Player Ratings v Boro

Firstly well done to the players, not the most beautiful game to watch but they worked so hard, blocked and pressed, sure passion at the end. We had all the excuses under the sun if we needed them - losing three players to injuries, the ref was a disgrace throughout but instead of looking for excuses we kept going and going and this will be a huge three points.
Player ratings

Marshall 6 – A Clean Sheet but flapped a bit to much today and his kicking was unusually poor.

Taylor 6 – wasn’t really on long enough to judge

Turner N/A – but an excellent challange early on when boro seemed through

Hudson 9 – Brilliant captain, excellent defender and top quality performance.

Connally 7 – Did well, got his goal and helped out in a tight defensive unit.
Kim 7 – Not at his sharpest but some decent work, being forced into the middle with Witts was always going to be very tough and he looked a little lost but kept working and will get better.

Witts 7 – Wasnt afraid to make a challenge and we needed that, worked harder than I’ve seen him and his usual passing.

Gunnarrson 7 – Thought he did well but I think he was carrying that injury quite a while before he was subbed but with two subs already done he soldiered on a while longer.

Noone 7 – I felt he was a little blunt in attack, but his work ethic was excellent and his covering top notch

Mason 6 – His general player was decent, but never really looked like scoring and he really really needs to toughen up a hell of a lot

Helguson 7 – Should have scored and didn’t get much luck out of the boro No 3 but kept going and certainly didn’t shirk any challanges.

SUBS
Nugent 8 – Thought he was superb, when he came on he looked a little nervous which is understandable but Hudson and the lads kept talking to him, made an early mistake but learnt from it quickly.

Ralls 7 – As above, he isn’t a LB but got stuck in for the team, got forward well. Some of his position play a little off but that was to be expected.

Bellamy 4 – I guess he is still injured because that simply was not good enough. My biggest hate in football is players strolling back from an attack and then remaining in an offside position when the second attack is in process, this is purely down to lazyness and Bellamy got caught a number of times.

Can't argue with them. Whitts work rate was immense. So maybe an 8.
Nugent really impressed. Helguson worked himself to the ground.
Superb team effort. Play for one another.
Hudson was superb. His own performance and the way he spoke to the youngsters either side.
Everyone was superb.
Atmosphere was brilliant. Sarcastic applause for the referee tickled me.
I'm very happy tonight. Felt like the old city was back. Bit of balls sack in our fans today !!!

Marshall 6 – Needs a few more clean sheet to get his confidence up
Taylor 5 – Boro targeted him again.
Turner - 6
Hudson 10 – Awesome
Connally 8 – Centre half to me , maybe better than Turner
Kim 6 – Doubt he has done as much defending in all his player time before he came here. I would play him instead of Mason next week
Witts 9 – Starting to be a midfield general
Gunnarrson 8 – Love the tough little bugger
Noone 6– Didn't enjoy the wing back role when using 3 centre halfs
Mason 5 – Not sure what he gives us. A bit of a passenger
Helguson 8 – Best display from him- shagged by the end of the game

SUBS
Nugent 8 – Can see why we haven't rushed into buying a centre half
Ralls 8 – sometimes out of position- his head never dropped, showed some guts- bright future
Bellamy 6 - Scares the opposition

Can't argue with them. Whitts work rate was immense. So maybe an 8.
Nugent really impressed. Helguson worked himself to the ground.
Superb team effort. Play for one another.
Hudson was superb. His own performance and the way he spoke to the youngsters either side.
Everyone was superb.
Atmosphere was brilliant. Sarcastic applause for the referee tickled me.
I'm very happy tonight. Felt like the old city was back. Bit of balls sack in our fans today !!!

Whitts a definite 9 for me.

I prob was a little harsh on Witts thinking back.

I shall upgrade him to an 8

Marshall 6 – Made one or two good saves
Taylor 6 – Not really on long enough
Turner - 4 - Same as taylor but shorter
Hudson 9 3/4 – Outstanding captains performance
Connally 9 – Brilliant, Qprs loss is cardiff gains
Kim 7 – Doesnt lose the ball, looks comfortable on the ball, but needs to shoot more
Whitts 9 – Does what he wants
Gunnarrson 7/8 – Had a good go out, good perfomance
Noone 5– Thought he was dreadful, and how he was mom I don't know but moaning aside still rate him highly
Mason 6 – Same as noone really, but at least Mason didnt lose the ball cheaply
Helguson 8 –Cardiffs warrior

SUBS
Nugent 8 – Cracking performance by this boy, he's going to be a cracker
Ralls 8 – Deserves nothing less, out of position, got caught one or two but gave his all fairness to the lad, good display
Bellamy 5 - Didnt really do anything

whitts was excellent, hudson a powerhouse, came back on after injury. covered in vaseline, what the hell went on in that dressing room

For me Bellamy did well and it wasn't a case of being lazy and not tracking back. He's been out for weeks and simply isn't match fit

Hudson 9 3/4 – Outstanding captains performance

Fan of Harry Potter are you

Marshall 6 – Made one or two good saves
Taylor 6 – Not really on long enough
Turner - 4 - Same as taylor but shorter
Hudson 9 3/4 – Outstanding captains performance
Connally 9 – Brilliant, Qprs loss is cardiff gains
Kim 7 – Doesnt lose the ball, looks comfortable on the ball, but needs to shoot more
Whitts 9 – Does what he wants
Gunnarrson 7/8 – Had a good go out, good perfomance
Noone 5– Thought he was dreadful, and how he was mom I don't know but moaning aside still rate him highly
Mason 6 – Same as noone really, but at least Mason didnt lose the ball cheaply
Helguson 8 –Cardiffs warrior

SUBS
Nugent 8 – Cracking performance by this boy, he's going to be a cracker
Ralls 8 – Deserves nothing less, out of position, got caught one or two but gave his all fairness to the lad, good display
Bellamy 5 - Didnt really do anything

Agree with all that, although Turners tackle before he went off made his worth a 5 and bellers will have a 6 because of the pace he offered

For me Bellamy did well and it wasn't a case of being lazy and not tracking back. He's been out for weeks and simply isn't match fit

Thats fine but giving away those needless free kicks because he was offside just kept putting more and more pressure on ourselves.
MM said ideally he would have only have given him 10mins but I dont see why Frei didnt come on in that case and play central

Marshall
Taylor 6
Turner 6 - Neither him or Taylor on long enough, but both did okay
Hudson 9 – Gave the ball away once or twice, long balls didn't work. Otherwise excellent again
Connolly 7
Kim 7
Whitts 9 – Passing was superb again, looked faster and his work rate was excellent
Gunnarrson 8
Noone 6
Mason 6 Made some great runs, unfortunate not to win a penalty
Helguson 7 - Should have scored, wasn't really his day but a warrior

SUBS
Nugent 7 – Looked ropey at times but did really well in the circumstances. Going to be good for us
Ralls 7 – sometimes out of position, but he's not even a LB. Did well though, got forward well
Bellamy 6 - First game back so wasn't match fit, but you could see how good a player he was even when he had something simple to do

did you see in the second half. with bellamy on there big black guy no3 i think, he ushered the ball out with his arms/ hands

For me Bellamy did well and it wasn't a case of being lazy and not tracking back. He's been out for weeks and simply isn't match fit

Thats fine but giving away those needless free kicks because he was offside just kept putting more and more pressure on ourselves.
MM said ideally he would have only have given him 10mins but I dont see why Frei didnt come on in that case and play central

Must admit I didn't expect to see Bellamy once we had the 2 forced subs. Frei could have been a good shout but at least it worked out

Marshall (8) A clean sheet rewards a strong rate.

Taylor (5) Went off early on.
Turner (6) Went off early on but made a cracking challenge.
Hudson (9) True leader. Proper captain performance.
Connolly (8) Took his goal well and done well.

Noone (7) He done well but didn't cross enough or really have a shot.
Whittingham (8) Passing was brilliant and dominated the central midfield area.
Gunnarsson (7) Looked injured which made him lose energy to carry on but he did and done well.
Kim (7) Didn't see much but the nutmeg got the crowd going.

Mason (7) Could of had tons of chances if the midfield released the ball quicker on attack.
Helguson (7) Battled well and could of done better with his head at the end.


Subs:-

Nugent (8) Excellent and was soild.. to step in at his age in a top 3 table clash then it ent easy but he looked confident.

Ralls (9) Deserves massive credit for stepping in at left back. To get on with a job in defence at his age was brilliant. Says a lot if a player will step in a position and shows he really will do the job anywhere.

Bellamy (5) Nothing special today but nice to get a run out ready for next game.

Jordan Rhodes 10 . - Sorry wrong Boro

Jordan Rhodes 10 . - Sorry wrong Boro

Bet you enjoyed that one bet the tissues are out

Jordan Rhodes 10 . - Sorry wrong Boro

Bet you enjoyed that one bet the tissues are out

They were and more to come

Jordan Rhodes 10 . - Sorry wrong Boro

Bet you enjoyed that one bet the tissues are out

If/when he scores against us they will be sad tissues not happy tissues

At one point after an attack today which didn't work out for us, rather than get back Bellamy spent a good 20-30 second moaning
in the 18 yard box having a go at his colleague.

Whilst he was doing this, boro had got the ball and the already were on the half way line starting an attack.

Bellamy is class but sometimes I wish he would take his head out of his arse.