Excellent result and perfomance for all the right reasons.
This was real banana skin of a tie going to a very small ground with ferocious home support in a country where we have never won away from home in Europe with a makeshift side and having to recover from going a goal down in the first 5 minutes.
Well done to Roy and the players. Not only did they show character in coming from behind to win this match but they did so with a true team performance where they all worked their socks off for each other. OK it was an own goal that broke the spirit of the Turks but it was sustained pressure that brought the own goal about. And the second goal was a classy piece of slick football involving 4 players.
Positives to take out of this performance, many, and I am sure that Roy will be well pleased. Mainly with the character the players showed in a hostile environment having conceeded so early they could have easily caved in. And although once again we seemed to play another match with totally different first half and second half performances they stood up to be counted.
Young players getting the chances to play they craved so much under Benitez but never got, were given the chance to prove themselves. And yes there were a few mistakes but to concentrate on them would be nitpicking.
Babel must surely have made his case for starting a berth on the left wing given his last 2 performances for the team, he will be giving Roy a real selection problem and hopefully making the other players vying for this position sit up and take notice that if they think they are an automatic selection they are not. it was very pleasant to see him not only beating his man on the wing but then coming up with the final product that has so often been lacking previously. A sign of his increased confidence under Roy. So too for Pacheco who did his chances no harm and gained more valuable experience. Kelly too and I thought Poulsen was particularily impressive.
Our second half performance was outstanding and the fact we managed to silence the home crowd says it all.
This was excellent management by Hodgson who no doubt is going to catch some flack when it does not go his way so equally deserves the credit when it does.
I think we can go all the way in this competition.