Awesome, awesome, awesome

Last updated : 12 February 2002 By Mark R

Zamora had his best ever match for us, but that was because of the service he received. Balls over the top, to his feet, on his head, Lewis linked up with him superbly.

The first goal was superb. Brooker read a ball into the box, he latched on to it, back heeled it to Zamora who cool as ever placed the ball into the net despite 2 defenders on the line. Block D erupted and it was like being back on a terrace.

Not long later Zamora flicked the ball over a defenders head, Melton anticipated it and caught the ball on the volley and it was in the top corner. Bob Booker was onto the running track celebrating and we were going equally as mental!

We then took the game on and Lewis was passing the ball about, Brooker was tackling , making runs, making use of the ball, Melton was knocking it about and everyone caught the infectious disease of playing the ball to feet on a surprisingly good Withdean surface and we took Reading to the cleaners.

The third goal saw Zamora beat the defence for pace, rounde the keeper, look up, dummy to shoot and coolly knocked the ball on to Lewis, who despite running himself into the ground, made the effort and was rewarded with a simple tap in. Taylor stood in the dug out, arms raised, was he feeling vindicated in Lewis and his team selection?

Top Man!
Peter


The big difference tonight was players anticipating balls, playing passing football and working hard for each other. Melton and Lewis looked like good quality Division 1 players to me.

I put my hand up us as Taylors biggest critic and slammed his negative tactics. Perhaps he was playing the tactics that suited the players. Now he has changed that and the team looked quality last night and would have beaten any Division 2 side and I believe given a Division 1 side a big big test.

Would we have beaten Leicester? Adams has failed to turn them around and they are now 11 points from safety in the Premiership, so perhaps Leicester as opponents next season are a good team to judge us against ;-)

Kuipers - 2 or 3 good punches, no chance with the goal

Pethick - solid, looks to pass the ball out to players

Watson - had so many options each time he had the ball

Virgo - marginally better player than Phil Blackman ;-)

Cullip - quality

Lewis - ball playing midfielder with vision and ran BZ very close for MOTM

Melton - was all over the place and also ran BZ very close for MOTM

Carpenter - was the tough man and looked comfortable

Brooker - played like a man on a mission, best game this season and another who also ran BZ very close for MOTM

Hart - booked for winning a tackle - unreal - never gave up and for once was not alone in this

Zamora - brilliant. If I was a Premiership manager I would pay #5m now. When he gets decent service he can destroy any defence

Paul Alcock - pathetic, missed so much.

Reading - poor, defensive, clueless but top of the league at the moment!

I am off to celebrate in Amsterdam this evening, and back Saturday morning for the Huddersfield match!