Well what can you say about that performance. The only good things to come out of that shocking performance on Wednesday night was that we avoided defeat (somehow!), Pepe Reina and no major injuries. Quite how we came away with a clean sheet as well is largely down to some huge luck and great goalkeeping by Reina.
It is hard to understand how we could have been so ill-prepared for such an important game. Sure enough credit when credit’s due for the opposition but you would have thought that after the early shock of their initial onslaught and the missed penalty that at some stage in the game we would have offered something as an attacking force. Or even show that we could at least string more than two passes together. There was nothing to be pleased about at all. Shocking, limp, sluggish, lethargic. You name it we were all those negatives and more.
Now the expectation is that we will get it right in the second leg. But that is not a foregone conclusion. Firstly we have to match their commitment and endeavour. However, just to match their work rate will not be the only requirement as, to be fair, they were a decent side.
Apart from being second to almost every ball, our passing was shocking and our creativity in the last third was non-existent. What is it as well with our back four constantly lumping high balls forward. I know on occasions if you are under pressure and options are limited, you “help the ball on” but even when not under pressure, the first option always seemed to be that all too familiar punt. With such a lack of width it is even more important for our back four to contribute more in an attacking sense. Sadly lumping forward what can only be best described as “fifty-fifty” balls is not the answer.
Anyway, on a brighter note. It’s not all doom and gloom. It’s early days as they say but it was so surprising and frustrating to witness that display. Let us hope that lessons have been learned and hopefully we will perform better in the second leg (we have to) and also against Sunderland on Saturday. The saying of “winning ugly” may need to come into play, but let’s get our season on track as soon as we can.
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