Owls 0 Town 0
Picture from Mark’s Mobile Phone
Mark Harrison, Writer.
Twitter: @MarkHarrison15
In October 1983, I took my first ever “football special” train from Huddersfield. Destination Hillsborough, following a team who had made a very promising start to life in what was then known as Division two.
Does anyone else remember those football special trains that were laid on? I think we can call them battered rolling stock that British Rail were happy to cast aside. Ripped seating upholstery, lights that didn’t work and a heating system that didn’t work or was a bit iffy at best. Plus, you were not guaranteed a seamless journey. I well remember shivering in Stalybridge station in a darkened carriage on the way back from Wolves in the cup, due to a broken-down train in front. It seemed we were there for hours! On other occasions, the train resembled a moving coconut shy for opposition “supporters” to throw bricks at. Luxury!
There was a massive Town following that day and I took my place on the Leppings Lane terrace (the scene of tragic events a few years later) and watched on as our lads fought hard against a Sheffield Wednesday side that were riding high and would go on to get promotion. The resultant 0-0 draw was greeted by the fans as an excellent and well-earned point. Roll it forward nearly 40 years and the same result was obtained, but the reaction from the fans was somewhat different and much less favourable, following a drab encounter.
Once again, I had dragged myself off the couch and pointed my car northwards for the game. This time I had the company of my brother in the stands (pillar strategically placed). John lives in Sheffield and most of the good folk of the area will have heard his voice. He presents the breakfast show at Hallam FM. His football interest is very close to nothing, and he also had to show a level of neutrality at the game or risk a serious dip in his listener figures!
The HQ for the radio station is very close to Hillsborough. Bingo, free parking!
So, what of the game and all that?
For God’s Sake, don’t lose!
Prior to our dismal performance at Birmingham on Tuesday and the sacking by Wednesday on Wednesday of Xisco Munoz, I was optimistic we’d get three points. But the sting of a bad defeat for us and the prospect of a positive reaction by the Owls, meant I was much less bullish about our chances.
Overall, the game was high on sweat and there was a defend what we’ve got mentality and very low on quality. Neither side were prepared to get on the front foot enough and risk conceding.
There were two reasonable chances in the whole game, one on either side, with Koroma putting the ball wide with the goalkeeper in no man’s land for us in the first half and Patterson swivelling on one and putting it wide from close in for the Owls in the latter stages.
Hogg was fit to start, and it marked a return to players playing in their strongest positions (almost) But the way we approached the game exposed our weaknesses with the ball.
Both Koroma and Burgzorg do their best work outside the box, and they aren’t strong in the ai. But much of the service in was geared towards a strong target man. Absence makes the heart stronger, and Ward is our best option as a central striker bringing others into the game, although goal shy. I feel Burgzorg and Koroma are wide forwards trying to do a job.
We were at our best with Rudoni playing some quick short passes and making his forward runs drawing in defenders and making space for others. Sorba Thomas is better down the sides rather than central. Although his delivery got progressively worse as the game went on, even after he moved wider when Edwards went off.
Moore Warnock
The boldness, circumstances and timing around the change in head coach were bound to be divisive with poor performances giving ammunition to a section of fans to fire at the new owner. This has been predictably notable on social media post match.
It is worth noting that when Warnock came in, we had an immediate lift for the Birmingham game (his first in charge), but in the next four games we collected one point, scored no goals and lost two of the games 0-4. It does take time for a coach to assess his squad and instil his ideas, so some patience is required, I feel.
Since he arrived, Moore has had very little time on the training pitch, other than to recover the players and prepare for the next match. He now has two weeks to take stock, work closely with the players and develop patterns of play. It is perhaps no coincidence that the best performance under Moore, was Ipswich, when he had slightly longer preparation time and home comforts.
With our squad, the whole must be greater than the sum of its parts to be successful. Warnock got to grips with this. Moore will need to be mindful of this, if he isn’t already, in which direction he goes. Playing players out of position have been the biggest issues so far.
The double home header against QPR and Cardiff will tell us much more about Moore.
Ps. After the match I had a tour of the radio studio and pretended to be a presenter. I know, very sad!
Matt’s ratings
In this section Matt will rate the players on a scale of 1-10 with 6 being used as an average to passable performance. TRIGGER WARNING! half marks will also be used if a player is between scores.
Lee Nicholls -6- A couple of nervy moments; a poor kick straight at Lee Gregory and a dropped cross in the first half could have had dire consequences for Town had they fallen kinder for Sheffield Wednesday, but alas a deserved break for Town’s no1! Fairly quiet and faultless thereafter.
Matty Pearson -6.5- Town’s defence on top and Pearson won his battles against the Sheff Weds front line.
Michal Helik -7- No frills and no passing the big man.
Josh Ruffels -6.5- Ruffels continues to be Town’s ‘Steady Eddie’ when played as a left centre back. Another comfortable game.
Tom Edwards -4.5- Playing Edwards as a wing-back isn’t the best idea currently. Edwards lack of pace and possibly fitness meant that he offered little to no support going forward and struggles to provide cover or if overloaded down his flank.
Jack Rudoni -6- Another hard-working performance from Rudoni but with little impact in the final third.
Jonathan Hogg -6- A quiet afternoon for the captain and not really the forward thinking version we saw last week. However, his organisation was key in preserving a clean sheet.
Yuta Nakayama -5.5- Not quite the energetic and intelligent performance we got last week and I do wonder how much his achilles is affecting his performance.
Sorba Thomas -5- Sorba is a winger who is best on the outside putting balls into the box. Playing him as a no10 made little to no sense and took away his best assets by narrowing him into traffic.
Dr Burgzorg -4.5- We just didn’t see enough from the Dr.
Josh Koroma -5- A performance lacking cutting edge and energy.
Tom Lees -6.5- Much better than Tuesday evening. Solid and good to see him back.
Kian Harratt -6.5- Worked hard and tried to make things happen. Unlucky to have a last minute winner disallowed.
Ben Wiles -6- Still not got into his stride yet for us, but there was no lack of effort when he came on.
Brahima Diarra -NA- If you’re going to play a 3412 system then Diarra is a prime candidate for behind the front two. Seven minutes isn’t enough time for him to find the pace of the game or to get a mark from me for it either.
