keeper hovering to the right of his wall, and curled an easy free kick over the wall and inside the unmarked lefthand post of the keeper, prompting huge noisy celebrations in the away end, as the season stayed alive - but barely.

If that was smash and grab, within 5 minutes it was two, and suddenly City and their fans could believe. Palmer had been a lively threat all second half but this time he’d turn foil, seeing Paterson’s stunning run, and returning the ball, Paterson carving through the normally rock solid Millwall defence before slipping it to Diedhiou, who had a job to get it out of his feet, but with little backlift, crashed it past the keeper.

Again in front of the bumper travelling crowd, this caused pandemonium - the proverbial “limbs all over the shop”, and smoke bombs too - as despite a poor performance lacking cutting edge, suddenly City could see the win they needed to take the play-off fight into the final day of the season. Millwall fans, buoyant briefly after half time, streamed out. City got louder and louder, until there was only one outcome. 

Before the end, Palmer - City’s second best player on the day - threaded an unthinkable diagonal ball through 4 defenders to pick out Weimann attacking the box from the other wing. City were ready for a third but the hard working Ausrian’s shot was beaten away at the near post with City players lining up to finish beyond. Out of nothing - and aided by Palmer - suddenly City were causing VERY belated problems.

In the end Johnson’s men only won by the odd goal, and it really was odd, in that it was Paterson, so often maligned, who produced a stunning individual performance of guts and desire - a goal and a brilliant assist to cap the only creditable 90 minutes in the team - hauling City out of their season-ending funk and conservative strategy, and re-igniting belief among the many travelling fans at a final tilt at promotion.

O’Leary 8 Rarely at fault with his handling and penalty side changed the game
Hunt 5 One good cross in City’s best move of the game but went off injured early
Kelly 6 Poor going forward and with crosses but settled towards end of the game
Webster 7 Several good breaks in both halves and rarely beaten in the air
Kalas 6 Will be annoyed he ended up several yards off Gregory for their opener
Pack 5 Tidy for the most part but second half hugely careless as City chased
Brownhill 5 Never really got in the game, chasing about a lot and awful free kick
Walsh 7 Quick thinking balls several times in the first half and unlucky to go off 
Weimann 7 Worked harder than most all game albeit didn’t always link up well
Paterson 10 Perhaps a 9 if it meant nothing, only player to affect game all 90min
Diedhiou 7 Rarely caused their defence problems for an hour but smart finish

Pisano 5 Came on, played a bit, went off again - not how he wants to finish at City
Palmer 8 Walsh was unlucky but Palmer’s quick feet and eye for a pass were essential
Taylor 6 A nuisance in places before the end, but had little to do with our winner
 

[And Its Smith]

Paterson by far the best player on the pitch followed by Palmer.

Disagree on Walsh who I thought was awful first half.

Also not many people have noticed Max’s positioning on their goal. Very poor indeed. Would be an easy save with correct positioning 

[wendyredredrobin]

5 minutes ago, RedDave said:

Paterson by far the best player on the pitch followed by Palmer.

Disagree on Walsh who I thought was awful first half.

Also not many people have noticed Max’s positioning on their goal. Very poor indeed. Would be an easy save with correct positioning 

Yep, Patto has been playing quite well lately. I've seen little from Walsh to help me understand why we paid good money for him and if Max want to make it between the sticks, he needs to learn to come for crosses. If he doesn't have the confidence to catch yet, he can at least punch. Nobody can get as high as a jumping gk with his arms above his head.  I do think he has the makings of a good keeper though.

[Hampshire Red]

Rob, Early home?

It is so good to see those people who knock, Max, Pato and Big Fam eat more pie than they can bear but tonight, again, they must.

I do think 10 is OTT for Pato though he was very, very good but a great report and agreed, it keeps the Premier Inn, Hull, as a temporary booking at least for another 24 hrs!

[maxjak]

Thanks Ole, you paint a vivid picture as always, your away reports have become essential reading for me..........and this one has all the ingredients of another Jekyll and Hyde City performance..  68 per cent possession, but hardly a chance worthy of the name untill two outstanding goals turned everything around.  Will Hull be the swansong for Palmer, Kalas and De Silva?, it's just a shame that we are now relying on others stumbling, rather than having kept our destiny in our own hands.

[redordead1]

3 hours ago, Olé said:

I’m often accused of hyperbole but tonight that’s a claim I’ll wear. With our last remaining chance to keep the season alive we produced simultaneously the worst team performance and the best individual performance of the season. Jamie Paterson, often derided - by me included - the man who on his own breathed life into our fading season when everything around him appeared ready to surrender the fight.

City dominated a one sided first half but with one up top against the most organised and most defensive team in the division, putting aside the bright runs in and around the box from Paterson, City were utterly bereft of any threat and could hardly complain when Millwall stole into an improbable but perhaps unsurprising lead with their first serious attack - showing the visitors how to convert quickly and clinically.

It got worse early in the second half as ragged City became increasingly wasteful around the box, Pack the primary culprit, but with the tricky Kasey Palmer on there was always a threat, and it was ultimately all about Paterson, the only player outstanding from start to finish, he turned the match in the final 15 minutes, easily converting a free kick in front of away fans before cueing up Diedhiou’s stunning winner.

Johnson’s men actually dominated the first half, but rarely created meaningful chances. After 10 Diedhiou was played in by Paterson but his deep shot was blocked. A minute later City again worked it smartly between the lines but Hunt fed Walsh who flashed a shot across goal from right to left. On the quarter hour the busy Paterson was released from the left and cut in and slammed in a low shot the keeper held.

City’s best move of the first half - a rare moment of fluidity for the game - came just after 20 minutes, a stunning passing manoeuvre which carved a Z through the Millwall team having started breaking from our own defence - passing left and then right before crossing into the box for Paterson to see Romeo cut out the chance - from the subsequent corner kick, Weimann heading over from Walsh’s cross.

Millwall had offered little or nothing but minutes later right back Romeo was set clear on the right and Brownhill hacked him down clumsily - the resultant free kick a classic Millwall move, headed back at the far post and bundled over the line, City grateful to simultaneously clear off the line as the referees assistant also flagged for offside. City next would go on to lose Hunt to injury, Pisano coming on for him.

The injury would bookend a 10 minutes of scrappy, forgettable football as City’s one up top failed to threaten Millwall’s defensive backline, although on 40 minutes City would finally break as Webster characteristically stepped up onto the ball to build, feeding Weimann clear on the right, whose low cross was missed by Diedhiou but turned back in by the irrepressible Paterson, and scrambled away by Millwall.

It offered scarce warning that they - rather than City - would go in front. Yet a minute later Millwall got the ball in space on the left, crossed into the box, and as if to highlight City’s pedestrian play with just one striker, Morrison headed it back across goal and fellow striker Gregory leaned off his market and hooked the ball sharply goalwards with a fierce shot that O’Leary had no chance to get near. 1-0 to the hosts.

Before halftime Paterson, seemingly on a solo mission to keep City in this match, ran at Millwall form the left, turned his marker twice, before lashing a curling shot across goal which flashed past the far top corner. At this point the City forward, playing a free role around Diedhiou, was apparently on his own in his desire to get a result, the rest of the team nowhere close to breaking down the defensive home side.

Although the quick footed Palmer came on for Liam Walsh after half time - Walsh sharper with his touches than most around him, but sacrificed after a yellow before the break - in truth City simply became even more laboured after the interval, lacking presence or ideas up front and increasingly picked apart by a more confident and dangerous looking Millwall as the season appeared to be quietly slipping away.

Before the hour mark Millwall would hit the angle of post and bar from a corner and see the loose ball cleared off the line, while minutes later rookie keeper O’Leary would be forced to save from a home player clean through on goal. City threw on Matty Taylor, but in response they only got worse - just after the hour Brownhill took a free kick in front of his own fans which he lifted wildly many metres over the bar.

It went from bad to worse as Pack, repeatedly careless a week ago, was twice fed centrally outside the box, only to pass straight to the nearest Millwall player with his first thoughtful touch. The groans in the away end were palpable - this was the depressing fag end of City’s season. And to make matters worse, before 70 minutes Lloyd Kelly’s corner was overhit and nearly went out the other side for a throw in.

Yet alongside Paterson’s stunning solo battle to galvanise his faltering side, young keeper O’Leary had his own chance to spark a revival as on 71 minutes he tripped the on-rushing Gregory in the box, but from the spot kick Shaun Williams tame left footed shot was pushed wide. City had a packed away tier at the opposite end, and it erupted into noise, providing self-belief that City quickly took advantage of.

Minutes later City won their second dangerous free kick central and in front of their massed ranks. Where Brownhill had been reckless with the previous set piece, Paterson noted the keeper hovering to the right of his wall, and curled an easy free kick over the wall and inside the unmarked lefthand post of the keeper, prompting huge noisy celebrations in the away end, as the season stayed alive - but barely.

If that was smash and grab, within 5 minutes it was two, and suddenly City and their fans could believe. Palmer had been a lively threat all second half but this time he’d turn foil, seeing Paterson’s stunning run, and returning the ball, Paterson carving through the normally rock solid Millwall defence before slipping it to Diedhiou, who had a job to get it out of his feet, but with little backlift, crashed it past the keeper.

Again in front of the bumper travelling crowd, this caused pandemonium - the proverbial “limbs all over the shop”, and smoke bombs too - as despite a poor performance lacking cutting edge, suddenly City could see the win they needed to take the play-off fight into the final day of the season. Millwall fans, buoyant briefly after half time, streamed out. City got louder and louder, until there was only one outcome. 

Before the end, Palmer - City’s second best player on the day - threaded an unthinkable diagonal ball through 4 defenders to pick out Weimann attacking the box from the other wing. City were ready for a third but the hard working Ausrian’s shot was beaten away at the near post with City players lining up to finish beyond. Out of nothing - and aided by Palmer - suddenly City were causing VERY belated problems.

In the end Johnson’s men only won by the odd goal, and it really was odd, in that it was Paterson, so often maligned, who produced a stunning individual performance of guts and desire - a goal and a brilliant assist to cap the only creditable 90 minutes in the team - hauling City out of their season-ending funk and conservative strategy, and re-igniting belief among the many travelling fans at a final tilt at promotion.

O’Leary 8 Rarely at fault with his handling and penalty side changed the game
Hunt 5 One good cross in City’s best move of the game but went off injured early
Kelly 6 Poor going forward and with crosses but settled towards end of the game
Webster 7 Several good breaks in both halves and rarely beaten in the air
Kalas 6 Will be annoyed he ended up several yards off Gregory for their opener
Pack 5 Tidy for the most part but second half hugely careless as City chased
Brownhill 5 Never really got in the game, chasing about a lot and awful free kick
Walsh 7 Quick thinking balls several times in the first half and unlucky to go off 
Weimann 7 Worked harder than most all game albeit didn’t always link up well
Paterson 10 Perhaps a 9 if it meant nothing, only player to affect game all 90min
Diedhiou 7 Rarely caused their defence problems for an hour but smart finish

Pisano 5 Came on, played a bit, went off again - not how he wants to finish at City
Palmer 8 Walsh was unlucky but Palmer’s quick feet and eye for a pass were essential
Taylor 6 A nuisance in places before the end, but had little to do with our winner
 

Fantastic report as always. The quality of your reporting always outshines the paid press.

[BTRFTG]

Good account Ole but you and Paterson really should get a room..... Again our best player but Messiah he is not, simply more 'polished' than his peers, I'd argue.

Weimann may be 'hard-working' (whatever that means, ) but to paraphrase The Gang Of Four, " I hear there's talk of joy in labour, I'll tell you this you can leave (him) out," he offensively offers nothing. Though your report and ratings don't mention it was Taylor's direct, diagonal runs in pulling their defence around that created the space for Patterson and Palmer to exploit. No lateral, flappy-armed 'look at me, look at me' exertions that have become Weimann's trademark. You also neglect to point out that Taylor deserved an 'assist' in deftly conning the ref for the free kick that led to our opener (as Morrison's nudge in the back had for theirs.)

Didgeridoo was again largely impotent, provided no aerial threat and when in the box was nothing short of static. He tucked away his goal well in the end, albeit somewhat fortuitously given with his usual touch he first bobbled it off his knee.

We won - all that matters, though with an eye on next season there was much cause for concern (AGAIN) as to how well equipped we are, both management and players, to compete with the best in this league.

[DaveInSA]

I find some of the negativity miraculous.

We ARE absolutely competing with the best in this league. I cannot deny this fact though - we have dropped way too many points against teams which we should have thumped (if you look at our results against the top teams in contrast).

What have we learnt from this season?

1. We have the ability to shut the door and sneak a win
2. We have the capability of shipping goals in pursuit of goals.
   1. We cannot do both.
3. We need to be absolutely ruthless
4. We need to buy a championship ready CD, RB, CM and goalscorer to challenge for promotion (£30m)

Point 4 ain't gonna happen. So, we will challenge again for next season and possibly make the play offs.

 

[EmissionImpossible]

21 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

 Didgeridoo was again largely impotent, provided no aerial threat and when in the box was nothing short of static. He tucked away his goal well in the end, albeit somewhat fortuitously given with his usual touch he first bobbled it off his knee.

 

You really need to grow up.

[And Its Smith]

29 minutes ago, DaveInSA said:

I find some of the negativity miraculous.

We ARE absolutely competing with the best in this league. I cannot deny this fact though - we have dropped way too many points against teams which we should have thumped (if you look at our results against the top teams in contrast).

What have we learnt from this season?

1. We have the ability to shut the door and sneak a win
2. We have the capability of shipping goals in pursuit of goals.
   1. We cannot do both.
3. We need to be absolutely ruthless
4. We need to buy a championship ready CD, RB, CM and goalscorer to challenge for promotion (£30m)

Point 4 ain't gonna happen. So, we will challenge again for next season and possibly make the play offs.

 

We absolutely do not have to spend £30m to go up. Why are so many saying we do? What have Norwich spent? What have Sheff United spent? Cardiff last season?

Both Norwich and Sheffield United’s starting XI on Saturday cost less than Diedhiou on his own. 

I will keep saying it, money does not equal success.

[Super]

A real shame we haven't seen more of Palmer.

[AshtonGreat]

8 hours ago, Olé said:

I’m often accused of hyperbole but tonight that’s a claim I’ll wear. With our last remaining chance to keep the season alive we produced simultaneously the worst team performance and the best individual performance of the season. Jamie Paterson, often derided - by me included - the man who on his own breathed life into our fading season when everything around him appeared ready to surrender the fight.

City dominated a one sided first half but with one up top against the most organised and most defensive team in the division, putting aside the bright runs in and around the box from Paterson, City were utterly bereft of any threat and could hardly complain when Millwall stole into an improbable but perhaps unsurprising lead with their first serious attack - showing the visitors how to convert quickly and clinically.

It got worse early in the second half as ragged City became increasingly wasteful around the box, Pack the primary culprit, but with the tricky Kasey Palmer on there was always a threat, and it was ultimately all about Paterson, the only player outstanding from start to finish, he turned the match in the final 15 minutes, easily converting a free kick in front of away fans before cueing up Diedhiou’s stunning winner.

Johnson’s men actually dominated the first half, but rarely created meaningful chances. After 10 Diedhiou was played in by Paterson but his deep shot was blocked. A minute later City again worked it smartly between the lines but Hunt fed Walsh who flashed a shot across goal from right to left. On the quarter hour the busy Paterson was released from the left and cut in and slammed in a low shot the keeper held.

City’s best move of the first half - a rare moment of fluidity for the game - came just after 20 minutes, a stunning passing manoeuvre which carved a Z through the Millwall team having started breaking from our own defence - passing left and then right before crossing into the box for Paterson to see Romeo cut out the chance - from the subsequent corner kick, Weimann heading over from Walsh’s cross.

Millwall had offered little or nothing but minutes later right back Romeo was set clear on the right and Brownhill hacked him down clumsily - the resultant free kick a classic Millwall move, headed back at the far post and bundled over the line, City grateful to simultaneously clear off the line as the referees assistant also flagged for offside. City next would go on to lose Hunt to injury, Pisano coming on for him.

The injury would bookend a 10 minutes of scrappy, forgettable football as City’s one up top failed to threaten Millwall’s defensive backline, although on 40 minutes City would finally break as Webster characteristically stepped up onto the ball to build, feeding Weimann clear on the right, whose low cross was missed by Diedhiou but turned back in by the irrepressible Paterson, and scrambled away by Millwall.

It offered scarce warning that they - rather than City - would go in front. Yet a minute later Millwall got the ball in space on the left, crossed into the box, and as if to highlight City’s pedestrian play with just one striker, Morrison headed it back across goal and fellow striker Gregory leaned off his market and hooked the ball sharply goalwards with a fierce shot that O’Leary had no chance to get near. 1-0 to the hosts.

Before halftime Paterson, seemingly on a solo mission to keep City in this match, ran at Millwall form the left, turned his marker twice, before lashing a curling shot across goal which flashed past the far top corner. At this point the City forward, playing a free role around Diedhiou, was apparently on his own in his desire to get a result, the rest of the team nowhere close to breaking down the defensive home side.

Although the quick footed Palmer came on for Liam Walsh after half time - Walsh sharper with his touches than most around him, but sacrificed after a yellow before the break - in truth City simply became even more laboured after the interval, lacking presence or ideas up front and increasingly picked apart by a more confident and dangerous looking Millwall as the season appeared to be quietly slipping away.

Before the hour mark Millwall would hit the angle of post and bar from a corner and see the loose ball cleared off the line, while minutes later rookie keeper O’Leary would be forced to save from a home player clean through on goal. City threw on Matty Taylor, but in response they only got worse - just after the hour Brownhill took a free kick in front of his own fans which he lifted wildly many metres over the bar.

It went from bad to worse as Pack, repeatedly careless a week ago, was twice fed centrally outside the box, only to pass straight to the nearest Millwall player with his first thoughtful touch. The groans in the away end were palpable - this was the depressing fag end of City’s season. And to make matters worse, before 70 minutes Lloyd Kelly’s corner was overhit and nearly went out the other side for a throw in.

Yet alongside Paterson’s stunning solo battle to galvanise his faltering side, young keeper O’Leary had his own chance to spark a revival as on 71 minutes he tripped the on-rushing Gregory in the box, but from the spot kick Shaun Williams tame left footed shot was pushed wide. City had a packed away tier at the opposite end, and it erupted into noise, providing self-belief that City quickly took advantage of.

Minutes later City won their second dangerous free kick central and in front of their massed ranks. Where Brownhill had been reckless with the previous set piece, Paterson noted the keeper hovering to the right of his wall, and curled an easy free kick over the wall and inside the unmarked lefthand post of the keeper, prompting huge noisy celebrations in the away end, as the season stayed alive - but barely.

If that was smash and grab, within 5 minutes it was two, and suddenly City and their fans could believe. Palmer had been a lively threat all second half but this time he’d turn foil, seeing Paterson’s stunning run, and returning the ball, Paterson carving through the normally rock solid Millwall defence before slipping it to Diedhiou, who had a job to get it out of his feet, but with little backlift, crashed it past the keeper.

Again in front of the bumper travelling crowd, this caused pandemonium - the proverbial “limbs all over the shop”, and smoke bombs too - as despite a poor performance lacking cutting edge, suddenly City could see the win they needed to take the play-off fight into the final day of the season. Millwall fans, buoyant briefly after half time, streamed out. City got louder and louder, until there was only one outcome. 

Before the end, Palmer - City’s second best player on the day - threaded an unthinkable diagonal ball through 4 defenders to pick out Weimann attacking the box from the other wing. City were ready for a third but the hard working Ausrian’s shot was beaten away at the near post with City players lining up to finish beyond. Out of nothing - and aided by Palmer - suddenly City were causing VERY belated problems.

In the end Johnson’s men only won by the odd goal, and it really was odd, in that it was Paterson, so often maligned, who produced a stunning individual performance of guts and desire - a goal and a brilliant assist to cap the only creditable 90 minutes in the team - hauling City out of their season-ending funk and conservative strategy, and re-igniting belief among the many travelling fans at a final tilt at promotion.

O’Leary 8 Rarely at fault with his handling and penalty side changed the game
Hunt 5 One good cross in City’s best move of the game but went off injured early
Kelly 6 Poor going forward and with crosses but settled towards end of the game
Webster 7 Several good breaks in both halves and rarely beaten in the air
Kalas 6 Will be annoyed he ended up several yards off Gregory for their opener
Pack 5 Tidy for the most part but second half hugely careless as City chased
Brownhill 5 Never really got in the game, chasing about a lot and awful free kick
Walsh 7 Quick thinking balls several times in the first half and unlucky to go off 
Weimann 7 Worked harder than most all game albeit didn’t always link up well
Paterson 10 Perhaps a 9 if it meant nothing, only player to affect game all 90min
Diedhiou 7 Rarely caused their defence problems for an hour but smart finish

Pisano 5 Came on, played a bit, went off again - not how he wants to finish at City
Palmer 8 Walsh was unlucky but Palmer’s quick feet and eye for a pass were essential
Taylor 6 A nuisance in places before the end, but had little to do with our winner
 

Is this a joke? They only just avoided relegation!

[And Its Smith]

3 minutes ago, AshtonGreat said:

Is this a joke? They only just avoided relegation!

Often teams at the bottom are organised and defensive and hard to break down. They are that way as it’s the best way for them to play as they dont have the offensive capabilities as other teams.

Millwall are good at what they do.

[old_eastender]

1 hour ago, BTRFTG said:

Good account Ole but you and Paterson really should get a room..... Again our best player but Messiah he is not, simply more 'polished' than his peers, I'd argue.

Weimann may be 'hard-working' (whatever that means, ) but to paraphrase The Gang Of Four, " I hear there's talk of joy in labour, I'll tell you this you can leave (him) out," he offensively offers nothing. Though your report and ratings don't mention it was Taylor's direct, diagonal runs in pulling their defence around that created the space for Patterson and Palmer to exploit. No lateral, flappy-armed 'look at me, look at me' exertions that have become Weimann's trademark. You also neglect to point out that Taylor deserved an 'assist' in deftly conning the ref for the free kick that led to our opener (as Morrison's nudge in the back had for theirs.)

Didgeridoo was again largely impotent, provided no aerial threat and when in the box was nothing short of static. He tucked away his goal well in the end, albeit somewhat fortuitously given with his usual touch he first bobbled it off his knee.

We won - all that matters, though with an eye on next season there was much cause for concern (AGAIN) as to how well equipped we are, both management and players, to compete with the best in this league.

Totally agree, yes Wiemann runs around an awful lot, but there is virtually no end product. His shooting and delivery of final pass on the run is so often woeful. 

[Coxy27]

9 hours ago, RedDave said:

Paterson by far the best player on the pitch followed by Palmer.

Disagree on Walsh who I thought was awful first half.

Also not many people have noticed Max’s positioning on their goal. Very poor indeed. Would be an easy save with correct positioning 

Agree with this 100%.

[LondonBCFC]

Personally thought Walsh was one of our more promising players first half, quicker and better passing than most of the other players - certainly more than Brownhill and Pack who were very sloppy 

[Clutton Caveman]

I went to the game last night and until the penalty save to say we were lack lustre was a huge understatement. Everybody accept Weimann was doing just the essentials. It was amazing to see that when we won possession on the halfway line nobody was showing for the ball or making a run in behind. The number of times we hit a good ball for the fullback only to see nobody go out here for the overlap or the ball inside was amazing. I lost count of the number of times we tried to hit a short pass through their back line only for the ball to go straight to the defender.

The passer gets the stick but bottom line if his teams mates are static their is little he can do.

At the moment we seem to need to be 1.0 up before we start running into spaces and snapping into tackles.

I just don't understand this.

Is our squad too small so same players are mentally and physically knackered?

Do we have a lack of belief?

Do we know our best starting 11 and are the constant changes disruptive

Is our manager over cautious and passing his fear onto players?

Do we miss an on field leader who leads by example and barks out orders when effort drops?

I got loads of S*** for my comments on the Derby game but if anyone (who actually went to the game) thinks our pre-penalty intensity was acceptable here then I really must be missing something.

 

 

[italian dave]

1 hour ago, Clutton Caveman said:

I went to the game last night and until the penalty save to say we were lack lustre was a huge understatement. Everybody accept Weimann was doing just the essentials. It was amazing to see that when we won possession on the halfway line nobody was showing for the ball or making a run in behind. The number of times we hit a good ball for the fullback only to see nobody go out here for the overlap or the ball inside was amazing. I lost count of the number of times we tried to hit a short pass through their back line only for the ball to go straight to the defender.

The passer gets the stick but bottom line if his teams mates are static their is little he can do.

At the moment we seem to need to be 1.0 up before we start running into spaces and snapping into tackles.

I just don't understand this.

Is our squad too small so same players are mentally and physically knackered?

Do we have a lack of belief?

Do we know our best starting 11 and are the constant changes disruptive

Is our manager over cautious and passing his fear onto players?

Do we miss an on field leader who leads by example and barks out orders when effort drops?

I got loads of S*** for my comments on the Derby game but if anyone (who actually went to the game) thinks our pre-penalty intensity was acceptable here then I really must be missing something.

 

 

I went to both games too. I agree with you about the intensity last night, but it doesn’t follow that last night proves we lacked that intensity v Derby. We did everything but score v Derby. Last night there were long spells when we never looked remotely like scoring. Fair play to Millwall though. As others have said they make it very difficult. 

[italian dave]

Great summary @Olé. Hope you managed an early night!

But Pato 10?!! If that was a 10, what was Weimann v Sheff U, or Kalas v Swansea? 

He had a good first half, but to an extent there was a pretty low bar to looking good last night! You’re right though, he was our only threat. 

I felt he then went walkabout for the first 20 mins of the second half. Yes, fabulous free kick - even allowing for the standard set by Brownhill’s earlier effort, which has to go down as one of the worst free kicks I’ve seen this season, if not ever!