Crawley v FGR

[Chris FGR]

So having dodged the manager of the month curse we'll be hoping to carry on our rise up the table, away at the team with the worst home record in the division. Bit like Stevenage, Broadfield is a place we could never bloody win at, hopefully like we did there we'll continue breaking old habits but it wont be easy.

We have gone down to 9 men twice and there in recent visits and there was also that mass brawl there way back in the Southern League days. Unlikely this will be a battle though, both sides like to play it out from the back and pass it sideways a lot without kicking the oppo too much so should be decent to watch, but doubt they'll be many goals.

No Bennett for us which is a blow, reckon we'll play one of the CB's, probably Iacovitti, there and hope for the best.

 

[devilofajob]

You'll have the "unnecessary thread " police after you!

I put this on the general matchday thread -

Just over 20 years ago we played FGR in the old Southern League. The crowd was 2163.
I wonder if we'll beat that tomorrow? It's about time we started playing better at home or Kewell will be gone I think.

 

[Greenacres]

Not unnecessary if we keep posting on it though!

Southern League days, 20 years ago, that must have been one of the promotion seasons and a few years before I discovered the "joys" of following the Rovers. Both clubs have come a very long way since the late 90's. I am guessing that if you had told the fans of both teams back then that they would be meeting in the Football League a couple of decades later they would have just laughed at you, but tomorrow it is happening. Hard game to call, no doubt that we have improved in the last month or so, certainly no push overs anymore (apart from the abject display against Newport). I suspect the game will end in a draw, although obviously I am hoping for all three points coming back to the West Country.

 

[Vanni]

Habbinalan We've got ourselves a designated PCFT here I reckon. What say you?

 

[Chris FGR]

Habbinalan We've got ourselves a designated PCFT here I reckon. What say you?

Unlike Cambridge, not one of our match threads have had under 10 posts this season. A couple have gone to 3 pages. Cos we're massive you see.

 

[Stripes]

I have no idea what to expect from this game. I think we'll know more once we've lost another game, and then see if we can bonce back. In our favour we're on a run, and sides will at least be wary of us ATM, and not expect a walk over. I'd take a nil nil. I'd still like to see more versatility in front of goal, beyond Doidge and Marsh Brown.

Need to keep the run going with El Glosico fast approaching.

 

[Habbinalan]

Habbinalan We've got ourselves a designated PCFT here I reckon. What say you?

Possibly. I can envisage a lot of FGR talking among themselves so we'd need to take the Crawley side really ..... but I'm packing bags, cleaning optics and sorting out my (legal) drug stash for the big trip so haven't had time or energy to start a Cambridge thread never mind bail this lot out.

Most of the Crawley and FGR insults have worn a bit thin by now so we'll have to find a new tangent if this is going to be worth the effort. We need to get beyond EVANS, the Majeeds, gangster owners, hippy owners, murderer strikers and vegan pasties and float a bit of 20th Century nostalgia.

City were in the Southern league with these two (along with King's Lynn and that Southern league stalwart Burton Albion) when FGR were champions (1997/98?). Was anyone around to visit Milton Road in those days?

 

[The Jovial Forester]

I'll be there as I'm back in the country for a brief visit so expecting a terrible game with a late home winner that's clearly offside.

 

[devilofajob]

Possibly. I can envisage a lot of FGR talking among themselves so we'd need to take the Crawley side really ..... but I'm packing bags, cleaning optics and sorting out my (legal) drug stash for the big trip so haven't had time or energy to start a Cambridge thread never mind bail this lot out.

Most of the Crawley and FGR insults have worn a bit thin by now so we'll have to find a new tangent if this is going to be worth the effort. We need to get beyond EVANS, the Majeeds, gangster owners, hippy owners, murderer strikers and vegan pasties and float a bit of 20th Century nostalgia.

City were in the Southern league with these two (along with King's Lynn and that Southern league stalwart Burton Albion) when FGR were champions (1997/98?). Was anyone around to visit Milton Road in those days?

As you mentioned that season, here is a link to our results -
http://www.ctfchistory.co.uk/stats/1997_98.htm

 

[The Jovial Forester]

See-sawed around that, Crawley started better then thought we got on top and could have been well up at the half. They came out better after the break but we went and nicked one. Invited pressure and Crawley equalised after what seemed like five corners in a row. Then scrambles either end and we had a late one bounce out off inside of the post.
Crawley gave away too many fouls for their own good, broke up their own good spells too.

 

[Chris FGR]

We were miles on top first half, Crawley could hardly get a touch. Should have been 2 or 3 up, and their keeper should have gone for handball, ref had a shocker. Tbf Crawley impoved second half but still feels like 2 points dropped.

Not sure that leaving 4 up when defending set pieces is the best idea, leaves us very short in the box.

 

[Stripes]

Consistent high performance needed, a goal we’re pursuing. But the highlights suggested we were very hot for for the most part yesterday. We looked like a good side, go on boys.

 

[Casey]

Devilforajob; would you swap that season's front line for this? I would. Craig Whittington and Ben Abbey both ended up playing league football and could run.
I posted on the match day thread that our keeper could well have been sent off but you rarely see an outfield player sent off for those as his hand was by his side.

Quite an entertaining second half after FGR totally bossed the first. Playing our right winger on the right and our left winger on the left helped. Those shock tactics were too much for FGR to cope with.

Casey

 

[Chris FGR]

Highlights. Crawley keeper hand ball @ 0:28. Blatant red imo.

 

[Vanni]

Agreed, clear red. Thing is I don't know if the rules have been amended this year, though I think not, but I'm sure there were a couple of similar incidents lately with the keeper only getting a yellow.

 

[JoshBCFC]

Clear as a red can be.

 

[Casey]

Don't get me wrong Morris should have been sent off and it helps make a point that the ref was not good in this game. We got the benefit of a dodgy call there and FGR got some others. My point about the incident was you don't see outfield players sent off when their hands are by their sides. It's the rubbish about the arms being in a natural position. The natural position of an arm is attached to a shoulder. I don't think I've ever seen a hand ball given when the arm is not attached.
Something I didn't realise was that Morris made a good save when FGR scored. For a bloke who came into be a coach he has done very well for us.

Casey

 

[Chris FGR]

His arm wasn't by his side though, he clearly moved it to block the shot. An outfield player would have gone too.

 

[Casey]

Handball by itself is not a red card offence. The red card comes from a denial off a goal scoring opportunity. In this instance the ref clearly felt the pushing the ball beyond the keeper and running towards an empty net was not a denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity. I presume because we had a player two or three yards behind! (I don't know how to post a sarcasm emoji)

I'm still celebrating a forward scoring a goal for us. Only the second one all season. We're in November for christsakes!!!

Casey