#AFCB 1 v 1 #ITFC

So - the albatross family was back. Having missed the Yeovil romp and 3 goals at the North Stand end I feared the worst

In my head I KNOW that what an individual does or wears or even eats before a game has NO bearing on the result but in my heart me not being there Boxing Day was indeed the catalyst for such a fine win.

This was further reinforced as Ipswich came out like they'd all got bmx bikes from Santa Mick and were keen to pay him back.

Like a rash they were all over AFCB and Bournemouth just couldn't get their foot on the ball

Worse still was that their constant pressure resulted in them getting corner after corner and with the obvious height advantage they had it was really backs against the wall for the first 15 minutes

It took that long for Surman to fire over as AFCB's first shot but within minutes their keeper was in action with 2 further fine saves from Fraser then Grabban

We had weathered the storm and, growing in confidence, we started picking up the second ball more and more and started to take a grip on the game.

Not that Ipswich were out of the game - in a curious turn of events, Bournemouth dominated for a few minutes then Ipswich would have a run of play

Rather like a gentleman's excuse me the teams decided to take turns, the difference being that while the visitors' passages of play revolved around hopeful corners, Bournemouth were cresting real chance after chance

Even if you discounted the half a dozen good build ups that were ruined by poor final balls, by half time the game should have been in the bag

It was another game when you start thinking - is this going to be Birmingham all over again?

Sure, their keeper was having a fantastic game ( isn't it about time we came up against a poor keeper? :-) ) but at this level chances just have to be taken

Grabban was regularly hitting the target and there was a delightful O'Kane chip that had the keeper scurrying back to tip over brilliantly but the most glaring of misses fell to Fraser

On his own on the left hand side of the box when the ball found him, the keeper hopelessly out of position he swung his left peg at it and fired the ball high and wide

A real head in hands moment and one that helped keep the half time score at 0-0

The second half started with both Ritchie and Fraser putting in an early audition for the new series of Splash

Yes there was some "contact" but when you go up before you go down, with back arched and your BAFTA acceptance speech hidden in your jock strap no ref is going to give it - moving on ....

Grabban was in the thick of the early action with a shot from an tight angle well saved and if his cross to Fraser hadn't been miraculously cut out after a fine break then surely Fraser would have made amends for his earlier indiscretion

Then on 58 minutes came the sucker punch

A free kick awarded in the Ipswich half was pumped forward 45 yards to the edge of the Bournemouth box

Despite the long hang time of the ball, their attacker was able to chest the ball, unchallenged, into the path of their right winger

His cross through the box was met on the half volley by Murphy into the empty net

Bugger - yet another home game where all the stats were in our favour EXCEPT the important one : 0-1

This prompted Pitman coming off the bench to replace the largely innocuous surprise entry McQuoid and on 66 minutes the change almost paid off

A Pitman run ( yes you read that right) moved the defence around enough for Fraser to have the space and confidence to cut in from the left and smash the shot goalwards but it felt that Gerken (worthy of a name check) was not to be beaten

That was to be Fraser's last piece of action as he was replaced by Pugh and it was Pugh's first touch that was to turn the game on its head

A typical Pugh mazy run actually had some end product as the ball was crossed in and up Pitman went.

True, he didn't get the ball and true, he ended up on his arse but at least it was a challenge that had the keeper flapping and the ball was cleared to the edge of the box

There was Surman to smash the ball into the bottom right but again the keeper got there but he couldn't hold it

Up sprang Pitman like a jack-in-the-box on steroids to smash the ball from close range into the roof of the net

The record crowd, who incidentally had been brilliant throughout the game, went nuts

With 16 minutes to go we really had the momentum to do the unthinkable and turn the game around

Just 3 minutes later the transformation was complete - or so we thought

A Ritchie cross from the right had Pitman jumping for the ball and under that pressure - the keeper threw the ball into his own goal, only for the ref to disallow it

He seemed to suggest it was for hand ball but that was just not the case - nor was it a foul on the keeper

What it was, was a very poor decision that spared the blushes of a keeper that had been having a great game

I think there's a lot of truth in belief that you make your own luck and things balance off all through the season and if that's the case - we're in for the luckiest half of a season ever

Pitman had another header that just went wide and Surman's long range shot was well saved (again) but despite all the chances it wasn't to be

Final Score 1-1

Summary: Another fine performance marred by not taking the chances that we create.

I see many tweets form opposition supporters saying how well we play and how much they enjoyed watching us

Easy to say when they've taken points off us. We need to be the team everyone hates to watch because we turn these match winning performances into actually winning the match

We are SO close I can almost taste it - can't wait for Brighton - with every game we learn more about ourselves and get better - at least I hope so......

Star Man : O'Kane - yet another startling performance where he is on first name terms with every single blade of grass

The North Stand

The Main Stand

The South Stand

Travelling Ipswich Support

The East Stand

#afcb 0 v 2 #bcfc

The team was announced and it was the same as at Reading

A brave decision to play one up front but heck - the current system has not been working in the past so maybe it was what was needed

I hoped that the crowd would give it a chance and they did not let me down

The game started with a roar of noise and Birmingham set into their formation of sitting back

Two minutes into the game and Cook had an hallucination.

For a split second, he wasn't at DC but at the Nou Camp and he was Messi - so off he set on a mazy run of dazzling footwork

No, I wasn't hallucinating too - what actually happened is he ran  past one, got tackled by the second and Birmingham were on the attack with the AFCB defence hideously out of position

One pass through down the right had a man bearing down on goal

His low cross was met on the 6 yard box by Shinnie and he crashed it into the roof of the net

Camp had no chance - 2 minutes in and one nil down - brilliant

Although a little "surprised" by Cook's meandering and the resultant goal the crowd were excellent and the roar got louder

AFCB clearly thought the goal was just a blip and rose to the challenge

On six minutes Pugh's side footed shot was well saved and the pressure was really on Birmingham 

Wave upon wave of attacks now crashed on their defence from both left an right and Grabban continued his excellent work up front from the Reading game

Arter and Surman then both had good shots blocked amongst many chances before Francis was lucky to get away with handling in the box on 24 minutes  The penalty was clear but not given - maybe this was the break we'd been waiting for?

No

Despite more pressure, it was Birmingham who scored next, again

I'd like to say it was brilliant play and there was nothing we could do about it

But that wasn't the case

More of the f*****g arseing about at the back that has plagued us since the Groves era had us just surrendering the ball the ball at the back

A quick ball had Zigic through on goal and, with ease, he slipped the ball under Camp to make it 0-2

Two chances and two goals - Bournemouth had many more chances already and ZERO goals - this is the difference between us and seemingly the rest of the league

This was now a mountain to climb but grappling irons on, AFCB took to the challenge

The play was all in the Birmingham third and 1 minute from time the best chance of the half fell to Grabban

An inch perfect ball had him through one on one and with just the keeper to beat, he prodded the ball wide

It wasn't a save, it went wide........

There was still time for Pugh to force a smart near post save but for all the pressure, Bournemouth went in 2 down

My daughter's Swindon supporting boyfriend was with us at the game and there was no gloating - I was going to regret that, I just knew ...

The second half was in the same vein as the first with ALL the attacking play coming from Bournemouth 

Fraser had come on for Surman and so that had given us even more impetus

If either O'Kane or Arter had the nads to shoot after long long runs rather than passing in the first 10 minutes then who knows what might have happened

On 58 minutes another Ritchie free kick had the keeper make a sprawling save and the ball was parried into the middle of the goal

As usual in our run of luck in front of goal, there was no-one there just for the easy knock in

The pressure on Birmingham was relentless with Fraser, Cook and Grabban, amongst other chances, all going close with shots and headers but the keeper just wasn't going to be beaten

The best chance came in the 90th minute when a Pitman back heel put Fraser through, only for the keeper to make a brilliant point blank save

From that save, the ball spooned up and Rantie headed it goalwards, only for the keeper to somehow get up and tip the ball over

Unbelievable

Final score 0-2

Summary - Bournemouth won at Reading because Reading pressed forward to score and we hit them on the break - using the main asset we have - pace

ANY team that sits back and plays to hit US on the break cannot be beaten like that

For those teams, you need pace and guile on the wings, which we have and used brilliantly today

The second part of the puzzle, to compliment this wing play, is someone in the middle who has some aerial prowess - which we don't have

It seems so obvious. It's like building a car without any wheels

In our team we've built a goal creating machine - but forgot to get the scorer 

Birmingham weren't "awful" as some subscribe - they merely came with a plan, stuck to it, defended well and left laughing their bloody heads off

Without this front man, the DC crowd should steel themselves to get used to that laughter

Were we the better side - yes.  Did we play well - yes. Will that be a consolation in league 1 - no

I firmly believe that with a proper front man that can challenge for these million crosses per game AFCB would be challenging for play-offs rather than home defeat after defeat - such are the fine lines between success and failure

Star Man O'Kane - outstanding in the middle in both attack and defence

Away Fans

East Stand

South Stand

Main Stand

North Stand

#rfc 1 v 2 #afcb

We found Callaghan's bar 25 minutes before it opened - bugger. Still there was a chippy just over the road and bloody good too

The last time we did chips before a game was last season before Milton Keynes - lightning doesn't strike twice though, does it .....?

We found our seats and realised we had been "rewarded" for getting our tickets early by having front row seats - thanks Reading...

Still, on the upside we were so close to the players that if I'd had scissors I could have finished off Matt Ritchie's haircut - damn those stewards...

To be honest I wasn't holding out much hope as we faced our second hoops in a week but I did think it was a nice touch for the catering staff to be wearing t-shirts with AFCB on them and they were showing an AFCB DVD on the TV’s

The game started and the Reading fans sang - wow

Their noisy stand was right next to us and they were loud and organised

So loud that it drowned out our singing to the point that it almost intimidated our ring leaders into not singing - almost, but not quite

Reading started very much on the front foot and forced a series of early corners, mostly taken by Guthrie - a man with a haircut from Ritchie's barber's gardener (you tokkin to ME?)

There were a lot of last ditch tackles and even a clearance off the line but AFCB remained organised and focussed and kept the onslaught out

Then on 24 minutes, AFCB had their first chance

A move on the right had the ball pinged to Surman and he ran at the defence

As it opened up invitingly the perennial lack of confidence showed again and instead of shooting, he tried to cut back inside and was cleverly tackled

But this was better. There was finally an ebb and flow to the game with both teams looking to push forward

On 35 minutes we had a glimpse of the astounding performance to come as Grabban received the ball with his back to goal

A fantastic swivel made the yard he needed and he fired the ball over

He saw the goal and he SHOT - let's all take a minute to think about that

Two minutes and that hope was raised to hysteria. Ritchie was fouled out on the right and Daniels sent an inviting cross over. A bundle of players went up and the ball was headed down and McCarthy made a fantastic save to his left

As the ball came out 3 defenders rushed to the line as Grabban pounced and crashed the ball into the roof of the net. It was the ONLY place the ball could have gone in – a proper poacher’s goal. 2238 fervent Cherries fans went mad

Now in full voice, apologising to no-one, the Red Flag was Flying

On 42 minutes, even those fans’ wildest dreams were surpassed

Good work on the left had the ball eventually at Ritchie’s feet and he cut inside and unleashed a ferocious right foot shot into the bottom left corner to make it 0-2

This time the AFCB fans just went NUTS. Row A where we were sitting all of a sudden had 3 times more people in it as the whole crowd sang “2 nilllllll on our big day out” – a justified come back hahaha

Half Time came at the wrong time for AFCB as it gave Adkins time to regroup and the pattern was set.

Reading were to throw everything they could at Bournemouth, while Bournemouth soaked it up and hit on the break

Cometh the hour, cometh the man

Grabban – much maligned, by me, was a revelation – a different player.

His control was faultless, he ran with and without the ball, held the ball up, brought others into game and was an all round pain in the arse for the whole Reading team

He was a PROPER striker and not only that, but he looked like the role of lone striker was MADE for him. Where has he been all season?

I hope to God he’s here to stay and that his energiser Bunny batteries never run out

Through his tireless play Bournemouth had a string of fantastically cavalier counter attacks, breaking at lightning pace

That’s not to say this was a one man show – he was ably backed up by the rest of the team and for me another player that finally stepped up to the plate was Surman

Head and shoulders his best game for Bournemouth he marshalled the midfield both in attack and defence as we at last built a bridge between the midfield and the front man

It made all the difference as even though we were under the cosh for periods of the second half, the breaks we created were FAR more dangerous than the efforts being produced at the other end

Pugh (x3), Grabban and Surman were all put through with sublime defence splitting passes but were just enable to beat the impressive McCarthy

Even Fraser had a headed (no I couldn’t believe it either) chance go just over as Daniels flew down the left and crashed the ball at the keeper who parried it onto the on-rushing wee man’s head

The Reading fans were getting nervy now and took it out on one AFCB fan wearing a blue jacket

“Who’s the w****r, Who’s the w****r, Who’s the w****r in the blue!!”

Then to a man, ALL AFCB fans realised the flaw in that plan replying:

“You’re the w****rs, You’re the w****rs, You’re the w****rs in the blue”

To see 4000 heads drop down to their replica shirts and think, “oh shit” was PRICELESS

Reading did have a chance headed off the line on 77 minutes but that was as close as they got up until the 1^st minute of the 4 extra.

It was a shame that half the Reading crowd missed it as they had already filed out (fire-drill) but their right winger ran with the ball from the touch line right across the box, riding 3 tackles and smashing the ball goalwards

The ball ricocheted and fell nicely for Le Fondre, who coolly slotted it home

In that past that would have caused panic through the ranks – but not this time. Having actually learned at this level, the last 3 minutes were spent in the corners

No frills, no chances taken, a clean professional finish

Final score 1-2

Summary – By far the best I’ve seen Bournemouth play this season. Still sat back a little too much for me but we broke so quickly and cleverly and finally played like a team which knows what they want to do and how to do it

Star Man – Grabban – Jaw droppingly good

 

#qpr 3 v 0 #afcb

These are the games I've been looking forward to. If you can't feel upbeat about playing a, let's face it, Premiership Club, what can you look forward to?

Even drinking in Shepherd's Bush sounds and feels better than little pub in Exeter - it almost seemed magical - yeah ok I've gone too far...

The game started with Bournemouth creating a wall of noise. This is what we wanted - a 12th man to raise the spirits - and with the negative side that was announced, we were going to need all the help we could get.

The first chance fell to QPR on 10 minutes when a cross from the right found Austin's head miles out yet he still managed to get enough power to make Camp tip it over

Barton was already designated as the villain of the piece and he was well drilled to niggle at Arter and as expected, Arter didn't just take the bait but ate the whole bloody rod and tackle

A lash out seemed to rake down Barton's calf but luckily the ref didn't punish or perhaps believe, the offence

On 24 minutes Bournemouth had their best moment as a MacDonald back heel sent Surman through and after a smart 1-2 he was through and only a shot from a chocolate teapot of a left peg spoiled the move

Two minutes later and the deadlock was broken

A ball over the so-out-of-form head of Francis had their winger scampering to the by-line and he crossed into the middle

If it had been the other way around the cross would have found no-one, but instead Austin was there

Instantly controlling the ball on his chest he poked the ball past the on rushing Camp to put QPR 1-0 up

Then the unexpected. With 3 sides of the QPR library to celebrate with, he chose to stand and mock the Bournemouth faithful

Why? Had we not wanted to sign the local lad but couldn't because of the embargo?

I expected us to struggle at Loftus Road - but I hadn't expected that

Four minutes later he went from disliked to hated as he waved an imaginary card to the ref after Elphick had slid in and the ball hit his hand

He even put the ball on the spot to push for a pen even though the tackle was way outside the box - what an arse

The rest of the half was even enough but with just Pitman up front with no support from the midfield, we were never going to score and didn't even threaten 

At half time the team of a gazillion years ago was paraded to more crowd noise than was made during the first half - rivalling Forest as the team most living in the past

In the second half. We didn't know it at the time, but 3 minutes in we all witnessed the pivotal moment

Pitman was found in the right corner of the box and he cleverly turned his man

Then, instead of crossing to the unmarked MacDonald standing on the 6 yard line, he tried a one in a million shot to the left top corner which only just remained in the stadium

Why - just why?

Six minutes later and it was 2-0

A cross from the right should have been meat and drink for Francis but instead Hoillet nipped in front of him, then went past him before passing past Camp - just too easy

We were clearly second best with next to no chance of scoring yet there were no substitutes

We go 2-0 down and we suddenly go 2 up front with a double substitution - TOO FUCKING LATE, AGAIN

Fraser even made an appearance with 20 minutes to go to use up all 3 - but really, what was the point?

In fairness we did play a little better but if we are going to play Rantie yet ignore all the runs he makes, we might as well play me up front 

The game was finished off by Phillips with 14 minutes to go as he collected the ball 30 yards out, ghosted past the defence, on his OWN, and smashed it past Camp, to make it 3-0

Summary - 3 things come to mind, the first is that I wanted to hate Barton - but I couldn't. He looked 1 possibly 2 classes above anything we had to offer

The second is that watching Bournemouth at the moment is like watching your child in the nativity play. You are pleased to be there and whoop and cheer over the slightest thing but ultimately you know all in all it's a bit shit

The third and possibly most important point is that if I have to shout "Get in the FUCKING BOX" any more ones than that - I will be sectioned in the hoarse tourettes home of Poole

Star Man - Me - and I accept it on behalf of the magnificent travelling support who out sung the QPR support for the full 90 minutes

#qpr 3 v 0 #afcb

These are the games I've been looking forward to. If you can't feel upbeat about play a, let's face it, Premiership Club, what can you look forward to?

Even drinking in Shepherd's Bush sounds and feels better than little pub in Exeter - it almost seemed magical - yeah ok? I've gone too far...

The game started with Bournemouth creating a wall of noise. This is what we wanted - a 12th man to raise the spirits - and with the negative side that was announced, we were going to need all the help we could get.

The first chance fell to QPR on 10 minutes when a cross from the right found Austin's head miles out yet he still managed to get enough power to make Camp tip it over

Barton was already designated as the villain of the piece and he was well drilled to niggle at Arter and as expected, Arter didn't just take the bait but are the whole bloody rod and tackle

A lash out seemed to take down Barton's calf but luckily the ref didn't punish or perhaps believe, the offence

On 24 minutes Bournemouth had their best moment as a MacDonald back heel sent Surman through and after a smart 1-2 he was through and only a shot from a chocolate teapot of a left peg spoiled the move

Two minutes later and the deadlock was broken

A ball over the so-out-of-form head of Francis had their winger scampering to the by-line and he crossed into the middle

If it had been the other way around the cross would have found no-one, but instead Austin was there

Instantly controlling the ball on his chest he poked the ball past the on rushing Camp to put QPR 1-0 up

Then the unexpected. With 3 side of the QPR library I celebrate with, he chose to stand and mock the Bournemouth faithful

Why? Had we not wanted to sign the local lad but couldn't because of the embargo?

Is expected us to struggle at Loftus Road - but I hadn't expected that

Four minutes later he went from disliked to hated as he waved an imaginary card to the ref after Elphick had slid in and the ball hit his hand

He even put the ball on the spot to push for a pen even though the tackle was way outside the box - what an arse

The rest of the half was even enough but with just Pitman up frot with no support from the midfield, we were never going to score and didn't even threaten 

At half time the team of a gazillion years ago was paraded to more crowd noise than was made during the first half - rivalling Forest as the team most living in the past

In the second half. We didn't know it at the time, but 3 minutes in we all witnessed the pivotal moment

Pitman was found in the right corner of the box and he cleverly turned his man

Then, instead of crossing I the unmarked MacDonald standing on the 6 yard line, he tried a one in a million shot to the left top corner which only just remained in the stadium

Why - just why?

Six minutes later and it was 2-0

A cross from the right should have been meat and drink for Francis but instead Hoillet nipped in front of him, then went last him before passing past Camp - just too easy

We were clearly second best with next to no chance of scoring yet there were no substitutes

We go 2-0 down and we suddenly go 2 up front with a double substitution - TOO FUCKING LATE, AGAIN

Fraser even made an appearance with 20 minutes to go to use up all 3 - but really, what was the point?

In fairness we did play a little better but if we are going to play Rantie yet ignore all the runs he makes, we might as well play me up front 

The game was finished off by Phillips with 14 minutes to go as he collected the ball 30 yards out, ghosted past the defence, on his OWN, and smashed it past Camp, to make it 3-0

Summary - 3 things come to mind, the first is that I wanted to hate Barton - but I couldn't. He looked 1 possibly 2 classes above anything we had to offer

The second is that watching Bournemouth at the moment is like watching your child in the nativity play. You are pleased to be there and whoop and cheer over the slightest thing but ultimately you know all in all it's a bit shit

The third and possibly lost important point is that if I have to shout "Get in the FUCKING BOX" any more ones than that - I will be sectioned in the hoarse tourettes home of Poole

Star Man - Me - and I accept it on behalf of the magnificent travelling support who out sung the QPR support for the full 90 minutes

#afcb 1 v 1 #bhafc

I’ve decided to try to enjoy each and every game in this league – but even with that self imposed pressure I was finding it difficult to muster much optimism

Even seeing the best line-up I’ve seen in ages couldn’t stop my bad thoughts.

How were Arter and Cook back so quickly ? I so wanted to just bask in the moment but the devil on my shoulder kept whispering “they’ve come back too soon – they’re not ready ..” until I beered the voice into submission.

My doubts seemed unfounded as, for the first time this season, WE actually did the pressing and pushed right up on Brighton

That forced mistakes and with their mistakes came confidence and with confidence came attacking intent

With Ritchie on the right and Fraser on the left, we overpowered them on the wings and sent in cross after cross without there being any end product.

That’s not to say Pitman and Rantie weren’t trying to get on the end of the crosses, but when your confidence is down, the ball never seems to fall right and chances are missed.

It’s the area that Bournemouth must improve on because for all that dominance we weren’t putting them to the sword

We didn’t help our own cause by staging a couple of theatrical falls in the early minutes and that rather set the trend – the ref thought we were trying to con him so from then on, gave us nothing

Brighton, wiley old performers, instantly picked up on this and their fouls got progressively more obvious with still no decisions coming our way.

At one point Upson pulled out and extendable boxing glove and chinned Rantie – still nothing.

Worse than that, though, was that Brighton were starting to hit on the break and but for a first class near post save from Camp, after the defence were asleep to a long cross, assuming the ball was going out when in fact Barnes was there and met it well, we might have fallen behind

A minute later though, on 28 minutes, the unexpected happened  - we actually got a free kick!!!

As the smelling salts were being passed round, we all hoped that it was going to be a Daniels or Ritchie attempt (as the ball was 20 yards or so out just to the right of goal) and that Pitman wouldn’t spit his dummy out and insist on taking it.

Luckily Pitman was sent away and as Daniels ran up, he fooled everyone by passing it left to Ritchie to take out the wall and Ritchie thumped a curling shot into the left corner of the goal – a great effort. 1-0 and deservedly so

Note to self – for Christmas I want laser eye surgery – I’m getting sick of all the goals going in so far away from me – The South Standers are certainly getting value for money

It was now all Bournemouth and Ritchie almost doubled the home side’s lead just 3 minutes later as a great run by Fraser was rounded off with a low cross which Ritchie met on the half-volley, forcing an amazing point blank save from their keeper

The final piece of action saw Ritchie and Daniels recreate the goal scoring free kick but this time the shot was charged down and deflected just past the other post

Half time 1-0

Confused Rich had the following words of wisdom – One swallow doesn’t make a summer – and how prophetic his words were to be – he really should try the lottery….

For the second half started and it was as if the teams had swapped shirts

From flowing and attacking, we went to nervous and clumsy. Way too often the ball was lost on first touch and too many players were bullied off the ball far too easily.

Their midfielder Ince was tall, strong, skilful and pacey and he frightened the life out of our midfielders and, unfortunately for us, they went into their shells

It made me think whether Arter was rushed back too soon as he just disappeared from view and with him went our creativity

For me, the jury is still very much out on Rantie as he hasn’t scored enough to warrant the price tag and he doesn’t hold the ball well but he really wasn’t helped with high ball after high ball.

Talk about not playing to his strengths – you may as well ask Addison to skip dinner – never going to work

It did, however, take a piece of brilliance to draw Brighton level. A nothing throw in on 55 minutes found Ward just inside the box on the right hand side. Despite a difficult bouncing ball, no defender challenged for the ball and he span and absolutely smashed the ball into the top left corner

Camp had no chance – heck, Jalal and Flahavan could have been in goal with him and none of them would have got near it 1-1

Another goal in the South End – the pitch isn’t sloping is it ???

Confidence is a fragile thing and after the goal, Bournemouth visibly shrank (difficult to believe, I appreciate)

Passing was wayward or just plain blind, control went out of the window and attacks became predictable

That was except for the one shining light – Ritchie. Yes, he may have a haircut that looks like he needs to go back to get it finished later, but single handedly he pulled the front 6 up by their bootstraps and brought some semblance of composure out of them.

Twice, with dazzling footspeed and great spatial awareness he twice put Pitman through with inch perfect passes but both times he failed to score as the keeper rushed him and made the target small

Pitman might not be scoring but he won so much in the air. He was doing his part of the job. The second part was for Rantie, and later Thomas, to actively ANTICIPATE him winning the header and running to meet that ball.

Neither did this – in fact, in the case of Thomas, he might as well have brought out a deckchair and cocktail – because he clearly didn’t give a rat’s ar4e about anything except for the lovely weather

Brighton had 2 or 3 chances, mainly from down Francis’ side as balls flashed across the box but luckily for us they were as wasteful as us when they had the upper hand

Final Score 1-1

Summary – The best 45 minutes I’ve seen for ages but with not enough reward. We shot a lot more – we made more chances than in recent games, but scoring only once just isn’t going to be good enough for this league.

 The second half was the same old story. Poor passing, poor control – no pressing. I think the fitness coach really needs to take a long hard look in the mirror

I think a draw was a fair result, even though it was a nail-biting finish. The first half showed what we can do and I’m hoping that Ritchie playing will have the same effect on us as Ozil has had for Arsenal – that his mere presence and ability will make the rest of the team raise their own games

At this league, playing at 80% will win us nothing. It has to be 100% for the full 90+ else it will all end in tears

Star Man – Ritchie – Head, shoulders and haircut above everyone else

Away support - Impressive

East Stand

Main Stand

North Stand (from the 70's)

South Stand