Winning breeds confidence

The most important outcome of the game (apart from the three points) was the confidence boost that accompanied the victory. We will go into our next two games this week, both winnable, in a far more positive frame of mind. Of course, there were failings, all to evident after Leicester scored the goal of the season, but we should look at the positives. The defence played better than expected and we scored two goals. Doyle and SEB looked sharp and could have scored more if luck had been on their side. We should have been awarded at least one penalty too. In addition, our new look midfield functioned well in the first half, with Henry's return facilitating the attacking play of Doumbia in the middle of the field and Sako's runs on the outside. We should focus on this rather than on the decline in their work rate and skill levels as they tired after the break. While this did put added pressure on our back four, our defenders offered stout resistance and managed to prevent any further scoring. Moreover, as the new recruits get stronger and as the team adapts to SS's passing game and closer interplay between the three units of the team, our performances will soar. I was as nervous as everyone else in the final 26 minutes of the games (goodness knows where the ref found the extra five minutes from) but in retrospect I feel that we are heading in the right direction and hope to see the benefits by Christmas time.

I thought the same at the match. However, I am coming round to the idea that because the players in midfield tired and failed to stem the flow of Leicester players, the back four were forced back and simply overrun by weight of numbers. I still think that we need more recruits in all areas of the pitch but want to be fair to our hard pressed defenders.

Wary was deffo exposed on the left. Sake was none existent in the second half and put loads of pressure on wards shoulders. Reminded me of how Naylor was always exposed on that side.