Rockford's Love Child
Member
- Joined
- 15 Mar 2010
- Messages
- 13,912
- Player
- Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
- Manager
- John King
In difficult circumstances, that was a superb effort by the players and a great fillip for the club after a week of bad news. I feared the worst after the first fifteen minutes and, ironically, I think it was the injury to Kirby (which I hope is not as serious as feared) and his replacement by Mekki that turned the game for us. It really was a day for the forgotten men, with Stockton and Mekki putting in excellent performances, and Mangan finally ending his drought with a superb free kick.
In the opening quarter of an hour I don't think we got to grips with the system at all and were outmuscled by Barrow in the middle of the pitch. With Kirby playing just off the strikers we did not seem able to get any decent midfield possession and as a result the full backs could not get forward to give us width. As a result the service to the strikers was non-existent. That changed when Mekki came on in the 'free' role, as we finally had someone to put their foot on the ball, show some skill and beat a man in attacking areas. After the poor opening, I thought we completely bossed the remainder of the game and the scoreline was fully deserved. All the more impressive as we were up against a strong Barrow side and not a bunch of duffers.
Individually, I thought Maynard and Ihiekwe were excellent (aside from the latter's error for the Barrow goal), with Michael intelligently bringing the ball out of defence as a spare man on several occasions. However, it was the squad players who were most impressive. Great credit has to be given to Mekki for coming in from the cold to produce such an impressive performance, particularly as he was played out of position 'in the hole'. He was actually used there by Brabin on several occasions to no effect, which just emphasises the difference in tactical understanding of the two managers. Man of the match, however, was Cole Stockton who looks a different player since his spell at Morecambe.
I think we will go with the same system on Tuesday night, and with Cook and Norwood to return, I am looking forward to it.
In the opening quarter of an hour I don't think we got to grips with the system at all and were outmuscled by Barrow in the middle of the pitch. With Kirby playing just off the strikers we did not seem able to get any decent midfield possession and as a result the full backs could not get forward to give us width. As a result the service to the strikers was non-existent. That changed when Mekki came on in the 'free' role, as we finally had someone to put their foot on the ball, show some skill and beat a man in attacking areas. After the poor opening, I thought we completely bossed the remainder of the game and the scoreline was fully deserved. All the more impressive as we were up against a strong Barrow side and not a bunch of duffers.
Individually, I thought Maynard and Ihiekwe were excellent (aside from the latter's error for the Barrow goal), with Michael intelligently bringing the ball out of defence as a spare man on several occasions. However, it was the squad players who were most impressive. Great credit has to be given to Mekki for coming in from the cold to produce such an impressive performance, particularly as he was played out of position 'in the hole'. He was actually used there by Brabin on several occasions to no effect, which just emphasises the difference in tactical understanding of the two managers. Man of the match, however, was Cole Stockton who looks a different player since his spell at Morecambe.
I think we will go with the same system on Tuesday night, and with Cook and Norwood to return, I am looking forward to it.