After a very disappointing result against Bournemouth, we take a look at the players’ individual performances from Saturday – not many stand outs as you can imagine!
After a very disappointing result against Bournemouth, we take a look at the players’ individual performances from Saturday – not many stand outs as you can imagine!
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Alex McCarthy – 6 – He couldn’t do an awful amount with either goals, but apart from picking the ball out of his net, he didn’t have a lot to do.
Chris Gunter – 6 – It took a while for the Welsh international to get into the game, as he struggled with Pugh to start with. It’s just a shame we don’t see him playing higher up the pitch as a full back, especially as we are playing very narrow at the moment.
Alex Pearce – 6 – Grabban’s pace caused Pearce problems in the second half, but was mainly solid throughout. Pearce also looked very comfortable on the ball in the second half and showed some good touches, which is good to see.
Kaspars Gorkss – 6 – Similarly to his partner, didn’t do a lot wrong. Grabban again gave him some problems in the first half with his pace in behind, but I still feel confident with Gorkss in the side.
Shaun Cummings – 6 – Another good showing from the make shift left-back, who was getting up in support of Obita well, but his crossing was really letting him down.
Garath McCleary – 6 – There was the odd spell of acceleration from the winger, but was fairly anonymous in the game. Again, us playing too narrow doesn’t fall into his strengths, so I do have sympathy with him
Danny Guthrie – 5 – The stand-in skipper wasn’t at the races today – he looked very jaded. He couldn’t get a strangehold in a very packed midfield, but when he did have space, he didn’t make good use of it.
Danny Williams – 5 – Nowhere near the performance we saw against Forest and Charlton, did Adkins rush him back after his injury on Tuesday night? There was not the usual energy from the USA international, who didn’t seem composed on the ball.
Jordan Obita – 5 – Young Obita is doing well, but still has a lot to learn at this level. Very good workrate, but is very predictable in his play, often shying away from using his right foot. No better than McAnuff was against Charlton.
Hal Robson-Kanu – 4 – Very ineffective from HRK, who offered absolutely nothing in the first half and was rightly hauled off at half time.
Billy Sharp – 6 – Being the lone striker is always hard, especially when you are feeding off scraps and considering this, the striker did well. He held it up well and tried to bring others into play, but was fed with too many high balls, which is bread and butter for the Bournemouth centre halfs.
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Pavel Pogrebnyak – 6 – It was odd that he was dropped to the bench and Adkins probably regretted that decision, bringing him on at half time. He won a few headers and had the odd link up with Sharp, but apart from that, not a lot else.
Royston Drenthe – 8 – Arguably the only positive from this game. In the small time he was on, he provided the twice the quality of any of our players in the game. It was his good run that led to Alfie’s goal. I would be very surprised if he doesn’t start on Saturday.
Adam le Fondre – 6 – Only had a few touches of the ball, but he did what Alfie does best – score. He has given Adkins food for thought with that goal, having not played at all in the last two games.
