York City 1 - Scunthorpe Utd 3

[Tim Wills]

Chris Brass said last Saturday that football is a results based industry and some of the squad need to learn quickly. I am wondering if that includes himself considering he's the one that hasn't learnt from his mistakes with totally uninspiring team selections not to mention his two sending offs (oops, I just did). If Brassy doesn't start learning quickly then I might even join UkrainianPhil's call to have him relieved of his management duties and let him return to what he does best, fouling people and getting away it.

Anyhow I came along tonight expecting a starting a line-up that meant business but Brass is becoming more like Terry Dolan every match in his dogmatic refusal to see the blindingly obvious. Other than DNA profiling, what more evidence did he require to prove that Bullock wasn't a striker? The (im)material witness has now headed off to Cardiff and by the forlorn look on Barry Parker's face as he ventured cautiously into the social club afterwards, he didn't hang around to say goodbye.

I think most supporters expected changes after Saturdays display at Kidderminster and to be fair, Brassy delivered. However, replacing City's most experienced and arguably best defender in Chris Smith for one so inexperienced and accident prone as Stewart Wise is not exactly what we were hoping for. The trio of Wise, Wood and Davies (our 3 central defenders) have started less than 25 matches in the whole of their careers and it didn't half show with the two goals from crosses came from unmarked players.

I have been demanding for the last few weeks that Graeme Law and Matthew Coad get their chance and on around 70 minutes I finally get my wish partly granted as the latter finally makes his home debut. He proved in those short 20 minutes that City do possess the talent within their ranks but what do you expect him to produce when you're 3-0 down. Unfortunately it also asks the question if a halfwit like me can see what's needed then what does that make the combined "talents" of Brass, Nogan, Stancliffe and Neaves?

Ovendale 7 - The penalty decision against was a joke though perhaps lucky not to be sent off after kicking the ball at 90mph towards the linesman. The rest on Saturday will do him good.
Edmondson 4 - Quite frankly his performance was an embarrassment. No doubt Brass will pick him on Saturday or has he really got the balls to drop him and give Graeme Law his debut.
Wise 5 - Sorry, I don't rate him now and never had. Wasn't the worst player but is never above mediocre.
Wood 6 - Perhaps not his best game either but having Wise stood next to you would worry most people.
Davies 7- Played the best of the back 3 and always willing to accept the ball. Hit a couple of poor passes but his performance was head and shoulders above Wise.
Merris 7 - Played well when given the ball but saw little of it due to poor distribution.
Cooper 7 - You can fault this guy's effort, gave 110% throughout but his inability to keep the ball down on his 3 shots shows a lack of basic skills.
Dunning 6 - The effort was there but kept slipping over. I would also question his basic ability by his refusal to hit the ball with his right foot when perfectly set-up to do so. These are professional footballers if I can hit with both feet, surely they can too.
Ward 5 - Yet again was totally ineffective. Him and Cooper in midfield is pointless and Cooper works harder.
Bullock 4 - He might aswell been at Cardiff. He refused to get involved in any 50/50 challenges as the game passed him by. Bit better in the last 20 which saved him from a score of 2. Nice bloke but he ain't been at the races for the last 2 months !!
Nogan 6 - At the start of the second half he suddenly came into life but this was as good as it got given he was substituted soon afterwards.

Subs:
Bell 8 - First loan player to score this season and created the chance by sheer effort and determination. Looked well up for it too.
Yalcin 7 - Simply awful miss when scoring looked easier. I thought there was a hole in the net as it hit the advertising hoardings. However, his effort and link up play was very good and it at least gave us something to cheer. Needs to get any sort of goal very soon and he will go from there.
Coad 8 - He did in 20 minutes more than some players have done in the last 2 months. Worked hard, good crosses and a sublime bit of a skill on the touchline that you would expect from DiCanio. On this display he must start on Saturday or Brass must be relieved of his management duties (and then either sent to Bootham to have his head examined or Specsavers for his eyesight).

Referee. Feckin' clueless and I noticed unlike the other match officials, did not come in the Social Club after the match. Graham Bradbury came in with the others and a short guy with dark hair was in danger of getting serious bollocking until we discovered he was the 4th official. Felt very sorry for that Scunthorpe lad who got sent off as the first yellow appeared Nogan just lost his footing and minutes later Nogan again made a lot of the touchline incident. Nogan was up as soon as the ref started reaching for his pocket and I don't like to see that. As for the penalty, have the FIFA banned goalkeepers from trying to grab the ball. Not Ovendale's fault if a Scunthorpe player is lying down in the way and you should see the embarrassment on one or two of Scunthorpe players.

I thought Scunthorpe were technically a poor team but unlike some teams, didn't try to play dirty football and 5 yellows and one red is a joke. No doubt the FA will congratulate Mr Fletcher on a good nights work.

Crowd of 2,676 has to be of concern to the board and 500 or so were Scunthorpe fans.
_________________
Official sponsor of Sean Davies 2004/2005 Away Shirt