BB-M on win over Wimbledon

[Michael Morris]

https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/afc-wimbledon-reaction-brian-barry-murphy-1

“I’m very pleased,” Brian began. “We knew how dangerous Wimbledon were; we saw how many goals they scored at Barnsley. We knew that the game wouldn’t be straightforward and I’m very pleased to get the performance and the result in the end.

“I didn't think our attacking play in the first half was of the same quality as it was on Saturday against Luton. I thought we got to where we wanted to get to in terms of 1v1 situations in wide areas and central areas, but our technique in terms of how we crossed or passed needed to be improved. In the second half we did that and got the rewards we needed to.

“I guess it's just a sign that we have the potential to improve so much, and that's probably the biggest thing in our thoughts at the moment.”

City attacker Ollie Tanner continued his fine form with a goal and an assist in the win, and Brian was full of praise for the winger.

He continued: “I’m really pleased to have him back so strong and in the form he’s in. In the first half, he had a lot of situations where he didn’t quite produce what he or we would have wanted. We were looking for a big impact from him in the second half, and thankfully he gave it.

“He has the ability to beat players and provide the service we need. In the second half we saw signs of his quality.
“We depend on a lot of our players to be able to beat players 1v1 and create chances. We scored a lot of goals from all areas of the team.”

The Bluebirds extended their unbeaten run to twelve matches with a dominant win, and the boss concluded by highlighting the strength in depth within his squad.

“The players know that they have to produce because the competition on the bench within the squad is so fierce. It’s a huge driving factor; I think the players on the pitch feel the pressure of who’s on the bench.

“The Omari Kellyman goal was really important for us. Callum Robinson wants to get more minutes, and his assist was perfect, so all those feelings of how competitive it needs to be are there. It’s very healthy for me to have that.”

[Michael Morris]

Re: BB-M on win over Wimbledon

Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson

“They're a good side, one of the best teams in the league. They've shown that consistently throughout the season.

“In the end, that's telling, but I felt for long periods we were in the game. I'm disappointed with a couple of the goals. Obviously, they've got the ability to unlock you - they probably did with their third and fourth, but the first two - set pieces and to give two away in that way is disappointing.

“You want them to have to work harder for that. The third one probably takes the game away from us, but the second one, when we started the second-half so well and I felt like we were actually in control of the game, then we give up a corner from a counter attack and they score from it and now we're chasing again.

“So probably, in those moments, [it may] have cost us tonight. We kept going for it, kept pushing forward to try and get back into the game. We've had 16 shots tonight. We've hit the post at the end there.

“We continued to go for it and it can leave you open. We got picked off for probably the third and fourth, but I'd much rather that than come here and just try and shut up shop, stay in shape and all that and not create anything and get beat anyway.

“So I'm not happy that we've lost, but I think we've still seen enough from the team going forward. If we continue to play the way that we're playing, we're going to pick up a lot of points, but tonight they just had too much quality in certain moments.

“Not a lot of teams come here and do that, but we've lost 4-1, so we can't pat ourselves on the back for 16 shots, but I think it shows what we're trying to do.

“We're trying to be aggressive. We're trying to really step on and take the game to teams, whether they're top of the league or not and we're creating a hell of a lot more going forward.

“It leaves us a little bit more open and a team like Cardiff have got the players that can unlock you and they've done that a couple of times. They scored a couple of really good goals, but again, two of them are avoidable.

“We've had our moments and we haven't scored, they've made a lot of blocks, 2-1, Matty has an unbelievable chance and he's really unlucky. I don't think he's done a lot wrong, but it's an inch past the post, 2-1, that goes in.

“And that's as good a chance as there probably was all night. So if you want to get anything in, you need a lot to go your way and not enough has tonight.

“There are some things that we have to be better at, we'll always look at that. The set-pieces will be a big part of that, because we've had plenty of opportunities ourselves in corners.

“We've had a fair few corners and we score from one of those situations, so for that to be a bit of a difference is a slight disappointment. There's a lot of positives from the night. The result is not one of them, but I think the team is still in a good place.”

[bobh]

Re: BB-M on win over Wimbledon

City attacker Ollie Tanner continued his fine form with a goal and an assist in the win, and Brian was full of praise for the winger.

He continued: “I’m really pleased to have him back so strong and in the form he’s in. In the first half, he had a lot of situations where he didn’t quite produce what he or we would have wanted. We were looking for a big impact from him in the second half, and thankfully he gave it.

As I saw it, Ollie can be so fast at beating his man, other City players aren't keeping up with him so there's no-one to cross to.

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: BB-M on win over Wimbledon

Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson

“We continued to go for it and it can leave you open. We got picked off for probably the third and fourth, but I'd much rather that than come here and just try and shut up shop, stay in shape and all that and not create anything and get beat anyway.

“So I'm not happy that we've lost, but I think we've still seen enough from the team going forward. If we continue to play the way that we're playing, we're going to pick up a lot of points, but tonight they just had too much quality in certain moments."

Credit to Wimbledon and their manager for the approach they employed. They tried to give us a proper contest and managed to do so for an hour. It was a marked contrast to some of the sterile affairs we witnessed when the likes of Exeter and Wigan came here earlier in the season.

I really enjoyed last night's game. City produced some excellent football at times and Wimbledon gave it a proper go. Good stuff. As mentioned in the other thread, we don't seem to be missing Salech at all. On the contrary, the team's play going forward often looks smoother and more free-flowing.

[Trigger]

Re: BB-M on win over Wimbledon

Yea impressed by the Dons overall. Looked a quick and athletic team and as we saw in some earlier home matches, teams who push up and have a go can get some success but it does usually open them up for us also.

A far better spectacle though than many opposition produce. So many seem to throw the towel in well before the end but credit to them, they kept going.