A great night's work with a patched up match day squad. Pritchard was my MOTM. I also thought LJ managed the game well. Saturday is a good time to be playing Plymouth at home after tonight's romp.
Hopefully we have learned and keep the same starting 11 Saturday and keep the same intensity of pressing. Let the opposition worry about us
The pressing is the thing like and it's definitely a manager instruction. Sometimes we do it and sometimes we tick off and don't use a trigger. Today was full pelt all evening. It has to be that way.
Morecambe were not that good. Our attack was good Our defence was average... Quite a few put their hand up for MoM, Gooch ( for his attacking), Pritchard, good goal and as Danny C said he was ratting all game, Neil for being class all game.
Roker Report Player Ratings Ron-Thorben Hoffmann: 6/10 Another very quiet night for Hoffmann, had one comfortable save from a Stockton header in the second half, a couple of miscommunications with his distribution that he needs to tidy up but a comfortable night. Bailey Wright: 7/10 Obviously not a natural right back but was good defensively as you would expect and got forward to give Dajaku support, almost scored with an acrobatic effort in the first half! Tom Flanagan: 7/10 Very comfortable evening for Flanagan up against an in-form striker in Cole Stockton, snuffed out pretty much everything. Callum Doyle: 7/10 Another player with a comfortable evening, did not have a lot to do as Sunderland dominated but dealt with everything that came his way. Lynden Gooch: 9/10 Two early assists for Gooch who got us off to the perfect start thanks to his attacking efforts from left back, nothing to do defensively so was allowed to cause Morecambe problems all night. Dan Neil: 7/10 Curled an effort just wide in the first half, then showed his quick feet to set up Pritchard’s goal. Grew in confidence as the night wore on and was dictating play by the end. Alex Pritchard: 7/10 Another very good performance by Pritchard, got a deserved goal and knits together most of our attacks just behind the front two. Carl Winchester: 7/10 Hard working performance in the middle as he made sure Morecambe didn’t build any momentum, subbed off early and hopefully just to rest him ahead of the weekend. Leon Dajaku: 8/10 Caused the Morecambe right back problems all night, made one great run and tee’d up Stewart only for the striker to fire wide when he should have scored, put some good crosses and then scored the final goal of the night with a deflected effort. Ross Stewart: 7/10 Scored the opener following good movement to get on the end of Gooch’s cross, should have scored another from Dajaku’s pull back but a good all-round performance. Nathan Broadhead: 8/10 Two very well taken goals for Broadhead, got on the end of Gooch’s header for the first and then followed up Dajaku’s ball for the second. Subs Benjamin Kimpioka: 6/10 Came on with 15 minutes to go and was lively, was involved in the fifth goal and showed good desire to close down the visiting goalkeeper very late on. Aiden O’Brien: 6/10 Came on with the game won and set up Dajaku for the final goal of the game. Elliot Embleton: 6/10 Replaced Winchester with half-an-hour to go and followed up his good performance as a sub at the weekend with another one here. Man of the Match: Lynden Gooch There were some very good performances tonight but Gooch was the catalyst for our fast start, set up Broadhead early on only for the goalkeeper to save his effort and then two good crosses were followed up by Stewart and Broadhead to give us a lead we only ever looked like extending. All of that and from left back too.
Great night's work apart from a 10min spell in the first have. Some great attacking moves and very good goals. 90mins for Pritchard and Dajaku will do them the world of good. Broadhead and Pritchard were excellent and after a quietish start I thought Dan Neil dominated the midfield. Hopefully the knock Stewart took isn't too bad and I also noticed Winchester headed straight down the tunnel so hope he is ok for Saturday. KTF.
It's a pity about the incident, but I'm in that clip . . . . and it was nice to be back after more than 2 months off since my accident. It was also good to meet @cumbrianmackem, briefly, shortly before kick-off Apparently the flare wasn't thrown by Morecambe supporters . . . . there were some skunks in with the away fans. There was some activity after the match 'cos of it when our lads found out and sorted out the idiots
Enjoyed that good performances from quite a number of players. Gooch ,Broadhead, Neil, and I thought Dajaku had his best game for us today. Worked hard and always looking to make things happen. Cracking win and should put us in the right frame of mind for Saturday.
I thought they were awful but we were very good. Spotted the tactical plan early doors, a 4-4-2 but with Gooch pushing on when we had the ball to overload their RB, the RW no 24 wasn't tracking and thats exactly where the first two came from. The pressing meant they were forced to play at a tempo they simply weren't comfortable with which was great to see. Added the icing second half. Get the injured lads back in and we can 100% do it this year, especially with a couple of good additions in Jan.
when mine did that i had to wait till we lost afore i dare watch another game. cheers again RTB... what a difference eh? still some work needs doing with the defence but our attacking play left them with little to go at, still could/should have had a couple in the first half and made it another nervy game...in the end though, especially that third goal made it a joy to watch. think hoff had trouble keeping warm mind, only once i remember him having to dive, i think he knew it was wide but just wanted to do some 'goalie stuff'. lastly, those that turned up...so many games yet 26k still manage to make the effort in the middle of the week with a storm forecast, less than 3 weeks to xmas, hats off to every single one of you!!
Agree easily 8 maybe a 9. Gooch was great but I think I was so impressed as he rarely has the final ball and beating of his man so consistently for 90 mins.