2 weeks Ago
Lee Angol scored the only goal of the game as the relegation-threatened outfit got the best of Swindon without them mustering much of a fight. So, how did the players fare as individuals at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium? GK: Connor Ripley – 5 Much like last week, Ripley was not kept especially busy on his return to Morecambe, as they only generated 0.37 xG.
He made all the saves you would expect him to make, but this was a game when both ‘keepers could have met for a coffee whilst the action was going on. RB: Tunmise Sobowale – 5 In the first half, Sobowale was essentially given the role of a right winger, and he performed it fairly well, getting into advanced areas and moving the ball on. Then he was dropped into centre-back and reduced most of the danger.
CB: Will Wright – 4 The pitch prevented a good deal of football from being played, limiting Wright in the department where he normally thrives. Then, defensively, Angol did a number on the two Swindon centre-backs, preying on their indecision and fighting harder in the duels. CB: Miguel Freckleton – 3 Much like Wright, Freckleton got a bit of a schooling from Angol, and there were a few times when the Sheffield United loanee allowed him to hold the ball up and lay it off far too easily.
He was also more nervous on the ball than normal, frequently playing back to Ripley when it was not necessary. LB: Jake Cain – 4 Cain was on a hiding to nothing, getting 45 minutes on the side of the pitch where passing was more or less impossible. He inverted into midfield to good effect a few times, although without creating the needed penetration.
CM: Gavin Kilkenny – 4 I vow to stop bringing up the pitch caveat from now on, but it did contribute to both teams giving up on playing through the middle. When Kilkenny did get on the ball in advanced areas, he contributed to an overall display that was too slow. CM: Nnamdi Ofoborh – 4 It is hard to boss a midfield when there is no midfield to boss.
Ofoborh did drop a little deeper to try and help out with the centre-backs. It helped a little bit, only not enough to add the bite that the whole team lacked. RW: Joe Westley – 3 It is a strange quirk that whenever Westley comes off the bench, he makes a big impact and looks very lively.
However, in his two starts, he has been out of the game almost entirely. CAM: Tom Nichols – 3 There were one or two moments when Nichols did get on the ball and play an incisive pass, but this game was another one when he could not find the space he needs to be in to thrive. LW: Botan Ameen – 5 As I said with Cain, Ameen was given five minutes on the clean side of the pitch, and the rest was in the thick mud.
He was positive with the ball and made a few good runs, even if it was not always effective. ST: Harry Smith – 4 Smith was still winning the bulk of the headers up against the defenders, only this was not leading to Town retaining the ball. He was not linking up with his teammates and getting the team up the pitch as often.
Substitutes: George Cox – 5 Coming off the bench, Cox added a little bit of pop down the side as he put some dangerous crosses in and came close with a free kick. Danny Butterworth – 4 Following in the footsteps of what Ameen had done, Butterworth got on the ball and drove when he could, and this at least, gave Morecambe some questions to answer. Paul Glatzel – 5 He should definitely have had an assist with that inch-perfect delivery for Smith.
It was the best chance either side created, and it went begging. Joel Cotterill – 4 Cotterill’s standout moment was actually a defensive one, as he got back to make a fantastic recovery tackle on the edge of the box. Playing a bit deeper, he generally did a reasonable job of moving the ball.
Kabongo Tshimanga – 3 Much like Westley, Tshimanga was unable to impose himself a great deal in a game where nobody was creating the chances he needs..
