Luton Airport Vs Gatwick Airport

[That Fat Centre Half]

We find ourselves once again going into a home game that we really need to win. With the Plymouth and Doncaster games looming large on the horizon we really cannot afford to drop points in the next 2 games or else even our play off position comes into jeopardy, such is the form of those around us.

Unfortunately for us home form - especially against mid and lower table opposition - as well as must win games are something of an Achilles heel for us.

Vassell continued his form in the win in the cup in midweek so you would expect him to continue with Hylton up front, unfortunately for Marriott he is rapidly beinng surpassed by Vassell in the pecking order with his pace and power being harnessed into a real goal threat now.

Crawley have a real top player in Collins who always impresses me when I see him so hopefully Cuthbert can continue his form but of course the real issue is the goal keeper situation, really not sure who the favourite is to play there and I must say neither instill much confidence in me.

As it's a game we need to get 3 points from I can't see us doing it, reckon another draw on the cards for us.

 

[Casey]

Whimpered to defeat against Notts County and Stevenage but then managed to get a draw up in Blackpool with a changed team. We went back to 433, recalled Kaby Djalo and gave a first start to Connor Henderson since he re-signed and we put up a fight. It will interesting to hear (I'm at work) how we line up and who plays. Young or Lalal at right back (wing back), Henderson or Payne in midfield, and if we play 5 2 2 or 4 3 3.

Hylton v McNerney will be a good battle (I'm presuming Connolly will look after Vassell as he is quicker). I do remember last season (V Oxford) when Hylton took Yorwerth to the cleaners. I believe Yorwerth is suspended for Saturday so that match up will not happen (thankfully).

I also get the impression that we are better against the teams who try to pass the ball around. The direct teams give us lots of trouble.

Casey

 

[Judge Dredd]

Guessing there is a real chance the game will be off, temperature not getting above freezing until 1pm and even then no warmer than 1 or 2 degrees. Rain, snow, frost overnight and tomorrow morning... doesn't sound overly encouraging.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Forecast I've seen show it being 1-2 degrees by 10 in the morning. Guess it depends where you look.

Been cold and a bit of snow but be disappointing if we can't get it on for me, feels like we have got games on before when it's been a lot colder and worse weather over a longer period of time than today.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

No inspection of the pitch planned apparently. Just got to Luton and it is snowing a fair bit though

 

[Bosox]

WTF O'Donnell starts? The number of chances Jones has given him is baffling.

 

[Casey]

Just seen a stat that says Luton have not beaten Crawley since we made the football league. I can't see that lasting beyond 5pm.

Looks as though we're lining up as a 433. Our Munchkin Djalo as the enforcer in midfield.

Casey

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yeah bit of a joke that. I guess we won on Tuesday so keep it the same and Justin is still young so managing him. At least Lee isn't playing!

Bit annoyed we have moved Pelly from that position at the base of the diamond, felt he was really growing into that position and then we go and shunt him forward back to a position where he hasn't been as effective.

 

[Kenneth E End]

WTF O'Donnell starts? The number of chances Jones has given him is baffling.

Even more so with his performance at Crawley.

 

[BelizeHatter]

No bottle.................so fucking frustrating. Yet again the opportunity to close a gap to get back in it - a chance that we dont deserve - but for the umpteenth time we blow it.........................

 

[oakroader]

Choo fucking choo....yahoooopo

 

[BelizeHatter]

..................then for a change pull it back..............for now..................have no faith we've got the necessary mindset going forward.

 

[oakroader]

Ei Ei Ei O up the football league we go.....

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We were far from good today but ground it out. First half was poor really both sides lacking in quality although I thought Crawley looked a tidy team lit together some decent little spells of possession. Not sure what the plan was really with Palmer coming on following Cooks injury, thought having Vassell, Hylton and Palmer on made us look a bit disjointed, couldnt really work out what we were trying to do with that.

Crawley goal was real poor defending from Sheehan I think, isn't a centre half for me but his delivery for the equaliser was excellent, bit surprised no free kick was given really given the scramble that went on! Pelly excellent for the winner, really has strung together a run of games where he has played well which is what we have been asking from him for years. Definitely deserved man of the match.

Need another 3 points on Tuesday as well though.

 

[Hatter86]

Well it wasn't pretty and it's worrying how we manage to concede soft goals, but it's a win. Need to follow it up with 3 points against Hartlepool Tuesday with Doncaster and Plymouth looming. These three games may well decide whether we have automatic promotion aspirations or whether we fall into the play off place scramble.

Also, did anyone else think Ollie Palmer played pretty well? I was expecting a lot worse considering what the Orient and Mansfield fans have said. Won most of his headers, held it up well and his feet were pretty good. Fairly sure he outpaced a defender onto a through ball at one point too. Worrying times.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I thought he was pretty alright too actually. Although don't agree he won most of his headers! For a big bloke I didn't think he won many at all, but when he got the ball to feet he did hold it up well. Very good volley as well that looked for all the world like a goal of the season contender. Decent pace as well.

 

[Casey]

We just can't hold a lead. To be honest I think we have to sit down to piss as we can't hold our collective dicks!

I see Jordon Cook is ok. What happened? From listening to the player app it sounded like an innocuous challenge and Henderson has a reputation as a soft touch.

Casey

 

[Hatter86]

Incredibly innocuous. I wasn't at a great angle but the ball came into Cook who jumped and there was a push in the back or a forearm to the back of the neck that's forced his head back. Think it was more precaution than anything given it was his neck.

 

[Bosox]

I thought he was pretty alright too actually. Although don't agree he won most of his headers! For a big bloke I didn't think he won many at all, but when he got the ball to feet he did hold it up well. Very good volley as well that looked for all the world like a goal of the season contender. Decent pace as well.

Agree with that assessment. Definitely didn't win most of his headers, barely won any, but was decent on the ground. Pretty worrying that Jones still seems to be insisting that he's a great target man. He may be built like one but he doesn't play like one. He has a jump like Joe Piggott where he seems to manage to duck down to avoid making contact with the ball.

I thought he was ok individually when he came on but it was a really bad substitution because it had a bad effect on the team overall. Why would Jones take perhaps the best striker in the league and decide to shoehorn him into the number 10 role when Cook went off? No coincidence that we looked much better when he took off a striker and put Gambin on after we went 0-1 down and Hylton was back up front to score the two goals. That's the substitution he should have made when Cook had to go off not try and force Palmer into the game.