Onto the game. With cup competition - especially early round games against lower league minnows (snigger) - the most important factor is making sure you get a result. Look at Blackpool in the FA Cup last season - a goal in the 90th minute off Yakubu's knee, but we were in the 4th Round hat and that's all that counts. By that criteria, last night's game was a rampaging success. On Wednesday evening, we can settle down for the draw, safe in the knowledge that we've done our bit.
Having said that, I'm a cruel and harsh judge. Whilst ultimately we achieved our goal, I reserve the right to nitpick - I'd have nothing to write about if I didn't, for a start. Just to show I do have a generous side, I'll begin on the positives. Ashdown, Kamara, Mezague and Cisse were all making their first starts at Fratton, and all played well - certainly no signs of nerves; all seemed comfortable with the ball at their feet, no weaklings in the challenge and know how to ping a pass. Kamara in particular seemed a constant threat and full of pace - but PLEASE, don't feel the need to take your shirt off every time you score! I realise Boro was his first league goal and this was his first goal at Fratton, but if he starts tearing off his clobber at the first sign of any goal remotely momentous, then Kev the Kitman will NOT be happy. And you wouldn't like him when he's not happy - he used to be a boxer, you know.
As well as the performances of those mentioned above, it was nice to see De Zeeuw back from injury. Hughes also turned in a good performance after a spell out of favour, and he'll certainly have done his chances of getting back into the squad no harm.
The same cannot be said, however, of our continual under-achiever Matt Taylor. After giving it "all mouth" in the press about how he wants his chance, he's had a fair few - and he's blown it every time! Tonight he was average at best AGAIN, and it's so frustrating. We've all seen what he's capable of, and we all know he can terrorise players down the wing, whip in a deadly ball, and even bash off a decent shot if need-be. But at the moment he just seems a shadow of himself. Admittedly he really isn't a left back, which is where he seems to be playing at the moment - and that's always going to limit his ability to get forward - but he seems to treat the ball like a hot potato. "Bugger - what's this round thing - someone take it away! TAKE IT AWAY I TELL YOU!" Since Unsworth and Berger have got the left side sewn up at the moment, it might not be such a bad idea to pack him off on loan. Regular first team football in the lower leagues might get his head sorted a bit, and he might even give up his nasty habit of backing off so far he ends up in row E.
Other than that, a fairly non-eventful night really. I don't know about you, but I really can't get too bothered for the League Cup - it just seems to be a general mentality around football. It hasn't got the tradition of the FA Cup, no-one takes it all that seriously since it's parked in midweek, and it's usually attended by a load of kids who should've been tucked up in bed hours ago and keep asking questions like "have we scored yet?" Still, we were all young once. I don't appreciate the lusty 13 year old girls sitting at the back of the Fratton End shouting inappropriate comments at the likes of Kamara and Taylor mind you - this is an football match for crying out loud, not a bloody fashion show. The only "crush" we'll have in here is the crushing of stud on bone, thankyou.
A competent performance that promised so much more after half an hour but in the end was enough to do the job without injury, over-exertion or death - seems like a good night's work to me. See you in the fourth round!