Well, we have not quite been at our best in recent weeks and we struggled on Saturday against a very good Elephant and Castle side who were the better team for much of the game. I don't mean to moan, but I don't know whether we have started to think we can just turn up and get results or whether we are just struggling a little bit for form right now but we must make sure we get back to basics and a bit of hard graft this week when we host Wortham.
We did not look up for the game when we kicked off on Saturday and were under the cosh for much of the first half where our clearances were being returned quickly to our back four and we struggled to get close to our opponents all over the pitch with their pace and short passing game. Frustration got the better of Carter after he lashed out and could have been sent off on another day.
Driver made a couple of good saves and Rhino looked very accomplished at right back aside from one tackle which was a nailed on booking from about 10 minutes before he made the challenge. It wasn't long before the Trunk were ahead but the mighty boy were level quickly with a corner from Carter (who else?) which swerved straight in thanks to the blustery conditions. I'm sure he will claim he meant it.
From then on though, there were only one team who were going to win it and we were thankful to Driver, Jock and Rees after half-time for keeping us in the game. We seemed to tire though with several players soldiering on with knocks and despite playing some good football at times, when we got possession, there was not much urgency to find some space and provide an option - a crime that we were all equally guilty of. Any raids forward often led to players being caught out of position on the counter-attack.
One good Elephant and Castle move resulted in them taking the lead and this was quickly followed by a rocket of a free-kick as Driver screamed at his defence that he didn't need a wall. The final goal was a matter of sloppiness though as Leighton gave the ball away and another missed tackle let E&C through to finish us off with a scoreline they probably deserved.
It is a shame that we have gone out of a cup so tamely that we really stood a good chance of winning but maybe this is the defeat we needed to realise that we are far from unbeatable and we can start fresh this week and go back to the ethics of hard work, simple football and working for each other which saw us start the season so well. Up The Boy!
Charlie Leighton Baines
Everton & England Left Back
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