Andy Munro on Blues’ weekend win at Doncaster.
Yet another ‘must win’ games in a line of what looks like ‘must win’ games right up until the season’s end with Yeovil & co refusing to go quietly. Many thought that Lee Clark was for the high jump after our less than impressive result against the Cherries but it seems that he has a charmed life, especially as Blues turned it around again on foreign soil.
However, they didn’t start particularly well and afterwards Clark made the perceptive(?) (!) point that Blues haven’t got the type of forwards to play up front on their own – a point that 99% of the Tilton Road would have been happy to advise on, many weeks of tinkering ago. So the question has to be asked, why did he start with Macheda up front on his own whilst Novak was confined to wingman duties? Even more bizarrely, he played young Ibe in the middle and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the first half represented a tactical shambles.
Luckily, partly thanks to Randolph, early damage was minimal and fair play to Macheda for a cool equalising finish. Certainly the introduction of Ziggy, for the confused Ibe, fired things up and Novak deserved his goal..his workrate is impressive and he has converted a lot of his early critics – myself included – with his sterling performances. However, he will never be a natural left winger and his place should undoubtedly be down the centre with the prolific Macheda with Ziggy unleashed in the latter stages of games against tired defences.
The midfield worked hard although the jury is still out on Caddis in that role. Nippy and energetic, he still lacks stature and physical presence in an area where the ball is often airbourne. However this tactic usually means that Spector moves into the backline giving a more solid look to our defence. Also returning to the side was the impressive Thorpe who seemed to gel well with Robbo. The supporting cast included a battling Reilly who still looks a bit of a rough diamond but performs in an admirably committed way which the Tyler Blacketts of this world fail to replicate.
Macheda’s second sealed it but a rejuvenated ‘Boro will undoubtedly be a different kettle of fish galvanised by the nefarious practices of a foreign coach. Meanwhile Lee Clark managed a bit of humour in his post match interview but still has the look of a condemned man and still sports the sort of facial expressions that usually only Jack Dee can aspire to.