Job done, don't ask for much more than that. That pretty much sums up this performance. Another promising early goal start degenerated into another scrap for a point. Having gained an advantage via Bellamy sneaking in to produce a looping header we actually began to look comfortable -- while never really having great invention or producing huge amounts of threat. The comfort came mainly from looking vaguely like a solid defence---though ball retention was another matter---until of course that changed and a normal lack of defensive service was resumed to allow Sporting back in.
From that point it was all out defending to achieve the result needed to leave us top of the group. Any resemblance of solidity was now gained by essentially converting the midfield into a second defensive unit, with the result that Ameobi and Bellamy were left entirely ineffectual mainly through lack of service.
In the end we were hanging on but the job was done, which is about all that could be asked given the injury list and form. A pity the european record was spoiled but we're through as group winners and it's a little unfair to go looking for more than that. We have every chance of progressing now. If we can somewhere along the line learn how to defend then we might at least dream.
(@23:12)
