Walker - 8/10 - made good saves again, brave as usual, tried to pass it out to the full-backs a few times but seemed to always find it coming straight back to him, was put in trouble by a few back-passes but always managed to clear... compare him to Watford’s goalie, 75% of who’s kicks went out of play.
Heath - 6/10 - not a RB, please don’t play him there again just to accommodate him into the team, why is it such a crime to have a fit first-team player on the bench when another partnership is working? As he’s not a RB he couldn’t do the things needed like getting forward, linking up with Canero etc. Looked far more comfortable when moved back to CB.... did the basics right but didn’t seem to add onto that, used ‘if in doubt put it out’ effectively and got in good positions for corners etc.
Keown - 7/10 - held the line well and was constantly giving instructions, won his headers and was generally effective, not sure why he was taken off. Was beaten for pace a few times though, as was...
Dabizas - 7/10 - lucky not to have given away a penalty, still likes to wrestle with players a lot. Beaten for pace a few times but otherwise did his job well, got forward and headed on well but seems suddenly very keen on long hoof balls now.
Tiatto - 9/10 - MOTM - seemed eager to impress and earn his place, won tackles, tricked strikers, was strong in holding up the ball and got forward well. Unlucky not to have scored after a deflection.
Canero - 7/10 - seemed to be forgotten by his fellow players a lot especially in the first half, probably something to do with Scowcroft being elsewhere, and Heath being behind him (so no possibility of linkup play), was in space though and unmarked a lot of the time. When he got the ball he looked quick and keen, put in a few good crosses and adapted well to switching roles quickly when moved to RB.
Gudjonsson - 6/10 - had a good volleyed shot that was going in well saved, got forward and on a few occasions got down the wings to put balls into the box. Tackled well but sometimes scrambled with the ball a bit, always tried to win it if it was taken from him though, but didn’t always succeed.
Williams - 3/10 - He seemed unwilling to try and win a ball back once he’d lost it. He was greedy, sometimes taking on three defenders at once rather than passing the ball. He’d get in a good position to take a shot but seemed to become suddenly nervous about touching the ball around the box, and inevitably lost it. Beats the first man with set pieces but often leaves them drifting in the air easily for the goalkeeper to catch.
Wilcox - 5/10 - I would mark him lower but for one moment in the game when all our players were standing around staring into space and he took charge, got the ball and went on a good run through midfield. Otherwise it was business as usual, he put in a few hospital passes, seemed to watch the ball too much when he didn’t have it, therefore losing the player he was supposed to be following, or not watching it enough when he did have it so standing there as the ball bounced to his feet and not noticing when a Watford player got it.
Connolly - 7/10 - hit both posts, put a few shots wide, got a save out of the ‘keeper. Still not convinced when Micky says he’s a more natural goal-scorer than Dickov, but is very obviously lacking confidence at the moment. Was forced out wide a lot and had no-one to pass the ball to in the box, was alone for most of the game and needs Dublin back beside him. Sometimes seems to lack that passion and fails to close down on other players.
Scowcroft - 6/10 - had no shots on goal despite playing as a striker, is relied upon too much by other players and spent most of his time bringing down Walker’s kicks. Had a great moment where he fought several players for the ball but otherwise did nothing else until he was injured when he had an excuse.
Subs:
Benjamin - 6/10 - Should have got a penalty but the ref wouldn’t made decisions unless he was forced to. Won about 50% of headers going his way which is quite a good percentage for him, managed to flick it down for Connolly a few times and we actually looked more dangerous with him on than without. Put pressure on the goalie for goal-kicks, something Connolly hadn’t been doing. Tracked back and managed a good defensive header, but was - as usual - slow to get back up the pitch. Still managed to fall over nothing again.
Gemmill - 7/10 - made a difference when he came on and should get a contract for the season, won the ball and got forward, used his experience and created more chances than Williams - the creative player!
Stewart - 5/10 - was better than Wilcox down the wing as he has more pace and moves about more, but seemed nervous sometimes and preferred to pass it rather than run at players, still managed a couple of runs though and swapped around with Tiatto effectively.
