BFTMFG - Sunderland (H)

[Mr.T10]

Very good game. Some outstanding performances from the team. No one had a bad game for once! Leigertwood & Harte gave the ball a few times in stupid positions but other than that they had a good game.

Hope 'cup tied' Akpan is brilliant! My MOTM today as he did the simple things which in his position he needs to do and can pick a pass. Looking forward to see more from this lad.

Other outstanding performances: Mariappa, God (Kebe), McAnuff and Pog.

A difficult fixture up at Stoke, I am sure we will go for the win but would be very happy with a point.

[Mr.T10]

For those that still don't understand football, Pog was brilliant today. Peno aside he was like velcro and took so much pressure off the whole team in being so.

Agreed. Such a tough role to play and he was class today.

+1.

Wish we would play it more often into his feet.

+1. Pog was class and with out him we are far weaker as shown by earlier on the season. Total No 9's performance even sneaked in a strikers tackle

[2.8 lita injection]

The Pog was applauded off the field, so i think the majority appreciate his efforts.

He was superb today.

[The Beardy Man]

Horribly scrappy second half that could have gone either way.

Overall thought we edged it though, so just about worth the result.

Feds back to his best. Defence solid (Mariappa just getting better and better). Midfield all did ok, and a big shout to Akpan who didn't look at all out of place. Pog was exceptional up front, shame about that bloody stupid tackle.

Thought I have seen worse refs than that to be fair. Made a rod for his own back booking Jobi so early. Thought we made a decent Sunderland team look pretty ordinary.

Would have taken a point from that one before the game so great result.

[Snowball]

Very pleased early on and thought we looked very positive and full of confidence
but as the game wore on I thought we were lucky to be 1-1 at HT.

Felt certain Sunderland would get a second. Glad to be wrong!

Impressed with Akpan. Some excellent touches, one brilliant one.


8.0 Federici Kept us in touch v Chelsea, crucial saves today. Kicking VG
7.5 Kelly The way I like FBs to be, solid, safe, reliable, consistent at DEFENDING
8.0 Harte I'm amazed at how well he's doing, (thought he was way past it) plus another assist
7.5 Pearce His usual solid self. Not getting the luck when attacking ATM
8.0 Mariappa Forming a great partnership with Pearce

8.0 Leigertwood Key player including today. Wins so much, breaks up so much, lots of simple "ordinary" passes. One into the channels but Kebe flat-footed.
8.0 Akpan Elwood's son looks very assured and has a great future. Does simple stuff well, one brilliant touch.
8.0 McAnuff Worked his socks off today, especially in the last 30 minutes, played like a leader.
7.5 McCleary A 9 for the first 30 minutes but faded a little.
8.5 Kebe Plenty of candidates for MoM but Jimmy scored two and worked brilliantly in defence, esp last 20 mins.
7.5 The Pog A good 8, maybe 8.5 but a silly penalty to give away.

7.0 Le Fondre Didn't quite happen today. Thought the expectation might have weighed on him
?.? Blackman Looks like he will still fill out. Not enough time to make a real judgement

[BenReadingFC]

They loved Jimmy when he tweeted what he wants and pissed off the Geordies. I bet they hate him now.
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=757347

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Great result and team performance well worth the win even with Mason doing his best to f*ck it up for us.

McAnuff in midfield was excellent with Feds pulling off a couple of great saves.

[Royalclapper]

Tetchy opening few minutes to the game and then we settled the better. First time this season that we actually looked much the superior side in that opening half an hour. Good finish by Kebe and I thought we looked more likely to go on and score a second than they did equalising. Then a mad rush of blood to the head overcame Pog and it was correctly adjudged to be a pen, it looked unlikely that either side would do enough to push on and win it from being level at 1-1. Alas, a quality ball in from Harte and Kebe obliged - Bingo!

There were periods in the first half where it was like watching a tennis match the ball was being launched so much by both sides. It didn't look like Sunderland were going to come out and play so it was heartening to see us seize the initiative for once.

[windermere_royal]

Still waiting for knob head IDEAL to come on and tell is he was wrong about Pog, he was superb today apart from the rash tackle, surprised he was subbed because most of our good attacks went through him.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

I don't see how anyone can criticise Pog. He works his nuts off & is immense every game. Should be an interesting battle for him against Stoke...

[urz13]

We created so many more chances with Guthrie off the field! Akpan's pace and passing put us on the front foot and with fast-pace moves instead of Guthrie slowing the game down. Same starting XI vs Stoke please.
Feds 8
Harte 7
Mariappa 9 MOTM
Pearce 7
Kelly 7
McCleary 7
Akpan 8
Leigertwood 6
McAnuff 7
Kebe 9
Pog 8

Alf 6
Blackman 6

[ReadingJim]

Great win. Best part for me was seeing the team after the final whistle blew - they're psyched and hyped - they really believe now...

[Royal Prince]

Definitely had blinkered vision for the pen, as I remember thinking as Pog went in "oh crap, this isn't going to end well" only to be pleasently surprised that this tackle was fairly tame and he seemingly got most of the ball. Given the context of the tackle and the lack of malice/intent I was shocked to see it given. Oh well, as I said I must have been blinkered and I'm sure MOTD will show just how much so when I watch it back later.

Game itself was pretty even with some quality evident in both sides. Tbf we did enough to just edge it and justify the win, and I am so relieved the run continues.

My MOTM was Jobi. Very effective in the middle, provider of the first, and a real team player seemingly happy to play anywhere as long as he's involved. Akpan looked solid, as did Pog. Kebe was pedestrian at times but comes up with the magic when it's needed. Special mentions to Feds and both centre backs who were rock solid.

[BenReadingFC]

Great win. Best part for me was seeing the team after the final whistle blew - they're psyched and hyped - they really believe now...

I believe, Do you?

[AthleticoSpizz]

I believe Legs was worth a 7

[windermere_royal]

I believe Legs was worth a 7

Greed, I thought he did well today.

[BenReadingFC]

I believe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuTi3f6CrgI&t=1m31s

[BenReadingFC]

Jimmy's Winning Goal

[2.8 lita injection]

thank you Ben

[andrew1957]

I think everyone had a good game today.

Fed was outstanding in goal.
Kelly looks solid - as did all the back 4.
McCleary looks a threat
Legs is so much better than many here give credit for. He had a bad patch but is back to his best.
Akpan looks a great young player - could be the buy of the season
McAnuff was superb today - best central midfield performance he has played for us
Kebe was excellent and is definitely playing the best football he ever has at RFC
Pog was great apart from his momentary lapse.

And I thought the ref did ok. Much better than many we have had - as usual there were a few strange decisions but good on the whole.

Brian - all those who wanted him sacked before Christmas should hang their heads in shame.