Monday 8 November 2010

Burton - Oxford. FA Cup. 6 November 2010

Well yet another trip to Burton, this time by car up the M1. Now I know why I get the train whenever possible. Miles of 50mph roadworks, watching the West Coast Virgin train racing past us.

This time I got to the ground in time for faggots and luke warm mushy peas. After asking for a spoon, was directed round the corner to the condiments counter, only to find tiny plastic chip-forks. This was about as good as the day got.

The starting line-up was bizarre; Constable nowhere to be seen even with his nemesis from the league game Darren Moore out; and Wilder was suited and booted.

I thought Burton looked to have replicated our first half formation against Torquay with players out wide creating lots of chances, and we were struggling with a very strange defenders in midfield and Green and Craddock up front. Within half an hour Kinni had been subbed, the players were changing formation and I lost track of what was going on.

Burton got the ball in the back of the net, the stadium PA started blaring out Tom Hark, before realising the linesman had flagged for offside and the music was switched off again.

Second half I thought Green did his best up front, ran down every ball, and will wait to see how he missed the open goal from a yard out. Green got a harsh booking for hustling the Burton goalkeeper Legzdins. The keeper then deservedly got stick for his play-acting, but disappointingly also got abuse from sections of the crowd who mistakenly took the Staffordshire born player with two Latvian grandparents for an economic migrant only here on a visa.

We had several chances but failed to capitalise, and yet again concede from a header. This time the PA system seemed to crackle in silence with no music, and the home crowd were bewildered at having to celebrate without the comfort of the Piranhas. We haven't scored for three games now. At least we actually fired a few tame shots in the vague direction of goal this time (Payne, Craddock).

An even slower journey home down the M1, listening to the usual premiership biased 606 phone in on radio 5, then delays on the M4 after dropping off the Londoners.

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