FA Cup Bangkok Glass 1-0 Chonburi (AET) - Match Report: 2013

FA Cup

3rd Round

Bangkok Glass 1-0 Chonburi (aet)

Leo Stadium

Attendance: 4,700

26th June, 2013

Match Report

THE STADIUM

I must admit, I do like going to the Leo. You are always made to feel welcome and they have a very sensible approach to drinking inside the ground - they even have their own brand plastic beer glasses. However, I thought the admission price of B150 was a bit steep - it looked like even more of a rip off after the match!

 

THE FANS

Theirs

Seemed very subdued inside the stadium and didn't really come to life until the goal was scored - in the 116th minute! Though they were quite lively outside afterwards. It was hardly what you'd call a cup tie atmosphere.

Ours

Also subdued. But for a very different reason. The majority last night seemed to be really hacked off with the team's tactics and performance and showed it by keeping quiet for most of the 120 minutes. I can't say that I blame them.

 

THE TACTICS

Shocking. Absolutely rotten. We didn't close down their players when they had the ball in their half and we defended too deep. We practically surrendered possession from the kick off. And, when we did get the ball, we looked hopeless. Whoever was responsible for sending the team out to play like that, should be thoroughly ashamed of themself. Bangkok Glass were there for the taking last night and we failed to cause them any problems whatsoever. Ten minutes in I said to the bloke sitting next to me, "We're playing for penalties." He didn't disagree.

 

THE PLAYERS

They didn't look particularly happy or comfortable with the way they'd been asked to play and it seemed like one or two of them were arguing amongst themselves, on more than one occasion. The fact that Arthit headed straight off down the tunnel after being substituted spoke volumes. And, tellingly, only six of the fourteen players who featured last night came over to thank the travelling fans at the final whistle.

 

THE REFEREE

Woeful. Very inconsistent all night and appeared to favour the home side with most of his decisions. This isn't sour grapes. We deserved nothing from this match and were our own worst enemies. However, this shouldn't distract from a poor display by the man in the middle. I'm not convinced that he even knows the laws of the game. Seriously!

 

THE RED CARD

Having said what I've just said about the ref, he did get this one right. Two rash challenges. Two yellow cards. Correct calls. No complaints. Although, strangely, playing with ten men didn't appear to make any difference whatsoever to the way we approached the match.

 

THE GOAL

Shouldn't have been allowed. The ref (remember him?) restarted the game with a drop ball. However, he dropped it straight at the feet of a Bangkok Glass player with no-one from Chonburi within fifteen yards of him. This lead directly to the move from which the goal was scored. Rotten refereeing. Even though we were so poor, this was still a sickening way to lose. I was still ranting and raving about it as I was dropped off on the motorway two hours later!

 

OVERALL

Rubbish. Watching Chonburi has been a painful experience this season and I think last night's "display" comes a close second to the inept display against Buriram Utd a few weeks ago and a short head in front of the "performance" against Muang Thong Utd in March. Clueless. Gutless. Spineless. It's time for a change. And the sooner the better.