Brief Synopsis!!!

I don't take much comfort from this win. We sound shaky at best

So much better! It wan't perfect but it was enough.

McCormick 8
Mellor 6
Nelson 8
Hartley 8
Purrington 6
Blizzard 7
Cox 6
O'Connor 7
Alessandra 7
Reid 7
Morgan 7

McHugh 6
Thomas 7
Harvey 6

Luckily we played an inept team. That is all.

How can you give Harvey a 5??? He was hardly on and didn't really do anything to warrant a high or low score... 5 seems harsh!?!

McCormick - 8 - 1 great save, great handling.

Mellor - 4 - improved second half but dodgy.

Hartley - 6 - Solid, shame he got injured.

Nelson - 7 - Solid.

Purrington - 5 - Prefer McHugh, Purrington still a bit naive.

O'connor - 5 - A bit off.

Cox - 7 - back to a classy performance.

Blizzard - 8 - he's much better as an attacking player.

Lewi - 5 - gasps around the ground when given MOTM, barely achieved anything.

Reid - 6 - hope the injury isn't serious, looked it though.

Morgan - 7 - Good goal, worked hard, he's better on the left.

Subs:

Thomas - 9 - Electric. That's what we needed Tuesday.

McHugh - 6 - Solid.

Harvey - didn't do enough to say but did bottle an easy chance.

Hartlepool were bollox.

It doesn't matter if Hartlepool were bollox or inept or just carp. We still have to beat them when we haven't been that sharp ourselves. So mission achieved and food for thought. 3 points in the bag now move on.

What is quietly slipping by is that last season after 9 games we were GD of -4 and this season its + 4 :thumbup:

Cam blizzard be our midfield saviour?

Seems to be relishing the starts he's getting.

An unconvincing win against a very average Hartlepool team but credit to Sheridan and the team for turning things around after Tuesday and giving the fans a better performance.

We dominated the first 15 minutes, Morgan scored his goal and we then sat back. We allowed Hartlepool to dictate the play for the rest of the game until Thomas sprang to life late in the game to give us the cushion of a second goal.

Sheridan started the game with another formation 4-1-2-3 and this time it worked. O'Connor sat deep behind Cox and Blizzard with Morgan and Alessandra flanking Reid. Purrington was given a rare start and showed that an overlapping full-back is crucial to a team playing at home.

Injuries to Reid and Hartley took the gloss of the win, hopefully they are not too serious.

It was the left side triangle of Purrington, Blizzard and Morgan that looked the most likely to produce a goal, the combination of those three really worried Hartlepool and Morgan started the game just as he did against Southend.

Reid and Morgan both had chances that were saved and Blizzard also had a shot that was saved.
The goal assist came from Reid who passed to Morgan in the box, he twisted and turned (on a sixpence?) and fired in a low shot that beat the keeper and gave us the lead we fully deserved.

The players celebrated with the World Cup rocking baby routine.

Instead of killing off Hartlepool we were content to sit back and soak up the attacks. A dangerous game because just before half time Hartlepool nearly scored but thanks to an good save from McCormick we kept the score at 1-0.
Also just before half time Reid left the pitch with a back injury.

Thomas replaced Reid for the second half with Morgan moving to the middle. This seemed to affect the team and Morgan because we just couldn't get going and allowed Hartlepool to have a lot of possession. They never really carved out clear cut chances but there was a nagging feeling that an equaliser was never far away.

The game (and nerves) was settled when Blizzard put a peach of a ball through to Thomas in the middle, he advanced on goal and slotted past the keeper.
I thought Thomas was offside but no matter we'll take it.

Alessandra (who had bizarrely just been named man of the match by the match sponsors) was put through by Thomas but shot wide. Nevermind, the three points were safe.

The stand out players for me were Hartley, Purrington, Blizzard, Cox and Morgan.
Purrington made a big difference at left-back, willing to defend and get forward. Blizzard and Cox were neat and tidy, just playing it simple and Morgan was a thorn to the Hartlepool defence until he faded late in the game.

It looks like Hartley has a dead leg and hopefully he's back next week.

Thomas had a great 45 minutes, looking to get to the by-line and get the crosses in and took his goal well. The fans and team needed that second goal.
I can also see why Sheridan is reluctant to start with Thomas, he still has a lot to learn in playing for the team and keeping shape but he is an exciting player.

Hopefully Sheridan will stick with this same formation home and away, injuries permitting.

A good ugly win, although I think we are only one or two defeats for the Sheridan out campaign to start again.

McCormick 7, Mellor 6, Nelson 7, Hartley 7, Purrington 7, O'Connor 6, Cox 7, Blizzard 7, Alessandra 5, Reid 6, Morgan 7, McHugh 5, Thomas 7, Harvey 6.

Entertainment 5.

Sheridan 7.

Deacster":30b93hst said:

Luckily we played an inept team. That is all.

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^^^this^^^

A pretty decent first 20 minutes but we lost our way after the first goal. All the zip went out of our attack as we played patient build-up, typically failing in the final third.

Hartley was stupid IMO. He had clearly strained/ pulled something when stretching to head back to McCormick. He should have signalled to the bench immediately - you don't run those off. Sadly it could now result in a longer absence than necessary.

Thomas did well in his attacking cameo, but while others will no doubt get excited this for me is what he is about. He did nothing defensively and his game is just not rounded enough to justify a starting berth. Personally I think his destiny is as an impact sub unless he can build more into his defensive game.

MoM for me would be Morgan on the strength of his first-half performance.

Not a great performance against a very port team .
But 3 points , and pleased for Thomas taking his chance .

Frank_Butcher":m1691wot said:

A pretty decent first 20 minutes but we lost our way after the first goal. All the zip went out of our attack as we played patient build-up, typically failing in the final third.

Hartley was stupid IMO. He had clearly strained/ pulled something when stretching to head back to McCormick. He should have signalled to the bench immediately - you don't run those off. Sadly it could now result in a longer absence than necessary.

Thomas did well in his attacking cameo, but while others will no doubt get excited this for me is what he is about. He did nothing defensively and his game is just not rounded enough to justify a starting berth. Personally I think his destiny is as an impact sub unless he can build more into his defensive game.

MoM for me would be Morgan on the strength of his first-half performance.

Click to expand...

People seem obsessed with Thomas and defending,ya prob looking to see if he runs back and helps out just cos Sheridan has put the idea in ya head,he did very well and we didnt look any weaker when he came in defence but a lot better in attack,well played Thomas

Very good win from Argyle, Thomas was my MotM, he came on and scored a great goal, and the people saying play him were right judging by today's game. Alessandra could have made it 3 at the end but he missed and shot just wide. It was much better attacking performance by everyone and good to see Marvin get a goal too! :scarf: