Post
by Brian Davis » October 20, 2013, 7:30 am
A slightly disappointing crowd for last night’s game. Maybe people can’t get off work so easily on a Saturday and I get the impression Sunday attendances are usually better. There was also the factor that some will have been involved in phansaa celebrations.
But the crowd was lively enough and Udon came out looking like they were up for it. Two goals early, both scored by Pouya, who was a handful for Nakhon throughout the game – after, in my view, a couple of anonymous performances against Sukhothai and Ang Thong, although he didn’t perhaps get much service.
Udon, without numbers 16 and 30 (hope nothing significant in that) appeared to adopt different tactics to normal with a long ball approach, at least early in the game, trying to ‘hit’ Pouya. Maybe they’d done their homework, because Nakhon seemed a bit powderpuff defensively and were muscled out of it at times.
Actually, I thought Nakhon played some nice football throughout and looked a threat, particularly at the start of the second half. Udon’s defence was at full stretch and there was some last ditch tackling and some good fortune too. As Nakhon came near several times, I was beginning to think Udon might regret missing further earlier chances, but Udon then added a third against the run of play at that point.
For me, Mamady (No 3) had a great game. If they had this computer analysis here, I think he’d come out miles ahead on interceptions, headers, tackles and blocks. And he kept his dangerous-looking opponent fairly quiet.
I thought 3-0 flattered Udon a little, but it was an important win after the disappointment of the previous games. A greater challenge next week at Chiang Mai?
Nakhon, a feeder team to Muang Thong, turned up in a MT livery bus with ‘Champions of Thailand’ on the side – very smart too. Some redesign MAY be necessary soon as Buriram, unfortunately, seem in a good position to win the Premier this season.
