Home win but obviously you'd expect me to say that. I think most City fans would agree that we've not really clicked at home yet, however, the only side to get anything from us at home this season by playing football have been Swindon (last night) and they needed 2 bites at a very generous last minute penalty to get a point, prior to that it's been the teams who have come to sit back, niggle and time waste who have gone home with anything and are the ones we seem to struggle against.
We'll be lining up 4231, we prefer possession but we've got a "big forrard" and some supporting pace up top so we're not afraid to mix it up and as a rule we don't opt for a high press but again, noticeably against Salford, we were able to change tack and press high up the pitch. At the moment we're rock solid defensively and Swindon's goal last night was the first we've conceded at home since the start of September when we've had our first choice CB's in the starting line up.
The team: Keeper - Harry Lewis, has been virtually flawless so far and is surely destined for bigger and better teams than us. Very calm and unflustered, he's two footed and his distribution is superb and a huge part of our attacking armoury. Full backs - Foulds (LB) & Halliday (RB), both very solid and not afraid to get forward. I suspect that there are better attacking full backs in L2 but they're both very decent defensively. Centre Backs - Critchlow & Platt, Critchlow (on loan from Huddersfield) is the smaller and faster of the pair and is great on the ball. Platt gets his head on stuff and clears up everything that Critchlow can't deal with, he's not got the ball playing skills of his defensive partner but he is still good on the ball. Defensive Midfield - Smallwood and either Gilliead or East. Smallwood managed 40+ games in the champ last season as Hull's captain and it shows. Unfussy, he stops the opposition playing, gets the ball and passes it on. Alongside him will probably be Gilliead who is a converted winger/no 10 enjoying a renaissance as a deeper lying midfielder who is a very good ball carrier or maybe Ryan East who is not as adept at carrying the ball but has a better range of passing. Attacking Midfield - Wright, Chapman & Pereira. Wright (on loan from Villa) is very quick and is one of those players who looks a threat every time they get the ball. Chapman is usually playing the 10 role and is playing very well at the moment but probably needs to add a few goals to his game if he wants to keep his place. Pereira (on loan from Luton) a really tricky 2 footed winger who can cut inside or go round the outside of defenders, he was superb for us at the end of last season but has not hit those heights yet since returning at the end of August. That said, he had his best game since his return on Tuesday night and if he does find his form there won't be many better players at this level. It's likely that all three will alternate positions throughout the game to keep your defenders guessing. Centre Forward - Andy Cook, big lad, scored 13 goals in 16 games and apparently has a better chance conversion rate than Haaland so far this season.
Don't be surprised to see the entire attacking line up changed during the course of the 2nd half. All City fans eyes will be on whether or not Jamie Walker makes the bench after getting injured in the 1st week of the season but unfortunately it might be a week or so too early for him (which would be fortunate for you guys). Scott Banks (on loan from Palace) is another who has just returned from injury, a quick left winger who plays on the right and has bag of tricks and an excellent set piece delivery. Lee Angol a tall pacey No 10 who hasn't scored yet this season but has been excellent coming off the bench in recent weeks after an indifferent start to the season and losing his place in the first XI. Vadaine Oliver is another option, he was brought in to be our first choice centre forward but Cook is undroppable at the moment so he's had to be content with a place on the bench and he has looked very motivated coming off the bench in recent weeks.