chuffed with our performance today, ok we have to recognise that without the ball they were a limited team, but the playing through the lines was superb, asked them loads of questions and 5 wouldn't have flattered us.
Steffen 7.5 - one great save, distributed it fairly well, overhit a couple of passes, but I'd rather he under hit than over hit. They tried to bully him from set pieces, but he stood up to the challenge and punched every cross.
Smith 8 - Superb, their threat was down his side but and he didn't close down a half chance quick enough, but other than that his energy was important. made 98 passes today, 98!
McNair 8 - stood up to a bit of physical manhandling and came through it on top. Showed a great range of passing as you expect from him
Lenihan 9 - Leadership, control, calmness. Breezed through this game
Giles 7.5 - a bit of a quieter game than recently, but always a threat, got forward got some good balls in
Hackney 8 - never a yellow, he won the ball, but he got through loads of work and was as usual dominant in dictating the pace of the game, 94% passing accuracy today
Howson 8 - some great little give and go, and round the corner passing, shame he hasn't got the legs to go beyond last defenders these days
Forss 7.5 - caused them problems all afternoon by keeping it simple and direct running at his fullback. Took a heavy whack on his ankle though
Akpom 9 - he was unplayable, just too clever with his moment, too good a touch. Playing with his head up all day
McGree 10 - outstanding workrate, great touches, really clever getting between the lines, prompted all our best attacks. Really becoming a player now
Archer 7.5 - touch let him down a couple of times, but he was just a waspish annoyance all game, running in behind, using his pace and power to frighten the life out of them. I'd like to see him get tat first goal, because once he gets a sniff of goals, I think we'll go up a level again.
Suns: Barlaser looked good on the ball and won a couple of tackles, we just carried on where we left off, when he came on. Jones, ran at his man and kept it simple, Bola went on a couple of attacking runs, and Mowatt shored it up when Howson was given a rest.
No negatives from anyone today, everyone did their bit