Appérénces Can Be Deceptive

In defence of our much-maligned number 9

In the 65th minute of Cambridge United’s match at Cheltenham Town on Monday, with the U’s leading 1-0, a spell of head tennis on the edge of the Robins box saw the ball reach James Gibbons on the right side of the area, who lofted a cross into the goalmouth. It looped up nicely for Louis Appéré, unmarked six yards out, but the striker managed to nod the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

It was perhaps not quite as easy a chance as it appeared on first viewing – the cross is slightly behind Appéré, making it difficult for him to get his head over the ball - but United’s number nine should have done better, and he knew it. Appéré turned away as the ball sailed into the crowd behind the goal, glancing up to the heavens in frustration. Alas, any hope of some Easter weekend divine intervention was extinguished with a late Cheltenham equaliser that left United’s automatic promotion hopes looking decidedly precarious.

This season has, so far, been one of many heroes and few villains. United’s form has been so consistently good that even unheralded players like Zak Bradshaw, Zeno Ibsen Rossi, and the much-maligned Elias Kachunga have come in and made meaningful contributions, particularly before Christmas when cup games punctuated the league campaign.