I don’t seem to have gone to many away games this season, so leaving Melbourn around 4:30pm was a bit of a rarity. Actually I usually leave around 5pm for evening home matches, so not much difference really!
The journey was straight forward, parking near the ground was full, but I found a space on a small industrial area 10 minutes walk away, Burton fans who were parking said it was safe, so good enough for me.
Apparently the crowd was around 3500, but it seemed to me the 1600 supporting the U’s were in the majority. And even half that number would have made more noise than the Burton fans!
U’s started with the same team that won at Accrington, and looked dangerous from the start, a Dunk cross cleared by their keeper.
Burton started to get a bit of possession, mainly because too many of our players had problems standing up! Brophy in particular kept slipping as he tried to move with the ball.
As I had a seat on the side I was behind the linesman, and what a poor job he was doing! A number of offside decisions were wrong. Luckily none resulted in a chance for Burton, although the one he did give when the Burton player rounded Mitov and shot but Dunk covered on the line was probably the tightest!
Some good passing for Knibbs to set up Smith for a shot which went wide from 12 yards.
First booking was on 12 minutes for Latty-Fairweather for a foul I think on Dunk.
Brophy got fouled, there was no advantage but the referee chose not to give a free kick. At least he was consistent with a similar decision for Burton later in the game!
First substitution as Latty-Fairweather was replaced on 17 minutes.
A U’s corner caused problems with the ball dropping on their bar and out for another corner that came to nothing.
A long ball by Burton was headed out by L Bennett but picked up by Helm, he managed to come away with the ball after tackles by Digby and L Bennett, moved across goal away from Mcgrandles and shot from about 22 yards, the ball took a small deflection and ended up in the far corner of our net. 1-0 after 28 minutes.
U’s fans kept up the noise levels, but nothing much in the way of goal action at either end.
Half time: 1-0.
Lankester and Brophy made way for Thomas and Ironside as the formation moved to 4-4-2, with ironside more able to hold the ball from their big physical defenders who had given Smith little chance in the first half.
But it was Burton who could have extended their lead with a break by Helm who looked to be fouled in the penalty area but he continued as the referee waved play on or allowed an advantage and the ball hit the post before being cleared. It could have been either a penalty for a foul, or a U’s free kick and a booking for diving! A consistent ref…..what is going on!
A series of Burton corners, then U’s got into the game and put some pressure on the home defence.
Smith headed over from a corner, L Bennett set up Smith for a shot which was blocked on the 6 yard line, the rebound fell for Digby to shoot from the edge of the area but deflected for another corner.
Timewasting by Burton had begun after they scored, and continued in the second half, their keeper must have been well schooled by Wycombe!. He could catch a ball, but needed treatment for a leg injury! After laying on the ball for around 10 seconds he then took another 10 seconds to kick it! He didn’t make any friends with U’s fans!
Knibbs was replaced by Okenabihrie on 70 minutes as the pressure continued without causing their keeper much bother, their flat back 9 defence doing a good job!
A good cross by Dunk was headed onto the bar by Morrison I think, the rebound seeming to come off a defenders arm but no penalty given, the resulting cross headed wide by Smith.
O’Neil replaced Digby on 84 minutes.
With all the pressure Burton had the occasional chance to break, the best ended when their player slipped over near our penalty area!
Best save of the game came in the last minute, L Bennett and McGrandles linked well, L Bennett crossing for Smith to head goalwards but the keeper managed to claw the ball away almost on the goal line, maybe off the bar.
Last chance went to Burton with a wayward shot after Mitov had parried a shot away.
Final score: 1-0.
Poor first half, better in the second. Stats show they had 2 shots on target, we only had 1 in our 56% possession. We had 8 corners to their 4, they fouled 10 times against our 5.
I hadn’t even realised Lankester was on until he was substituted such was his lack of input, and Brophy being unable to stay on his feet meant he was replaced. The more robust Ironside and Thomas made a difference against a physical side. At the end of the game the players looked knackered, they had given everything, and I think our fans that made the journey appreciated that as they were applauded off. We just lacked the little bit of luck/guile/quality to get the ball in their net.
Sady the “I told you we would be going down” brigade were active on social media
So now we know what has to happen in our final game. We need a win, and hope that both MK Don and Morecambe do not win. Results based on our current position mean we would beat FGR, MK Dons would lose at Burton, and Exeter would beat Morecambe. But football doesn’t work like that!
Getting home around 15 minutes after midnight is somewhat later than I usually get back from a home match!