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Match report |
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Swansea City 0 Orient 1 | |
Swansea 0 Orient 1The Famous Five Orient were the visitors to the Vetch today, for the latest in the long running series of 'must win' games. As has been the case on so many occasions this season though, it again proved to be a 'should win, could win, I'd settle for a point, we've blown it' match. Once more it proved to be two totally separate games either side of half time, and whilst there are probably not too many grounds where you get two games for your entrance fee, you would be very hard pressed to consider it value for money entertainment. There were a couple of changes to the line up following last week's disappointment at Exeter, with Mumford and O'Leary finding themselves on the bench after poor showings on the Devon trip:
Freestone
The game started well enough, and we played some excellent football, which really was a joy to watch. We do seem able to produce some first class moves on the Vetch surface, and there was one spell today when we held onto the ball for what must have been twenty passes, before the move broke down. During that time we had travelled from the edge of our own area into theirs. We were largely controlling the game, and at this stage only one result seemed possible.
Evans – Tate – Theobald – Howard Phillips – Britton – Reid – Thomas Wood – Watkin Subs: Williams – O'Leary – Steins – Mumford – Jenkins
A couple of shots at goal, including a very clever placed shot by Thomas which was tipped over by the Orient keeper, kept the anticipation high, and when Britton broke through the middle, a goal was surely the only outcome until he was brought down by Canham which earned the Orient player a yellow card. It was debatable whether it should have been a straight red, but it was difficult to adjudge him last man, as he was one of a posse trying to stop Britton at that stage. Nevertheless, it was not long before Canham was off the field following a second booking for a follow through on Roger Freestone four minutes later. So with still fifteen minutes to go to half time we were up against ten men once again. Now, in true fashion, many a manager has said how difficult it is to play against ten men, but from the moment that Canham waved goodbye to the crowd in the Centre Stand, we would have had trouble beating six, and would have struggled to score if Orient only had their keeper left on the field. For strikers to score, they must have an appetite and the confidence to do so, and with Wood and Watkin falling short in both categories, it begs the question why Thomas continues to be asked to play out on the left. He is the only player we have up front who knows where the goal is. He may lack control on times, and he may occasionally take the wrong option, but he can score as he has amply proved already this season. With Murphy now out for the duration, Thomas is our main and possibly only hope, so numbing his effectiveness by throwing him out onto the flank is doing no one any favours. Watkins continues to baffle, bemuse and frustrate. Did he ever possess a killer instinct? The fact that we had to play him at all today was testament to our injury situation surely. There are some who continue to hold him in high esteem as a footballer, but not as a striker, and consider his best position to be midfield. Today his forays into the middle of the park gave no indication that he possessed any greater skills in that department, and we remain convinced that whatever his best was, has long passed.
Britton was looking lively as he had done last week, and Tate continued to show his skills at the back, although with his third defending partner in as many matches, he is having little opportunity to settle into any sort of pattern or understanding. Both these players will take time to realise that there is very little sense of anticipation among their teammates, and this will be a frustration to them for some time. They, along with Thomas on his day, are a class above, as you would hope and expect, and we can only pray that eventually they will do their part in trying to raise the standards of those around them, before those around them drag these three down to their level of park football. Today Tate demonstrated his ability and determination when going for goal as well. It was a joy to watch him carve out some openings, play a couple one-twos and actually be there for the return pass. He is a superb all round footballer that we are extremely fortunate to have until the end of the season. As the second half persisted, each player's performance systematically deteriorated. Theobald possesses only one method of distribution, and that is a pass to the left with his right foot. Evans can only continuously try the through ball to the by line in the hope that someone will chase it, and Howard will keep at the high ball into the centre. We went from looking particularly clever, capable and threatening in the first half, to dour and predictable in the second. Our distribution was awful, and our vision non existent. As morale and enthusiasm drained away, as early as ten minutes into the second period, Theobald and Howard both played statue to allow the ever-threatening Ibehre to cut into the penalty area and allow Chris Tate an easy shot past the helpless and exposed Freestone. Most we spoke to at half time had thought that this game would be settled by a single goal, and it turned out to be an accurate assessment. Stiens and Williams came on to replace Wood and Watkin, to roars of approval (at the disappearance of Watkin that was), but the effectiveness of the substitution was nil. Mumford eventually replaced Phillips who had been anonymous, but again the change had no effect. Reid battled, collected his yellow card as usual, and tried a few speculative shots. As the game went on we seemed to be trying to hit the target from further and further out. If this had been a game of 'It's A Knockout' we would not have recommended the Swans playing their joker against scoring goals from 30 yards, or against Mumford lifting a corner kick over the first defender's head. Best use it against the collection of three yellow cards a game; we'd be well ahead then. We have questioned before what Brian Flynn says to the players at half time. We will probably never know, but it certainly has an effect!! We have now slipped back into the bottom two, and the wire that we keep hearing we are going down to, draws ever closer. On recent performances, let's hope Mr Flynn is not hoping for a run of winning matches towards the end of the season as his trump card to get out of this position. Every game is turning into a 'must win', and suddenly, having comforted ourselves for so long that we were only where we were because we had constantly been playing top six teams, we now find ourselves on the wrong end of results with the bottom teams as well. Pass that box of clichés into the gaffer's room ready for Monday.
The loan signings look excellent; if only we could have another five or six. The miss by John Williams from six yards towards the end was so reflective of our chances of scoring that it was pitiful. The statistics said it all; Orient two shots, one goal, the Swans, fourteen shots, period. Somehow I can't see too many Boxing Day family visits being sidelined so as not to miss the Bristol Rovers game after this latest effort. 4,122 braved the weather including around 100 who had made the journey from London, and if that many turn out for the 1pm kick about over the holidays, then the directors will think that its Christmas. Player ratings:
Freestone - 6 - No blame at all for the goal. Pauly, Giggsy, Becky, Sophie and Jono.
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