old_eastender

v.good chance Wigan but headed into the ground, good delivery from Power.

Should be red card for Wign but will it be?

unless they are against us!

Brilliant goal, Conway set-up for Andi!

Can't get into Robins TV, keep getting "Error establishing a database connection"... anybody else?

NP will be too if this odd decision goes tits up

Sykes at RWB is a worry, left us completely exposed against Sunderland

Conway took his opportunity well last night with his high mobility leading to 2 neatly taken goals. The general consensus is that Martin will be recalled to start Saturday, and it's hard to imagine NP will not do that. People point to our goals scored record and say that it's the defence which is our problem. However, there is not a truer adage that the saying that defending starts from the front. With Martin in the side, despite the valiant efforts of Weimann, backed up by Scott & Massengo, our ability to play a high press is severely compromised as Martin simply does not have the pace/legs to join in. Hence the opposition tend to have an easy out ball to whatever defender Martin is nearest. Contrast that with what Sunderland did to us with 2 mobile front men, backed up by an energetic midfield. Until they sat back at 2-3, our defenders were not afforded the opportunity to carry the ball out unchallenged. Their first goal, although a poor mistake by us, showed what can happen when you deploy a high press, our 3rd goal last night was another example after Wells gets a toe-in pressing their defender. It's not like Martin is winning many hurried clearances in the air and holding the ball or heading it on to a teammate either. He does contribute well to defending set-pieces, but with 3 centre backs in the side we should not be reliant on our centre forward for this. Conway's finishing looks better that Martin's too. Arguably Martin should have put the chance away that was cleared off the line 1st half v Sunderland and he missed a sitter from a couple of yards out at 2-3, although he did just manage to bundle in our 2nd. If Martin does start, then at least we ought to be looking at replacing him after an hour, to give fresh impetus using Conway or Wells, I really don't get the point of asking him to do 90+ minutes all the time.

Re Martin, sadly reckon you are right. Would so much prefer Conway instead with his extra mobility, pressing of defenders and goal threat, but cannot see NP not picking Martin.

Wells & Conway would do for me, or either one of them with Weimann - just not Chris Martin AGAIN please.

Dead right, their man making the long cross field pass was not closed down and Sykes (as he did all game) offering no defensive cover at all. He is NOT a RWB.

Mixed... 1st half terrible play by Naismith to gift them a goal after 4 mins, then some good play equaliser and we looked the better side for rest of 1st half. Martin should have scored for 2-1 after lovely play by Scott. 2nd half started well went 2-1 up then left ourselves totally exposed with Vyner left 1-on-1 and their Everton loanee getting the better of him. After they went 2-2, they totally outplayed us up to scoring their 3rd, when they then sat back somewhat. Martin missed a sitter to make it 3-3. Williams was not quite on the pace all game, although can't fault his effort. Sykes was poor at RWB, offered no defensive cover at all and did little going forward either. Chance to out some things right against Coventry in the cup, hope Conway, or Wells, starts ahead of Martin and Kane Wilson starts ahead of Sykes.

never works and NP has form for trying it when desperate.

Wells on for DaSilva! Hopeless choice really should have been Martin off.

Martin FFS, puts it wide when should score.

Bugger, well they have played us off the park since it went 2-2

Well he played much better at Hull, poor today

Sykes off good, his has offered little defensive cover playing RWB, Kane Wilson on.

FFS we are giving the ball away all over the pitch, great save Bentley so nearly 2-3.

Yes, need Kane Wilson on for Sykes.

oh no! caught wide open again.

Martin, just about, bundles it in 2-1! Great play from Andi.

HT 1-1. We have looked much the better side, but they carry a threat with pace up front. Williams has looked a little 'off the pace' and would like to see Sykes offer himself more on the right side. Hopefully see Conway on not far into 2nd half.

Williams needs to be careful another foul, and he doesn't quite seem up to the pace of the game so far.

powder puff shot from Martin cleared off the line, any pace on that at all and it was 2-1