That's been our problem all season. Good on possession but opposition always manage to create more chances the we do. I think we had the same problem last year, but we found the way to win due to the experience of the squad and the way we played, a lot of which we have lost this year.
Masterclass from Nichols yesterday, was a cut above anything we could offer. He doesn’t just score goals he links the play as good as anyone in the lower leagues. Not only has he 5 goals he also has 8 assists this season. He’s always right the top league assists chart and apart from his Bristol rovers stint his goals record is not too bad at all. I’d love to know what stats Wagmi deem as the important ones? I like to go with my eyes rather than Galleys spreadsheet approach, and I can see he’s a bloody good player. Apart from the season Telford scored 25, his goalscoring is hardly prolific, 0.11 per game which for a penalty taker as well isn’t great. Apart from goals in struggling to see what Dom offers to a game? Only a fool would compare the two though….hold on here comes Preston
This was very much more on the end of what Swindon fans had warned of, however one swallow doesn’t make a summer. On to Crewe
WAGMI OUT
Scott’s style of football will succeed! Swindon fans constantly abused the manager online over the way they played, but he always had them in and around the play offs!
Firstly, Sons FC Jr and I were visiting Gillingham for the first time and it is a decent ground. A bit squeezed into the surrounding houses but plenty of parking near the ground. The only issues were the open terracing for the away support, which made it difficult to create an atmosphere and the PA system, which was super loud and killed any pre-match atmosphere for both sides.
Overall though it was a game we could have won. In the first half, we had enough chances to be two or three ahead and we were controlling key areas of the pitch. The new midfield set up was a huge improvement. Instead of our midfield play being dependant on Jack Powell putting his foot on the ball and turning back, Gladwin, who I thought had an outstanding first half, Jenks and even Jack were faster and sharper than I have seen the midfield for some time, the movement was so much better and there was real energy in there.
I thought Gordon had a great game on his debut and was always looking to get forward and get crosses in and he was decent when defending. Corey had a good, confident game and pulled off two tremendous saves. Ludo slipped a few times but no real bomb scares from him and I though Conroy was clever and used his experience very well against opponents who were much taller.
Gladwin should have scored when he seemed to go round Glenn (hard to see exactly what happened from the other end of the pitch), and got the ball stuck under his feet. Glenn also made another great save during the half.
We started very well and within a minute, we had a glorious chance when Tom Fellowes was alone at the far post and just couldn't apply the finish. We were the better team for most of the first half and Gillingham struggled to match us. They did have one outstanding chance when their midfielder was through with Corey to beat and sliced the ball wide.
At half time it was looking good, although we missed some good chances. For Gillingham, Tom Nichols was outstanding - he was moving right along the front line and causing us problems, which we dealt with reasonably well but as we know he has this great knack of bringing players into the game and he did this very well.
That was it really. The second half we were nowhere. Gillingham came out fired up and pressed hard, which put us under pressure. After the goal we just seemed to stop playing. misplaced passes, poor long balls for Dom to watch sail over his head, no real cohesion, the players seemed to panic and we lost our rhythm.
We seemed to be pressed into our own half and nobody seemed to have the composure to put their foot on the ball and calm the game down.
Disappointing to lose but I was not too disheartened. Gillingham are a good team - some astute signings, including two of our best players and they will do very well in the remainder of the season. In the first half there were real positive signs that we are improving too. Up front is still an issue though - how to play Dom in effectively and give him the chances he needs.
Don't believe the stats either. They say we had five shots. Well, five shots that the stats man could see. We had a number of shots blocked on the edge of and in the area but these don't show in the stats, they had 14 shots (most not bothering Corey or the defence), eight on target - two great saves from Corey, the rest, routine gathers.
It was nice to see the reception for Tom Nichols and Glenn from our supporters - generous and welcome - it was not their fault they left the club - they didn't want to leave.
If we can keep up the first half performance, I have no real worries for the rest of the season - but it needs to be done.