Durnford wrote:Sives was poor but Cole was worse and White added pretty much diddly squat.
First goal was a cock up against the run of play; second was a penalty that no-one other than the linesman seemed to understand; third was a counter attack when we'd been pressing for a goal.
Player for player we beat Raith in virtually every position on the pitch but too many unforced errors and missed passes and wastefulness in front of goal.
Don't want to single people out particularly but Sives and Cole should not be getting an automatic start; particularly bearing in mind who we have on the bench.
Pretty much agree with all of this D, in fact everyone has posted good accounts of the game.
I was a few minutes late getting to the game but saw us getting 3 corners in as many minutes when I sat down, we were on the front foot and looking good then got hit with a sucker punch with the ball pinging off several players in a crowded box and landing perfectly for Stewart to prod into the net. The pen was a mystery, just saw Northcroft pointing to the spot and was thinking WTF??? Could see their 3rd coming as we were pushing for a goal and Raith just lumped it up the pitch when they got the chance to try and hit us on the counter, they had a couple of near things with long balls over the top and chasing them down before they finally scored number 3.
Sives couldn't hit a barn door with his passes and Cole near gave away a goal keeping the ball in for the Raith player to take and run at DJ, Gallagher was ok but his balls into the box were too easily defended too, in fact every high ball we played was a waste as either their keeper took it or the CB headed it to him. Please Livi, stop with the high balls hit up to the front players, complete waste of time.
Hippo did his best but was getting more high balls hit out to him on the wing and a lot were just going out of play, or he was having to jump to keep them in and then having a difficult job fending off a Raith player after managing to get the ball under control.
I felt our subs all did well, Spas, Glen and Sheerin, would start all 3 next week, been impressed with Sheerin everytime I see him and he looked more threatening than Buchanan today, good passer of the ball and likes to have a dig. Also linked up well with Glen sending good balls across the pitch to him on the wing and Glen rattled the bar with one of them. Cole had a good effort off the bar too. Just wouldn't go in for us today.
Cole aint a LB and Gallagher aint a RB, epic fail playing them there today but think Longridge was subbed to switch to a back 3 of Cole, Sives & Gallagher 2nd half with Glen coming on to go 5 in midfield so credit to Burchill for changing things.
Buchanan missed a great chance in the 1st half then another one in the 2nd, White had a good chance 2nd half too, got his foot on the ball to guide it towards the goal but unfortunately put it straight at the keeper, Buchanan got onto the ball after a tussle with a defender and hit it straight at the keeper too, and 2nd half he did a fresh air shot at an open goal. I like Buchanan but I'd drop him next week for Sheerin and White to see how they get on, as I think Sheerin looks pretty good playing with White. Would also like to see Glen start against QoS.
Room for improvement but not as bad as the score line shows, just need to start scoring when we have the upper hand, optimistic that the goals will come.
