A disputable penalty and a late winner from former CCFC target Jack Lester saw CCFC once again end a match with no points. I missed this one too due to being abroad, but it seems the script was the same as normal - by far the better side, but nil to show for it.
The referee didn't help matters, ignoring a penalty appeal after Barrett was felled by Kozluk, booking Konjic for tackling Allison, and, as mentioned earlier, awarding SU a highly debatable penalty - a decision that even the home fans could not believe (Brown scored from the spot). Added to this was the sending off of Eric Black, for the crime of returning the ball to the spot where it had gone out of play. Hangings to good for him! Eh? Mr. Crick?
Suffo equalised for CCFC after 66 minutes, scoring the sort of effort he has been threatening to do since joining CCFC, and CCFC should have gone on to take all three points. Unfortunately, once again a catologue of chances were wasted, as CCFC joined the `Gang Of Six' recently relegated Premiership clubs to occupy 19th to 24th place in the division.
v NOTTS FOREST (h) - 1.3
Forest hadn't won away in seven, and CCFC hadn't won a D1 match at home since Boxing Day - somebodies poor run was likely to end, and as usual it wasn't CCFC's....
CCFC started brightly, and only minutes into the match Morrell managed to escape an attempt to hack him down, and was past the last defender (all-be-it just past the half-way line), but the referee failed to play an advantage and awarded CCFC a free-kick (Which came to nothing). Minutes later the referee slightly made up for this by breaking up a Forest move, getting in the way of a pass as they looked set to attack.
CCFC looked vulnerable at the back, especially on the left side of defence, with Warnock being tormented repeatedly, though thankfully any chance Forest created failed to hit the target. When they did look like having a shot, they found the fairly immaculate Callum Davenport in the way.
Morrell looked to get a CCFC attack under-way wide on the left, but was hacked down by the highly-rated Dawson - though had Morrell's first touch been better, the Forest defender wouldn't have got near him anyway. Dawson became the second Forest player to go in the book, with Leeds loanee Steven McPhail having been shown the yellow card minutes before.
When CCFC did go on an attack they appeared far to bothered about trying to walk the ball into the net (passing repeatedly, rather than just having a shot at goal), and Barrett was guilty of said crime after 20 minutes, when he got behind the last Forest man, but, rather than test the keeper hit a cross-come-shot that troubled the corner flag rather than the defence.
A fairly disjointed first 45 minutes from CCFC was followed by a 15 minute spell of pressure after the break that saw Forest fail to cross the halfway-line - then they ran up the pitch and scored. Minutes later they scored again - game over. Whing had scored his first ever CCFC goal within 30 seconds of the re-start (and was booked for celebrating), which saw a decent tune belted out at Highfield Road to celebrate (`House Of Pain's' `Jump Around' - Quality!) and it was one-way traffic for a while after that - but, as with last season (and so many others), "sitters" were squandered, and three points disappeared off up the motorway.
Morrell hit a screamer wide on 58 minutes after great work from Suffo, and minutes later Forest went ahead. Reid re-gained Forest's lead on 61 minutes, and a minute later Louis-Jean walked past the left side of CCFC's defence and hit the angle of post and bar with Shearer beaten. A big Forest shout for hand-ball was ignored on 64 minutes, and a minute later Forest scored their third after a terrible clearance from Shearer. CCFC tried to claim there had been an obstruction, but in keeping with the rest of the match, the referee ignored the appeals. There were, once again CCFC claims for a penalty or two, but Suffo already appears to have had his card marked by referees, having a fairly clear looking appeal waved away.
Barrett showed the absent Gary McAllister how to take a free-kick after Suffo was felled on the edge of the area, with his fine effort beating Ward in the Forest goal, but hitting the bar rather than threatening to bring CCFC back into the game (His range of corners were far better too).
Suffo was booked minutes later for winning the ball off a Forest defender, and this decision was greeted by a CCFC fan running onto the pitch and making gestures involving his groin region in the general direction of the referee. Fair comment, me thinks....
Keith O'Neill managed to deflect a lot of talk away from a disappointing defeat, having managed to earn some of his extortionate wage by coming on as a substitute for seven full minutes (Greeted by chants of "Who Are You?" from CCFC supporters), before going off injured - you could not make it up. His first contribution had been to give the ball away in midfield, and ended up as a Forest corner. Way to go, Keith....
Both `Teamtalk' and Nick Owen on `Midlands Today' made reference to the fact it was CCFC's first goal at home for four months - though not actually playing for three of them might have something to do with that too....
v IPSWICH (a) - 1.1
CCFC finally ended their losing sequence against Ipswich, with a hard fought draw away at Portman Road. A disgraceful �23+ entrance fee saw yours truly listen via radio rather than actually make the journey - this is D1, not the Champions League!
CCFC started brightly enough, but failed to capitalise on their supremacy, and were punished by Ipswich after 15 minutes. Staunton failed to clear a Makin cross, and Marcus Bent opened the scoring for Ipswich. A minute later Counago failed to make it two-nil, shooting wide with just Shearer to beat, and a minute later it was Ipswich's turn to be punished!
Michael Doyle, who - according to the commentary - was lucky to still be on the pitch after allegedly elbowing Wilnis, equalised for CCFC (And somehow managed to avoid any colour card again, despite celebrating with the Ipswich fans!), and almost gave CCFC the lead after a fantastic piece of skill minutes later, denied by a great save by Davies.
Staunton was replaced by Davenport at half-time, and the youngster, seemingly already written off by some supporters having failed to take D1 by storm last season (Which CCFC player(s) did?!), gave an assured display at the back, that might just see a few people alter their opinions - and give McAllister food for thought on who to select in defence.
CCFC managed to win 10 corners during the match, but again failed to make proper use of any of them - once again reinforcing my opinion that McAllister MUST share set-piece duties around. The "it's my ball and I'm taking corners/free-kicks" attitude needs to be sorted! There are other players in the side equally as capable of delivering a decent corner or free-kick! There were also a few decent shouts for penalties to CCFC denied, with both Adebola and Suffo being felled in the area.
Morrell replaced Adebola on 80 minutes, but was given little chance to show that he is (or isn't!) capable of taking his scoring feats of last season in D3, to this season in D1.
CCFC faded late on in the game, and Ipswich looked the most likely to take the three points, but a Davenport clearance with Shearer beaten (after 78 minutes), a superb Whing challenge when an Ipswich goal looked on the cards (on 85 minutes), and another Davenport intervention on 88 minutes, denying what looked a certain goal, gave CCFC a share of the points. Mansouri replaced McAllister as full-time approached, getting his first taste of D1 football.
Anyone know if I can get a press pass for away matches?!?!
v WALSALL (h) - 0.0
15,377 turned up for CCFC's opening game of the season - which included the glorious site of a full West Terrace! Other areas of the ground that were once filled were not, so presumably some fans that left Highfield Road disgruntled last season don't believe the CCFC revolution is about to start....
The ball spent the majority of the match on the floor, with both teams playing football the way it should be played in what was a very entertaining match. This wasn't quite `The Alamo', but the majority of the match was played in the Walsall half, and for the third match versus Walsall in a row, neither side managed to find the others' net.
New signing Steve Staunton made his CCFC debut only a day after being signed, but gave a display alongside Mo Konjic that looked as if they had been defensive partners for years. SS's every touch was booed by Walsall fans (Rumours that Colin Lee also joined in are unproved!), having opted to join CCFC over them, but this didn't affect his display. If he carries on like this, he might just be forgiven for being an ex-Villain!
CCFC started brightly, and Suffo shot just wide after 9 minutes following a great bit of skill. Barrett back-heeled an effort just wide after a great CCFC passing move on 20 minutes, and in between those efforts, a foul on McAllister had been ignored and the ball bounced dangerously into the Walsall penalty area, where Walker managed to clear ahead of the advancing Adebola.
Safri was harshly booked after 26 minutes, being found guilty of the crime of winning the ball fairly, and at this point in my notes I actually wrote that I didn't expect him to stay on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes - and so it proved. On 76 minutes he was sent off for an alleged dive, and even Walsall boss Colin Lee disagreed with the decision. There were far worse challenges from Walsall players than the one that earned Safri his first yellow, yet they went unpunished. This includes an off-the-ball kick at Doyle, right in front of the referee's assistant - I thought that was a straight red card offence? - which he completely ignored. He wasn't even booked....
Staunton and Suffo also missed efforts late on in the first half, and, almost on the stroke of half-time, Whing got his foot on the end of what seemed like a totally lost cause, and almost caught Walker out with a cross-come-shot (Quite obviously intended as there wasn't a CCFC player inside the penalty area).
The second half continued where the first half left off, with Adebola missing a glorious chance on 46 minutes, a Suffo cross almost catching Walker out on 48 minutes, and a Konjic blast well saved on 49 minutes. CCFC were awarded a penalty after 55 minutes after Suffo was fouled in the area, but McAllister, normally as deadly from the spot as Van Nistelrooy, emulated the Dutchman's effort of last week by missing. A minute later McAllister missed another effort too, and a daisy-cutter free-kick, which crept under the Walsall, wall was kept out by Walker on 58 minutes.
After 66 minutes Walsall finally had a shot on goal, which unsurprisingly came from the fairly subdued Paul Merson.
Morrell headed a great Doyle cross over the bar when he should have at least hit the target on 66 minutes, and a Barrett effort was saved by Walker on 68 minutes. A Warnock cross was headed just over by Suffo on 70 minutes, and you sensed that, with CCFC failing to take their chances, Walsall might just snatch the points.
Morrell was tripped just inside the penalty area on 73 minutes, but appeals for a second penalty were wrongly ignored, and a minute later Suffo picked out the keeper rather than the net after advancing past the last Walsall defender. A Staunton free-kick was head just wide after 80 minutes, as the match became a re-run of CCFC's home match against Forest last season. Chance, after chance, after chance, going begging....
Though there were plenty of positives from today's match (Hardly a bad performance on the pitch, and the ball - unlike last season - actually making it into the opposition penalty area), but the biggest negative for me was the performance of McAllister. Not just for the penalty miss, and his 86th minute miss - where he failed to even test Walker in the Walsall goal after being put through - but for his entire performance, which was below what I would expect from him. He seemed so far off the pace, and I would have taken him off, and put Jorgensen on for the last 15 minutes.