Re: EDS/Academy Games
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 7:23 pm
Douglas Higginbottom wrote:Sad day for City that they can't cope with allowing fans in for an 18's game. The only people allowed in were family and even then only if there name was on a list. One family turned up with an extra member ( 4 years old) and they wouldn't let him in! The people on the gate ( not their fault of course) didn't really know why we couldn't go in but just that we couldn't.
Utd fans, not that many, just thought it was laughable. Hard to know what to say but just agree. So I watched the match from close to the gate I wasn't allowed through and although it was a distance away I could see enough to get a good feel of what was going on. I think Utd deserved it when they went in front. Good goal from their perspective but we just allowed their best player to run on and score. Never a good plan.
We didn't have either Sancho or Diaz so missing the magic they produce but the equaliser from Nmecha. Not sure who played the ball down the inside right channel for him to fire low and hard across the keeper. An even game after that to half time. Davenport off and Smith on was the only change I could see at half time. Utd took the lead after some passing round the back went horribly wrong. Yoo far away for me to see much but we clearly lost the ball and the next thing I see is the ball saining from their left into an empty net, with no keeper in view.
Utd hadnt been looking that good till then and for a few minutes I was really worried but we steadied it and then plenty started happening. The goal we scored came from a hopeful cross but at least one that landed in a good area. It was quite windy so easy to misjudge and the loose ball fell to Nmecha who scored easily. After that we had 3 1 on 1's.The keeper saved two. Wilson was one but I am not sure about the other and then Nmecha scraped the post with the other.
Throw in a few great breaks we had which looked like we must score but somehow the final pass was simply bad. Utd also threatened on the break on one occasion I was amazed we somehow kept it out. I was surprised at 2.1 that Utd took off their best attacking player which said a lot about their thinking. maybe 2.2 a fair result but those chances we missed in the last 20 was quite annoying.
Not as annoying though as City being unable to handle an 18's game with fans.
I've just watched extended highlights on Kodi courtesy of MUTV, Doug. Why can't City provide footage.?
Anyway their goal came through Gomez, who seemed to be a handful all game. On first look it was s really good run at the centre of our defence and a well placed shot, but seeing the replay, our defence stood off and there wasn't a tackle to be seen and thd shot was quite close to Muric, who perhaps was s little unsighted.
Our equaliser was all Nmecha who picked the ball up about 23 yards out at the left corner of their box and ran straight through the heart of them, laid off a one-two and received it back perfectly weighted from Foden and he rifled a shot into the bottom left corner.
We seemed to have the better of the half after that with Coveney hitting the woodwork twice.
Their second was nightmare stuff with us doing the stupid nonsensical triangles at the back that we see with the first team.
Muric to Coveney back to Muric who for some reason hesitates then rolls it back towards Coveney again who wasn't looking for it and was closely attended by two United players. He lunges a tackle towards the ball before the United player can get to it but lifts a perfectly placed shot high over Muric and into the net. The ball should not have been given back to him, but I really don't know what he thought he was doing belting it back at the goal.
The equaliser came with Bolton putting a really dangerous ball in from the right causing havoc and the impressive Nmecha pouncing in the six yard area to place it in the right corner.
Nmecha looked odds on to get his hatrick but skied one over the bar after great individual work having been put through by Foden another he put wide of the post again being put through by Foden and the other was an excellent save by Richardson.
United had their chances to win also hitting the post and Muric coming to the rescue with a really good double save from close range.
All in all it looked like s draw was fair enough and to be fair to MUTV the commentary was very evenhanded and the interview with the United coach, also reflected well on both teams.