Eastleigh - Match Thread

That backline is still a massive concern. Particuarly in the centre back department. To come away with a point - brilliant. But scoring twice away from home and only coming away with a point isn't right. We should be tighter at the back.

I hope MB can do some more wheeling and dealing in the next few days and ship some of this deadwood out. We desperately need that centre back and winger in.

I’m not sure if Bignot intends to play a back 3 when he has all his defenders fit.

Should have been a comfortable victory today, obviously I’m pleased with the result in the end and proud of the fightback, we’re certainly heading in the right direction but it’s annoying to see us drop points. To be honest with you even a couple of goals down I was pretty confident we’d come back to snatch at least a draw, Eastleigh are a very limited outfit despite the hefty investments.

We need to stop conceding daft silly goals against the run of play like today, we started both halves slowly and that was ultimately our undoing. Eastleigh’s only genuine threats were Mark Yeates and Gary McSheffrey fleetingly looking a bit interested. Our performance was a bit like at Dover last month but with genuine chances, generally in control of possession with them sitting us off a bit after going ahead.

Akintunde was excellent returning from injury, constantly twisting and turning, he was a menace. Archer alongside him didn’t set the world alight but was a handful for their defence, constantly tugging his shirt throughout, he had to have it changed at half time with no number on his back as it was ripped. Even when he’s shy of his best he’s still dangerous. Hannah appeared to play just off them both in a bit of a free role, heard a few murmurings about him but I thought he did alright to be honest. I thought Kingsley James had a decent game, got stuck in and at the heart of a lot of our good work. I like Gough as well, comes across as a likeable lad and was a threat going forwards when switched with Rowe-Turner.

Andy Halls is an enigma, four good games for us including today and none of them whilst in his natural position. I think he’s a personal trainer away from football and some Macc fans mentioned a while back that he’s beefed up a lot recently and lost some pace, it makes sense as he constantly gets caught out in that position. I think he’s better not getting about the pitch as much and growing to be more of a centre back to be honest.

Eastleigh seemed to have adopted this policy of employing veteran has-beens from the Football League ever since they reached this level a few years ago. It’s never worked and still isn’t for them and you wonder when they’ll learn. Team of mercenaries. Anyway, should have been three points but there you go, we concede silly goals and don’t finish off some chances we should do, that’s where we are in the league at the moment. We’re improving though and I’m getting more confident about us.

Oh, and seeing big Ryan Astles clench his fists to us after scoring is a sight I'll never get tired of. Completely beautiful.

Good to see MB and players being positive unlike several doomsayers on here ! Keep the faith for the long term not short term.Cannot believe some are saying we could run out of games...in November ??

Anders provides a typically accurate summary. We thoroughly deserved it - at least six very, very good chances created and we made them look average. Halls is certainly an enigma - he was a very influential player yesterday from centre back, and last week from midfield. Would be hard to leave out on Wednesday. Difficult to name a player who played poorly although it isn't quite clicking as it needs to. Aki was a real menace all day and Archer as has been said, worked really hard - signs that he could do really well - we will need to show a bit of patience as he adjusts to this level. Didn't get to the Barrow match but that's three in a row now where the performances have been up to scratch - its all out the window for Wednesday as we know as it is a derby, but this week and last week have really reassured me about the season.

He said in his interview after the game that Jones was injured too. Pretty unfortunate! 

Sounded better pleased for akintunde onwards and upwards

Just cramp he should be fit and raring to go against the goats

Are the highlights online anywhere>

We had some cracking chances there. Dawson will be kicking himself he never buried his.

On those highlights it looks like we were better team and should have won. Hannah and Dawson both could have done better with their chances.