Southport v Rovers

[Three times a season]

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside. Fish and chips and then home. To say the fish and chips were the highlight of the day gives a idea of the performance. We were clearly the better side but not giving the better performance. A draw was a fair result.

RLC is spot on the midfield was the problem. Maynard had an average game after some encouraging performances. The rest of the midfield was missing entirely at times.

Southport never really looked like scoring even when the equaliser had left the boot of the scorer it still looked like an innocuous cross. Team left it too late to show some passion but couldn't find a winner this time. A failure to kill off games like this will cost us if it continues.

For me man of the match was either Ihiekwe or Davies who looked in plenty of control throughout. That probably says it all really.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I'd also be interested in whether Connor Jennings did much today as I'm still not sure that over the course of the season, his wide position will continue to bear fruit. Did Stephenson and or Mekki get a chance today?

I agree about Jennings. I think he is an excellent player but he needs to be played centrally to get the best out of him. Today, the game was crying out for genuine width but Connor was unable to provide it; that is not his role.

Mekki did come on in the second half but was not great. He seemed to have lost some sharpness having been on the bench for several weeks. We definitely need a rethink in the attacking areas for Monday's game.

On other matters, Southport's goal may have been lucky but the defending leading up to it was awful. A miscued clearance by Ihiekwe which fell to the completely unmarked Almond to lob into the box.

 

[Cowshed Kid]

Disappointing not to win but let's keep it in perspective. Still unbeaten after drawing a local derby away from home. For them, not only were they playing a derby but also the team top of the league. If, hopefully, we stay where we are then we become an even bigger scalp than last season. And along the way we will succumb.
No way could GB have been looking at changing a winning team. If he had, and the same result or worse had ensued, we'd have asked why he tinkered.
We should only be listening for alarm bells if we don't pick up three points on Monday.
On the plus side, Southport might now go at get a result at FGR on Mon!

 

[Boz]

A frustrating day. First half was a non-event, Southport had the ball in the net, but the liner's flag had been long-raised, while the closest Rovers came was a Cook header cleared as it approached the target, a couple of minutes before h/t. Things looked on the upturn when Cook converted a decent ball into the box from Connor Jennings and given the form-book, there was an expectation Rovers would go on and win comfortably. Not a bit of it, as the hosts juggled their line up, including bringing on Louis Almond(why did he not start?) and after a spell when we couldn't clear our lines, they levelled with a cross-come shot.

Shortly after came the first substitution. Of the 3 forwards, Cook was playing fairly well and Jennings C had created the goal and was looking less jaded than Maidstone. Norwood was out of sorts, taking shots when a team-mate was better placed and giving Hughes little protection at left-back. If a forward was to be pulled, it ought to have been him. Mekki apparently looked decent pre-season, but has had such limited opportunities since, he's regressed. While it was a difficult time to come on, Adam didn't approach the game determined to show Brabin he should be given more opportunity. His impact was minimal.

The second substitution was also odd. Jeff Hughes was struggling badly at left-back, moreso since Almond had come on, so bringing Ridehalgh, a specialist left-back on made sense. However instead of taking off one of the midfielders, Brabin hooked Vaughan, who aside from conceding a soft free-kick when losing the ball at the edge of our area, had played fine. This meant Maynard at right-back, with issues about getting back from set-pieces, he also was very lucky to get a free-kick when being dis-possessed on the edge of the area. While Hughes improved the distribution from midfield, he looked tired too and on more than one occasion didn't offer an out ball, meaning Mekki running into a dead-end. The final sub Kirby for Harris, seemed to lead to confusion as to who was playing where. It was certainly a more attacking approach and good balls into the box gave Rovers the chance of grabbing the win, but a good save from the home keeper of Cook's effort kept the scores level.

MoM Despite his part in their goal, Ihiekwe was fairly steady and edges it for me from Andy Cook.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I agree with Boz about Maynard going to right back: Ridehalgh should have replaced one of the three midfielders. However, I can see the logic in leaving Norwood on as he is our joint top scorer and likely to come up with a goal even when he is under-par.

 

[Boz]

I agree with Boz about Maynard going to right back: Ridehalgh should have replaced one of the three midfielders. However, I can see the logic in leaving Norwood on as he is our joint top scorer and likely to come up with a goal even when he is under-par.

I concede there are reasons for keeping Norwood on and he did produce a peach of a ball into the box for Cook to bring a fine save from their keeper. However, it will do no good for Connor Jennings' morale if regardless of how well he's playing, he gets taken off. Brabin will need to handle this carefully.

 

[Ian]

Thanks for the reports chaps. I had to resort to twitter feed for updates. Looked like we had loads of chances in the first half and I assumed we were all over them.

Anyways, I'll echo cowshed kids post and say although not a great performance (and certainly won't be the last) we did not lose and are still unbeaten.

We've talked about consistency being the key so hopefully the lads can pick themselves up and put in a good performance on Monday.

If we play badly but still manage to pick up points it's a good sign. Roll on Monday.

 

[Boz]

We had a lot of possession in the first half, Ian, but I can't recall that many chances. A couple of Ihiekwe headers over from corners, a Norwood effort straight at the keeper and the Cook header right at the end of the half stick out.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I can't remember their keeper having to make a save in the first half. It certainly was not great.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Just as a final word on Saturday's game, at least Mal got his wish with a 'Gary, give us a wave' chant from the SWA. Unfortunately, Southport equalised shortly afterwards........

 

[Mal]

maybe I am being harsh but I think "Jenno, give them some leadership" is appropriate. He isn't a Gerrard. McNulty was the vociferous one. I always played with a sense of urgency albeit in amateur circles but I always wanted to try an win. That was missing from the team for the most part on Saturday.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

McNulty is the captain in all but name. I think that is why Jenno is not wearing an arm band this season.

On other matters, Southport two down after ten minutes at Forest Green. So much for Southport's massive improvement against Tranmere.....

 

[Sparky]

Yes RLC. Eastleigh have just got their 5th (Adam Dawson) and FGR have 4 so far this afternoon.

If ever we could make a similar statement of goals we have the opportunity today.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Interesting that Dawson has played both games under Ronnie, whereas the previous manager clearly did not rate him: he set up one of their goals on Saturday and scored today.