Big D
Well-Known Member
Looking at our games against them over the past 3 seasons and the way we've started games is pretty sobering.
Since August 2021 we've played them 14 times in league and cup. Here are some stats.
* They've scored inside 10 minutes 5 times (more than 1 in 3) ....... and 3 of those goals were inside the first 5 minutes
* Last time we scored first in a fixture with more than pride at stake, was 3/4/22 (10 games ago). We went ahead in the 3rd minute. They equalised in the 7th!
* We've only made it to half time without conceding at least one goal 3 times in those 14 games and again the last time, in a truly meaningful fixture, was over 2 years ago.
That must surely be some sort of mental block? And so many of the goals have been totally self-inflicted, due to the most basic of schoolboy errors. If we're to win this on Saturday, we need to be in their faces and totally switched on from the first whistle. Because recent history tells us they certainly will be! We can't just ease our way in for 20 - 30 mins. And we absolutely need to score first. Make them do the chasing for once.
Since August 2021 we've played them 14 times in league and cup. Here are some stats.
* They've scored inside 10 minutes 5 times (more than 1 in 3) ....... and 3 of those goals were inside the first 5 minutes
* Last time we scored first in a fixture with more than pride at stake, was 3/4/22 (10 games ago). We went ahead in the 3rd minute. They equalised in the 7th!
* We've only made it to half time without conceding at least one goal 3 times in those 14 games and again the last time, in a truly meaningful fixture, was over 2 years ago.
That must surely be some sort of mental block? And so many of the goals have been totally self-inflicted, due to the most basic of schoolboy errors. If we're to win this on Saturday, we need to be in their faces and totally switched on from the first whistle. Because recent history tells us they certainly will be! We can't just ease our way in for 20 - 30 mins. And we absolutely need to score first. Make them do the chasing for once.