I got it wrong. I predicted Town would draw (1-1) away at Forest Green but they picked up maximum points – although, in the end, it was a close run thing.
Our goals were good ones. I was pleased to see Marcus Harness find the net because I think we will need him to do so many times this season, and that wonder strike from captain fantastic Sam Morsy is already one of our goals of the season! In the first half, it seemed like many against boys, as Town totally dominated proceedings and had eight shots on target and 64 % of the possession. We were coasting then.
It stayed that way, until out of the blue, Forest Green scored a scrappy goal, and we all know the cliche that goals change games and it certainly did! For ten minutes the Blues were under the cosh and were lucky to escape a sending-off when last man Cameron Burgess fouled his man on the edge of the box. He was a lucky fellow, and Forest Green thought they had levelled things momentarily until the flag was waved for offside. That was a bad few minutes for the Tractor Boys, but they rode the storm and came away with all three points. It was a much-needed victory.
Freddie Ladapo largely underperformed again, although I thought Kayden Jackson was good when he came on. The truth of the matter is that we are still seriously lacking a lethal striker, and if we don’t get a 20-goal-a-season striker in soon, we will not make those automatic promotion places. Remember we have lost three forwards in Macauley Bonne, James Norwood and Joe Pigott. It’s a reasonable start but we will drop points without a proven striker at this level. Sadly, they cost money and are hard to find.
Oh so true. We are not prolific scorers. The 4-0 end of season drubbing of Charlton was very much the exception to the rule.
Is there any chance of Macauley Bonne returning this season or is that possibility dead in the water?
Don’t agree with this. Could have easily been 4-1 as it could have been 2-2 but that would’ve been harsh. Last season that would have been a nailed on draw. We need another striker for depth but Ladapo looks a beast and does some great work for those behind him.
But Redhotitfc it was not 4-1. Why? Because we do not possess at this stage that killer instinct. We had it to some extent with Macauley Bonne, who remained the top scorer until the last game of last season and of course, laid on the goal for Wes Burns to surpass him, but at the end of the day, goals win games, and we cannot rely on our midfield and defenders to score often enough. We need a new prolific striker if we have serious aspirations of a top two finish.
Macauley Bonne returning is a remote hope, Richard. His heart is here, but his shirt is not, and if anything happens, I don’t think it will be this season, sadly.