Redditch Updates

[andy]

Boothe heads over. Free header

[andy]

Ft

[old git]

Not often I criticise refers but this guy should really call it a day

[old git]

On the bright side that’s one of those awful bouncy bouncy plastic abominations off the list

[dazzlingdazza]

Not very often I post but I am bloody proud of the Yeltz tonight. 12v10 most of that 2nd half, they’ve scored from a deflection and an own goal, but boy have we showed some teeth tonight.
Under Smith we would have lost that tonight I’m sure. I’m excited for this season as we look capable of winning ugly, the football at times might not be pretty but our set up is good and we are competing for nearly every ball.
If folks don’t agree that’s fine.

[andy]

So, so many talking points tonight. Don't even know where to start. Unfortunately too many of them involved the dire referee. If Manning was sent off I can think of at least 4 others that should have been as well. Then it was backs to the wall. It was a magnificent effort with ten men but even then the final stroke of bad luck went against us as well. And even after their equalising fluke Boothe could, and should have won it. Effort like that though will win us more games than not and with another striker we could be a force in this division. Well done lads.

[Seamus]

Who was the extra player in the dark blue tracksuit who joined the players on the pitch at the end when they came over to the fans behind the goal?

[HalesowenHarry]

forgetting the ref for one minute, as he had a tricky task with two teams of shithouses winding each other up (and did fail to a certain degree) but is no one else worried about our petty ill discipline? We must have had 2 or 3 booked for dissent last night and some lazy blatant fouls which gave the ref no choice but to book. That needs to stop, we're threadbare and it's only 4 days in!

[Josh1873]

I'm glad Mitchell is OK and was able to continue, after such a ridiculous challenge. Quite how you can effectively assault an opponent by clattering into them, at speed, leading with an elbow, and not see a red card is something else. What a baffling non-decision from the referee, who was so poor throughout. So much so that he affected the flow of the second half and ruined what was shaping up to be a good game of football.

I thought we played really well, especially first half. We looked dangerous and capable of scoring every time we went forward. Redditch rarely troubled us, and but for a desperately unlucky deflection we'd have headed into HT 2-0 up, and that would have been fully deserved.

The second half became farcical when the referee lost control of the game and started handing out cards like my nan does 2 months before Christmas! I didn't see what Manning did to warrant his first booking, he probably breathed on a Redditch player or put milk in his mug first when making a cup of tea, or something as mundane and nonsensical, however, I have no complaints with his second booking. It was a rash challenge, and Manning has to be smarter than that and read the game situation. It was a silly and needless challenge, and that ultimately cost his team. He was superb up until then, and we really needed him to see out the game.

Once we were down to ten men we battled and fought superbly, and I believe we did enough to justify winning 3 points. But another silly error cost us. I don't know what Wollacot was thinking, but attempting to cushion a header back to a GK, who was in a position to claim an easy ball (I'd hope Platty was shouting 'KEEPERS' as the cross came in, I'd be very surprised if he didn't), was madness. I understand he may have had doubts, but why not put the ball into the stands?

Even after that, we should have nicked a winner. Quite how Boothe missed the target from so close, after wonderful wing play, and a cross that put a goal on a plate, is astonishing. As appalling as that miss was, the fact Boothe went straight down the tunnel at full time without acknowledging the travelling support is far worse. That's not good enough from him. But at least he got into a position to create a chance, and looked involved, which is more than can be said for our other so called striker. I'm sorry to single players out, but I just don't see what Youssuf is bringing to this team?

Overall, I was really pleased with the performance, Hickman and Mitchell the standouts in a team full of good performances. The effort and commitment was there for all to see, but we've only ourselves to blame for costly errors and mistakes as to why we've not come away with the win. We've conceeded two soft goals and Platt hasn't had to make a save all game. Very frustrating but there's plenty of positives to take. However, our forward options need addressing as soon as possible. The two options we have at the moment are certainly not the answer, unfortunately. The fact that Donnelly (a defender by trade, or so I'm told) is by far our most effective forward speaks volumes.

[BGYeltz]

Thought our general play was good last night, work rate was unreal and Hickman MOTM for me. Obvious tactic was the longer ball over the big lad at the back for Redditch, who used to be very good but looked miles off it last night. Redditch looked good going forward but very poor at the back.

We desperately need a forward as neither are at the level required for this league IMO. Not sure who you would get at this point of the season though that’s not already signed up, maybe a loan from somewhere.

KD will definitely do a job for us up front was brilliant last night, but we can’t rely on just him. Not a bad start to the season at all though!