Cambridge United versus BRFC

I don't think it's that Clarke doesn't know how the other team play before kick-off and I don't think we are a 'good' enough team to make the game ours from the start. Clarke is just the sort of manager that needs to see for himself what's not working before he can come up with the solution on what do do about it.

We struggle to break down organised solid teams, our home record shows that. But I'm confident that most of the time if there's something that can be exploited about the opposition it will be by the start of the second half.

It maybe because for once that I didn't have to go on the M25 last night but I enjoyed the first half.

I think we set out to contain a decent Cambridge team in the first half only to be undone by a great cross and decent header neither of which was the fault of Nichols in any way.

Cambridge played the ball out of defence quite well and their left flank in the first half caused us problems with Clarke often left marking 2 players.

Corr and Simpson won an awful lot of headers and Macca went missing for their goal but it was well worked.

We then held out until half time, which meant we were still in the game.

The big change DC made at half time was to switch Jake and Billy, who I don't think is quite fit yet but is an invaluable member of the team.

Jake was able to get back and give Clarke some support and after that, other than the odd cross or free kick, Cambridge never threatened.

LB's cross to Ellis was as good as the one for their goal but unfortunately Ellis didn't quite get it right but didn't let it get his head down.

JE, who wasn't on top form was replaced by MT, just after nearly scoring with a cheeky flick from a good BB cross.

What an enigma Matty really is as he changed the game with his work rate and skill and set up Ellis' equaliser with a good run and shot. He then anticipated a back pass rounded the keeper and slotted in the winner.

However, he then missed an easier one on one by telegraphing his shot and failed to set up Ellis from the last move of the match when they were two on one on the half way line.

I thought Ellis was MOM and he didn't stop working the whole game.

I watched LN last night and it was clear that he had decided to ensure that the second goal last week wouldn't reoccur. Anyone who has played decent cricket and fielded close to the wicket will know what can happen when you go for a sharp run out.

He lifted his head to spot who was available for a quick counter before he had properly collected the ball but I suspect that won't happen again.

The other conundrum is what happens to CL as I can't see DC playing him too often in a centre midfield of two as he just goes missing. Against Portsmouth he was stood still in the centre circle when they scored their winner.

I could see him playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation but I doubt DC will play that often and if we do get a midfielder like Towell I am not sure CL will make the bench.

I asked the question earlier in this thread ''Not his type of match/opponents again?'' So I think that this situation may well be in the elephant in the room scenario, unfortunately. But the fact remains that after an excellent finish to last season, the player isn't even currently in the starting line-up. That's a shame for him and the club, and I do wonder why it is. On the brighter side, I think that he's only under contract to the end of the season isn't he?

Hopefully the situation will resolve itself long before then though. In the right way for the club, of course.

Not sure why anyone is surprised, he played in exactly the same way when he was here last time.