Last matches B4 Xmas: Sat 19th & Tue 22nd December

[The Jovial Forester]

Over the line. Great set of results at the top from our POV.

 

[CTFCfan99]

Oof, one to forget. Not seen us get battered like that since the playoff semi

 

[Hurrikeen]

Well deserved twatting of Newport. Hit the bar too late on as it could have been about 6 in the end.

We badly need to sort out home form out.

 

[Bottega Don]

Grimsby committing 22 fouls and getting one booking is absolutely remarkable today, not sure how Holloway pulled that one off

 

[Chris FGR]

Thank fuck for that. Very scrappy in horrendous weather, came down to who could nick a goal and luckily it was us. Carlisle pressed us very well and will probably feel unlucky, even though we had far more of the ball.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Well deserved twatting of Newport. Hit the bar too late on as it could have been about 6 in the end.

We badly need to sort out home form out.

Result of the day this.

 

[shoddycollins]

Disappointing result really. The performance for most of the game was decent but FGR were well deserved winners and it's disappointing because it exposes that we do have weaknesses. We're not good against better teams and we're not good when we go behind (have we actually taken a point at all this season from a game where we've gone behind?). With all the possession they had, once FGR went ahead it was relatively easy for them to see out the game and the more desperate we got for an equaliser the sloppier we looked, in the end could have lost by more.

We'll still go into Christmas in a good position, just a question of whether we can remain in the top three if we can't beat the top teams in the division.

 

[shoddycollins]

Result of the day this.

Barrow beating Cheltenham 3-0 at Cheltenham IMHO was the result of the day.

 

[The Globule]

Very very happy. Another dominant performance. Only 2-1 but hit the woodwork at least 4 times. We're definitely getting better. That's 3 wins in a row. Playoffs at Christmas - unprecedented. Did I say I was happy?

 

[Shrimpurh]

We defended for our lives that second half. A month ago we lose that game definitely a good point to end a good week

 

[Conker]

Southend scored a great goal and were good value for the lead at half time, second half was mostly Mansfield and I think a point is right.

still poor from Mansfield, Southend probably would have won if they didn’t stop playing when they scored.

Still completely winless at home in the league this season.

 

[BarraMatt]

First game ever EFL game at Holker Street for me and we've given Cheltenham a right rogering. Thoroughly deserved too.

We were brilliant, they were shit and didn't look like a top three team at all.

Merry Christmas.

 

[Casey]

Well that was a surprise!

It was only going one way really then we brought on Dannie Bulman and suddenly we have a midfield.

Then after Nichols hit the bar and the ball bounced on the line and out (noooooo!) we just looked more dangerous and Nadesan just kept on getting the ball down the right wing . That's where the second goal came from with Watters accepting the tap in.

Have to say Watters wasn't as good as he normally is. He was hanging around on the shoulder but the ball seemed to bounce off him a bit today. Got a goal though so I can't really complain.

Casey

 

[Back in the DHSS]

you would not have experimented in midweek if you had a game......The bingo balls come out and its the first 11 that come out get selected. Quite looking forward to what Hill has got to say after the game.
Isgrove forced his way into the first team after several good cameo appearances in place of Crawford.
Gives us a better balance.
Doyle first goal Bolton 3 Birkenhead 1

Oi soft lad ! WRONG AGAIN.

 

[hellogregory]

Disappointing result really. The performance for most of the game was decent but FGR were well deserved winners and it's disappointing because it exposes that we do have weaknesses. We're not good against better teams and we're not good when we go behind (have we actually taken a point at all this season from a game where we've gone behind?). With all the possession they had, once FGR went ahead it was relatively easy for them to see out the game and the more desperate we got for an equaliser the sloppier we looked, in the end could have lost by more.

We'll still go into Christmas in a good position, just a question of whether we can remain in the top three if we can't beat the top teams in the division.

Grimsby away is the only one coming to mind. But they gift wrapped the point for us.

 

[Vanni]

Wow, quite a few surprising results today.

Well played Bradford. Could easily have been a 4-0 win on another day.

 

[The Terminator]

An extremely disjointed showing from ourselves this afternoon, barring the start of the second half when we seemed to get going and had a golden chance to go 2-1 ahead with James Brophy drawing a good save from Glen Morris we looked very disjointed and shit.

Crawley came on strong in the final 20mins and took the chance they made and we never looked like getting back into it, so many of our players looked tired and played very poorly - particularly in the final 20mins.

The ref I thought was poor - Failed to give both teams numerous free kicks and I'm pretty sure there was a handball by our left back in the build to when we scored.

Crawley had to work hard to win that, but they had enough about them to punish us at the end. Embleton punished for taking our left back off for an attacking player and Crawley scored within minutes of it happening.

 

[Casey]

Shoddy. Its not his left foot. Its the right foot I think he is fouling with. Everyone seems to say his left foot is on the line and I say so what. Its his follow through that takes his right foot onto the pitch I think is dodgy.

Don't forget. The Cheltenham player actually created a goal from his long throw and I didn't say it was wrong.

I'm sure you're right and everyone has looked at it and its perfectly legit.

Casey

 

[Back in the DHSS]

First game ever EFL game at Holker Street for me and we've given Cheltenham a right rogering. Thoroughly deserved too.

We were brilliant, they were shit and didn't look like a top three team at all.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas indeed! Good to see your lot end your awful run.

 

[Casey]

Who was the Orient 16 (left winger) ? Tore our young right back a new one.

Casey

 

[BarraMatt]

Merry Christmas indeed! Good to see your lot end your awful run.

The players are obviously capable it just doesn't seem like Dunn could get the best out of them.

 

[Shrimpurh]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1340314414403231745

A Mansfield free kick lool

 

[Monkey Tennis]

The difference between today and Tuesday's meek effort against Scunthorpe is unbelievable. Almost every player giving everything and scrapping for every ball. It's what we've been missing.

The conditions were awful and so was the pitch, but same for both teams. Cheltenham's back three aside, they barely turned up.

A turning point? Could be, but it certainly shows we can do a job when we actually put some effort in.

 

[SELatic]

I know this gets says a lot but surely this has to be the lowest quality L2 for some time.

We would be bottom most seasons, it's mental there is teams worse than us.

Absolutely. The only good team we’ve played this season is Tranmere. Exeter seem decent too given the pastings they’re giving some teams but weren’t great when we beat them. Newport today had one decent player - Twine I think he was called - nullify him and they have very little yet they were top

 

[Roger Stone]

Deserved win for Oldham, hit us well on the break. Perfect away showing but would prob been a different story if Podge converts his pen in 71stvminute. Our boys looked fucked and leggy. Week off and hopefully some boys back from injury for Crawley on 26th, Labadie, Dolan, Taylor fingers crossed. Top at Xmas so can’t be too unhappy.

 

[Vanni]

Only one side currently in the top 7 actually bothered to turn up then - FGR.

Regarding Newport, I think SELatic is being a tad unfair here. Obviously I didn't watch the game, but to call Newport a one man team seems harsh. I know Twine is probably their most important player but they're a strong good side and credit has to go to Oldham for today's win. County shipping in 4 goals is almost unheard of.

The other standout result today was Barrow's win. Not that beating Cheltenham is impossible or anything but 3 goals without reply is very impressive. Having said that, I wouldn't read too much into it if I were a Barrow fan as the caretaker manager bounce has been a thing for as long as I care to remember.

 

[Hurrikeen]

Absolutely. The only good team we’ve played this season is Tranmere. Exeter seem decent too given the pastings they’re giving some teams but weren’t great when we beat them. Newport today had one decent player - Twine I think he was called - nullify him and they have very little yet they were top

Looking back, I didn’t think Tranny were particular good, just a solid, organised and streetwise side that should always do well in this league.

This league is shit though.

 

[SELatic]

Only one side currently in the top 7 actually bothered to turn up then - FGR.

Regarding Newport, I think SELatic is being a tad unfair here. Obviously I didn't watch the game, but to call Newport a one man team seems harsh. I know Twine is probably their most important player but they're a strong good side and credit has to go to Oldham for today's win. County shipping in 4 goals is almost unheard of.

The other standout result today was Barrow's win. Not that beating Cheltenham is impossible or anything but 3 goals without reply is very impressive. Having said that, I wouldn't read too much into it if I were a Barrow fan as the caretaker manager bounce has been a thing for as long as I care to remember.

I can obviously only go off what I’ve seen, and I’ve only seen the vast majority of teams once. But in those games, everything in my post is true. Didn’t see anything from Newport in today’s game to suggest they were anything above average at this level apart from Twine who is clearly a very good player.

Compared to some of the sides at this level in previous years who have been good (think Crewe and Swindon last year), I’ve seen nothing this year that comes close.

 

[Roger Stone]

Twine is certain to be recalled by Swindon at the end of January, hope is Devitt will step into his boots.

 

[SELatic]

Looking back, I didn’t think Tranny were particular good, just a solid, organised and streetwise side that should always do well in this league.

This league is shit though.

You’re right but I think at this level, that does constitute a good side. Clearly some good players in that team too. They toyed with us for most of the game giving us all the possession knowing we weren’t troubling them.