Friday night

Is it the Jack Daniel’s beginning to talk? I’ve got an eager anticipation of the morrow ahead that cannot be supported with any logical reasoning. All the evidence points to us losing. Plymouth are on a roll and us, well we’re not. I’ll just leave it at that.

I feel real underdoggedness (*) has been foisted upon me (and other intrepid followers of the yellows who travel hither and thither) and have a burning desire to put right the wrongs.

(*) – No such word exists, but I think it should. At least I know what I am trying to say.

But we’re only the fans and can’t really affect the outcome of events from 3:00 p.m. until 4:55 p.m.  Get behind the team people say. Stop moaning it doesn’t help they say. Well mostly the collective moaning is only reserved for the final whistle or not long before the end when the cause is well and truly lost. Mostly, particularly away from home, the fans have supported rather well and what have we mostly got in return since Chris Wilder’s departure? Yes, mostly garbage.

I’m sick of hearing the obvious. We’ve got to be mentally tougher. We should be doing better. It’s up to us to put it right. I don’t give a toss. How are we going to be mentally tougher and how are we going about ensuring that we do better on the pitch next time out? I don’t need to know what these answers are, what I, as a long suffering supporter, need assurance on is that Gary Waddock has these answers and is putting them into practice.

But I’ll ignore the fact that we leak goals for fun away from the Kassam and have all the potency of a eunuch when it comes to scoring and once again …. oh go on then, I’ll believe. Otherwise what’s the point?

Saturday morning

The sun is shining, a swift trip down south, no hold ups, not even at Cribbs Causeway or traffic lights in Plymouth. Things are looking good.

I’ve mentioned the Green Taverner’s Fanfest after previous visits to Home Park so won’t bang on about it again. But I will say that’s the way to do it. I’m sure there are lessons to be learned here as far as OUFC are concerned. Oh, and it was still a fiver for a pasty and drink of choice. (Pint of hand pulled Tribute for me and wine for the lady.)

Saturday 15:06

Hillsborough is another subject I have covered in the past. I still feel deep sadness and undiminished anger over this most reprehensible of episodes. Those involved in the planning, operations on the ground on the day, and the subsequent cover up, lies, manipulation and dishonest spin should forever hang their heads in shame. Those that stand accused are of course certain elements among the police, the politicians, the FA and the coroner.  Justice still has not really been done but God willing people / fan power will ultimately have its way.

We did turn up for this one

Saturday 15:07

With the minute silence almost perfectly observed it was game on. We started well but best to reserve judgement because we’ve started well before but just for a minute or two.  This time we continued well.  The concern of course being that for all our good football no goal came. Callum O’Dowda had missed an easy header.

And for all our control and possession, when Plymouth had the ball it did not take them long to fashion a chance or two of their own. They broke quickly and had space as our fullbacks had pushed forward.  Not that I’m complaining because we had an attacking intent that we have not seen for a very long time.

Our game plan was based on going forward. We passed well, moved well, got more players in the opposition penalty area and played at a quicker tempo than that which we’d comfortably settled into under Chris Wilder and thereafter Mickey Lewis. Perhaps it has taken Gary Waddock this long to get the message through but if this is the future then my view of what is ahead has shot up from 100 lux to 10000 lux.  Bright indeed.

This is of course only one game of the right stuff but massive credit to the manager and every one of the players. As they entered the field Jake Wright, Tom Newey and David Hunt each in turn looked at the travelling yellow army and gave a little clap. They knew. And then they produced. Where did the confidence and mental strength come from?

Ryan Clarke was once again outstanding. On top form one wonders why he is not plying his trade higher up the ladder. There’s always next season.

The full backs did what was asked of them this time and it worked.  Our keeper had obviously been instructed to throw the ball to them as opposed to kicking long. Kicking we know is not the strongest part of his game.  Jake Wright and Michael Raynes were back on form with the latter brilliantly and bravely blocking two almost certain goals after Clarkey saves. The pair both stood up well to the physical challenge of the Argyle forwards, a challenge which only grew with the introduction of Enoch Showunmi.

In the centre of the park Nicky Wroe had his best game in a yellow shirt by some distance.  We already know he can shoot -he had one pushed round the post in the first half and rattled the bar in the second – but had so much more about his game. Alongside him young Josh Ruffels helped with our dominance and the two wide men caused problems for the opposition by running at them with the ball.

Early on it was Williams posing our greatest threat. When he got clattered I was therefore concerned but he shook it off and when the first goal came just after the half hour mark he played a telling role, gently volleying Ruffels free kick into Dave Kitson’s path a few inches from goal.

That free kick had been won by O’Dowda. Initially he was making little impact, losing possession more often than not but he kept at it and when he slipped the ball one side of Blanchard and was prevented from going the other the defender earned his first booking.

Kitson was another back to his best. It was hard to tell where he was playing because he was having an impact all over the place.  He’s an intelligent footballer and intelligent man, unlike some of our supporters: “Get in the box Kitson” implored one when we had a free kick in a dangerous position. At the time our Dave was stood a couple of yards outside the box ready to make a run. Utterly clueless.

It was Kitson’s skill that caused Blanchard to break the rules a second time and have to trudge off.

Strangely I thought the Pilgrims looked more solid for most of the time after they had been reduced to ten men and at least as threatening as previously. But there was bound to be occasions when there was space which we could exploit and O’Dowda seemed to run unmolested for miles in the 63^rd minute. Beano made a perfect run from left to right and Callum played a precision ball into his path. There cannot have been a more sweetly struck shot anywhere all weekend than the one JC produced. I’ve been critical of him in the past but he was another  who on the day was magnificent. His strength was a major feature.

Now what we’ve got is one massive game on Good Friday. Just look at that league table.