Steven Humbles

Just about coming down to earth after an emotional day yesterday. It was a wonderful way to end 14 years as a *regular* member of the @BBCShropSport team covering @telfordutd. I’ll still work the odd game for the station, but much less often. What a memorable way to sign off 🏆❤️

@StevenCross81 @buck_back66 @BBCShropSport I struggle with the whole play-off thing to be honest. As a veteran of our previous Step 1 campaigns, I worry about what comes next. Our last promotion to that level probably set the club back 10 years! However, that’s another debate…

@StevenHumbles @buck_back66 @BBCShropSport People get over excited (me included probably 😂) and then things snow ball. To get 7th and a game in the eliminator would be amazing really...from where expectations were set in August.

Negative intro on the Verdict. I don't *expect a win against a fellow playoff contender. If anything, the Leamington and Macclesfield results were the unexpected ones. Intensity from Tuesday night was missing today but come on, we're still in the mix.

@BoulterRichard @Azzaj_93 Exactly - as soon as they scored, you knew it was going to be a totally different game. Should never have been in that position.

@StevenHumbles @Azzaj_93 Yep, we should have converted at least one of the chances (and there were a number) in that first 30 - by doing that (as per Tuesday) we are in much better control of everything that comes next and forces the opposition to do other things.

We were excellent for 30 mins, poor goal kills us Really missed the physical presence of Matty Stenson up top KW interview was spot on - nothing to do with fight, or lack of.

@Azzaj_93 @BoulterRichard I don’t disagree with any of that, but ultimately today we lost because we were wasteful in the final third and we gave a couple of poor goals away (first one in particular). If you do that, it’s always going to be a struggle.

@StevenHumbles @BoulterRichard My take on the game is that we struggle against teams who play with a low block. Our forward players need space. Back to goal, I don't think they are technically astute enough. That is not a dig at them, by the way. Different styles for different fights.

@Azzaj_93 @BoulterRichard Just said elsewhere - that was the classic “let’s give it the keeper by default” because nobody else stood out!

@StevenHumbles @BoulterRichard They won through battling and a moment of brilliance by one individual. Telford were complacent on the ball , which is probably what they meant. The more questionable shout was Gracy man of the match who never had to do anything of note all game.

@buck_back66 @StevenCross81 @BBCShropSport That’s the problem with the play-off talk really - it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we have massively over-achieved this season. You could hear it in the crowd a bit today. It’s human nature I suppose.

@StevenCross81 @BBCShropSport 100%, dare I say it was just one of those games. Didn't play that badly but didn't take our chances - it won't define our season

@BoulterRichard Also important to remember how much Kevin has wrung out of this squad and how much we are overachieving. Leamington and today a reality check that we can’t just expect to absorb absence or underperformance of key players and expect to breeze through. We aren’t THAT good!

@StevenHumbles Absolutely, and to be fair we've been excellent all season a hitting back quickly. Today keeper makes a few saves, we make a few mistakes, we have a few cleared off the line One of those days really

@rhendy_mufc_20 Giving MOTM to the keeper usually the classic default when nobody has stood out…

@StevenHumbles He was nowhere near man of the match. He had to pick the ball out the net twice, and could have stood in the crowd with us the rest of the game.

First game without Stenson where we’ve (noticeably) missed his killer instinct in the box - so far at least. I guess that’s testament to how well we’ve done in his absence, but you certainly feel Stenson would have bagged at least one in that first half-hour today.

@BoulterRichard We just had to make that early spell count. I’d just turned to the folks next to me and commented that I was really worried we hadn’t scored - then within 60 seconds we were 1-0 down. Goals change games and, once they had the lead, to be fair they had us where they wanted us.

@StevenHumbles Kevs was asked about "fight" and responded accordingly.... Main point he made was it a bit of nievity and not making the most of the moments we made - particularly early. They turned up with a very set plan and we fell into the trap

@rhendy_mufc_20 Think Leamington and today have been reality checks to a point. We aren’t good enough to sustain so many big players either missing through unavailability or just missing in action. Gracey MOTM summed it up today - too many weren’t anywhere near their best and that’s why we lost.

@StevenHumbles Need a couple of striking options off the bench ideally. Especially when we need a goal.

@NickBrockis Certainly did today!

@StevenHumbles We've missed his arms and elbows

@jamesshawvideo Yes. We’ve covered his absence well so far, but today we really missed him. Feel like he would have made that first 30 minutes count.

@StevenHumbles 100% missed his anger and passion in the box today.

@0N10N5 It happens though. Goals change games. They suddenly had something to hang on and we were suddenly chasing the game, so the psychology changes. We just had to make that spell in the first 30 minutes count and, when we didn’t, we left the door open for what happened unfortunately.

@StevenHumbles It would have been better to maintain the patient approach seen at 0-0. Panicked somewhat after going behind.

By the end, felt like we could have played to midnight without scoring. If we’d got one, think we’d have had 2 or 3 but finishing and final pass way off usual levels which made afternoon progressively harder for ourselves. Marine ruthless and efficient. Shame but we move on.

@NickT04 @telfordutd A like harsh for me. From their perspective, they’d characterise that as a very good away performance; withstood pressure, got in front and managed the game. We just had too many who were way below their best today but if we had scored early, who knows? Goals change games.

@StevenHumbles @telfordutd Two dreadful performances from both teams in the end imo - but one took their chances, one didn't.

90' TEL 0-2 MAR FULL TIME: Defeat at home - onto the next game!

@NickT04 @telfordutd Strange one really because first 30 we looked good but shot ourselves in the foot with some really poor finishing and we all know how that ends. We aren’t yet at a level where we can afford to be so profligate and get away with it. Once they had something to hold, we struggled.

@telfordutd Could play till 5pm tomorrow and not score. Worst team I've seen us play all season yet they steal one of the most comfortable 2-0 ever. Cranston woeful.

Here’s a little more info on the good causes we’ll be supporting through this vinyl night. More info coming soon on an exciting raffle 👀 shropshirestar.com/news/local-hub…

@TeamMirza2026 @DAZN_NationalLg @telfordutd @thesilkmen I can see why he gave it but I know Alex was sceptical on the award - not that it mattered at that stage. I was a little concerned by the Meddows shirt-pull in the first-half. Again it wasn’t clear-cut but there was some contact so they may feel the 50/50 calls went our way.

@StevenHumbles @DAZN_NationalLg @telfordutd @thesilkmen not convinced that was a pen. Their manager post match said they should have had two pens. yet their highlights don't show the incidents lol

Excellent @DAZN_NationalLg footage from last night’s @telfordutd v @thesilkmen game and pleased to have supported the commentary of the game alongside my colleague Alex Reid. Hopefully the cameras will be back in Wellington soon…😆 youtube.com/watch?v=xnuPlD…

@CameronLaing15 @telfordutd You’re spot on. Once he’s given the penalty (and that’s up for debate), it’s inexplicable that he’s not produced a red as he’s clearly not made any attempt to play the ball there.

@telfordutd Didn’t really look like a pen but then when the ref gave it surely that’s a red? He hasn’t played the ball

90+3' TEL 3-0 MAC Adan turns the lights out on Macc!