Around 700 spectators left the stadium prior to Tranmere’s fifth goal and didn’t return last night. Hence, merely 2,367 saw the U’s make a mockery of Yeovil’s unbeaten in 2013 promotion chasing status. It is a shame that a town approaching a 200,000 population can’t muster more support for its local club, given that the U’s still have so much to play for, and on this evidence are far from doomed.

Joe Dunne should take credit for some bold selection and tactical decisions. However, Tom Eastman coming in for the rather unfortunate Josh Thompson was an expected shoe-in. Tom performed magnificently and his own calamitous performance at MK Dons is long forgotten. His pairing with Okuonghae introduced a solidity that has sadly been lacking in recent games, and that encouraged Magnus to have his best game for a while. One hopes that Josh will similarly regain confidence and bounce back. He is perhaps the future, once he gains a little more experience, but I don’t think we can better last night’s central defence pairing given that mutual confidence and understanding is vital. If you count our few clean sheets, it is this, TE/MO combination, that has brought us most success.

More surprising was the absence of John White and David Wright from our previous starting XI. Both were in the squad, but didn’t even make the bench. Instead Brian Wilson returned and he too had his best game for many months. Garmstone was preferred at left back and didn’t disappoint in either defence or attack, particularly when he made Freddie Sears fine second half goal. This perhaps lays down a marker for Joe Dunne’s selection policy. That nobody should ever be complacent. Few would have predicted John White’s absence, as most fans felt he was one of the few to emerge with any credit on Saturday. However, Joe is a deep thinker and I think should here take credit for some selection and tactical brilliance.

This may surprise many, but I feel the principle Joe Dunne genius (IMHO) was the selection of Andy Bond. Andy has looked like a lost child in a car park in recent times, and I must confess that I winced at his selection. But last night Bond put in an inspiring performance within a team that had both a midfield heartbeat and guts when required. The U’s adopted a far more direct, if in danger hoof it out, and if in attack get the ball forward faster, approach. This perhaps recognises that we don’t have quite the midfield passing and ball retention skills that we once thought we had to counter a side with the fluidity of a Yeovil or Swindon, but we do have pace in Massey, Sears, Porter and Garmstone, and the sheer muscle power of Jabo Ibrehe. Andy Bond comfortably found his role within this tactical change, but he perhaps won’t get the credit that he deserves (except from me) given the excellence of so many others on the night. He linked well with both Billy Clifford and with our pace men, he ran after and harassed the Yeovil Midfield and this looked like a distinctly different U's team, including a revitalised Andy Bond. As I said, he was overshadowed in glory by some eye catching peformances, notably from our two goal scorers. But credit where it is due.

Quite evidently, the skill in management is to decide when to select ‘playmakers’ like Garmstone, Bean or Drey Wright, when to select ‘spoilers’ like White, Izzet and David Wright, and/or the right combination of each to meet the challenge faced. But there are also times when we simply need to get back to basics, and select players in the Andy Bond, Brian Wilson or Karl Duiguid mould, where honest work rate and endeavour can prevail over skill, which to be fair to Yeovil, they had in abundance. This is not to say that we saw ‘hoofroydball’ as it was far more about the speed of ball transfer from defence to attack. However, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a slightly different team selection against the ruffians of Stevenage where with more guile we might possibly succeed by a different route. I can’t wait for Saturday to come.

For once we also didn’t seem to want to walk the ball into the net. On Sunday, Messrs Hanson and Shearer were drooling after a wonder strike by Gareth Bale. It’s a shame that Billy Clifford’s amazing run and precise shot won’t ever feature on Match of the Day. Not since the days of a Greg Halford thunderbolt have we seen anything like it. More generally, we seemed prepared to shoot from further out and Yeovil keeper Stech was frequently tested. To be fair, no more so than Sam Walker, who made some equally outstanding saves as Yeovil contributed to an enthralling night’s entertainment. Those who stayed away missed a treat. Please come back soon. We can do this!

Photo: Action Images

Fozzy added 04:33 - Feb 28 Thanks for your contributions Noah, it is good to read a balanced report from a fan that doesn't consist of moans and distructive comments. A number of contributors to the "Gazette" comments should take note. They do not make for pleasant reading but I suppose Joe and the team don't often answer back. I wonder if these 'fans' are married and if so what their wives are like !!! I'm sure a number of 'part time supporters' have a hard time at home and only come to vent their spleen but I suppose their money thro the gates is some compensation. I know I wouldn't pay good money for the enjoyment they seem to get, particularly if the result is not what they demand.

0

noah4x4 added 07:05 - Feb 28 Firstly a correction to my report although I have read nothing offical from the club. It appears from newspaper reports that David Wright was injured and John White had a family issue to attend to. Whatever the reasons for their absence, it was the tactical change that this enforced that helped us win this game e.g. the more adventurous pairing of Garmstone/Wilson and Bond; moving the ball more quicky from defence to attack; Magnus and Tom E in central defence. Secondly, thanks for your comments Fozzy. I always tell it as I see it, and won't hold back from constructive criticism. However, I too despair at the destructive rubbish posted in the Gazette. As I said, 200,000 population and merely 2,000 crowds? I am indebted to Mr Happy that has since highlighted Burnley 100,000 population and 13,000 crowds. I only came to this town ten years ago and even then my first visit to Layer Road was as a Bristol City supporter. On the principle that one should support your local team (even if your roots are elsewhere), I have barely missed a home game since and I regularly travel away. Having lived all over the Country, and having been a somewhat nomadic supporter of "local clubs", I can honestly say I have never lived anyhere where people moan so much about anyone and anything. Yet my wife and I agree Colchester is the BEST place we have ever lived. But then, we have never lived in Chelsea.....thank God we do have some proper fans!

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Oxford United Polls