A vastly improved performance from Reds team with a completely revamped back four, and plenty of muscle throughout the team. The finishing let us down but the quality of the football and the chances created were much much better than we have seen all season.
Chris Gunter will be gutted this evening after having five clear-cut goalscoring chances, but Robbie Findley’s heavy touch at the end was the worst of the squandered opportunities.
New boys Chris Wootton, Danny Higginbotham and George Elokobi all acquitted themselves well, Gaz McCleary was our main creative outlet down the left, and Andy Reid did his usual amazing cameo at the end – he is the most creative player we have, why does he only ever get five minutes at the end?
Star of the show was Adlene Guedioura – sure, it is hard to spell his name, but he must also be hard to play against, as he is here, there and every-blooming-where, with good skills, masses of energy and a hard shot that didn’t trouble Scott Loach but almost knocked out two of his team-mates. He and Reid were vying for the “pass of the match” award.
Sure, we should have won it, but there is much to be hopeful for if the Reds, galvanised by the memory of Nigel Doughty, the guile and experience of the new boys, and Sean O’Driscoll’s tactical nous, can keep performing at this level. Come on you Reds!
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Of course, this match was our opportunity to say goodbye to Nigel Doughty – the minute’s applause was impeccable and heartfelt, and the players’ response to scoring a goal was emotional. Of the tributes outside the ground, this one really caught my eye:
"Thanks a £100,000,000"
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