It seems to be a sad truth that every time we have the opportunity of a great leap forward, we manage to stumble.On those rare occasions when the ground is packed with regulars and fair-weather fans the team fails to deliver.
Murphy gets a shot on target from this!
There is little to be gained by criticising individual players or the manager's tactics.We were humbled by a far, far better team.
They made half a dozen changes from the first leg and within the first couple of minutes is was obvious that we would struggle to cope.Fortune gave Reynolds a torrid time and he was ably supported by Zerka and Hadji.
Malcolm could only concede fouls as he tried to cope with the touch and pace of their midfield. His only positive contribution was an early free kick which flew above the bar.Murphy replaced him after half an hour but we were already out of the competition.
The goals were both conceded to needless free kicks near the box.Smith parried the first only to see Fortune pounce with Reynolds spectating and the second, from fifteen yards up the edge of the box flew through the ruck of players and into the net.We were two down halfway through the first half.
We had the odd foray into the opposition area but the only shot on target came from a Murphy free kick in the second half.Given that we had no shots on target in the first leg, the gap in class between the teams is obvious.
When will we see this again?
Although we did not concede in the second half, that was due more to the visitors missing easy chances than to any defensive efficiency on our part.
For the last fifteen minutes we adopted a reckless attacking formation in the hope that the crowd would get to cheer a goal.Darren Smith, Murphy, Clarkson, Porter and Sutton failed to test the keeper.
The gap between the two teams was huge and Mark McGhee said after the game that he would use the skill level on show as a target which our players should strive to reach.They have a long way to go!