Hmm…

Not a lot of good things to read into this score line, but then again I don’t think we should worry too much. We looked a bit shambolic in defence for all of the goals, but I guess they haven’t quite got the first team sussed yet, and there weren’t an awful lot of wise old heads at the back tonight.

My main concern is how toothless we looked up front. Mind you, starting with Santos playing up there doesn’t help, and switching to 4-5-1 after half time didn’t help either!

It was my first chance to see quite a few of the new boys. Mixed impressions:

Shimmin: looked confident and calm (maybe a bit too cocky), took the ball down nicely on his chest in situations where others might have hoofed it. Not too hot in the air though, which is a bit of a worry for a centre-back.

Hislop: not sure - quite nippy but looked a bit inexperienced, and knackered by the end.

Brown: not much in the way of attacking play - a bit anonymous a lot of the time.

Nygaard: I think he’s going to come in for a bit of stick, and he didn’t really do much to impress, although he didn’t get given much of a chance by Ollie. Managed to get beaten in the air quite a few times which takes some doing when you’re a 6’5” striker!

Doherty: I think he may be the new Birch - which is good, since Birch looks like he’s still struggling in some way, maybe his mystery virus is back? My only worry with Doherty is that I think he’ll be getting a few red cards this season, which could cost us.

Ukah: like Shimmin, looked quite composed, and a decent player, but Bignot was close to Furlong for my player of the year vote last season, and but for my money Ukah isn’t yet as good.

It was disappointing not to see Sturridge, Evatt or Moore - presumably they are injured?

Also annoying that Ollie is still messing around playing people in weird positions. Put your best players in their best positions mate, then make do with whoever’s left in the problem places!

Best moment in the game: Dan Shittu’s pile driver, hit from way out, which rocketed off the crossbar. It deserved to go in, and if it had it would have been the best goal he scored in his whole career. From then on, every touch he got was accompanied by cries of “Shoot! Shoot!”.