Today we host Brechin City ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brechin_City_F.C. ) in a top-of-the-table clash and the first of 4 meetings that may decide where the title is headed.
IRL they are also in League 2, currently bottom with only 7 points from 13 games as I type, having been relegated from League 1 after the 18/19 season. In game the relegation took a season longer.
Back to the Control Possession tactic today – even though we are at home Brechin are a good side and I want to be a bit tighter defensively, plus this allows rotation after the game on Wednesday. Starting Munro over Morrison at RWB as he has been very impressive. Everyone else starts as normal in this formation apart from Andy Turner, who I’m trying as a CM (Auto). Brechin start with a 4-1-4-1 – quite defensive but again I may have a few issues out wide. We will see how we a go. A draw will not be a bad result but a win will really send a message out regarding our promotion intentions.
HT Berwick 2 (McGrath pen 22, 28) Brechin 0
It should have been 1-0 Berwick early on, McGrath messing up a 1-on-1. Berwick were very much having the majority of the ball but Brechin looked capable as a team. Munro also having a very good game at Wingback again, getting plenty of crosses in. In the 22nd minute the quanity and quality of the crosses told – a penalty after a foul on x after a Munro cross, McGrath finishing well. And it was 2 in the 28th, a magnificent cross again from Munro finding McGrath, who headed into an almost-unguarded net. The boys are on fire at the moment. Brechin were being outplayed. And the half finished 2-0 – 66% possession!!! And 8 shots on target out of 12. Very happy with this š
FT Berwick 2 (McGrath pen 22, 28) Brechin 0 Att 532 (105 Away)
BAU at the start of the second half, lots of ball for Berwick, lovely interplay trying to pick our way through the massed ranks of the Brechin defence. All very calm and collected. I’ll be very interested to see Munro’s stats at the end of the game – so many crosses with someone on the end!. Allan on for Slaven on 60. McNiff for Watt just before 70. Cornelius for Barr just before 80. And it finished 2-0 – outstanding in the 1st half, professional in the 2nd. Extremely happy. Munro – 24 crosses, 45% completion with his 4 Crossing š !!!!!! 8.4 with 1 assist #wonderkid š
Top of the league with a game in hand š Cowdenbeath got another good win to keep pace, and Stenny, who we play next are up into 4th, but there’s lots of sharing of points going on in the lower half of the table.
xG – 2.418 v 2 goals scored, xGSoT 3.737 v 2 goals scored, xSoT 10.512 v 11 shots on target. So we were more efficient with our shots on target but we underperformed in the actual scoring. It felt like a 3-0 TBH.
So Stenny next at home to round off an amazing August -Notwithstanding our Betfred defeat to Rangers and the remuneration gained from that its 6 wins – lets make it 7 š See you then