What a shit afternoon. I've wasted two hours sitting here trying to follow events at St. James Park. Not only has my betting coupon been blown apart but I have had to listen to us slumping to another away defeat.
The commentary of CAFC Player has never been great but beggars can't be choosers and it's the best you get if you don't make the journey. It was the first league game I have listened to this season and the coverage was stopped continually to report on goals from other lower and non-league matches. If the commentary isn't being broadcast, why waste everyone's time? This is a subscription service after all. I reckon we probably missed 20 minutes of the match listening to report on Hayes & Yeading, Cambridge and AFC Wimbledon.
That we lost in added time to what sounds like a non-penalty is hard to take, but if you are hanging on for 0-0, you can't complain if you blow it. We played better in the second-half by all accounts but we were hardly in the match in the first. Once again, it sounds like we didn't compete in midfield. I heard Semedo and McCormack both mentioned only once in the game and got the impression that balls were being played from the back four straight out wide or hoofed forward for the chasers.
Reid forced the only save I can remember in the first-half when Jones saved his shot but he fluffed the rebound altogether. He disappeared after the break again too.
Martin saw plenty of the ball in the first half but much less second and was eventually subbed for Jackson who for some reason didn't start as Matt Fry was preferred at left-back? Benson sounded involved throughout, especially after the break and had a couple of shots which went wide. I think Pawal Abbott was playing but it was hard to tell.
I'm just glad I didn't waste any Brownie Points/money/time in making the trip. Pity the 600-odd poor sods who are trekking back after this. We are owed a performance at the Valley next week and had better get one. More ambition is needed Mr Parkinson.
As I said, my afternoon's bets went west. With Huddersfield and Oldham only managing home draws and Southampton being beaten by Rochdale, hardly anything went to form. It's a long old season and it's doesn't usually do any good to look seriously at the table until 10 games have been played, but we are already shy of last year...
Looking forward to the trip and hopefully 3 earned points as Exeter not a bad side. We were dire, samedo & mac poor, llera playing volleyball and no one stringing any decent passes together. Benson looks handy with intelligent positioning and touch. With performances like that mid table mediocrity beckons.
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