The Man in The Shed

22^nd September – Hello VAR

When you are three quarters of the way through September and still awaiting your first home win of the season is it a good thing or a bad thing to have the form team in the league turn up to play ? OK, so we were one penalty short of matching Liverpool in the Super Cup but they had swept all before them ever since.

I was finally back in my rightful place – Shed end Upper Gate 8. A chance to watch the new generation first hand. I was delighted to see Tomori in a back four with Emerson, Christensen and Dave with Mount (fit again) and Abraham up front.

As kick off approached I was delighted to hear plenty of noise from the home support although there still seemed many empty seats with kick off only minutes away. And then I suddenly feel I had been drawn into a time warp as a large Eden Hazard flag floated across the Matthew Harding Upper.

Well we started OK and held or own for the first 14 minutes before conceding a soft foul just outside the box. Ruthlessly Liverpool scored with a blistering shot from the free kick. To make matters worse Emerson was off immediately afterwards (back too soon after injury ?).

The team reacted well after conceding and a great through ball from Christensen put Abraham one on one with the goalkeeper – but the shot was saved.

Three minutes later Willian finds himself free inside the box to cross  for Abraham to flick goalwards. The ball rebounds out and Dave is first to poke the ball home. Cue pandemonium around the ground. As I dust myself off and stop hugging anyone within reach comes what seemed like an endless wait for a VAR check. Unknown at the time Mount’s big toe was clearly offside before his pass to Willian – no goal.

Two minutes later another Liverpool free kick, this time out on the left is chipped in for Firmino to easily head home. No that really was rubbing salt in the wound. Good old zonal marking fails again.

Minutes later Christensen’s last ditch block results in another injured defender and a second substitution. That’s two subs before half time.

I was really starting to feel it was not our day. Every single minor decision from the referee seemed to be going against us as well today.

Half time and lots of things in the negative column and not much on the positive side. With two substitutes already used there would be limited options to alter things in the second half. 

Chelsea had their share of chances but had not converted (big toes excepted).

The second half was barely 2 minutes old and only a Kepa save prevented 3-0.

Chelsea continued to push but I just couldn’t see where a goal might come from – and then the little wizard from France suddenly goes on a mazy run and toe pokes a shot into the top corner. Cue pandemonium mark 2 (whilst secretly praying that this one won’t be disallowed).

The goal stands and the inevitable adrenalin rush pushes Chelsea on, backed by a now excitable home crowd.

Now we had Liverpool on the back foot. A header from sub Batshuayi goes wide and then a Mount shot is lofted over the bar.

Full time and we fall short again.

The performance over the whole game merited a draw in my mind. The key difference was that we made the chances but didn’t convert them. Liverpool were ruthless (six shots, three on target and two goals). That gave Liverpool 15 wins on the trot.

The crowd cheered the team off after a home defeat. Everyone could see we’d given it a real go in the second half and it was clear that everyone (manager, staff, team and fans) were all pulling the same way.

The biggest positive I took from the game was Tomori taking on Salah and winning the battle. This young lad is seriously quick. And Kanté wasn’t bad either.

So still no home win but fingers crossed we can get the better of Grimsby. A ticket for a tenner – I’ll be there !