Player Ratings

Marshall 8 If tonight's point means anything at the end of the season we can thank Marshall for a superb goal line save, some brave keeping in the six yard box and a wonderful charging save when Wood broke free. Suffered a nasty raking from Leicester's central midfielder that went unpunished.

Connolly 7 We had a five minute spell of possession late in the first half where we took it in turns to not fancy trying anything. Sideways and back and back and sideways, then a little bit forward before back to sideways and back. Connolly finally picked up the mantle and broke forward to the edge of the box but when he got there Frazier and his three mates were all there was in front of him. Switched to centre half when Hudson left he tried to bring the ball forward but there was just no movement in front of him.

Hudson 7 He was back and then he wasn't. For all our midfield incompetence, Leicester hardly threatened Marshall when Hudson was on the field and we were a little frail in the middle with Connolly alongside Nugent.

Nugent 6 I thought Nugent played reasonably well tonight against very tough opposition. He took a nasty knock to the knee but recovered from it and stood up to the physical battle. Some of his passing was wayward but there was no movement in front of him and little effort to move to the ball from the players he was trying to pass to. We don't like it when Turner hoofs long balls nowhere, at least Nugent tries to pass the ball to feet. There were shaky moments in defence but our back four were left totally exposed all game.

Taylor 8 Man of the match. Solid all game defensively and he tried to get forward whenever possible. A last ditch clearance of Leicester's best first half opening, a perfect cross for our last hope of an equaliser.

Noone 6 An interesting duel between Noone and Leicester's talented left back. Noone was up to his theatrics but he did show a bit of strength in one tussle. Noone tried to make things happen but his trademark bursts into the box when play is developing down the other flank cost us tonight when Noone reached for a Conway cross that seemed to have picked out Campbell but was taken away by Noone's despairing lunge. He left at half time clutching his hamstring.

Whittingham 4 Watching Whittingham is like bumping into a girl you fancied all the way through school and she's had four kids by four fathers, put on two stone for each sprog, cut her hair short because she doesn't wash it any more and the grease isn't so noticeable when it's short and grown skin the bubonic plague would shy away from. Yes, in her eyes you can see the same girl you masturbated over throughout puberty but you just want to look away and remember her as she was. Whitts didn't come close to winning any ball or stopping Leicester. His passing was slow and predictable. He dallied on the ball. He didn't track runners. He slowed down every attack. Every thing that went through Whitts went nowhere. At least until late in the game when he suddenly started playing the ball forward and finding Gestede. He even took a corner with such pace and accuracy it may well have crossed the line before Kasper scooped it out. A turning point? God, I hope so.

Gunns 5 Early season Gunns is back. Ponderous and wasteful. Twice his opposite number skipped past him and tore through our middle. Gunns tried. He threw himself about and tried to be a pain but he is way off form

Conway 6. Odd game from Conway. He drew two yellow cards (although one looked a bit like a dive to me) and sent in one perfectly inviting cross for Campbell. Alas, it was so inviting Noone took a bite at it and screwed it up for everyone. He tried to make things happen and linked well with Taylor at times. However, he also wasted a lot of ball by turning into trouble and after drawing the bookings stopped running at players. When passed to, he has a habit of standing and waiting for the ball to get to him and sometimes it doesn't because an opposition players has shown the appetite to go to the ball Conway lacks. Should not have been subbed while Smith stayed on.


Tommy Chuckle 3
“Ach, Tommy mon. You've been playing shite so I'm a geena have to drop you”
“Oh, Malky. Don't drop me”
“Ach but you've stopped trying and you know I admire a trier”
“Can't you play me up front?”
“I cannae play a man up front with only wan goal all year”
“Oh, you could play me in the hole. It wont matter if I don't score there. And I wont have to run”
“The hole? The position Kimbo excels in?”
“Yes”
“The position some people would love to see Whitts?”
“Yes”
“The position you've played before with so little success I always sub you early”
“Yes”
“Great idea, Tommy. You'll make a fine manager one day”
“Sooner than you think”
“What was that?”
“Nothing”

Campbell 6 Every time Campbell went near the ball in the first half he had three players on him. He tried and tried but visibly tired. When things opened up in the second half he looked to be suffering from the first half battering he took and wasn't as sharp as he has been. Two chances fell his way and he knows he should have put at least one away. (yes one was from an excellent Tommy Chuckle cross)

Bellamy 6 Not a good day for Bellers. He tried. He added impetus and pace. Things opened up after he came on but he didn't look match fit.

McNaughton 7 Vintage Super-Kev. Pace at the back leading to some of those last ditch tackles he specialises in. Lots of alacrity for the attack. No end product.

Gestede 8 Who'd a thunk a team that frequently resorts to the aimless forward hoofing might benefit from a target man? Our main threat from the minute he stepped onto the pitch. Took his goal well and if his name was Tommy Smith, he'd be guaranteed a long run in the side.

Utter utter genius... flair up

I went to the game and agree with every word of that. As I said elsewhere, Smith is the new Malky's love child.

His next door neighbour in Watford, I believe.

I heard Smith is wearing an engagement ring that Malky bought him

that was rather well written. had it been me writing i would have exploded before the end of the first sentence. when i heard the team i came within a whisker of not taking my seat and going home. i have to leave before the end to catch my train so missed craig noone's goal last week (pissed of so left early) and rudy's last night. passed my opinions on the man and his game plans last week.

A touch harsh on Smith imo, I thought he was slightly better than in the Derby game (which admittedly isn't saying much!). Biggest problem remains central midfield, Whitts and Gunns were poor for the second game running. Confidence to make runs and produce telling passes looks shot to pieces at the moment. Where is Kim?

Slumdog's Son™ wrote:I heard Smith is wearing an engagement ring that Malky bought him

Apparently the school yard song has it this morning that they were seen sitting in a tree....

Nice work as per usual Kam

Kamuza 9 - another sterling performance from the ukulele playing bag-headed freak. Needs to provide animated Dreamworks style videos to be considered the best in the world though

Just seen Terry Phillips' ratings in the Echo. Ludicrously high with Smith in particular getting a 7 !!