2-2 at home to Man City today was a good result for a couple of reasons. Firstly after being so toothless going forward last weekend it was nice to get a couple of goals, and secondly even though there have only been two rounds of matches it's nice not to be sat at the very bottom of the league table. Being bottom after two games certainly wouldn't have been any reason to panic but it would have added to the pressure on the new boss and his developing side. To be totally honest if I'd been offered a draw before the game I would've been sorely tempted to take it, though with ten minutes to go I was after nothing but the three points. And up to that point we deserved them.
Quick, confident passing coupled with patient build up play gave us a first half performance to be proud of and real reason for optimism for the rest of the season. Special mention has to go to 17 year old Raheem Sterling, it certainly wasn't a low key game in which to give the youngster his first Premier League but he didn't look out of place or overwhelmed by the occasion or his illustrious opponents. He's obviously a long way off the finished article but the promise is there and the manager and his team mates clearly have faith in him.
The opening goal was enjoyable, a bullet header from Martin Skrtel from a pinpoint Steven Gerrard corner. I love seeing a really powerful header and Joe Hart had absolutely no chance of stopping it. Skrtel finding the space was a result of City's zonal marking system, giving the Slovakian a running jump against the standing leap of the defenders, only ever going to be one winner there.... Interestingly enough Man City actually managed to win the title last season despite using zonal marking when defending corners, anybody listening to the pundits version of our defending under Rafa Benitez would find this impossible to believe, such a heinous crime was this method of defending..
The second half saw us going for a second goal and certainly not settling for a 1-0 win but unfortunately it was the visitors who scored next. Tevez got himself one on one with Raheem Sterling on the City right wing and put his cross in, the ball just skimmed the top of Skrtel's head taking it inches away from Pepe Reina's hand, bouncing off Martin Kelly and straight into the path of Yaya Toure who couldn't really miss. At first it looked like pretty poor defending but on closer inspection there wasn't really much more any of our defenders could do. But after being pegged back to 1-1 by the reigning champions it was a case of seeing how we would respond.
Three minutes later we had the answer. A fortunately awarded free kick after a handball by Jack Rodwell (refs don't seem to give him the benefit of the doubt against us..) gave us a chance 30 yards from goal and with Gerrard and Suarez standing over the ball we had options. Suarez took it, bent it low around the wall and into the bottom corner beyond the dive of Joe Hart. It was the only place the ball could have crept in and Suarez could not have placed it any better, it was truly inch perfect. Even more impressive than the strike was our response to it, there was no sign of settling for the one goal advantage and we continues to carry a greater attacking threat than our opponents.
Ten minutes from the end Skrtel received the ball from Reina towards the left touchline and under pressure from City attackers decided to attempt to keep possession for the team, and rather than hoofing the ball forward he tried to play it back to our 'keeper but it was intercepted by Tevez who made the most of the gift, 2-2. It's the second time in two games Skrtel has been caught out and cost us a goal but other than the one mistake he was excellent today and after his performances last season the fans certainly won't turn on him after a couple of errors the way they do at some other clubs. The intelligent passing game may not be entirely suited to the big defender's game but he's good enough and intelligent enough to adapt and I'm sure he'll be a key player for us in the new era.
Slightly more composed defending would have seen us win comfortably today against a top quality side and despite the dropped points the overriding feeling after the game is one of optimism and hope, rather than the 'oh no, here we go again' feeling that followed the majority of our home draws and defeats over the last three seasons.
Joe Allen was awarded man of the match for his accurate passing and his ability to read the game. He already looks a good signing and appears to have settled in pretty quickly. A player with his ability to pick out another red shirt can be invaluable, but he can only ever be as good as his team mates let him be. If players make intelligent forward runs into space for him to find he can be another Xabi Alonso for us. If his team mates don't make that sort of run and he is restricted to merely sideways and backwards passes he would be more like another Jamie Redknapp, good but not as creative as his talents suggest he should be.
All in all a positive afternoon in the Sunday afternoon sunshine, and if we can carry that sort of form into our forthcoming fixtures our results will improve. Coates did well deputising for Daniel Agger and Jose Enrique made a late return from injury so the future is looking bright. Hopefully Lucas' injury isn't too severe, though Jonjo Shelvey performed very well after replacing the Brazilian. Brendan Rodgers can be pleased with and proud of the majority of his first afternoon's work at his new home, and long may it continue.
No comments:
Post a Comment