Sending off nearly spoilt an excellent day at the races but whata performance to hold on for the draw. Alex was the complete thing and definitely MoM. Take the point and move on. Spurs next............

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KM #8

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What a difference that a good goal keeper makes and he came so cheap

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Amazing resolute display. Palmer is such a steady hand and that save towards the end was spectacular; thought Omari defended well, nicking the ball a few times. Not sure what KM sees in Ben Johnson - he is rubbish ... and not sure why Phillips is getting a high rating - second best always and gave away a couple of free kicks including the one that lead to their equalizer. Enciso is a loss - can be difference maker. Would love to see Delap and Hirst together for a few minutes.

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Yes first yellow everyone agrees was wrong. Ref just wanted to get card out for the ‘little team’. But the biggest mystery was the back pass in first minute. I was in line with it and I am no longer sure what ‘deliberate back pass’ is if that wasn’t one. Believe me the Villa fans around me were frozen to the spot with disbelief at that moment. We would have been beaten by a good team on form because we missing some key players. Thankfully Villa were not on form and we defended well. Going forward we really had very little apart from the goal. I can understand that McKenna set up to not lose. It worked. I was a little bit frustrated with Phillips giving away two free kicks on the edge of area. He just seems to leave his foot in when a player has gone past him. He should just close down and not dive-in, when in those areas. Canjuste’s tricks and turns didn’t come off but he did a decent defensive job. Morsy is a little more suited to a battle-for-a-point game. I do feel that not having Leif helped us. We need him when we are going for three points. Today was a Townsend day. That does mean we aren’t on the edge of our seats or covering our eyes quite so much. I am confused about the ‘shoulder to shoulder’. Omari must be so strong because at 55kg(?) I am constantly amazed at how he can so easily knock someone twice his size over with his shoulder. However we have seen that when the big defender decides to stand his ground Omari bounces off like a tennis ball. Can’t refs just apply the rule consistently? If we get a few players back fit, we can certainly give ourselves a chance if the team have this kind of spirit and determination. We need Philogene to start producing. We need crosses into Hirst with Delap coming on later or perhaps try and play both. I do hope that failing to land Downes doesn’t define our season. He would have really added to our midfield options. Luongo is clearly only able to run around for ten minutes and doesn’t have the mobility of a PL midfielder. He is only there for when we are really desperate.

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