Where do we go from here?
This article includes an update having won vs Swansea.
The euphoria of the first 5 minutes of ‘a new era’ had me thinking this season was going to be special. Fast forward to after the Middlesbrough game and there was nothing but frustration and anger. We were winless, desperately lacking attacking threat and bereft of confidence. It was nowhere near where I thought we’d be at this stage.
Gwion Edwards’ looping header against Blackburn coupled with the sound of Portman Road when it went in, a very distant memory.
But isn’t it amazing what 90 minutes of football can do? Pre Swansea, all the talk was how long has Paul Hurst got? Should we pull the trigger and abandon tradition of giving managers time or allow him to find a solution? The win at the Liberty Stadium has changed the perspective, finally given us something to build on and it’s imperative that we do.
After the first 5 games of the season, despite not getting a win, there still seemed to be a feeling that the team was pulling in the right direction, there was a style to our play and it would be a matter of time before it clicked into place. We’d had the sucker punch at Rotherham, a spirited performance with 10 men against Villa and the controversy at Sheffield Wednesday with the Nsiala red card. We all hoped Norwich would be the game and there was a real feeling that this would be the game to break all the ducks.
It didn’t happen. Bart was dropped to most people’s dismay. There were 5 other changes. Pennington made his debut, Walters and Graham made second debuts and despite not losing, the style we’d seen in previous games wasn’t to be seen.
Hull, by all accounts, was a shambles. The first half against Brentford too. Another game with 5 changes along with a change in formation culminated in Town being very lucky to only go in one down at the break. I’ve never seen a game where the players looked so uncomfortable in that first half. Two half time changes and reverting back to 4-2-3-1 and we looked like a new team, deservedly got an equaliser and could have nicked it in the end, although that may have been a touch harsh on Brentford.
Optimism renewed, momentum regained, going into a home game against Bolton. That was surely going to be our first 3 points?
Wrong, we struggled to create any sort of chance against 10 men. We came away frustrated and back to square one again.
And the less said about Birmingham, the better.
The first half against Middlesbrough was so poor. Two woefully sloppy goals conceded and very little attacking threat. Ironic cheers greeted a speculative header from Knudsen and a comfortable save from Chalobah late in the first half. Town again, much like against Brentford, started the second half with more intent. Edwards and Sears were brought on and tried, but ultimately we never created a clear cut chance.
I think many fans would have been content with a point from the recently relegated Swans. To get 3 was a pleasant surprise. But for me, it was the manner of the victory that was most pleasing. To be leading and get pegged back with just over 10 minutes to go it would have been easy to fold. Especially given the fact we hadn’t got a win all season. But we pushed on and got the goal. It showed character. Some poor goalkeeping helped, but it’s about time we had some luck go our way.
It’s now vitally important Town back up this victory with another, quickly. Having proven we can go up against one of the better teams in the division and come out on top, the next 5 games are crucial. 2 home games against QPR and Preston and away games at Leeds, Millwall and Reading. With the exception of Leeds, they’re all in the bottom 7 of the division. We need to be getting results against these teams or the win at Swansea will be for nothing.
It’s a shame we have to wait until after the international break to get our teeth into them. It would have been nice to carry that little bit of momentum straight into a home game against QPR. Crowd rejuvenated and players confident we would have had every chance of recording back to back victories for the first time since March.
That’s not to say we won’t. The break could prove to be beneficial for us. Hurst finally seems set in a formation and can now work on getting his players to utilise it the best way we can. An early criticism of Hurst was the amount of changes he continued to make to the team, giving the impression he still doesn’t know his best 11. But now he seems to have stumbled across an 11 that has a mix of experience and youth and provides the right balance for all players to thrive.
The defence still looks like it has a mistake in it but a run of games together would certainly help. The back four has changed 6 times in 12 games which can’t be helpful when trying to forge partnerships and understandings, so that needs to be addressed. In the meantime, Skuse and Chalobah provide a good shield in front whilst also allowing Dozzell the freedom he needs to be as good as we know he can. Freddie Sears looks much more comfortable playing through the middle and with Dozzell in behind him, he won’t get a better chance to get rekindle the sort of form that propelled us to the play offs in 2015. Edwards and Grant Ward on the wings look dangerous. The latter is growing in confidence week after week and his performances are showing that.
It’s important not to get carried away, we still only have 1 win in 12. And there aren’t any easy games in the championship so while the next 5 fixtures look easier on paper, they will still be stern tests for the players. But there’s a bit more positivity around the club now and a huge sense of relief.
A season which started with such good feeling was stuttering towards the abyss. Now, there’s hope.
Follow on twitter - @CraigBolger
