A new low in this already disappointing season. A very poor performance in a low quality game against dire opposition. As in previous defeats, we created the better chances in open play but missed them, and conceded an awful goal from a routine set play. That is not to suggest there was anything positive to come from the performance, as there was not: in previous defeats we have at least had the consolation of some decent spells of football, but today we were just very poor for long periods, against opponents who if anything looked even worse.
We switched to a 4-4-2 formation, but as I had actually predicted, this did not work as we don't really have the players for that formation. Without three in midfield, we kept going route one and when we lost possession in the middle of the pitch the back four were often incredibly exposed.
The first 25 minutes of the first half were poor. Curle, to his credit, had identified our left side as a weakness and Davies and Kirby struggled to deal with the attacks of Amoo and their right back. Far too many balls came into our box and Fonners and the back four once again looked hesitant and shaky. In this spell of pressure Carlisle hit the bar, but in the middle of the half we did settle down and put two or three decent moves together: Richards should have scored after good build up from Donnelly and Baggie, Donnelly smashed a shot wide and we a couple of crosses flashed across their box which we could not convert.
Although we had been poor, at half time I thought the game was there for the taking as Carlisle had looked so weak. We did start the second half reasonably brightly, but the game began to drift at 0-0 and it was obvious changes were needed to pep us up. Not the first time this season, I think Edwards made the wrong decision in this spell: he sat on his hands, probably happy to scrape a draw from the game, Carlisle scored from the only chance I can remember them creating in the second period, and once again we were left chasing the game. Edwards did then make three changes, but as in previous weeks the substitutions seemed to unsettle us, and we never seriously threatened to get back into the game, albeit Donnelly did lash a chance over the bar after a decent move.
Individually, I was impressed with Donnelly's workrate and enthusiasm, but he lacked quality in the final third. Max played well and Danny Holmes had a decent game. Few other players come out with credit, and if they enjoy playing for the manager so much, I think they should start to prove it by playing with a little more conviction. In all, we looked a team bereft of confidence and ideas for much of the ninety minutes, and it was by far the worst performance of the season so far.
I would echo some of Ian's comments above regarding the manager. It increasingly looks like we will be in a relegation dogfight, and whatever Rob's other strengths, I am not sure he will be the man to deal with that situation. I think Palios may have a big decision to make in the next couple of weeks.
