| Accrington Stanley 1 |
| Andrews 66 |
| Bradford City 1 |
| Pattison 45 |
| City win 4-1 on penalties |
By Gareth Walker
Here are a few snippets from a comment that I made on Saturday night.
“…If we’re playing three CBs then Odusina and Kelly as options for the left are fine, Stubbs and Platt for the centre are fine but we have nobody for the right. Why have we signed Taylor who is both terrible and can only play in the centre where we already have Stubbs & Platt? We ended up putting Oyegoke on the right of the three when he should be at WB & we’ve played Ridehalgh and Halliday at WB when both can only play FB. It’s square pegs in round holes and it’s a real mess.
“….last season our defensive unit was pretty solid and arguably the best part of our team yet he’s decided to change it.….”
“….Why has Hughes tried to reinvent the wheel from last season when all that was really needed was a couple of tweaks? A more front foot approach from him and greater output from the three AMs behind Cook really would have been enough…”
***
Looking at social media it was an opinion shared by much of the fanbase and it’s one that last night’s penalty shoot out victory over Accrington Stanley did little to change.
The performance was better than the Crawley one and I came away far more encouraged than I’d been feeling on Saturday night.
Jamie Walker, Alex Pattison, Clarke Oduor and Andy Cook were all excellent whilst at the back Sam Stubbs and Matt Platt, despite playing out of position as the right sided centre back were an improvement on Ash Taylor and Daniel Oyegoke.
Sadly there is a “but” coming. We still had Liam Ridehalgh and Brad Halliday as wing backs and Platt was the right sided CB when he’s clearly more suited to being in the centre (just like Stubbs and Taylor).
This meant that we looked a little disjointed, particularly early on and Accrington caused us plenty of problems.
This was an Accrington side which made eight changes to their team from the one that hammered Newport 3-0 at the weekend, their defence had three new starters and the overall average age of their team was 23 despite including Shaun Whalley at the ripe old age of 36.
To describe it as a “youth team” might be unfair but it was far from Stanley’s first choice XI and they more than held their own against our more familiar names.
Harry Lewis was arguably called into action more often than his opposite number Toby Savin as our threatening play didn’t result often enough in a shot at goal.
Lewis made two or three excellent saves one in particular in the second half from the evergreen Whalley.
The City goal came from a great finish by Pattison after he broke clear on goal from Cooks flick on.
The pair along with the tricky and determined Walker and the quick and willing Oduor looked a threat every time that they came forward.
The Stanley equaliser came from a quickly taken corner after an excellent Lewis save following a quick counter attack. It was a firm header from Birmingham City loanee Josh Andrews, although Mark Hughes bemoaned the lack of defensive organisation as the home side took advantage whilst Cook was off the pitch getting his head bandaged for a second time.
Stubbs meanwhile also finished the game wearing a head dressing.
Cook was later to take over as captain following the withdrawal of the disappointing Richie Smallwood. The second time that the City skipper has been subbed off in two games.
As the game wore on the teams tired and despite City looking the more likely it was no surprise when penalties were needed to decide the tie.
Cook, Alex Gilliead, Walker and Oduor all despatched successfully for the Bantams whilst Jack Nolan and poor Korede Adedoyin, in comical fashion, missed for Accy. The Adedoyin slip will be one of those clips thats developed into a social media meme or comedy gaff footage for years to come.
Where this result leaves City probably depends on what side of the “happy clapper / doom monger” divide you sit on.
Overall we edged the game with an improved performance from Saturday and are in the next round of the cup with the prospect of a financially beneficial home tie to come.
However, the questions regarding the switch to a 3-5-2 formation still remain and it’s clear that if Hughes is going to stick with it then we’re going to need more signings if we are to stop playing square pegs in round holes
Categories: Match Reviews
widthofapost.com 
A win is a win.
And we go into tonight’s draw.
The rest is early season.performsnces mean little.
Let’s have a look after 10 to 15 games.
We will see east have then in terms of our players and what other teams are doing.
What is wrong with Smallwood ?
He’s been awful so far this season
Injuries?
Ned a new captain?
He was most of last season to be honest, I couldn’t believe he wasn’t dropped for a bit, saying that he improved a bit second half of the season.
Maybe I was expecting too much from him because of the level he previously played at but haven’t been impressed at all by him.
Kevin McDonald could comfortably take on his role if he doesn’t buck up. No doubt he’ll be given some time on from the bench in the next week or so. Then we directly compare.
I agree we don’t quite have the players for what I would think of as a 3 5 2. Halliday and Ridehalgh, plus Hendrie, all very solid and decent on the ball but not ‘wing backs’. Not that we are really playing 3 5 2 with only one striker.
The game for me had a pre-season feel until Walker got clattered and then it was a decent watch. Typical of this level that either side could have won, neither dominated at any stage.
What we lack for me is pace. Not just down the flanks but throughout. We looked solid but slow, particularly at the back.
The most impressive element last night was Walker and Pattison linking up with Smallwood behind and Cook in front, both looking sharp and committed. Oduor looked promising too.
Also 4 very coolly taken penalties.
Do not understand the criticism of Smallwood – he played well. Remember they analyse fitness and potential issues and I’d imagine the plan was to give him 70odd minutes.
A win is a win – onwards. We are 2 games into a long season.
The worry I have is exactly the same as your article clearly points out. The point of a back three and two wingback is to add to the potency of an attacking approach. It only works if you have the right personnel. Most supporters see this! So why doesn’t Mark see what we see. The team we have atm suits simple back four approach. So why not play that formation? Accrington had 8 changes with average age of 23 (increased by 36 year Whalley). On paper, City should have won comfortably. By all accounts Accrington was the better team!
Saturday, we play Colchester. If we play the we have so far this season, we will struggle and I expect Colchester to take advantage.
The criticism I have with Mark’s tactics, he is stubborn and will not be flexible and will carry on irrespective of the result or performance. I understand that he needs to change things, but if you do not have the tools to do the job then go out and get them. It’s no good using a screw drive to hammer a nail in.
The majority of Accrington’s attacks, including what led to their goal, exploited the space at right back where there was a large gap behind the “wing back”
The requirement for proper wing backs with pace is real. Not a fad.
Oh and city’s goal. Not quite the intricate pass and move philosophy which apparently hughes is trying to get out of them. (not that I’m complaining)
Why don’t we just play a back 4 seen as we don’t have the wing backs or centre backs to play a 3?
It’s not like Halliday and ridleigh are any good going forward so we don’t really gain anything from the new formation…