Well that was fun !
I didn't think we would get anything before the game, then I remembered who their manager was, and it was all roses
We swamped midfield and had complete control bar the first couple of minutes, the ten minutes before our first goal (the irony was that with all their players committed forward Barnes had some space for about the only time all night) and the last ten when the game was dead. Awesome display. People said that Cardiff played a passing game like us, well no, when we pressured them they hoofed it. To play this style you have to be committed to it, and boy our players are committed. My favourite move was early on with Greer in pressure by our goal line, he passed to Calderon, who flicked it to Dicker, out to Vincelot, up to CMS and through to Barnes who was just offside with the keeper to beat. It all happened in seconds and surely shocked their fans. Beautiful football. Three good goals, could have had more and apparently there was a penalty at the end but no-one near me noticed until they were placing the ball on the spot.
Ratings:
Ankergren 7 one good save, good distribution as ever, plenty of flapping as ever - some good punches but it would be nice if he could catch the ball at least once....
Painter 9 excellent game, got forward well, tackled very well, he was well up for this game and got booked for winding the Cardiff fans up. Brilliantly, every time he got the ball after that he was inevitably booed and didn't make a single mistake
Calderon 8 covered huge amounts of ground with no winger in front of him, our only crossing option tonight but none of them came off - and it might be me but he looked tired
Dunk 8 usual (!) solid self
Greer 8 very good again
Bridcutt 7 always involved, but didn't need to work as hard as he did at Pompey. Went right off the boil for a period of ten minutes in the first half when Cardiff had their best spell. Shows how integral he is to that midfield. Luckily our first goal killed them and we took control back after that.
Dicker 8 very good again, helped by not being closed down very much
Sparrow 7 didn't see much of him, perhaps because he was doing a marking job, but was part of a midfield in control of the game
Vincelot 8 very active player, ferreting around the midfield for loose balls. Constantly harrying and sniping and collecting posession before passing it off to Bridcutt or Dicker to spread the play. His influence was most clearly seen when he was subbed off and suddenly we weren't picking up so many second balls.
Barnes 9 lots of movement, caught offside a couple of times, and ultimately did little except for two very well-taken goals - and that deserves a nine in my book. Penalty was very coolly taken
CMS 9 just runs and runs and runs. Never seen anything like it. Did brilliantly to win the ball and take it into the box and round the defender for the penalty, thought he was going to score before being crudely taken out. Hit the post when very well placed earlier in the half
Navarro 7 slotted in nicely, obviously doesn't have the pace of the rest of the midfield
Hoskins 7 very neat finish, he could score a lot. The three strikers combined well together at the end.
Well that was fun !
I didn't think we would get anything before the game, then I remembered who their manager was, and it was all roses
We swamped midfield and had complete control bar the first couple of minutes, the ten minutes before our first goal (the irony was that with all their players committed forward Barnes had some space for about the only time all night) and the last ten when the game was dead. Awesome display. People said that Cardiff played a passing game like us, well no, when we pressured them they hoofed it. To play this style you have to be committed to it, and boy our players are committed. My favourite move was early on with Greer in pressure by our goal line, he passed to Calderon, who flicked it to Dicker, out to Vincelot, up to CMS and through to Barnes who was just offside with the keeper to beat. It all happened in seconds and surely shocked their fans. Beautiful football. Three good goals, could have had more and apparently there was a penalty at the end but no-one near me noticed until they were placing the ball on the spot.
Ratings:
Ankergren 7 one good save, good distribution as ever, plenty of flapping as ever - some good punches but it would be nice if he could catch the ball at least once....
Painter 9 excellent game, got forward well, tackled very well, he was well up for this game and got booked for winding the Cardiff fans up. Brilliantly, every time he got the ball after that he was inevitably booed and didn't make a single mistake
Calderon 8 covered huge amounts of ground with no winger in front of him, our only crossing option tonight but none of them came off - and it might be me but he looked tired
Dunk 8 usual (!) solid self
Greer 8 very good again
Bridcutt 7 always involved, but didn't need to work as hard as he did at Pompey. Went right off the boil for a period of ten minutes in the first half when Cardiff had their best spell. Shows how integral he is to that midfield. Luckily our first goal killed them and we took control back after that.
Dicker 8 very good again, helped by not being closed down very much
Sparrow 7 didn't see much of him, perhaps because he was doing a marking job, but was part of a midfield in control of the game
Vincelot 8 very active player, ferreting around the midfield for loose balls. Constantly harrying and sniping and collecting posession before passing it off to Bridcutt or Dicker to spread the play. His influence was most clearly seen when he was subbed off and suddenly we weren't picking up so many second balls.
Barnes 9 lots of movement, caught offside a couple of times, and ultimately did little except for two very well-taken goals - and that deserves a nine in my book. Penalty was very coolly taken
CMS 9 just runs and runs and runs. Never seen anything like it. Did brilliantly to win the ball and take it into the box and round the defender for the penalty, thought he was going to score before being crudely taken out. Hit the post when very well placed earlier in the half
Navarro 7 slotted in nicely, obviously doesn't have the pace of the rest of the midfield
Hoskins 7 very neat finish, he could score a lot. The three strikers combined well together at the end.
That's was very bold at the end, going with three strikers.Hoskins 7 very neat finish, he could score a lot. The three strikers combined well together at the end.
They all deserve 10/10 imo, as do our fans, great day out.
This. But CMS should get a 11. I cannot believe he only has one goal this season. What a buy!
Ankergren 8 - Didn't have a great deal to do but what he did do was solid and gave his defence in front of him confidence
Calderon 8 - Steady eddie, never lets you down
Dunk 9 - Collossus at the back
Greer - See Dunk
Painter 9 - The ultimate swashbuckling full back, great going forward, strong in the tackle, how long till one of the big boys come sniffing??
Sparrow 8 - A quiet game, but dependable in what he did rather than spectacular
Dicker 89 - Always so composed, had plenty of time on the ball, picked out some great passes and was at the heart of everything good we did. An inspiration
Vincelot 8 - Not as good as Dicker but still hugely influential and impressive
Bridcutt 8 - Boy, what a player in the making, seen him play better but still looked so classy at times and too good for the hapless and overrun Cardiff midfield.
Barnes 10 - Took his goals with aplomb, 15+ this season from Barnes. Looks the real deal.
CMS 9 - Workrate was fantasrtic, first touch not always there but never gave the Cardiff defence a minutes peace, should have done better when he hit the post.
Support 11 - Magnificent support, great banter with the Cardiff fans, gave the team their all and the team dulely gave the same back.
PREMIER LEAGUE, HERE WE COME!
Not according the the sage STeve Claridge who thinks he hasn't got a first touch and that he won't score many in this league. Enjoyed listening to him back-track for two hours as we bossed the game.