What a cracking game of football

[Bessie Red]

I don’t know how the ref can’t give a penalty there. It’s required no thought. And a red card too.

Baffling.

For me the reason the ref didn’t give a pen on Molyneux was because through out the entire game he didn’t succumb to footballers receiving a pass and buying (actually NO, cheating a foul) as the opponent gets in close behind them. Even when their player went down when attacking near our corner flag, cheating a foul and grabbed the ball the ref gave handball. Throughout the game he on numerous occasions waved play on when a player flung himself to the ground- and good on him.
Moly should have scored that but leant back as a back up plan. For me the ref was consistent in not being conned by this relatively new and horrible falling over tactic. Therefore he waved away our claims.
Thought the attack on McGrath was a definite pen though.

They were both definite pens! No excuses the ref got both decisions horribly wrong

[CJK]

Yeah I'd echo most of what's already been said. The game started at breakneck speed and then they played a really good move, got the cross in and scored. Disappointing with letting them get a cross in from that area and the guy getting a free header. That aside, McGrath and Oluwu were excellent.

I had a great view of the McGrath penalty incident and nobody can tell me it wasn't a pen, the ref had a great view of it as well. In McCann's RS interview, he said he'd be talking to the ref before he left.

Once they'd scored we grew into the game and were starting to get into in the ten minutes before half time. I was calling for Ironside from half time, luckily we didn't have to wait too much longer. Ironside is the focal point up top we need and it showed more or less immediately, combined with Hurst coming central.

Thought it would be one of those games where we don't score but following a great save by TSL completely against the run of play, Sterry sent in a terrific cross for Ironside.

We had numerous possession and territory but couldnt make it count, Gibson needed better composure with the chance straight after the equaliser.
Then the second penalty incident, again, can't see why that isn't given.
We should have won the game and should be disappointed with the result in the end. We were the better side on balance. They defended for over 60 minutes, hardly getting in our half in the second half. We need to be more clinical and stop trying to walk the ball into the goal.

Going forward, Ironside to start for me. Thought Senior played well, Kelly very good. Not sure about Clifton still. Big Joe and McGrath are developing quite the partnership.

[ncRover]

Superb substitutions today. Well done Grant and Cliff.

On another day we walk away with all 3 points there.

We can rue easier missed chances yes, but the quality of end product from both Sterry and Ironside for our goal was exquisite.

[jmt23]

Just to echo some thoughts on their goal, really poor from us, no pressing higher up the pitch, but that was some passing move from front to back.why they then decided to sit back god knows, from that point we dominated the game, and should have been home and hosed with the areas we got into.
TSL what a save! Then was it direct from that he released Molly with an absolute peach of a ball the full length of the pitch? He is going to be some keeper! As good if not better than TLT.

[BillyStubbsTears]

That was a very, very high quality and entertaining game of football. A pleasure to watch.

And as others have said, their goal was as good as anything you'll ever see at this level. Sometimes you have to stand up and accept the quality of the opposition's play.

This time last season we would have had a caning after that.

Our response today was a pleasure to see. We got into their central midfield after 20-25 mins and broke up what had been an extremely impressive passing game. Then we got the confidence to take on their press and from then on we dominated. A real statement of intent I think. Ok, we dropped 2 points, but they will be going home tonight knowing that, barring the first 1/4 of the game, they've been comfortably second best. By 70 minutes, their central midfield had evaporated and we were cutting through them at will.

That's two serious promotion contenders in the last two league games that we have given a bit of a lesson to. Looking good.

[drfchound]

Just to echo some thoughts on their goal, really poor from us, no pressing higher up the pitch, but that was some passing move from front to back.why they then decided to sit back god knows, from that point we dominated the game, and should have been home and hosed with the areas we got into.
TSL what a save! Then was it direct from that he released Molly with an absolute peach of a ball the full length of the pitch? He is going to be some keeper! As good if not better than TLT.

It was Fleming who played the long ball to Mols at the end mate.

[Butchers Red]

Actually it was McGrath who played Molls in - he was being held back and even if no penalty awarded, why no Corner either as their keeper got his hand to it or it was in.

That said Molls was well off it today by his high standards and should have been hooked at half time - If I were Jack Senior I would be well pissed off, he had a great game and should have stayed on with Fleming in front of him rather than an out of sorts Molls

[drfchound]

I thought that Senior took a knock just before being subbed so maybe that was the reason he was hooked.

And yes, you are right, it was McGrath who played Mols in.
I have just looked at the highlights.
From my spot in the South I thought was hit from Flemming.
Looking at the highlights it backs up my thoughts that Mols was fouled in that late pen incident.

[jmt23]

No my timings might be off a bit, but TSL kicked it from his hands, after one of their attacks or maybe a corner - it wasn’t the penalty chance from McGrath pass. It was inch perfect pass and at pace. ( as was McGraths actually)

[Pancho Regan]

Moly should have had a penalty, the ref bottled it and made a terrible decision (not his only one of the afternoon).
Very frustrating that Moly stays on his feet in an attempt to get his shot off when if he’d gone to ground we probably get the decision.

A word for Jamie Sterry.
He gets a lot of (unjustified) criticism but that ball in for Joe to score was fantastic.

All in all a high quality game between two very good sides. Lots of attacking, lots of good football to enjoy.
I was very pleased at the way we played ourselves back into the game after going behind. A year ago we would have capitulated and lost that game.
We should have won it today; overall we were the better team and we outplayed them in the second half.
But I’ll take the draw, and other results went in our favour so no ground lost on our rivals at the top.

Good luck to County for the rest of the season - they deserve to go up on that showing and let’s hope this fixture is played in L1 next season.

[Lesonthewest]

Excellent game, & an excellent second half from us, proud of the players tonight, thought we edged it over the 90 minutes.

[Usher wide.]

Moly should have had a penalty, the ref bottled it and made a terrible decision (not his only one of the afternoon).
Very frustrating that Moly stays on his feet in an attempt to get his shot off when if he’d gone to ground we probably get the decision.

A word for Jamie Sterry.
He gets a lot of (unjustified) criticism but that ball in for Joe to score was fantastic.

All in all a high quality game between two very good sides. Lots of attacking, lots of good football to enjoy.
I was very pleased at the way we played ourselves back into the game after going behind. A year ago we would have capitulated and lost that game.
We should have won it today; overall we were the better team and we outplayed them in the second half.
But I’ll take the draw, and other results went in our favour so no ground lost on our rivals at the top.

Good luck to County for the rest of the season - they deserve to go up on that showing and let’s hope this fixture is played in L1 next season.

That in a nutshell for me Pancho.

Two quality teams in this division that hopefully on today’s showing (bearing in mind that’s my first view of County) will both be playing at a higher level next season.

It was a frustrating time for Sharp up front today, the ball either didn’t drop for him or his efforts were easily snuffed out. There will be other games when Billy’s movement across that front line will pay dividends but, after 35 minutes the game was crying out for a forward who could compete in the air with County’s centre backs, then hold the play up to bring other attacking players into the game. We had to wait until into the 2nd half for that to happen along with other attacking force minded ‘fresh substitutes’ to enable us to wrest the game from County & with a fair wind (i.e. a stonewall penalty) we could deservedly have gone on to win all 3 points.

Credit to County for pressing to win the game in the final 10 minutes, as indeed we did, which resulted in a cracking game without time wasting by either side looking to accept a draw.

[NickDRFC]

Sounds as though we really put them to the sword in the second half and could/should have won. If we manage to get a bit more ruthless (hopefully we’re capable of it - Grimsby springs to mind) and put 3/4 wins on the spin together we can really cement our place in the top 3. The table’s still remarkably close and a good run could really push us on.

[Ryaldinhio]

Agree with Filos original post.

Im a massive fan of Billy but he looks off it, time for Joe to start a run of games and maybe Billy come on if needed. I though Joe looked back to his old self again yesterday. GM noted in his PM interview that something has changed in him and he is really switched on in training etc.

I'd like to see Gibson, Hurst and Moly all starting, this was the line up in many games preseason that did so well. If that is at the expense of Clifton then so be it. On yesterday's performance from Kelly amd Bailey neither one of them is coming out the team.

I thought the whole squad was excellent yesterday once we got going we really dominated the game.

TSL another good performance overall

Joe/Jay - what a pairing we have there, for me Tom/Woody are now back ups. I would be renewing Joe's contract now aswell. Not only is he a great player but comes across as a great guy overall, always has time for the fans and still young so will be an assett.

Bailey - Mr consistent just 7-8/10 week on week.

Kelly - outstanding yesterday

Sterry - I'm not his biggest fan but what a cross that was, he will get quite a few assists if he keeps doing that.

I could go on and name them all. Great performance just a shame we didn't get the win in the end.

[mushRTID]

Brilliant game but it’s frustrating how wasteful we are.
Got into so many good positions and we’ve barely made their keeper make a save.
Kelly, Olowu outstanding.
Moly has to go down, it’s as simple as that. Every other team in this league would.

Great game though, great atmosphere. Can’t help feel we should be 4 or 5 points clear at the top though. I feel sure we go on a winning run soon.

[pib]

Great advert for L2. Two good teams and we were the pick of them for the last 50-60 minutes.

Off days for Moly and Bailey but they’ll bounce back I’m sure.

On the other hand, Olowu, Kelly and Hurst very good, and the subs all made an impact. Not sure how we didn’t score from the Gibson chance/square second half, wouldn’t have been undeserved if we’d have nicked it.

[Cramby10]

Good game yesterday. They were outstanding in possession. The way they moved the ball with ease is unmatched from anyone else I’ve seen in this league this year.
If I was a County fan, I’d have been gutted the way they sat back and retreated second half. Hopefully that was down to us.
 The subs second half did make the world of difference. Clifton for me is not up to it. Simply not good enough on the ball. His endless running is to be commended but he’s easily bypassed in midfield.
Hurst has to start in the 10 position every game. I was shocked and disappointed Grant changed it from the Bradford game.. He’s so much better picking the ball up facing the direction of play to do his work. Hardly saw the ball first half, and when he did got outmuscled a bit too easy on the half turn.
Agree with others that Ironside is the preferred starter up top. That number 5 had a cigar on first half. Then when Joe came on he couldn’t live with it. He’s so important to how we play. I love Billy to bits but I fear his signing has caused more problems than it’s solved.
Moly and Gibson had largely forgettable games. Sterry put in a decent cross but I feel Nixon will be breathing heavily down his neck when fit enough.
Everyone else was excellent, especially Kelly. Crossing practice from the whole team wouldn’t go amiss however.
I’d have taken a point at half time, but walked away feeling sad we could and should have had all 3.

[Nudga]

Just watched the highlights and I think it was a free kick on Molly as soon as he collects the ball outside the box, their defender grabs him straight away. 
Then a split second later it's definitely a penalty for the same offence.

[swintonrover]

Regarding Ironside, I know he became a dad for the first time in the summer. Non-zero chance he's a bit out of it because he's up all night?

Regarding the game, that was a game between two sides that should be going up this season. You look at some of the teams we've played (and indeed lost to) this season and compare them to Notts County and it's a different planet. It's very rare to see a goal of that quality against us, normally we're the ones that play like that! They're also a fairly sound bunch on social media, we both respect how good each other were yesterday and aren't throwing a tantrum they drew.

[knockers]

Agree with Filos original post.

Sterry - I'm not his biggest fan but what a cross that was, he will get quite a few assists if he keeps doing that.

Sterry has four assists in the league already.

That’s one more than our best winger.

[ravenrover]

Any comments on the handball claim 2nd half, I didn"t see it from the West

[DonnyOsmond]

Our crossing from the byline into the box is horrific, always given straight to the keeper. Think most of them assists from Sterry have come similar to yesterday, balls from deeper into the danger area between keeper and defenders who are running backwards.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We definitely need to do more of the early crosses from deeper positions to mix it up more. Sterry has delivered some peaches of crosses, an earlier example was the goal scored at home by Clifton when he made a great run into the box. It prevents the centre halves and keeper getting set to anticipate the crosses.

It's a little concerning we're not converting enough chances from good positions at home. Once again the stat showing we had 34 touches in the box compared to their 10 supports we're not converting enough. We often just seem to be snatching a bit, not getting clean contacts or taking an extra touch, which often leads to shots being blocked.

Probably in training, they take these opportunities with ease, so I hope it's a case of the more we practice the luckier we get but keep doing what we're doing to get the ball into the right areas.

[GazLaz]

Sharp is only as good as the chances you create for him.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

18Dappers Vlog shows more of the second half incidents. The angle on Mols pen, no pen, doesn't look as clear cut.

https://youtu.be/DPNS17rRgYo?si=fNPcn5U3bUZqg14s

[roversdude]

Just watched Dappers vlog and still think it was a foul and red card.
Great angle for our equaliser

[Butchers Red]

18Dappers Vlog shows more of the second half incidents. The angle on Mols pen, no pen, doesn't look as clear cut.

https://youtu.be/DPNS17rRgYo?si=fNPcn5U3bUZqg14s

We should have got a corner though - keeper clearly got a hand to it.

[Donnywolf]

18Dappers Vlog shows more of the second half incidents. The angle on Mols pen, no pen, doesn't look as clear cut.

https://youtu.be/DPNS17rRgYo?si=fNPcn5U3bUZqg14s

What about the massive shout for hand ball by South Stand. Was it owt or nowt ?

[Janso]

Sharp is only as good as the chances you create for him.

Some clown in the facebook group saying Sharp is shite and Joe Ironside should be a guaranteed starter being the only proven goalscorer. You really do have to despair at the intelligence of some people - especially when Sharp has scored more goals so far this season.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

18Dappers Vlog shows more of the second half incidents. The angle on Mols pen, no pen, doesn't look as clear cut.

https://youtu.be/DPNS17rRgYo?si=fNPcn5U3bUZqg14s

What about the massive shout for hand ball by South Stand. Was it owt or nowt ?

It was nowt. Their player turned sideways with arms down and looks like the ball might have hit  his upper arm by his side. No pen. .