' ONE OF THE WORST AWAY GAMES THEN UNBELIEVABLY '

' ONE OF THE WORST AWAY GAMES THEN UNBELIEVABLY '


I was sitting in the stand, looking at the time on the scoreboard, it was the 55th minute and we were 1-0 down, still not had a shot a target and I thought to myself ' this is probably the least entertaining away game I have been too ' and I have been to a few.

Just 10 minutes later and I am jumping around like I have won the lottery, City have taken a 2-1 lead with two fantastic strikes from outside the box, isn't that typical of football, or City for that matter!

The first half was pretty even, neither side really threatening the opposition goalkeeper, the only shot on target of the whole half was a scuffed shot from the Fulham young substitute, Matthew Connolly was turned inside out in the penalty area by Fulhams Aluko, not once but twice, but why the hell did David Marshall come racing off the line when he would have served the team better to stay in position unless he was going to clean out the ball and the man, he did neither and Fulham took the lead.

Declan John started brightly in the first 10 minutes but faded out of the game until the last five minutes of the first half, at last today he took on the right back, went outside and put a cross in the from the byline, it's what City fans have been looking to see from the young wing back and we seen a glimpse of his capability today.

There is very little else to report on the first half from a City point of view.

1-0 down half time.

The second half didn't offer much hope of improvement in the first ten minutes of the restart, as I said I was actually thinking how poor a game it was from both teams up to that point.

Kadeem Harris came on in the 59th minute replacing Jazz Richards and even though he had no assist in Joe Ralls screamer from 22 yards, he certainly made an impact.

For the thirty or so minutes Harris played he was a breath of fresh air.

He was taking on Fulham players, first outside then on the inside, he was a hope that City could turn too and believed he could cause damage.

Harris will surely start against Reading.

Anthony Pilkington followed up Joe Ralls opener with another superb strike, again from outside the box, to put City in the lead and just five minutes earlier, we couldn't see a shot on target coming let alone two goals but who cares, we were in the lead.

Whittingham hit the bar with a super free kick from 27 yards and had it gone in City would have surely run out as winners but Fulham piled on the pressure in the last ten minutes and David Marshall was left rooted to his line with a snap shot from the edge of the box in the 86th minute.

I would have taken a draw before hand after recent performances and results from both teams and even though there were just a few minutes remaining when Fulham equalised, I must be honest it didn't feel like we were robbed of two points, I came away disappointed but believe a draw was a fair reflection.

City go up against Reading next Saturday at home and after the five games the most we can achieve is eight points, that is nowhere near what we need to achieve from that set of fixtures we there is genuine ambition within the camp to achieve a top six finish.

Final word goes out to the City fans this afternoon who sang from the first minute and backed the boys throughout.

If we average 8 points from every 5 games then by the end of the season we would have around 73 points - not far from the playoffs.

If we average 8 points from every 5 games then by the end of the season we would have around 73 points - not far from the playoffs.

Against the teams we have played and three of which were at home then I feel 10 points would be the minimum we were looking for.

You are right about 8 points from every five though, it would give us 73 points.

With the exception of Huddersfield who can potentially reach 13 points the next possible highest point tally after 5 games will be 11 points.

That hardly leaves City out in the cold. Personally i think 8 points is not too bad if reached, that's 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss.

Lets not give up just yet

If only the Whitts free kick had gone in

If we average 8 points from every 5 games then by the end of the season we would have around 73 points - not far from the playoffs.

Against the teams we have played and three of which were at home then I feel 10 points would be the minimum we were looking for.

You are right about 8 points from every five though, it would give us 73 points.

Considering what's gone on pre season it's not bad haul? setting a target was not practical for these reasons!

Good honest report Carl. First 60 minutes were dire. Last 30 was superb entertainment. I think we need to scrap the 3 at back with wing backs formation. 4 at back, 3 in the middle with big Fred up front with pilkington and Harris or noone just behind.

Trollope deserves credit for changing tactics when bringing Harris on. Imagine slade ditching his formation?!

Agree..5-3-2 AGAINST 4-4-2 IN THE FIRST HALF Fulham got men behind the ball that stifled City's attacking intent. Declan John and Richards were having to defend deeply, and were restricted playing high up the field. Cardiff weren't influential in the midfield to counter their problems, in that first half. Next thing, we went behind going into the break.

Then, second period, Richards got replaced with Harris and Cardiff were transformed and looked very impressive, Fulham could not cope with Cardiff's width and deserved two Worldy strikes.

Only Downside for Me was that when we were nearing the end of the game and leading, Trollope brought on Fred and later Manga..Either way I would have thought Manga should have been brought on earlier, as City faded and were sitting deep at the end, prior to their equaliser.

Overall, pleased with the attitude of the Team to respond well after going behind, but Id like Trollope to try something different against 4-4-2 sides in the midfield, when we are trying to push forward.

Cardiff fans were amazing and made it a cracking atmosphere.

Don't let a 25 minute purple-patch gloss over the frailties of the Trollope mindset of forcing a 352 system resulting in square pegs in round holes.

1) After two signings we still don't have a striker worthy of the name at this level. Pilkington, threat that he was last season for the first six games as a makeshift attacker, is far better suited to a deeper, creative role or running with the ball at his feet.

2) The continual use of Whittingham yards in front of the three cbs stops the main reason for playing a sweeper system happening. Runs into midfield by the spare man now do not happen and we allow the opposition midfield too much control.

3) To play this system you need wingers who defend a bit not defenders who attack a bit in the wing-back role. Only with the introduction of Harris have we posed any real threat this season. Moreover, even with John on the left he has often been getting the ball in too deep a position. Richards is no wing-back.

4) Immers, whose threat last season, was playing behind a striker at the start of the season been utilised in a role 20 yds deeper thus negating his attacking threat.

5) Arguably, with the signing of Huws, we have three players, with Immers and Pilkington, vying for an attacking role, unless Huws will play in the Whittingham position. However, even then, the subsequent problem of blocking off runs from the cbs will remain.

Play a system that suits the players until you bring in players for that system.

StT.

Don't let a 25 minute purple-patch gloss over the frailties of the Trollope mindset of forcing a 352 system resulting in square pegs in round holes.

1) After two signings we still don't have a striker worthy of the name at this level. Pilkington, threat that he was last season for the first six games as a makeshift attacker, is far better suited to a deeper, creative role or running with the ball at his feet.

2) The continual use of Whittingham yards in front of the three cbs stops the main reason for playing a sweeper system happening. Runs into midfield by the spare man now do not happen and we allow the opposition midfield too much control.

3) To play this system you need wingers who defend a bit not defenders who attack a bit in the wing-back role. Only with the introduction of Harris have we posed any real threat this season. Moreover, even with John on the left he has often been getting the ball in too deep a position. Richards is no wing-back.

4) Immers, whose threat last season, was playing behind a striker at the start of the season been utilised in a role 20 yds deeper thus negating his attacking threat.

5) Arguably, with the signing of Huws, we have three players, with Immers and Pilkington, vying for an attacking role, unless Huws will play in the Whittingham position. However, even then, the subsequent problem of blocking off runs from the cbs will remain.

Play a system that suits the players until you bring in players for that system.

StT.

I disagree regarding the square pegs in round holes, except of course, the striker/Pilkington role.
With Declan and Kadeem we have two players made for the wing back role with Immers playing behind the main striker (new signing hopefully) and any three from our six or so midfielders playing the central role.
Our squad is made for it.