A very enjoyable game.
2-2 was probably fair although we had the better chances.
What did we learn?
Once again we have a good first half and struggled in the second half but we did fight back to earn a draw.
Poor defending cost us the second goal, George Cooper should have made more if an effort to block the shot but there were several mistakes before that.
Cooper's delivery from crosses was poor, if he's not delivering as an attacker he then becomes a liability.
Hardie struggled without Jephcott, we now know it has to be those two upfront and not Hardie with another. Hardie had two good chances, on one he should have taken a shot instead of trying to round the keeper and had a second shot well blocked.
Camara was quiet, we missed his tenacity.
The penalty looked harsh but these days they are given.
On the plus side Watts had another good game, Telford had his best cameo in a Green shirt and turned the game late for us.
Michael Cooper made one superb save, Nouble was a threat up front - his hold up play and running the channels made a difference.
Overall, the good form continues and on the big stage we gave a good account of ourselves despite the early Sky Portsmouth bias.
We were purring during the first half, the movement and passing was first class. For the second half we hit more long balls through the centre rather than in the channels.
Lowe just needs to analyse why we struggle during the early stages of most second halves. Is it a fitness issue? Or is it just that the opposition managers work us out, although you'd expect any scouting system to forewarn the opposition teams.
It looked a squad decision to all have short back and sides haircuts.
Man of the match - Nouble.
M Cooper 7, Aimson 6, Okopu 7, Watts 7, Fornah 5, Edwards 6, Camara 6, Mayor 7, G Cooper 5, Hardie 5, Nouble 7. Subs - Grant 6, Telford 7, Reeves 6.
2-2 was probably fair although we had the better chances.
What did we learn?
Once again we have a good first half and struggled in the second half but we did fight back to earn a draw.
Poor defending cost us the second goal, George Cooper should have made more if an effort to block the shot but there were several mistakes before that.
Cooper's delivery from crosses was poor, if he's not delivering as an attacker he then becomes a liability.
Hardie struggled without Jephcott, we now know it has to be those two upfront and not Hardie with another. Hardie had two good chances, on one he should have taken a shot instead of trying to round the keeper and had a second shot well blocked.
Camara was quiet, we missed his tenacity.
The penalty looked harsh but these days they are given.
On the plus side Watts had another good game, Telford had his best cameo in a Green shirt and turned the game late for us.
Michael Cooper made one superb save, Nouble was a threat up front - his hold up play and running the channels made a difference.
Overall, the good form continues and on the big stage we gave a good account of ourselves despite the early Sky Portsmouth bias.
We were purring during the first half, the movement and passing was first class. For the second half we hit more long balls through the centre rather than in the channels.
Lowe just needs to analyse why we struggle during the early stages of most second halves. Is it a fitness issue? Or is it just that the opposition managers work us out, although you'd expect any scouting system to forewarn the opposition teams.
It looked a squad decision to all have short back and sides haircuts.
Man of the match - Nouble.
M Cooper 7, Aimson 6, Okopu 7, Watts 7, Fornah 5, Edwards 6, Camara 6, Mayor 7, G Cooper 5, Hardie 5, Nouble 7. Subs - Grant 6, Telford 7, Reeves 6.