Yesterday’s game against AFC Wimbledon was one of the strangest I think I have ever been involved in.
Nobody knew how to feel, before or after the game. Beforehand, some fans were already claiming we were up; others were nervous as if we had to win to stay up. There was no jeopardy at all; we knew a failure to win meant little because our chance would roll over to Monday anyway.
Yet, the game had all the pomp of a coronation; no room in the media suite, cameras all over, free scarves being handed out. It felt like an important game, and it was, but it also wasn’t. 90 minutes could lead the city to explode into utter joy, or it could just be a normal Friday night in town, nothing to see here. Even the weather played into it, sunny and bright like a spring afternoon one minute, driving wind and showers the next.
I could dissect the game in full, but what is the point at this stage? If this is the fifth game of the season, sure, we’ll be hunting evidence of something greater, some meaning or significance to cling to, but do we need that? We’ve gone half a season unbeaten, we’re now ten points clear at the top, still 18 clear of Bolton and Stockport, and we’re tentatively dangling a foot into the warm waters of the Championship.
We needed a helping hand, specifically Ryley Towler’s hand, to see off a stubborn, resilient and organised Wimbledon. A word on them, before I drop onto City: impressive. I really liked their attitude. They were the extras in this scene, the walk-on part with no lines intended to play patsy as the protagonist made history and climbed into the Championship. They could have been anyone, nobody cared, and really, they shouldn’t have. Not going up, not going down, they can be proud of their first season back in the third tier.
So they should be, because their fans travelled in good numbers, better than some so-called bigger teams. Their players respected that and put in the sort of display that the likes of Northampton, Blackpool and Exeter should be taking note of. They were lively, strong, committed and have a good set of players. I’d shouted Isaac Ogundere as one I really liked, but you can add Junior Nkeng, Antwoine Hackford and Callum Maycock to that. As for Ali Smith, if we’d seen that version of him week in, week out at the Bank, I’m pretty sure he’d be alongside VArfolomeev, Bayliss and McGrandles in our midfield options. He suffocated Jack Moylan like a pillow on the face of a rich elderly relative in a care home.
It could have been very different, had we taken the lead after about 20 seconds (oh, turns out I am going to analyse the match). A smart move that could have brought a goal, followed by another, both involving Hackett. Darikwa’s cross to the back stick saw House have a bit of time, but his volley was mishit and still needed saving.
The wind was a huge factor, but Wimbledon just didn’t give a lot up. They fought hard to avoid corners, throw-ins, and they dealt with anything long with ease as well. Patrick Bauer is an old hand, he’s always been a warrior, and Steve Seddon was a player who impressed me six years ago, and he’s got better as well. Wimbledon fans should be proud of how their team stifled us.
They didn’t create an awful lot of clear cut chances in the first half, but we did hit the bar. The free kick is well worked, because we always do the fake run up. It’s usually Bayliss runs up, stops, and Hackett shoots, or vice versa. This time, Bayliss shoots, from the off, no messing. It’s such a well-struck shot and it seems to be well saved by Bishop.
The promotion party was pretty much dead by that point, Stockport going 2-0 up against Wycombe. I had that as a draw, and Plymouth to beat Bolton, but I guess that underlines either how much I underestimate those chasing us, or overestimate those chasing the play-offs. Knowing Stockport were winning well, unlikely to lose, affected the ground I think. The noise levels dropped a bit, and maybe that filtered through to the pitch. Maybe we were just in a game, a tough individual battle where the faceless extras had wandered on set demanding lines of dialogue and some character development.
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