Joe Cowan: 10/10
Made some fantastic saves throughout, brilliantly tipped over two goal bound efforts, one in each half, and stopped a shot with his feet when a striker was through on goal. Made a world class save in injury
time when a goal looked certain and made a good attempt at the penalty. Looked comfortable with the ball to feet as well. Made himself the hero in the penalty shootout with two good saves.
Matthew Burns: 6/10
Was doing well defensively, seeing off most threats down his side of the pitch but then gave away a penalty late on after Struk was caught dwelling on the ball.
Finlay Holcroft: 5/10
Looked comfortable at the back and was playing quite well but made two fouls in silly areas of the pitch and got booked for both.
Arron Bowman: 6/10
Had a very steady game at centre back but got caught on the wrong side of an attacker very late on, which saw West Brom equalise with the last kick of normal time.
Archie Lightfoot: 6/10
Had started well, put a nice cross into the mixer for a Geragusian chance but had to go off after picking up an injury.
Charlie Dinsdale: 9/10
Was our best player up until the red card, making plenty of driving dribbles up the pitch and making dangerous passes around the opposition box. Saw less of the ball following the red card with the visitors having most of the play. Did manage to make a great pass to Geragusian, which led to the third goal.
Liam Hunt: 9/10
Was playing well in his usual midfield role for the first hour but then had to step back into the centre of defence following Holcroft’s red card, did well there too, with some important clearances.
Finn Geragusian: 8/10
Technically started on the right wing but kept finding himself in dangerous positions in the box, scored one after he robbed a defender and curled home but really should have had one or two more. Was a real presence up top when he shifted there following Neill’s withdrawal, bullied the opposition defenders and set up the third when Wilson followed up his saved shot. Unfortunately blotted his copybook a bit with a couple of quick fire yellows either side of half time of extra time, the second of which resulted in the penalty that made it 3-3.
Tom Proctor: 7/10
Was neat in the first hour, playing in an advanced midfield role but then dropped back following the red card and put a good defensive shift in.
Bayley Hester: 8/10
Was very direct down the left wing all game, full of running and always looking to put in a dangerous cross.
Marcus Neill: 6/10
Fed off scraps up top but never stopped running and hassling the West Brom defence.
Substitutes
James Barker: 7/10
Scored an absolute rocket after winning the ball himself, acquitted himself well at left back after he came on early due to Lightfoot’s injury.
Ivan Struk: 6/10
Came on to sit in front of the defence and mostly did well there, shielding the back four. Was calm on the ball too but took that to an extreme in the second half when he overplayed and put Burns in trouble with a dangerous pass, leading to the first penalty. Almost won it at the end of extra time but his shot was deflected wide.
Triziano Wilson: 8/10
Gave the team a boost going forward with his pace and scored the third goal when he followed up after Geragusian’s shot was saved. Also did well to win the ball back leading to Struk’s late chance. Scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out.
Lewis Campbell: N/A
Came on in the 119th minute as we looked to get through to full time.
Man of the Match: Joe Cowan
Made a number of truly great saves throughout the game, with the two that he tipped over being particularly special and then made himself the hero in the shootout with two top saves that saw his team through to the next round. Was a little too aggressive from crosses at times, trying to get to balls that weren’t quite there for him but deservedly the man of the match.
