" Player ratings and thoughts v Burnley "

Firstly a very poor game, it lacked any type of quality throughout the game


Marshall 6 – A few good saves, not a lot to say about him really but a good clean sheet

Kev 6 – dodgy start but grew into the game, put a few poor balls into the box but a few good ones. Two very good interceptions in the last ten mins that otherwise could have cost us our point.

Hudson 6 – Defence were pretty solid without standing out, unlucky with a good over head kick.

Turner 6 – solid without being spectacular.

Taylor 6 – kept trying and we got a clean sheet but his crossing was woeful today although he had only Miller to aim for who was usually surrounded by a number of defenders

Cowie 4 – really poor today, looked way off the pace, his reactions, passing and general play was not good enough

Witts 5 – did ok, passing was decent, won a few headers, nothing special

Lawrence 5 – generally poor, I don’t see what he offers us that other players we already have don’t. He played the holding role at the start of the game and was awful, a few good passes but the rest of his play was poor. A bit better when he moved out wide but doesn’t have the pace to beat his man

Gunarrson 5 – what happened to his direct running? Seems stuck in a rut at the moment, he needs more freedom that a McPhail or a kiss could give him.

Mason 5 – Poor game, poor touch just not good enough today. He came out the second half with his head down and that sums up his performance, needs to be taken out the firing line.

Miller 6 MOTM – only player to keep the ball really in the game, no one supporting him or anywhere near him for most of the game. I felt we started to threaten when he put Mason up top with Miller but then MM took off Miller for Earnie and we were back to squad one unable to hold up the ball again.

Conway 6 – Should be starting, simple as that.
Earnie 4 – Unable to hold onto the ball, missed the chance of the game (If Miller had missed it we would have 10 threads on it right now)
Mcphail 4 – the ten mins will do him good but no effect on the game.

MM 5
Firstly he got the starting formation wrong IMO, the players we started with would have done a lot better if they just pushed up Mason alongside Miller from the start.
Subs – I said just before the Conway sub that I would take off Cowie and bring on Conway and push Mason upfront so was pleased when he did, I felt it worked as well but the good work of the initial sub was ruined by the Earnshaw sub. He couldn’t keep hold of the ball and it just kept on giving it back to them. Surely at 0-0 it would have been worth going with Mason, Miller and Earnie.
The problem – Miller has no support what so ever and we are not getting enough players in the box, no one from midfield is taking the gamble to join in with attacks.

Ref 3 – it didn’t impact on the result but the ref gave them a free kick everytime they went down and the assistant infront of the Ninian was just awful.

Luke worked this afternoon so couldnt make the game so cant comment.
but i did listgen to the first half on radio wales, and they were amazed as to why Lawrence was being played infront of the back 4. Saying his final ball and crossing abitlity is superb at this level and would be a great asset out wide

Luke worked this afternoon so couldnt make the game so cant comment.
but i did listgen to the first half on radio wales, and they were amazed as to why Lawrence was being played infront of the back 4. Saying his final ball and crossing abitlity is superb at this level and would be a great asset out wide

He looks awful infront of the back four, to slow, doesnt tackle, some dodgy passing as well.
He did look better out wide but his pace or lack of is a problem as is the number of people we were getting into the box.

I dont think a lot can be said about Earnie in fairness. The balls people were trying to play into him were awful.
Conway was the only player that looked like doing something but some times our players kept playing it inside to Gunnarsson who was shit today.
Also I dont know how long we can go with players playing out of position. Mason, Lawrence, Cowie and Whitts were out of position.

Again the players looked tired and your spot on for saying miller is getting absolutely no support from midfield,wittingham is being told to play in front of the back four but i really expected so much better from gunnarsson and cowie especially,would favour kiss or mcphail over liam lawrence without a doubt
Mason was poor and earnie should have scored with a free header.
For Lee Grant to have not made a save during the game when 4th place was achievable was bitterly disappointing

I dont think a lot can be said about Earnie in fairness. The balls people were trying to play into him were awful.
Conway was the only player that looked like doing something but some times our players kept playing it inside to Gunnarsson who was shit today.
Also I dont know how long we can go with players playing out of position. Mason, Lawrence, Cowie and Whitts were out of position.

i dont think any of our midfield have an idea of where the should be playing... they looked like a school play yard where everybody went where the ball was...

I dont think a lot can be said about Earnie in fairness. The balls people were trying to play into him were awful.
Conway was the only player that looked like doing something but some times our players kept playing it inside to Gunnarsson who was shit today.
Also I dont know how long we can go with players playing out of position. Mason, Lawrence, Cowie and Whitts were out of position.

i dont think any of our midfield have an idea of where the should be playing... they looked like a school play yard where everybody went where the ball was...

agreed with this...running as a pack...ball chasing...

Agree with Lawrence. I just can't see what he brings too our game. Is he the type of player we really need? I don't think so.