9th February 2003: Relief and
disappointment. Mixed feelings but I suppose the over-riding one is
of relief. Defeat would have made survival extremely difficult, but
with Blues, West Ham and Sunderland all losing, the game is still
on.
We're now a point behind my Great Escape plan, but that was to achieve
39 points and I'm starting to think that 37 might do it, as it has
done for the last four years.
As for yesterday's game, a few points to make.
Elleray's performance in the first half was disgraceful. If this referees'
meeting regarding the Albion did take place, has it had a negative
effect in that referees don't want to be seen favouring the Albion.
Had the challenge by Campo in the first minute been outside the box,
I am convinced Elleray would have given a free kick. Perhaps he was
unsighted on the Campo foul on Dichio, I don't know, but it was a
clear penalty from my seat in the East Stand. And the Jaaskelainen
incident - given that the "last man" rule assumes a goalkeeper is
present, surely if the goalkeeper is the man commiting the foul, he
is the "last man" even if a defender is covering. I can understand
the free kick being taken quickly to take advantage of the 'keeper
being out of position, but maybe if Elleray had been given time to
think about it, he may have considered a red card. And there's also
the fact that the covering defender should have already been sent
off - as he should have been at the Reebok. Maybe he's given special
dispensation for looking like the blind pianist from "Fame".
Hughes's performance at Maine Road should have seen him retain his
starting place, and McInnes's performances this season should have
seen him lose his to Johnson. And although we were on top in the second
half and creating chances, I couldn't see us scoring and a change
should have been made much earlier. It takes five minutes to get up
to the pace of the games, and thirteen minutes is not enough time.
Ok, AJ got the goal, but I feel if he and Hughes had come on after
an hour, the game could have been won. It was extremely frustrating
watching the subs warm up, sit down again, warm up again - it was
as if Megson wasn't sure what to do.
After Roberts missed the chance of the game just after half time,
I could see from his body language that he was devestated, and rightly
so. He should have come off straight away. Roberts has the makings
of a quality player, but he needs a rest. This is no Owen-esque six
match dry run, he hasn't scored since November - 17 games. And I can't
say that he's been making chances for other people. Maybe he'll be
forced to take a rest if his ban is upheld, but a spell on the bench
won't do him any harm - maybe he'll be able to come on and try harder
to win his place back.
A break in the sun for the players for a week or so - very nice too.
Every game is a big game now - a win at Fulham and anything is possible.
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