Solihull Moors 1-2 Notts County

Starting XI

Moors (3-5-2): Boot; Clarke Howe Coker; Barnett Maycock Davis (Cybulski) T.Whelan Donawa; Beck (Kelly) Dallas (Sbarra). Unused: Roberts C.Whelan 

Notts (3-4-1-2) Slocombe; Rawlinson Baldwin Cameron; Nemane Palmer Bajrami (Bostock) Chicksen; Rodrigues (Austin); Langstaff Scott (Jones)

Game

So, I missed the first ten minutes or so and watched the rest. And after some back and forth in the early parts of the game, it was Moors that took the lead, Maycock cutting out a Cameron pass, driving forward, finding Dallas, who returned the favour, and showing some composure in the box. 

Notts almost get in straight away, Nemane getting in behind Bajrami whose effort was saved. At the other end, Maycock got the better of Palmer before finding Dallas who fluffed his lines. 

Notts equalised from the penalty spot. Bajrami got onto a loose ball, found Scott and as he went to pull the trigger, Clarke went through the back of him. Definite penalty. Rodrigues was calm. 

Whelan gave the ball away almost immediately to Rodrigues who glided forward and saw his shot deflected. Rodrigues then did well to find Scott who blazed over. From the resulting goal kick, Dallas found himself in behind but put his effort wide. 

Dallas was in again at the start of the second half but took a heavy touch around Slocome and lost the chance, Langstaff was then played in at the other end after more good work from Rodrigues, but surprisingly missed the target. 

The game slowed down after that. Moors sat in their shape and struggled to get out with Notts having penned them in. Then Rodrigues won a corner which was taken quickly. Barnett bundled over Palmer naively. Another penalty and another fine finish from Notts’ Portuguese wizard. 

Notts could have put the game to bed when Austin picked up a loose ball and found Chicksen, whose cut back was put wide by Langstaff. Jones then miskicked after more good work from Austin. A late Moors break saw Donawa find Kelly to head wide. Moors huffed and puffed late on but lacked the quality. 

Tactics

So this was 5-3-2 v 3-4-1-2. 

In deep possession, Moors would try and play out with Clarke and Coker moving wide to receive possession. There would then be some dovetailing out wide with Maycock and Barnett switching up and the same for Whelan and Donawa, the wing-backs stepping inside to allow the midfielders to receive possession under a little less pressure. Moors lacked options ahead of them though, so it was often deep, controlled possession before looking to spring Dallas in behind, which worked well. 

For Notts, they lined up similarly in deep possession. With Moors playing such a low block, it required two of the midfielders or Scott to drop deep, drag a player out of position, take the ball and give it back to the defence to open space up for others to play forward. One particularly fruitful move was possession on the left, Scott/Palmer into Baldwin then into Rodrigues who would look for the run of Nemane against Donawa. 

For all their attempts to try and play out, Moors weren’t afraid to use Beck’s height and size. However, having done so intelligently early on, the long ball became a bit too much of a get-out clause and he was easily shepherded the longer the game went on. 

Out of possession, the Moors were very narrow and the lines were tight, which made it difficult for Notts, who wanted to play forward but often had to resort to holding onto the ball, playing into midfield, receiving it back and working out where the space was. The strikers were happy for the back three to have possession with those two and the midfield three responsible for denying Palmer, Bajrami, Rodrigues and Scott the chance to turn and move towards them, jobs they carried out well.

Williams made a double sub on the hours and it led to a change. Rawlinson and Cameron started playing higher and wide, the wing-backs stayed on the last line of defence and it was Bostock and Palmer supporting Baldwin defensively. Jones and Rodrigues now playing as two 10’s. It pinned Moors back in with Whelan and Maycock occupied elsewhere and the strikers being forced to cover what effectively became a line of four in front of Baldwin. 

After Notts’ second, Moors made a change to bring on Cybulski for Davis and revert to 4-2-3-1, Kelly playing off the big man and Sbarra and Barnett wide. Donawa moving from LWB to RB and Coker stepping from LCB to LB. It gave them width and the ability to move forward. It was a change that they probably could have risked earlier. Ardley was seemingly happy with the point and perhaps happy that his side would get it until Barnett’s moment of naivety in the box. It did admittedly give Notts space to break, so perhaps his decision not to make the change earlier was somewhat justified. 

Players 

From a Moors perspective, I thought Davis settled in really well. I thought Maycock and Barnett looked bright in possession. Dallas was electric, constantly peeling off the shoulder and timing his runs well. Whelan showed glimpses of his passing range but was also caught a couple of times trying to play too quickly against a well drilled side. Donawa gave it a go but he’s definitely a raw forward, not a wing-back or full-back. 

For Notts, I love Rodrigues. The best player in the division for my money. Such an intelligent, gifted footballer. A couple of lovely nutmegs too. Palmer and Bajrami were fine in midfield. Nemane is ridiculously quick and times his runs well. Langstaff was quiet but came alive in the box. Jones was bright when he came on. Gave the impression he shouldn’t be at this level and won’t be if he can stay fit. 

Anything else?

The story coming into this one was about Andrew Dallas. Thankfully, for Moors, he’s staying and he didn’t shirk his work. 

Wrapping it up... 

A difficult one to judge from a Moors perspective. It was always a one-off. It required a change of shape and with so many new bodies coming together at once, alongside centre-half issues, it was a tough one to navigate. Two naïve moments ultimately cost them but otherwise, they carried out the game plan to a tee and tried to play when the opportunity was afforded to them. We will see a braver Moors moving forward, one that will see Sbarra, Barnett, Dallas and Kelly competing for game time and I’m happy to suggest they’re well in contention for the top seven at this stage. 

Notts weren’t at their best. However, Williams made a couple of intelligent substitutions on the hour and showed his tactical prowess. That he has John Bostock and Jodi Jones on his bench speaks volumes of their squad depth. That Notts weren’t at their best and still had total control of the game against a side that remains one of the strongest in the division speaks volumes of their quality. There is a steeliness and patience about their play this season that was missing at times last term and it’s why they are toe-to-toe with Wrexham challenging for the title and not down in 5th.