TALKING POINTS

Mark Hirst

Mark discusses the FA Cup loss

MORE CUP MISERY

The list of weird and wonderful places in which TUFC have exited the FA Cup grows larger. After last season’s debacle at Bishop’s Cleeve, in which most observers reported obvious complacency against lowly opponents, this time the message was clear – this was important. The best available side was picked and yet I sensed trepidation amongst fans and defeat was accepted almost with a sense of inevitability.

Even with depleted resources, we should have been good enough to avoid defeat at the very least. You’ve got to feel for the owners, who dug deep to save the club and the cup represents a chance to get funds into the coffers – maybe not much at this stage, but you don’t get the chance of a windfall further down the line if you aren’t in the draw. Two paltry losers cheques are all Bryn have banked so far. At some point in the next few months we’ll be looking on enviously as a fellow NLS team gets a money spinner.

AWAY DAY MISERY

Played 4, won 4 at home (scoring for fun). Played 5, won 0 away.

Part of the feeling of inevitability was because of the away form. AFC Totton had been dispatched at Plainmoor, but we seem to be playing a different sport on the road. The Snows Stadium was hardly an intimidating cauldron, with an unsegregated 617 watching on in muted fashion.

But the outcome was depressingly familiar as we struggled to create chances – we did have a couple (not sure how Thomas didn’t bury a perfect Carson set-up), but Totton also had several. Indeed as the game drifted towards its conclusion, the home team seemed more likely to extend their lead as we became a disorganised mess after the subs were made when chasing the game.

I’ve no doubt that a home tie would have resulted in progress to the next round. Why it’s such a struggle away continues to be a mystery.

A PACE PROBLEM?

Something that I’ve observed in the last 2 away games is that we’re really short of pace. Whilst we played much better in the draw at Hampton and Richmond, there were several occasions when we were in promising positions but just didn’t have the speed to get away from chasing defenders, who were able to shut down the threat.

Yesterday the approach was slightly different – the perfect pitch seemed to be an invitation to ‘build from the keeper’, but on the rare occasions we beat the press, nobody was quick enough to make a difference in the opposition half. As it happened, we didn’t look comfortable playing that style anyway and the approach was ditched at half-time (a relief as Totton’s forwards smelt blood as Worthington and co struggled to string 3 passes together).

The problem is that the same forward players struggling away are the ones winning games at Plainmoor, so how can you get pace into the side? It would be nice to have a couple of flying full backs as an alternative.

A BIG MONTH AHEAD

At the final whistle whilst the squad were acknowledging the fans, someone near me shouted (calmly) ‘you can’t blame anyone Paul, they’re your players, you signed them’. Wotton made it clear in his rather brief postgame interview that injuries were squarely to blame for the disappointing display. That hinted he is losing faith in those currently filling the gaps.

Louis Dennis is clearly a creative lynchpin and the likes of Morgan, Lo-Everton and Dolan are closing in on a return – with those players added to the mix, away performances simply have to be much improved. If not, we’ve got problems.

A FEW WORDS ON TOTTON

It’s easy to focus on our deficiencies, but the hosts earned their win. They had a clear structure, with 3 big men at the back and 3 more up front, but weren’t obviously direct. Tyler Cordner might resemble a bouncer but he’s a leader and kept Cody quiet. I liked their wing backs who both had more about them in the final third than ours. They lost a key forward early, but replaced him adequately without needing to reorganise. They identified Young as our best player and took it in turns to inflict pain on him – we might not like it, but it’s part of the game.

We were outfought, outcoached and had no answers. Good luck to them in the next round.