SOBS: MCFC

The Lads successfully defended our unbeaten home record as the Sky Blue visitors became the first side this season to prevent us scoring a home goal in as entertaining a 0-0 as you're likely to see. There was no Ballard to snuff out Haaland this time, so Mukiele and Alderete took 45 minutes each, but unlike the reverse fixture, we also picked up City's other players. A cunning plan.

After an early arrival in town where there was a heady mix of match-goers and New Year's Eve leftovers, it was across the bridge and in early to ensure my presence for the memorial bit - so many names, so many recognised. It's only a game, as Pos used to say to wind up my kids, and it's a term Judith still uses now to bring us back down to earth.

It seldom works.

Two up top, potentially, as we lined up...

Roefs

Hume Mukiele Alderete Cirkin

Xhaka (c) Geertruida

Le Fee Adingra

Brobbey Mayenda

... and a bench of Patterson, Neil, O'Nien, Isidor, Mundle, Rigg, Hjelde, Jones (H), and Tuiterov.

We faced north and they kicked off, with it being so cold that Xhaka wore long sleeves. Alderete didn't. With two up top, Regis had obviously decided that we'd be better off giving their defence something extra to worry about, and we look more positive for that set-up. Mind, at the back it seemed to be a sort of three plus a wandering role for Hume. We were only a few minutes in when Ake went down with their first tactical "injury" - if the game's not going exactly how they want it to, down someone goes, off the other ten go for a drink and a bit of coaching, up goes the fourth official's board to indicate a substitution, at City's request, then up they get. Job done.

Anyway, with Gerty on the left of midfield and Enzo to the right, we were seeing a fair amount of the ball and were getting some joy down either flank, with Adingra showing his pace - but they had the ball in the net, only to be (rightly) denied a goal for offside. When it fell nicely to Haaland, Roefs saved quite comfortably, then Brobbey showed his strength to hold off his chaser and blast it goalwards, only for the keeper to be in the way. Hume skied a cut-back from the edge after we'd burst down the left - what he was doing in those positions is anyone's guess, but it seemed to flummox our opponents a bit. Cherki was next to earn his side a breather with a sit down, and then Donnarumma did his bit just before the half hour. Can the officials not see what's going on?

Five added minutes were announced, that man Hume popped up in the box again, only to flick his header over the bar.

No goal at the break, which was fair enough, but City did their best to spoil our night by bringing on Rodri for the second half, then five minutes later bringing Doku on. Hopefully he'd have one of those games where he runs round in circles and tries to beat his man four times. He caused us problems, but we packed the area in front of Roefs, with Mukiele clearing with his face and then Alderete heading the ball to the safety of the North Stand. On came Issy for Brobbey to swap muscle for pace, and Wilson chased at their defenders like a lunatic. Roefs saved a header, then Adingra fired one in from a narrow angle that was palmed away at the front post after good work by Mayenda. When Eli was fouled soon after as he tried to turn towards goal, Gerty saw something in the challenge that I didn't and gave the City lad a right mouthful.

A couple of blatant pushes out on our left from Donnarumma clearances went unpunished, then a cracking Hume tackle was deemed a foul as the ref did his best to give the Blues the advantage - making no comment when they had two men, with a ball each, shaping to take a throw yards apart. Who do we mark?

Mundle came on for Adingra for the final twenty or so, and he showed some good touches going forward and in defence, so they brought on Rudolph the Reijnders (fancy having a bench that strong?) but we stood firm. I was expecting a few more than the four added minutes that were announced, but we played them out anyway.

A cracking game, a brilliant, battling performance that saw several of our Lads fall to the turf in exhaustion at the final whistle. While the others celebrated, Luke managed to rile their keeper (perhaps it was his not giving them the ball for a throw? Job as a ball-boy when he retires, I think) who had to be pulled away - the lanky streak.

Man of the Match? Wow. A dozen or more contenders, as every one of them worked their socks - and boots - off. Xhaka organised things, Le Fee sprayed it about, Hume was everywhere, but I think it's between the two central defenders, Alderete and Mukiele. I think I'll give it to Alderete for that challenge where he put his head where most players would fear to put their foot. That should please his family, who were in the 76 Yards area to watch Omar wear his heart on his sleeve.