The View From Churchmans

Town fans had additional reason to feel grateful for the signing of two new strikers after this one, because without the interest engendered by the new faces, this would have been a very dull afternoon indeed. Town showed an uncharacteristically efficient nature in the first half, but created few chances, then lost their way after the break. Boro seemed to have no appetite for the game at all to start with, but finally got their act together in the second half, and were probably worth the draw. Town fans just went away relieved to have escaped without conceding a goal in the last few minutes for once.

The defence was impressive again, the midfield workmanlike (but lacking in creativity) and the new strikeforce had its moments, and clearly has the potential to be better than anything else Town have had to offer this season, not that we’re saying much there. Looking at the line being led by Counago and Stead at the end filled me with little enthusiasm. With four away games on the trot to follow now, the club could easily go into the last 10 weeks in the relegation zone, and that always brings with it the risk of panic setting in. Murphy and Healy are going to have to find their feet fast.

Overall Town performance:
5/10 – Had its moments, but not many

Opposition quality
5/10 – Didn’t appear to care for large parts of the game, and only showed any quality for about 20 minutes after the break

Referee:
6/10 – Not bad

Match excitement:
4/10 – Anyone turning up 1 minute into the game would have missed the good bit

Opposition supporters:
5/10 – A decent-enough number of them, but quiet

Player ratings, as ever 1 to 5 for each of effort/achievement…

LEE-BARRETT 6 (3/3) made one good save and didn’t give the defence much cause for concern.

ROSENIOR 6 (3/3) had a perfectly adequate game; McAULEY 8 (4/4) and DELANEY 8 (4/4) were once again the pick of the team, dealing with the easy stuff efficiently and the harder stuff often spectacularly; WRIGHT 5 (2/3) was quiet though.

WALTERS 5 (3/2) had disappointingly little impact on the game; NORRIS 6 (3/3) and LEADBITTER 6 (3/3) put in a decent shift, breaking up a lot in the middle of the park but not creating much in the way of opportunities; while COLBACK 6 (3/3) played like a madman (in a good way) for much of the first half, but didn’t have anything like the same involvement after the break.

HEALY 4 (2/2) was poor, it has to be said, getting caught offside time and time again, but you could still see some potential; MURPHY 6 (3/3) was much more impressive, combining a bit of strength with some clever play.

From the bench, COUNAGO got in the way and slowed everything down as usual; GARVAN looked a bit clumsy and disappointed his supporters; and STEAD had very little opportunity.