With two non-scoring strikers up front I wasn't expecting us to score but I wasn't expecting a clean sheet so overall a good result.

I thought it was a decent all round performance especially given that 3 of the back 4 were not starters last season.

However things continued to look less promising upfront. Ayew had a good game and Benteke won his fair share of headers but neither of them look confident in front of goal. Wickham looks top heavy to me and maybe only game time will improve his sharpness but he looks a long way off of the standard required at this level.

Maybe we will bring a loan forward in, but it looks like more of the same from last season. I think the club are committed to Benteke because they haven't been able to sell him so may as well play him. Lets hope he improves as the season progresses.

Old, Ungifted and White

We’re obviously not blessed with strikers, but as well as a makeshift back four yesterday I think our creative players were also in the same boat a little.

You’d hope that in a couple of weeks a fully fit/firing Zaha plus Camarasa and McCarthy, who will probably help build from the back a bit more, will at least provide us some more opportunities.

Employee of the month is a good example of how someone can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.

I agree with this. Benteke doesn't gamble on where the ball might be played in order to get ahead of defenders. He seems slow to read the unfolding possibilities around him. As Wrighty pointed out on MoD last night, there was a classic example in the last few minutes when PvA was clear in the box and tried to angle the ball past Pickford. Benteke just waited beyond the far post, so it was easy for a defender to clear the ball before it reached him. If Benteke had gambled by cutting into the area and so anticipating PvA's shot/cross, he could have had a shot (not saying he would have scored, of course - that is expecting too much).

The right place at the right time

It all points to yet another turgid season, especially at home where us supporters will be served up with the same uninspiring performances and a dearth of goals.Don't expect the team to entertain us - just expect them trying to grind out results.

I heard Souness say that the Chelsea midfield this afternoon only scored 5 goals between them last season.Well, our strike force of Benteke,Wickham and Ayew got the grand total of 4 between them last season.Not much to get too excited about this season.