It was terrible. Right up until their goal we were sat back offering nothing going forward, and defensively we looked poor. Palmer and Dabo for them looked well up for it. Tommy Smith unfortunately is not the answer in this system. I'm sure he tried his best but he was shyte. Crooks looked clueless without Jones next to him. Whenever we got the ball in their final third, he was looking for that Jones run, which Smith was not able to provide. I think it was Dijksteel who was overlapping to try help them out, but he didn't really make himself useful. The team's overall passing remains poor, and Coventry outfought us all over the pitch. Gykores obviously a handful but we didn't do too bad in shackling him, bar of course, the obvious 17th minute head in hands moment.
First half was really bad. The only chance we had that I can recall was Muniz volley when it fell to him that went straight at the keeper. Happened so quick I'm not sure if he really could've done much better, looked like all he could do was react with a shot and we just didn't get that bit of luck. Not that we would've deserved it.
Second half was a bit more positive. We had about a 10 or 15 minute spell where we were on top and I thought if we got the goal then we'd have took the game by the scruff of the neck and won it. This was when Jones and Giles came onto the pitch, both of whom should've been in the starting XI. We moved the ball a lot better. My only criticism of Giles is when the ball fell to him in the box and he brought it down. The lad is either scared to have an effort or prefers an assist to a goal, because he should've broke the back of the net, but instead opted to square it to Crooks or Akpom or whoever it was. The ball bobbled behind our man, and the chance was lost. Our big problem in the second half was actually getting an effort on goal. We moved the ball around better and got some crosses in the box but we ultimately failed to create a clear cut chance. I'd say at a push we deserved a point, but we were miles off deserving all three.
I've now pretty much lost all hope and faith. Driving down there I didn't want to predict a Boro win, because our recent form suggests that's ever so unlikely. No clue how we're going to do in these next few games. I said before the match I'd give Wilder till the world cup, then we'll have had just about half a season. Woodgate somehow had about 37 odd games of a relegation scrap when he should've been sacked 15 games in. I'll now give Wilder till the end of the month, which takes us to when the whistle is blown at Deepdale. That's already bringing back bad memories from May. But if we lose to Birmingham on Wednesday night I'll be edging closer to calling for his head.