Just back

Explains the confusion regards todays ref then, thought it was impossible to have the same twice in the first 3 games!

Quoted from MuddyWaters

We’ve got Herczeg on Tuesday. Not sure whether that’s an improvement.

It has to be after today's performance.

Fist point in the bag against one of the promotion favourites, hopefully more attacking options to come.  Not a six point start but neither has it been two drubbings, could be worse.

Overall, really enjoyed the game and excellent atmosphere

Back four look solid and settled in the main and definitely bodes well with Maher / Cropper / Amos waiting in wings when fit / needed.

I have to say i also enjoyed seeing Morris, Green and Holohan today and all 3 look excellent for this level. Green never stopped talking, organising and directing and Holohan was more involved and attacking today and he really does have real ability on the ball.

Kiernan and Clifton huffed and pufffed and worked hard. Have to be honest, i know there is a lot of emotional attachment to Clifton and all this "hes one of our own" nonsense, but no way was he man of the match. He works his socks off, but just not sure I see quality there tbh.

Mcguire-Drew created more in his 11 mins on the pitch than the two starting wide players and def worth sticking with as he knows where the goal is for sure and we desperately need that from someone.

Taylor worked tirelessly, but we need need need a striking threat asap.

If we can sign a striker with the money we have or tempt someone on loan(Luton lad runoured who is a Canadian international) this back 4 and midfield will create chances for someone.

Hurst has def strengthened our squad and I am feeling really positive after a draw with a team who only lost out on auto promotion last year to that mad 7-0 win on last day by Bristol.

A good point and we are up and running

UTM

Wearne looked very good. And that’s a big question for Hurst as the balance was much better with a left footed more naturally attacking player in that position.

The BBC said we had 23 shots at goal.  We were unlucky not to get a winner.  McAtee would have run riot against a surprisingly very average Northampton team.  If the key subs had come on 10 mins earlier we might well have got that winner.

Northampton scored a well-taken goal from their only real chance,  A reminder that teams are less wasteful the higher up you go.

We were caught in possession a few times when attacking for not passing the ball onto another player.  Simple passes that would have kept up the attack.  Waterfall’s headers lacked direction today.  In another game we would have got another goal.

Overall, a lot of determination, endeavour and drive just missing a bit of luck and clinical finishing.

We will be ok this season.  (I won’t mention the ref.  Other than he probably cost us a goal somewhere).  

Enjoyed today would have been an injustice to lose , we look a decent team based on a really good spine , want to see more of wearne starting on tuesday think the lad oozes class , special mention to holohan best performance in a town shirt today

If Northampton were good enough to just miss automatic promotion last year we have nothing to fear.

Just to add. How bad was the away following? Low numbers and they were pitifully quiet, even when they went in front. Embarrassing.

We shaded the first half although there wasn’t much in the game, very few clear cut chances created by either side. In the second half we basically bossed it and they scored in between long periods of dominance for us. Would’ve been very harsh if we’d got nothing, and I’m certainly not fearful of anyone given with just a small change in circumstances we’d have taken at least 4 and maybe 6 points from these opening two games against two of the more fancied teams.

Smith was excellent again and probably my MOM. Thought Holohan was really aggressive, played on the front foot and drove us forward. Glennon also played well, got up and down the line well and put in numerous very dangerous deliveries, we’re just lacking a striker to get on the end of them!

Taylor gave us a much needed focal point and we looked better than last week despite McAtee not being in the side, as Taylor was more naturally suited to that role. Thought Morris was much better this week and has excellent composure on the ball and I feel he will only grow in influence as he gets fitter and up to speed properly. Green is going to take some time, he’s missed a lot of preseason and is clearly not fully fit, he’s struggled with the pace of L2 so far but I think as he plays more and trains more he’ll get there. He’s a bit laboured in possession.

Worst performance was from the ref. He was dreadful. The outstanding moment was when we had the ball on the edge of their box, ready to send it back into the mixer and he blows up cos one of their CB’s was cheating by clutching his head! If we thought that was bad, he then restarted the game by giving their keeper the ball! Not sure I’ve seen a more baffling restart than that. It was only just a bit worse than when Morris hit a shot that clearly deflected of their defender, all the players from both sides trot towards their goal for a corner and the ref inexplicably points for a goal kick. Not to mention the sheer number of cheap free kicks he have against us.

Onto Crewe now. Bit of a free hit with that being a cup game.