A point earned against a team with form. It keeps the difference between us and one more game played, with us one more point away from relegation and one more point towards hunting those above.
Now to the actual match...
Team selection, the mind boggles. I'll come me to the obvious last.
Bola, at right wing back. He doesn't have a right foot so had to come back on to his left to try and cross, made it easy for them to defend him.
Hamer at right side of back 3. Did alright, looked competent and of course if pulled out wide is happy there.
Gilligan, back in on the right of a 3 man central midfield, or right side of a diamond you may also suggest. Hadn't got a clue positionally what he was supposed to be doing and subsequently wasn't his usual ratter self getting in to people's faces.
Deji, oh Deji. WTF? How Pato can say he thinks he's an option as a 10 I can only hang my head in utter disbelief. On a positive side, he did put in a lovely ball after he'd pushed right on the centre back and down the channel. He's a battering ram of a player, he's not a no 10 skillful find the pockets and have it to feet. Playing Deji there confused the midfield so no-one had a clue who to mark or press, it left them free for the wide centre half to hit those diagonal balls every time. Had we played with an actual second striker they could have split the back 3 and stopped that.
It also meant we were playing with one up top, hitting straight balls to the poor lad who won barely anything but the service was poor. He also looked well short of league one standard when he did compete, he certainly didn't use his size to any particular benefit. Most hilarious was when he didn't look at the sub board and we nearly played with 12.
From a shape point of view too, it is as definitely a 5 at the back with the wing backs reluctant to go and engage their wing back which also added to the midfield confusion of who to press and mark. It was a shambles. The back 3 were solid enough.
Why did he take until 83 minutes to make the bulk of changes? It was clear as day that Deji was blowing out his arse yet stayed on. We were crying out for someone to run the channels in behind Curtis Davies, they play a back 3 that's how you hurt them.
Again no idea what our attacking strategy was supposed to be, it looked like defend and hope.
Yes we did apparently have 16 shots, with only 2 on target. I'd suggest most of those were blocked when the ball was ricocheting around the box after a set piece. I think the 2 were probably Adebomi in the first half which was weak, then Hugill which got cleared off the line.
Officials were as expected in league one, toss a coin as to what he'd give.
They hit the diagonal ball which gives the strikers more chance of winning it, it's also what Derby did to us at the Pirelli. It's not pretty but I'd effective at this level. I'd much rather see that then straight balls coming straight back.
With the wing backs playing deep, Adebomi up on his own, there was no outlet, no runners in behind. It was easy for them.
It was a good job they were equally inept in front of goal, or you could argue we threw ourselves at blocks well, Brayford in particular.
Another 0-0 there, same as last year. I hope they stay up so I get another away trip to meet up with my best mate. The football was forgettable, but the Beefy boys burger and Bacon fries was unbelievable. Well worth the trip in to town...
We didn't lose, the most important thing of yesterday and I think it showed.