I largely agree with Kelti's comments. After a very bright opening ten minutes, when Tollitt caused Gateshead no end of problems, the quality of our play gradually deteriorated and did not recover until changes were made in the second half. It was actually Jeff Hughes at left back who played the excellent through ball for Tollitt's goal, but I think we badly missed his presence in midfield last night. Without his composure and passing ability our play soon became ragged, littered with misplaced passes, and the diamond formation did not work. Maynard played at the base of the diamond but has not really got the quality on the ball for that role. All of that said, I thought Gateshead were barely any better for much of the first half and created relatively few clear chances, the only moment of quality other than the goal coming with a good link-up between Cook and Mangan where Cooky should really have scored.
In the first ten minutes of the second half Gateshead came out pumped up, while our performance actually deteriorated. There were a number of flurries round our penalty area and Davies had to make two or three good saves, but again, I don't think the opposition created many genuine scoring opportunities with most of their efforts from distance. As poor as our play in possession was, the back four stayed pretty solid and Gateshead did not really get behind them all night. The pattern of the game only changed when Micky ditched the diamond and brought Wallace and Norwood on in a 4-5-1. We finally began to retain possession and get control in the centre of the pitch, with Wallace looking the same player that left us two and a half years ago: his passing was excellent and he went in for two or three full blooded challenges and clearly was not squeamish about going in for a tackle. His lack of match fitness was only betrayed when he tried to go on a surging run through the middle of the pitch but was caught and tackled by an opposition midfielder.
On balance, I thought Gateshead deserved a point and we were slightly fortunate. However, for all their huff and puff Gateshead lacked quality in the final third and our back four stayed strong. We produced a quality move to score a goal which the opposition were not capable of, and the quality of our attacking players and the strength of our back four and keeper will always make us difficult opponents in scrappy games like this.
Individually, I don't think anybody was anywhere near their best, although I did not think Iheiekwe did as badly as some people are suggesting. Their left back was quick and attacked him several times in the first half. However, while Michael gave away a few corners and got in some last ditch blocks, I don't think he was actually beaten by him all game. Harris worked hard but was not particularly outstanding to me, and if I had to nominate a man of the match I would give it to the whole back four plus Scott Davies.
As Kelti says, it was a surreal experience watching a game in a cavernous athletics stadium with only 500 home fans. And the wind was bloody freezing.
In all, winning games like this without a number of our key players, and once again having been forced into changes through injuries, shows how far we have come under Mellon. Top of the league on Saturday if we win. Who would have thought that after the Sutton game ?