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BartonRaz wrote:In hindsight Peaksy's comments in the AFCRDTV Stocksbridge post-match interview were interesting with reference to the game last night. He said the players had had a collective chat about the need to do a professional job against Rugby. He then reiterated those comments in an ET article with Jon Dunham. It's almost like he knew what was coming!

Can't hide from the fact that it was a really awful result against a team that had taken 5 points from their opening 15 games prior to yesterday, none of which were won at home. The circumstances weren't at all great given we had two key players going off during the course of the 90 minutes, but we did have a fully functioning attacking line-up that struggled badly to create meaningful chances. I'd like to see Lewis Leslie start on Saturday if he's fit and available as the balance looked a lot better in central midfield when he came on, prior to that we appeared to be struggling in that area.

On a positive note, by the time we next play a league game I think we will have gone 3 months without a league defeat which is great going. Fingers crossed we're able to bounce back on Saturday and get back to winning ways.

Agreed. I though Brad was MoM last night for his versatility, and its likely he'll be needed in defence on Saturday too - and will then probably be serving a ban for the next game (perhaps the Corby game if that counts), so I'd like to see Lewis and Bunts together. I'd also like to see Lewis Wilson get a start in his more conventional forward role, alongside Nabil, as again we might be losing Nabil to a ban shortly. That partnership might work well against static defences, with the option to bring Tom Lorraine on to win the flick-ons against a team that dominates in the air. That would then allow Taylor to start on the right as I think we missed his urgency at times. Goodness knows how we'll line up in defence on Saturday - it appeared Sam Brown wasn't really fit for a place on the bench given he didn't even seem to warm up during the game. I'd only use Ben Ford again if he agrees not to blaze no-hope efforts over the bar when the team is chasing a late goal.

Felt the result was a fair one on the balance of play. To be fair to them in the 2nd half they had a couple of chances to win it late on. Ben Heath having to pull off a top corner save to deny them a goal. Also credit where credit's due the counter attacking goal they scored was pretty good.

We too had enough chances to perhaps take all 3 points, with a couple just missing the bottom corner off some deflected efforts. I suppose it is a disappointing result in so far as their position in the league and our recent form but on the night a draw was about right.

Having not been to many games this season I can't really be too critical but I thought Jake had a poor game up top last night, his running of the channels was pretty decent, but there was at least 2 or 3 occasions where the ball was played through and he let it roll past him allowing the keeper/defender to nip in and steal possession. He also seems prone to going down fairly easily and staying down? Where as Nabil some how manages to fend of challenges and keep the ball and his feet. I suppose they are different type of players, but this was just an observation from last night, perhaps Jake is still a little bit lacking in match sharpness.

Anyway enough moaning, given we lost both recognised CBs over the course of the 90 and have managed to maintain our unbeaten run up to 11 games it's not all bad.

On a side note- Rugby's ground is by far the best we have visited in any league since reforming, shame there was only 200 odd people rattling around it last night, it would have been better had the fixture been on a Saturday, perhaps we would have taken a couple of coach loads to help fill it further.