Yes, I know you’re all wondering what those post-match fireworks were all about. Well now I can tell you: Fans Verdict is back.
Unfortunately, it was a jaded and frustrating draw the fans had to react to, rather than a nice and easy three points. Despite a promising first half, the players tired as the game went on and it was only a wonder strike from Charlie Savage that rescued a point.
Here’s how the fans reacted to another eventful afternoon at the SCL…
The performance
The game followed a not-too-dissimilar pattern
to that of the win against Stevenage last time out. We moved the ball well and created chances in the first half (albeit not as well as the Stevenage game), but fell frustratingly and worryingly flat in the second.
On another day we score a penalty (more on that later) or Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan nets a couple and we have something to hold onto. But that wasn’t to be, and a lapse in concentration at the back only compounded things.
Leam Richardson has a lot of work to do, he’ll know that, and the fans certainly know it too….
The referee
A mate of mine came along with my dad and I to the match on Saturday. He’s an Aston Villa fan at heart and I said to him before the game: “If you think Prem refs are bad, wait until you see the EFL ones.” And it’s safe to say that comment was justified come full-time.
For me it’s the small, obvious decisions that are the most frustrating, but of course the big one on Saturday was the handball in the first half. Genuinely, if that isn’t handball, what is?
Anyway, what’s done is done I guess, but the Loyal Royals weren’t best impressed…
A Savage wonder strike
There was at least one positive the fans could take from Saturday, and that was that they were there to witness a truly special strike from Savage.
Our reliance on wonder goals this season is a personal concern of mine, but you can’t complain too much when you see hits like that…
Conclusion
It was a really frustrating afternoon all in all. It seems there is a real lack of fitness in the squad, which is a major concern at this stage of the season and something that needs to be addressed ASAP.
You can see there are some tactical things being worked on the training pitch – the first-half showings in both of Richardson’s leagues games are evidence of that. But we just don’t seem to have the legs to keep it up over 90 minutes.
We also cannot keep relying on goals that defy xG logic to get us points too. It’s not sustainable.
Anyways, onwards and upwards I guess.
