Match Discussion: Game 7 - The Grecians (A)

[BigBill]

37 minutes ago, menzinho said:

Right, the positives... Well that's one of the long trips done. Erm, Enzio can bang them in when he gets the chance. And; that's it.

Maybe I'll switch the England game on, they're good at the minute I bet they're winning... Oh...

It's looking bleak for Notts right now.

[magpiejue]

One consolation, just read where Enzio's goal was voted Sky's goal of the day. COYP

[CliftonMagpie]

Highlights if anyone dares to watch them.

 

[KingMaynard]

The players are not playing like a team should, Hemmings should have scored but how he got the shot away in the first place does show how hard it was. I wonder how long Notts will keep losing, things need to change quickly before the gap grows.

5-1 isn't acceptable but I have faith.

[Natty]

The record books say that Exeter won 5-1 and that's the only stat that really matters. But those who didn't witness this game may have seen the result and jumped to a slightly unfair conclusion. Notts were obviously well beaten on the day, but this performance wasn't as poor as the scoreline suggests, and in fact the two games under Kewell have produced hugely better performances than we saw against Yeovil, FGR and Lincoln. Let me state right here that Fitzsimons was not at fault with any of the goals, and made a couple of good saves in the later stages to keep the score down.

Exeter are not the passing team they were under Paul Tisdale.  They now concentrate on hitting long balls down the channels, using the physical presence of Stockley to lead the line (although, for a big strong traditional lower league centre forward, he does have a tendency to whinge and whine at referees over the slightest contact from a big strong traditional lower league centre half !!  They don't like it up 'em!!)  If he put as much effort into his job as he did into complaining, perhaps he'd be playing at a higher level.

For the first 25mins Notts were the better side, and might've easily taken the lead. Boldewijn, Hemmings and Dennis all fired narrowly wide, and Hemmings also hit the post. They were comfortable at the back, easily dealing with the long ball, and playing it around between themselves. But then a set piece proved their undoing. The corner was played to the far post and the scorer rose totally unchallenged. Fitz got a hand to the header but couldn't keep it out.  A minute later it was two. Notts still in disarray from the first one, and nobody cutting out a low cross to the far post. 

But Notts' heads didn't drop. They rallied and fought back. Boldewijn's great strike just before the break put them right back in the game. They went in 2-1 down but Exeter had only had 3 attempts at goal, compared to 5 or 6 for Notts. 

Another corner after the break, and the ball was inexplicably handled by Oxlade-Chamberlain. Penalty.  

Notts now had to change things and chase the game, throwing men forward. Stead and Patching were introduced and gave Notts fresh impetus. Stead hit the side netting, and he, Patching and Alessandra all had shots charged down. An attempted cross from Milsom was clearly handled inside the box but the referee waved it away, only for Exeter to go straight up the other end and score their 4th.....which left Kewell incensed and resulted in him being sent from the dugout.  There's no excuse for him overstepping the mark but he was right. 

The ref recovered his eyesight to see another handball...this time by Boldewijn....but they missed that one. 

Notts kept going and the home keeper was forced into a superb save to deny Boldewijn from 15 yards.  Then another quick break exploiting the gaps Notts had left at the back gave Exeter a fifth. A mixture of fatigue and defensive gambles in chasing the game. 

If this game had finished 3-1 or 3-2 it would've been a fairer reflection on the play. 5-1 is a touch harsh on Notts. But that's how it is when you're bottom of the league. 

But the football is definitely improving. As fitness improves and key players return from injury I'm certain Kewell will turn it around. 

Natty

[NottsTastic]

Terrible performance, worse than under Kevin Nolan.

If any of the fans who wanted KN out attend and said Kewell had them playing better, well it would prove how deluded some can be.