Wind back about a month and the team played as it had done previously – a bit of heart and no real thoughts that the match could be won.
Three appalling match-changing decisions/non-decisions by the ref had me reminiscing about the first third of last season when reffing had hit a new low.
There was much to like. I watched the game with a now ex-supporter who knew nothing about the team. A man steeped in league football from within the game, he criticised no Iron player – coming the nearest to doing so with O’Malley. He applauded Rory, Hippo and Loft and showed astonishment that Pugh is not an auto pick.
Effectively a neutral now, he was not displeased with the efforts of either players or Cox.
I needed someone I trust to look at us afresh for me.
The conclusions were that we are a CB short; we need leadership in CM and we need a player in the style of Paul Hayes or similar.
If I read him right – we are three players away from being a decent team – and just two if we can muddle by with 3 CBs.
My thoughts were that we created some good chances and were thwarted by a super goalkeeping display.
