The best positive about this game was the clean sheet, and also the news re Sean Miller getting a hat-trick. I too thought Hannigan played well in that game. I also felt Stalybridge dished out some nasty fouls and I was worried about Hannigan in that sending off. He has had much game time now and is showing us the asset he has become. Sean Miller must be now more or less ready to come back, wonder if he will be sub on Tuesday? Worth a punt Phil!
There are days we will have when a home side digs in with their defence and plays for a draw. Felt Stalybridge played ok in defence, but were unambitious. Any team that celebrates a 0-0 draw the way they did proves my point. That said, we have come a long way from last season and now teams are trying to find ways of stemming the flow of football from us. Makes a change from being laughed at. I was disappointed we didn't win but there again, there will be times when nothing we do seems right. We just had a slight off day but then again did not concede. The 4 games we haven't conceded was the best since 2003 apparently according to the website.
You win some, you lose some; we just need to keep our focus right, and concentrate on winning games and our finishing, rather than being in a situation where we know before a game what to do, then our form deserts us. Two teams always want to get a result, and this was a Derby. We have had worse results at Bower Fold; but bear in mind the conditions also made it difficult. We are still fifth!