With regards to the team, our keeper Jones was outstanding yesterday and fully deserved his MOTM award. Cambridge subjected us to an aerial bombardment at times and they have some BIG players so his command an often over-crowded box was absolutely vital to our win. It could have been oh so different though as Jones failed to come out for a through ball very early on in the game. They could easily have scored, but luckily didn't. As recent experiences will remind us this position is all about confidence, and that overall performance from Jones should give him huge confidence going forward.
We played a back four of Shorey, Whatmough, Robinson and Webster, and having been at the Peterborough game last Tuesday, I was slightly surprised by Awford's selection. I understand that Wynter was unavailable (concussion), but it looks like our captain Chorley was dropped or rested? Anyway, it was obvious very early on that our defence was going to have a difficult afternoon as the opposition, especially the huge Elliott , were winning everything early on. He worked well with Appiah up front, and I reckon that they will be one of the better teams in this league this season. Shorey looked his usual composed self yesterday afternoon. He seems to have about 2 seconds longer on the ball than most other players, always a sign of class. Robinson and Whatmough both gave very gutsy performances, including one goal saving block from Whatmough. I have to remind myself every time I see Jack play that he is still only 17. He has one hell of a future IMHO. Our weak link in the back four was Webster, and even before his two rash challenges, he wasn't having a great game. As for his sending off, he can have no complaints. I suspect the young lad is beating himself up about it, but his sending off could have cost us at least two, or possibly all three points.
It looked like we started out playing Awfs's favoured 4-2-3-1 with Dunne and Hollands playing in behind Storey, Atangana and Wallace. Dunne and Hollands really look the deal in their roles breaking up play and pushing forward, especially Hollands. Dunne was everywhere yesterday, and was a contender for MOTM. He is growing in stature with each game, and looks another natural leader on the pitch to me. I felt sorry for Atangana being subbed following the red card, as that decision had nothing to do with his performance. Yet again, he was outstanding. To me it looks like we are almost playing a 4-2-1-2-1 with big Nigel playing in front of Dunne and Hollands. That is his strength and weakness as at times he needs to track back more. Every cloud has a silver lining though, and his being subbed should mean he is well rested for the Northampton game. Those who played 90 minutes (actually 99 minutes!) will be knackered. Some of them were dead on their feet by the end.
Storey continued where he left off last Tuesday and his cross to provide Taylor with his well taken goal was inch perfect. Jed Wallace could learn a lot from Storey. I thought Jed had an average game yesterday. Admittedly, he was played in about 4 different positions, and ran his heart out, but his touch and delivery were poor. I can remember at least 4 or 5 passes gong wildly astray. Back to Storey for a moment. He almost scored the goal of the season yesterday: Early on in the first half he picked the ball up out wide on the left and cut beating his defender, followed by another two or three players, before unleashing a powerful right footer from outside the box which dipped and swerved in the wind before crashing off the corner of the upright.
Taylor played upfront on his own, and when he wasn't being pushed, grabbed, elbowed by their No. 5 Bonner he was winning headers he had no right to win. He is an unsung hero for me, and will be one of our key players this season. He will create more goals than he will score, but yesterday's neat little header will really help his confidence.
With regards to the subs, Devera was brought on to replace Atangana following Webster's red and had a very solid second half. In retrospect, he should have started in place of Webster. Holmes replaced Taylor mid way through the second half and grew in stature as the game went on, but he is not yet 'match fit'. Bird replaced Taylor with about 10 minutes to go, but didn't have a lot to do as we were defending stoutly by then.
When they scored their goal with 20 minutes to go, we knew it would be nervy, but I don't want to have to go through that week in week out. It was draining.
I don't like to knock officials, but seem to have to at this level more often than I'd like to, but I thought the referee was really poor yesterday, taking aside his yellows for Webster which were the correct decisions. I do believe the occasion gets to some of them.
Final word for our supporters. I thought the crowd were immense yesterday, with in fairness CUFC fans playing their part. At one point in the second half the incessant 'Blue Army' chants were the loudest I have heard for a long time, and there is no doubt the Pompey's 12th (11th) Man played a major part in carrying us over the line. I remember at one point when this was going on Miles Storey looking around our crowd shaking his head in disbelief at the wall of sound. Even Awford said in his post match interview that it gave him goose bumps.
Onwards and upwards. Three more points on Tuesday night please
Good report (as always).