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Well we got the win to clinch fourth spot. It wasn’t a great performance especially in the first half when we struggled to break down the Boro defence, which was nothing new. Once the first went in as the added minute commenced the whole day seemed somewhat better. When the second and third followed in quick succession I started to think in terms of an avalanche but it didn’t arrive and it was more in keeping with putting our feet up knowing the task was complete. Nice tribute to Lucas at the end; well deserved as well. Fair play to Boro, they were typically boring but unlike Watford and Everton they didn’t roll over we had to work for what we got.

At last a display reminiscent of early season, maybe it was the sunshine?  Scored four, could have been six or seven but fair enough, West Ham should have had a penalty.  Naturally there were a few anxious moments and how West Ham missed the chance right on halftime I don’t know but not only did they miss it once, but twice.  The second half they took a battering and it was totally one-sided. Coutinho was definitely the Little Magician and how good to see Dancing Dan dancing again. If Origi had passed to him when he should have done late on he’d have danced some more.  I suppose Origi saw the goal and went for it.  Just one more banana skin to overcome, relegated Middlesbrough between us and a top four finish; no slip ups required

We’ve gone from the exhilarating thrill a minute stuff of the first half of the season to watching paint dry now.  This was awful, from the first minute until the last.  We’re limping along relying on others to drop points after we’ve squandered just about every advantage we seem to have. Manchester United losing didn’t make me feel any better; we should be over the hills and far away by now. You can’t single out any player this was a collective mess and everyone from the management down needs to take responsibility. We’ve played Southampton four times this season, scored nil – says something doesn’t it?

Loughborough University 2 Liverpool Under 18’s 0

Loughborough University rounded off their season in fine style with a well deserved win over Liverpool’s Under 18 side in front of a crowd of 1,350 at Holywell Park on Wednesday May 3rd.

The Liverpool squad spent most of the day at the University and were given a guided tour of the facilities on the Campus and representatives from the Merseyside club were duly impressed.  They would have been equally impressed by the performance of the Student side as well.

Once the action got under way, the young Reds started brightly.  On five minutes, a great run down the left flank from Liam Millar saw him beat a couple of defenders, but as the striker advanced into the penalty area he was denied by an excellent block from Conor O’Keefe.

Loughborough University then took the lead on 11 minutes through a stunning long-range effort from Trotman that gave Caoimhin Kelleher in the Liverpool goal absolutely no chance.

Liverpool dominated possession with Curtis Jones and Liam Millar looking a threat but they lacked a clinical edge in front of goal but credit has to go to the superb Danny Brennan and his co-defenders.

The Reds kept attacking and Longstaff sent over an inviting cross that Millar looked certain to put into the net but the Uni managed to get the ball away with another piece of alert goalkeeping from O’Keefe.

At the start of the second half both sides rang the changes but the game continued in the same vein with Liverpool looking and probing for a way through the University rearguard but the only real chance they had fell to the highly rated Glen McAuley but his effort went narrowly wide.

On the hour the Students made it 2-0 and this came about following some fine flowing football down the left which was finished off in style by an audacious flick by Matty Crookes.

The whole evening was a tremendous success and Liverpool had to be thanked for taking time out to pay their first visit to Loughborough since they were in town on league business in 1895.  Hopefully they won’t take so long to return to the town this time.  Credit to goes to the Loughborough University football staff and volunteers who made the visitors very welcome especially football coordinator Mat Stock and football secretary Margaret Folwell.  Vital funds were raised for the Daniel Wilkinson Foundation, which was the main purpose of the evening.

Such fixtures showcase the facilities at Loughborough University and hopefully some of those in attendance will return next season to lend some support to the team.

We’ve got a few weeks off before we make plans for next season. If you wish to subscribe to Red All Over The Land just click on the subscriptions link and take it from there.