Janssen first half



The hold up play of Vincent Janssen was excellent, We could play the ball up to him with his back to goal and he was holding onto it before laying off to a teammate. he laid on several shooting opportunities in the first half for the attacking trio behind him.

He looked frustrated in the first half, he was annoyed when Josh Onomah didn't slip him in when he played the ball to him on the edge of the box and turned nicely to get into space behind his marker, Onomah was more interested in a shot with three men around him.

That isn't a criticism of Onomah, just an example of how Janssen is working to get that first goal from open play and how the frustration and therefore tension builds up. Prior to that he had headed wide from six yards from an Onomah cross from the right. He tried to head the ball across goal into the far corner but instead headed it wide.

He had a shot saved by the substitute keeper for Gillingham on 35 minutes. His movement was good to find space in front of the defender and shoot on the turn with his right foot. It is the type of chance that you simply get on target and if it is your day it goes either side of the keeper, if it isn't it goes straight at him.

Three minutes later he was played in having pulled wide to the left at the edge of the area and his control took the ball diagonally towards goal giving the defender the opportunity to push him wider where he was also confronted with the goalkeeper. By the time he had gone round him he was virtually on the byline and from that acute angle he shot was cleared off the line.

A minute later Lamela played the ball into the box for Janssen to turn and shoot with his left foot but the ball rolled the wrong side of the post. Then on 41 minutes another good diagonal run but the ball was just too far out of his reach to wrap his foot around.

While frustrated he really was doing everything we want apart from the ball going into the net. It will come but his body language shows he desperately wants it, which doesn't make it any easier.

He looks a good purchase on this first half display.