Blues finally won at home last night, watched by Andy Munro.
It was a ‘must win’ game even though it was only our second of the season. he need to break the home hoodoo, the need to build confidence after the Boro’ beating, and the need to create a joyful diversion for hard-pressed Bluenoses. The first two rounds of the League Cup are notable for upsets so we knew it wasn’t going to be easy with Cambridge, in buoyant mood, having won their first match.
Lee Clark made changes, fielding a 4-4-2 formation but even then we appeared to be a team lacking in confidence. Cambridge had the first shot on goal and only Cotterill looked threatening early on. However, we opened the scoring through Donaldson who showed a genuine striker’s instinct to coolly slot home following good work from Caddis. He could have had a second when a clever flick was cleared off the line. Of course, the inevitable happened and Cambridge equalised with the Blues defence in full retreat when faced with a bit of pace…a bit worrying that.
Second half saw Cambridge again start brightly but luckily Doyle was alert including one fabulous save when one on one. However the introduction of Duffy for Gray and Novak for Thomas changed things. Gray was illustrating his inexperience by over complicating things and losing the ball whilst Thomas was a peripheral presence. On that subject his lack of effectiveness will continue unless he regularly plays with Donaldson and forms a proper partnership.
With Cotterill and Duffy both creating havoc, we were, at last, in the genuine ascendancy and could have wrapped it up but for a glaring miss from the tiring Donaldson. Luckily extra time saw a fabulous finish from Bolton hero Caddis and a decent, albeit deflected shot, from the increasingly impressive Duffy.
Overall, on the plus side, Donaldson looked a handful with a good eye for goal until he tired; the wingers Duffy and Cotterill were tricky and elusive whilst both Caddis and new boy Davies were very impressive. Doyle also didn’t do himself any harm.
On the minus side Thomas was ineffective, Gray is still a little lightweight and inexperienced for a full game, and the defence remains unconvincing and vulnerable. On that note, I might be tempted to restore Caddis, Hancox and Robbo(pairing him with Grant Hall) and move Edgar into midfield with Davies, as two holding midfielders, allowing two wingers.
Undoubtedly team selection is an ongoing melting pot.
