By Deadbat
Bring out the banners, unfurl the flags: Ched Evans became the first player to hit the magical 10/10 rating for a "tremendous" performance in the win against Chesterfield.
Simonsen 6/10 – Made one good save in the first half at his near post that you would expect him to make. The rest of his game was poor again. He did not come off his line on a number of occasions at set plays and through-balls. He threw the ball out twice to full-backs who had a man right next to them, though on both occasions he acknowledged his mistake.
Lowton 7/10 – He did not get forward much at all first half and was given a difficult game by the winger, who made a few decent runs. But Lowton got on top of him second half and began to get forward and linked well with Williamson, McDonald and Quinn, providing the outlet down the right that he given all season.
Williams 6/10 – Not convincing again even though he made a few good runs going forward and tried to support our attacks. He was slow at times defensively and dithered too much on the ball. He also does not always get tight enough to his man. Improved in the second half but does not look the long-term answer at left-back.
Hill 6/10 – He lost four or five headers to the big striker he was up against (Bowery), one of which dropped to Moussa for the goal. Collins went berserk with him. He lost another few early in the second half but then started to impose himself and was stronger and more resolute. Another who does not convince.
Collins 7/10 – Made a few misplaced clearances that went straight to a blue shirt in the first half but as game went on he got stronger and began to dominate in the air. He got to the ball quicker and restricted them by taking charge of any through-balls or set plays.
Doyle 7/10 – Mixed bag. Like many others, he was sloppy in the first half. He was slow to react on the goal, when his man got on the loose ball, and was not close enough even though it was a good strike. He got better after the break and kept it simple.
McDonald 7/10 – Great to have him back. It was not his best game but still looked the game’s outstanding midfielder. In the first half a few passes went astray and he was not as influential as he can be but he still showed his class by making an extra yard and trying to find a shirt. His passing improved as the game went on and he began to get on the ball and start to control our moves with some nice passes, both short and long. He was not superb but he has the ability to play the ball that we otherwise miss. Should be influential during the run-in.
Williamson 8/10 – Very good, though the moments of quality were interspersed with moments of sloppiness. He scored a tremendous goal that was superbly taken on the volley. He also put over a few good crosses. After the break he again showed flashes of class, with a sublime touch and interplay at times. Was involved in most of the good things.
Quinn 5/10 – Utter garbage in the first half. His first five touches went to a blue shirt and he seemingly could not wait to get rid of the ball instead of taking care with his passing. He got sarcastic cheers from a few when one pass went to a team-mate. He improved a lot after the break and began to want the ball, and his passing and link play was much better. He made a few decent runs and looked the player we know he can be.
Evans 10/10 – Tremendous. Even in the first half he looked our main threat, running the channels, holding the ball up and looking dangerous. In the second half he confidently took the penalty (after missing one not so long ago against Preston), scored two beautiful goals and could have had a few more. He was unplayable for the second half, and in this form you would not bet against him getting close to 40 goals. He really is the key to us going up - with him in the team we can score every week. He is way too good for this level.
Cresswell 6/10 – Once again he put the effort in, tried to work the channels and hold the ball up, but other than a few flicked headers the ball never really stuck and he was not able to link with Evans that much. He often seemed at full stretch.
Substitutes
Hoskins – Did not do much really. He seemed to be ready to come on for a while but it got delayed, as Evans scored his third. Maybe he needs a full 90 minutes up front rather than down the wing.
Beattie – Still looks short of match fitness, though achieving that is difficult when he only gets 10 minutes here and there. However, he is not really making any kind of impact. He had a half chance when Williamson got down the line with a clever piece of skill but sliced it off target. Maybe before the end of the season he will score that crucial goal to win us a game but he does not look the answer at the moment.
O’Halloran – Played wide right, with Williamson switching to the left, and only had a few minutes to make an impact. Showed good pace on one run, where he darted inside and had a shot deflected wide. He wore ridiculously bright yellow boots.
Lowton 7/10 – He did not get forward much at all first half and was given a difficult game by the winger, who made a few decent runs. But Lowton got on top of him second half and began to get forward and linked well with Williamson, McDonald and Quinn, providing the outlet down the right that he given all season.
Williams 6/10 – Not convincing again even though he made a few good runs going forward and tried to support our attacks. He was slow at times defensively and dithered too much on the ball. He also does not always get tight enough to his man. Improved in the second half but does not look the long-term answer at left-back.
Hill 6/10 – He lost four or five headers to the big striker he was up against (Bowery), one of which dropped to Moussa for the goal. Collins went berserk with him. He lost another few early in the second half but then started to impose himself and was stronger and more resolute. Another who does not convince.
Collins 7/10 – Made a few misplaced clearances that went straight to a blue shirt in the first half but as game went on he got stronger and began to dominate in the air. He got to the ball quicker and restricted them by taking charge of any through-balls or set plays.
Doyle 7/10 – Mixed bag. Like many others, he was sloppy in the first half. He was slow to react on the goal, when his man got on the loose ball, and was not close enough even though it was a good strike. He got better after the break and kept it simple.
McDonald 7/10 – Great to have him back. It was not his best game but still looked the game’s outstanding midfielder. In the first half a few passes went astray and he was not as influential as he can be but he still showed his class by making an extra yard and trying to find a shirt. His passing improved as the game went on and he began to get on the ball and start to control our moves with some nice passes, both short and long. He was not superb but he has the ability to play the ball that we otherwise miss. Should be influential during the run-in.
Williamson 8/10 – Very good, though the moments of quality were interspersed with moments of sloppiness. He scored a tremendous goal that was superbly taken on the volley. He also put over a few good crosses. After the break he again showed flashes of class, with a sublime touch and interplay at times. Was involved in most of the good things.
Quinn 5/10 – Utter garbage in the first half. His first five touches went to a blue shirt and he seemingly could not wait to get rid of the ball instead of taking care with his passing. He got sarcastic cheers from a few when one pass went to a team-mate. He improved a lot after the break and began to want the ball, and his passing and link play was much better. He made a few decent runs and looked the player we know he can be.
Evans 10/10 – Tremendous. Even in the first half he looked our main threat, running the channels, holding the ball up and looking dangerous. In the second half he confidently took the penalty (after missing one not so long ago against Preston), scored two beautiful goals and could have had a few more. He was unplayable for the second half, and in this form you would not bet against him getting close to 40 goals. He really is the key to us going up - with him in the team we can score every week. He is way too good for this level.
Cresswell 6/10 – Once again he put the effort in, tried to work the channels and hold the ball up, but other than a few flicked headers the ball never really stuck and he was not able to link with Evans that much. He often seemed at full stretch.
Substitutes
Hoskins – Did not do much really. He seemed to be ready to come on for a while but it got delayed, as Evans scored his third. Maybe he needs a full 90 minutes up front rather than down the wing.
Beattie – Still looks short of match fitness, though achieving that is difficult when he only gets 10 minutes here and there. However, he is not really making any kind of impact. He had a half chance when Williamson got down the line with a clever piece of skill but sliced it off target. Maybe before the end of the season he will score that crucial goal to win us a game but he does not look the answer at the moment.
O’Halloran – Played wide right, with Williamson switching to the left, and only had a few minutes to make an impact. Showed good pace on one run, where he darted inside and had a shot deflected wide. He wore ridiculously bright yellow boots.
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