Well it wasn't a classic, by any stretch of the imagination. I didn't think we played our best football today but we certainly defended well, and managed to weather the storm in those frantic opening fifteen minutes and composed ourselves.
I'm most annoyed about the fact they were awarded that free kick, which they went on to score from. For me this sums up why we haven't won at the pit in 15 years (it's got nothing to do with our mentality). There was a clear (clearer than clear) foul on Barry just before it, the referee was not paying attention or daydreaming or something and so completely ignores it, play continues and then they get a soft free kick. Regardless of whether you think Baines fouled Balotelli, play should have been stopped, they shouldn't have had a free kick, full stop. In a tight, nervy game, it's those little things that give you an advantage, and we never get them, and that is what prevents us from winning these games. I bet MOTD edit this out tonight, or at least completely gloss over it. Just such a shame, because we defended resolutely throughout the game, and that last minute screamer could have been a smash and grab winner and not just an equaliser.
We got squat all day from the referee, as per usual, the vast majority of 50/50s went their way, and the ref bottled our early penalty shout, despite being more than happy to brandish an early yellow against Barry moments before with hesitation. It's just typical really, I don't think we played great, but I'd love to go there one day and just get some fair treatment, doesn't seem a lot to ask for.
Oh yeah and
at the Kopites in the pub were I was watching it cheering when Mirrallas pulls his hamstring, what sort of disgusting people are these? They never cease to infuriate me in new ways.
Personnel-wise, I liked Martinez's formation, he was obviously forced to play Hibbert, but the choice to bring in Besic was a good one I thought. McGeady for me was the biggest let down, can't wait for Pienaar to be back, as he will keep McGeady out of the team or make him step up a gear. I thought Martinez waited far too long to make the Eto'o change, and I also thought that Lukaku should have been moved back into the centre after 60 minutes, but other than that it was a good game plan and we were just let down in the final third of the pitch.
The game was essentially a stalemate, whilst they had much more clear chances, we defended well and stayed composed. Thought we just lacked in the final third today, Mirrallas coming off killed our pace on the break.
