1pm kick-off, bhoys.
I’m expecting some squad rotation. Stokes is back in the squad and Commons is fit again.
Please update this thread with commentary and analysis of the match.
Lots of potential attacking options to rotate to. Scepovic, Guidetti, Commons, Forrest, Wakaso could all do with a run. Fewer defensive alternatives but I’d try and find room for Henderson and maybe Fisher or Ambrose or someone.
Gordon;
Ambrose, Denayer, Van Dijk, Izaguirre;
Brown, Bitton;
Commons, Johansen, Forrest;
Guidetti.
Subs: Zaluska, Matthews, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Griffiths, Wakaso, Henderson.
Nice ball in from Commons and McGovern saves Bitton’s close range header.
Stokes must have properly pissed Ronny off last week.
Another save from McGovern. Forrest with a great chance on the volley. Put it too close to the keeper who saved well.
Yep. Didn’t notice he wasn’t even on the bench. Ronny said it was history in his press conference but it’s clearly not.
Johansen’s turn to go close from close range. Clearly a corner but not given.
I’d imagine he is just setting an example here, right now we have lots of in-form options in attack so it makes it easy for Stokes be made an example of.
Guidetti nearly in on goal but muscled out of it.
Thought that looked like a penalty for that trip on Commons there.
Ambrose is (rather strangely) playing very well.
Another couple of chances from a corner there. Denayer close initially and then Virgil won a header from the follow-up cross but couldn’t get enough power. We’re keeping a decent pace here and the goals should come if we can maintain this.
Another save from McGovern. Nice play from Commons and pulled it back to Guidetti who didn’t really connect and the save was too easy. Brown and Bitton have been really good so far. Brown breaking up everything and Bitton picking some nice passes.
0-0 at half time. We’ve had a few decent efforts but haven’t made the most of our chances. Rushed a few things when we’ve gotten around their box.
Brown and Bitton have both been really good. Brown snuffed out a couple of dangerous counter attacks very impressively. Ambrose put in 3 great crosses early on and used the ball well but they’ve closed down on his space now and hasn’t been as involved. Izzy has also had a couple of decent crosses and he’s beaten his man a few times so looks a threat.
Forrest and Commons aren’t offering that much. Commons has been linking the play alright but isn’t terribly involved. Forrest has probably seen more of it in attacking areas anyway, but he’s been wasteful sometimes and needs to be better at bringing other players into it in this system. Johansen has been a bit better but not really looking dangerous, couple of passes and through runs have just been a yard out of reach. Guidetti looks like he’s trying too hard sometimes. Doing well at closing them down in fairness and he’s playing some nice 1-2s but he doesn’t look sharp and he hasn’t been instinctive enough in some of his options.
Matthews on for Denayer. Ambrose gone to centre back. Denayer seemed to limp near the end as though he had hamstring trouble or something. That would be a disaster.
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Virgil stepped up to intercept a pass, advanced with it at pace and slipped it to Commons who got a bit of a break with a ricochet past the last defender before smashing past McGovern. Small bit of fortune for Commons but well deserved.
Long ball from Van Dijk and Johansen tries to volley it home first time but doesn’t catch it perfectly and it’s a straightforward save.
Armstrong on for Forrest. Not a great performance from Jamesie.
Brown played Guidetti in but he took his time over it and then went for a dink which McGovern smothered. Expect a striker to do better there.
Another excellent defensive intervention from Brown then. He’s been superb.