Ricardo's review of Bristol defeat

Last updated : 28 August 2007 By Ricardo

Three games we have played lets not be over worried yet. Saturdays game we played very well at times and passed Rovers off the pitch. Admittedly they game to defend and crack us on the break - which they did and all credit to them. They had a game plan and stuck to it.

I thought Eardley (pictured) had his best game by far, and early on his passing and moving were top notch. It made a big difference having Liddell in front of him for sure. Yes, he lost his man for the goal, but the size difference was too great and we let them get that ball in for Rovers to exploit that difference in height.

I thought Bertrand started of shakily, but given he's 18 and it was his first game for us it was to be expected, though I did think he got much better in the 2nd half. He needs to cut out losing the ball so much. However this will come and he could link up well with Taylor and overlap, though he is another tiny full back like Eardley.

Sheridan should have taken Kilkenny off in the 2nd. half as the lad was anonymous, not his fault as he had played an international in the week and subsequently it was announced that he's not been fit anyway. We were playing a man down basically in the 2nd. half and McDonald should have been on for Kilkenny not Kalala.

Taylor and Liddell were both good outlets on saturday, but they both always had two men on them unless their fullbacks overlapped which was rare, but both were getting balls into the box.

The biggest problem we have currently have is that we don't have that centre forward who will be there all the time, can win the headers and is the goal poacher, like Beckett. I am not sure of Ricketts yet, but he is not that out and out centre forward we need, neither is Davies, but Davies work rate and pace are far more threatening than Ricketts is. Sheridan should have taken Ricketts off much sooner as he was not really contributing to the team, plus he was a lucky boy when he went in studs up on that fella's knee. The two home games now I have seen him, Ricketts has been lucky to stay on the pitch. I understand that Sheridan likes his presence on the pitch and thinks he is a big strong lad who can win the ball, but that is not the case as the defence won the majority of headers and he was never at the front post for crosses so all these were easily cleared.

Maybe Lee Hughes will be this poacher we need, though I am sure he will take time. Maybe give Smalley or Wolfie a chance until then as for me they can't add less than Ricketts right now. However its early days and the team are getting used to each other. After all at this stage last season the table held no clues as to who was going up.

1. Port Vale 9pts
2. Notts Forest 9pts - PLAY OFFS
3. Chesterfield 7pts - RELEGATED
4. Brentford 7pts - RELEGATED
5. Brighton 7pts
6. Huddersfield 6pts
7. Bradford City 6pts - RELEGATED
8. Cheltenham 6pts
9. Leyton Orient 6pts
10. Yeovil Town 5pts - PLAY OFFS
11. Doncaster 4pts
12. Carlisle 4pts
13. Tranmere 4pts
14. Bristol City 3pts - PROMOTED
15. Oldham 3pts - PLAYOFFS
16. Gillingham 3pts
17. Scunthorpe 2pts - CHAMPIONS
18. Crewe 2pts
19. Swansea 1pt
20. Northampton 1pt
21. Bournemouth 1pt
22. Millwall 1pt
23. Blackpool 0pts - PLAY OFFS
24. Rotherham -7pts - RELEGATED

So let's wait a bit longer before we all start moaning about not getting promoted or getting relegated shall we? And let's be realistic.

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