We have often struggled in the second half of games in terms of attacking. We have looked good defending a lead, and once again, we came out looking to do just that. We soaked up pressure from Northampton, we were strong against Bolton only to be sucker-punched, and with ten men, we held out for a draw against Mansfield. Could we do the same against Wigan?
We almost got a third, a Draper header, which would have put the cat among the pigeons. It sounds obvious but the next goal really was crucial. If it stays 11 v 11, and we score first, then I’d back us to win the game from 3-1 up. If they score first, 2-2 at all even in terms of player numbers, I thought they’d win the game. They’re a good side, make no mistake about that at all.
While we looked for the third, they also came out full of purpose and for ten minutes or so pinned us in. The goal was weak from our view – Saydee holds off Hamer, beats him and Towler with the cross and Callum Wright has the easiest of finishes. The same player almost made it three, Wickens punching clear after being completely helpless for the goal. George had a decent game in the sticks, could maybe be blamed partly for the goal, but otherwise faultless once again.
It felt like we were going to be under the cosh for the rest of the half, fighting back chance after chance, but then things got a little crazy. Rob Street was booked for an innocuous challenge while trying to win the ball, and it’s not a booking. We’ve had 23 yellow cards this season, by far the most in the division, but I’m not sure we’ve been dirty. I could probably point to five or six that felt harsh, and this was the only one from yesterday that really stung, although we didn’t realise it at the time. I’ve watched the incident back, and Mr Young gets it wrong, in my opinion. Remember, I do think he had a good game.
We made a change to three at the back, with Reach and Darikwa playing wing back, seeking to get ourselves back into the game, but we barely got time to see if it would work, as Wigan were reduced to ten. I’m referring to Saydee’s challenge, and it’s not pretty. In real time, I thought Tom Bayliss made a lot of it, and couldn’t believe the red card was issued. Watching back, it’s a lot like the final season of Game of Thrones – it gets worse every time you see it. He is over the ball and catches Tom high. It’s a potential leg breaker, and after deliberation (take note Aaron Bannister) the referee correctly awarded a red card.
Tom wouldn’t have been thanking Adam Reach a little afterwards, Reach sold Wickens short with a backpass, Tom being forced to chase back and prevent a chance for the Latics. It seemed then we reverted back to 4-2-3-1 with Reach dropping into central midfield and us trying to get Street through the middle. At 11 v 10 we clearly felt we could win the game, and nine minutes I felt the same. Then Street miscontrols a pass and lunges to hook the ball away just as Bab Adeeko, on for a minute, stoops to head it away. Second yellow comes out, Street walks.
I’m not convinced. If it was against us, I’d be happy, so I suppose my upset isn’t entirely balanced, but I’m not 100% sure Street catches Adeeko. The player doesn’t hold his face as he goes down, only when their players surround the official does he make out he was caught. I say ‘make out’, he might have been and I guess to the letter of the law, it is a card, but it’s a rule I have an issue with.
What constitutes a high kick? For instance, Tendayi cleared overhead in his own area earlier in the game, and the boot is high, but it’s not a high boot because there isn’t a player’s head near him. So, the issue is not with the boot, but the opposition player stooping to head. If Rob Street is trying to retrieve the ball, is it his fault the ‘high boot’ which is not dangerous in itself is turned dangerous by a player lowering his head? I’m not clutching here, there is an ambiguity in the rules I don’t like.
Well, I didn’t like it yesterday.
After that, it is fair to say all hell broke loose. Both teams should have won it, maybe neither really deserved to. At 11 v 11, it was Wigan’s game, but after Saydee’s challenge, they didn’t offer a huge amount. Our red wasn’t quite as obvious, and at 10 v 10 we created the two better chances. I’m going to say after 60 minutes, a draw was fair. xG will tell you otherwise – 1.82 for us, 2.64 for them, suggests a 2-1 win for them would have been fair. Worth noting, perhaps, that xG after the first 30 minutes (30 onwards), was 1.65 for us and just 1.43 for them. Interesting narrative.
Another interesting narrative is our booking situation. There were four yesterday – having watched them back it’s only Bayliss I can’t understand. Darikwa deserved his, no arguments with Towler either. The referee dealt well with that moment – Towler did clatter his man, picking up his fifth booking and possibly the earliest suspension for such I’ve ever known. The ref pulled out a red, realised his mistake and calmly rescinded. Last weekend’s referee, Aaron Bannister, flashed far too many unnecessary and unjust cards. Alan Young was solid and can be happy with his performance.
Ben House will be unhappy with his. He missed two chances, the first a glorious opportunity. Oscar Thorn, putting in another hugely impressive cameo, provided the cross which Tendayi dummied. House had all the goal to shoot at, and instead saw Sam Tickle save. Okoronkwo’s follow up was blocked, but it should have been 3-2. Up the other end, Costelloe smashed an effort against the bar with Wickens beaten, but it was a pot shot from range, not a result of sustained pressure. Even after Street was dismissed, I felt we were the better team, more likely to win it.
We almost did, again House spurning a good opportunity. I think he gets caught in two minds whether to shoot or control and instead does neither. Adam Reach takes over and beats Tickle, only for Aimson to clear off the line. Frantic moments, with both sets of supporters equally as elated and despondent when the game was finally brought to a close.
We remain unbeaten at home, and are one of six teams that have lost just a single game (Cardiff remain unbeaten). We are three draws from three, which some might complain at, but we’ve played two sides I think will be in the top six mix, Wigan and Bolton. We’re not in a bad place, and especially as we didn’t play our best yesterday.
Early indications are we’ll score goals all season, and when we’re on it, we can keep opponents at bay. Yesterday we rode our luck early doors, but is an in-form keeper making saves riding luck? Is an in-form striker popping up with goals when you need something to build on luck? Or is it a case of long-term planning coming to fruition? We’re a decent side, we’re not the best in the division, but we’re a long way from the worst, and it will be fascinating to see how we get on when there are eleven men on the pitch, because in four of our seven matches this season, that hasn’t happened.