SCD - The match!

Stuck this on the other site so will put it up here aswell:

One word sums that performance up yesterday - A swearier word for balls!

Any doubt that those players don't want to play for their manager, haven't got the bottle for the run in, can't handle the expectations were put to rest yesterday.

It wasn't an advert for the beautiful game by any stretch but boy did they stand up to be counted. Bywater unflappable, Batth was colassal, Jones a tower of strength. Semedo was all over them & COG was immense.

First half was even, United probably edged it on possession but other than the free kick & the odd counter they never created anything & Bywater had little to do. We still threatened & had Lowe been in an inch taller we'd have got a goal.

Second half we turned the <screw>, upped the tempo & you could see them grow in confidence. We worked the ball better, we got down the sides more & they didn't know what to do. The best move of the game brought the only goal & was delighted that it was COG who got it, fully deserved. For all their clamour about the football they play, there was little evidence.

Ratings:

Bywater 7 Did everything he had to with the minimum off fuss

Buxton 7 Solid most of the afternoon & a superb assist
Batth 8 Just colossal, this boy lives to defend & loves every minute of it. MOTM for me.
Jones 8 Won his headers & that tackle near the end was awesome
Reda 6 Was hit & miss, was left stranded a few times due to the way we played but stuck to his task & made no mistakes. TBF, their right hand side is the best part of their team.

Antonio 7 Quiet for the first 20 but as he got into it you could see his confidence grow. Was excellent 2nd half, had the beating of his marker at will & played a fine role in the goal.
Semedo 8 Jose is back! Never stopped running, never stopped competing!
Lines 7 The odd poor pass here & there but far more good than bad. Confident enough to put his foot on it in a frantic middle of the pitch.
Prutton 6 Struggled a bit, didn't look comfortable on the left but credit where it's due, he stuck to his task.

COG 8 Immense, competed, battled for everything despite that lump Maguire having hold of him for 90minutes.
Lowe 6.5 Never stopped, always looking to make a run, to create some space. Shame it never really fell for him.

Madine 7 Excellent, won his headers, held it up & a willingness to run the channels which give us an out over & over.
Jones 6.5 Never really got into it, not sure he really touched the ball but he did nothing wrong
Llera 6 for his hat!

Hopefully, this will kickstart our season again & be the catalyst for a good run in. We can't worry about what other teams do but we just have to make sure that if they mess it up we're right there to take advantage. Might have had our blip at the right time & even if we fall short of automatic, if we hit the playoffs running & in form then you'd have to fancy us!

Overall, I thought the ref did well. He did seem to favour them in the 50/50's but he got the big decisions right & it's always good to see a ref willing to leave his cards in the pocket.