Saturday 20th Jan Fixtures

[SVH]

 

[folletto]

Tried a new system second half against Peterborough and looked quite good so interested to see if we start with it against Burton. Also hoping to see a couple of new signings.

Still only 1 win away from home and we haven't won in 8 in the league. Hoping this is the game to turn our fortunes around but not expecting it to be.

 

[codaplenty]

Pompey at home and I don't think we have ever beaten them at Highbury. In the distant past Graham Alexander achieved an away win at their place so what chance of a first ever win at home. Challenging to say the least, the only spark is Pompey's stuttering form at the moment and last week's calamitous home defeat by Orient. We haven't kept a clean sheet since mid October, and goals are as rare as chicken teeth. Be good to see Paddy Lane and pleased his career is going well. Best a draw 1-1

 

[Tangerine_tart]

We need to start winning away and Saturday is a must win . Lose and we can kiss the playoffs goodbye. Going into extra time last night didn't help matters either . We have a torid away record at Bristol. Both at City and Rovers .

 

[Don Tonberry]

Pompey at home and I don't think we have ever beaten them at Highbury. In the distant past Graham Alexander achieved an away win at their place so what chance of a first ever win at home. Challenging to say the least, the only spark is Pompey's stuttering form at the moment and last week's calamitous home defeat by Orient. We haven't kept a clean sheet since mid October, and goals are as rare as chicken teeth. Be good to see Paddy Lane and pleased his career is going well. Best a draw 1-1

We have been beaten at Highbury on our first ever visit there. I remember hearing that awful Captain Pugwash tune and that Cod mascot doing the Saturday Night Fever dance as we lost 3-1. Pretty sure we've lost 1-0 a few seasons back too, but generally our record there isn't too bad.

I think this could be the breaking point for our fans if Pompey can't beat the worst team in the league on Saturday. The omens don't look great, though. No new signings, woeful run of form and couldn't even beat the Cods at Fratton Park last month. Charlie Adam is still waiting for his first win, too?

Fail to win this and we can kiss our automatic promotion aspirations goodbye.

 

[SVH]

Exeter have called a pitch inspection for tomorrow at 2pm so I expect this one to be called off.

 

[Moomin]

Exeter have called a pitch inspection for tomorrow at 2pm so I expect this one to be called off.

This feels odd. Temperatures in Exeter on Saturday are forecast to be 8-10 degrees so even if the pitch is frozen tomorrow, it may be playable on Saturday.

 

[valefan16]

This feels odd. Temperatures in Exeter on Saturday are forecast to be 8-10 degrees so even if the pitch is frozen tomorrow, it may be playable on Saturday.

Assume its down to travel as clubs have to pay half the away teams travel costs dont they if a late P-P?

Suppose the issue will be how deep the frost is as to if its likely to thaw in time, especially if areas in shadow (like our Railway Stand side of the pitch for example which doesn't get the sun.

 

[BogDaddyO]

Play like we did against Pompey and there's no reason why we won't beat Bolton.
In fact, play like we did against Bolton in the second half and we'll win.
Play like we did first half vs Bolton, well... let's not bring that up again.

We look sharp at the moment, like an upper mid-table side, not conceded in 4 and have taken 10 points from those games.

Bit of a free hit vs Bolton then - we're not going to make the playoffs, and we're too good to go down.
Could be anything, but I fancy another Os win. We've found our best starting XI and Agyei is looking superb.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Anyone else supposed to be clapping in the 16th minute?

 

[Moomin]

Assume its down to travel as clubs have to pay half the away teams travel costs dont they if a late P-P?

Suppose the issue will be how deep the frost is as to if its likely to thaw in time, especially if areas in shadow (like our Railway Stand side of the pitch for example which doesn't get the sun.

Yeah, fair point. We have the frost covers on and they’ve been in place all week, so hopefully the game will go ahead. But as you say, there’s always one shaded area that causes concern.

 

[thewwfc]

Another classic beckons as 14th in the form table takes on 16th at Vale Park.

Wouldn't bet against it ending up a mediocre 1-1 like it was at ours, we seem to be draw specialists at the moment (4 out of the last 6).

We always seem to concede late goals and are incapable of seeing out games, so if Vale have anyone particularly pacey just chuck them on in the last 10 mins when most players are knacked, they'll probably score.

 

[The Terminator]

We've announced a pitch inspection for tomorrow too, I am 50/50 on what will happen. Its been cold here all week and tomorrow is no different but Saturday its meant to be a bit warmer.

 

[valefan16]

Another classic beckons as 14th in the form table takes on 16th at Vale Park.

Wouldn't bet against it ending up a mediocre 1-1 like it was at ours, we seem to be draw specialists at the moment (4 out of the last 6).

We always seem to concede late goals and are incapable of seeing out games, so if Vale have anyone particularly pacey just chuck them on in the last 10 mins when most players are knacked, they'll probably score.

Hard to say, we’ve gone from having dull 1-0 or 0-1 games at home all season to scoring 3 in 4 of the last 5 home games v league one opponents and 2 the other time so have gone more direct and starting scoring for fun.

However the relatively solid side has gone with it and we’ve conceded 11 in those 5! So 25 goals in 5 games at Vale Park (excluding Middlesbrough) so another 3-2 or 3-3 could be on the cards.

We’ve generally dominated home games in that spell (27 attempts v Charlton) but anyone enters our box and we seem to concede.

Have to see if Uche is still with us as he’s done ok, we’ve lost Devine now and had a midfield injury crisis to boot, hopefully only playing 15 minutes in 2 week after the manic December we had will mean we’ve had plenty of time to work on things at the back. Will be interesting to see if the Liverpool loan centre half debuts for us.

Would be nice to see a midfielder in tomorrow. Some rumour Dan Gore was in for a medical but could be just rumours.

Not heard if a pitch inspection tomorrow as yet, it’s obviously been rock hard and although warming Saturday the railway stand does tend to cast a shadow that doesn’t thaw as quickly, so have to see on that.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Tried a new system second half against Peterborough and looked quite good so interested to see if we start with it against Burton. Also hoping to see a couple of new signings.

Still only 1 win away from home and we haven't won in 8 in the league. Hoping this is the game to turn our fortunes around but not expecting it to be.

Our second half performance gives me hope for
This game - and with hugill upfront we have a chance it seems.
Trouble is we are still powderpuff at the back and I’m not sure what Patterson can do to fix that quickly.
Prediction. 2-2 draw.

 

[E10rifle]

We haven’t actually let in a goal since 10 minutes into the pre-Xmas reverse fixture at the Bog Roll Stadium. Pity we were 3-0 down at that point. I expect a close defeat. 0-1 to the Trotters.

 

[EricSabin]

Oxford away for us. We turned them over just before Christmas but it seems like Buckingham is finding his feet there. They’re expecting a big crowd, 10,000+ with our end sold out so should be a good atmosphere.

Think we’ll get beat 2-1 as injuries continue to bite

 

[Si Robin]

Carlisle at home - if we're serious about staying up then we simply have to win this one.

Interested to see if we announce a signing today with it being likely Will Goodwin's move to Oxford is confirmed later on.

 

[Luke Imp]

Home to Derby. Not holding much hope out for this or Posh next weekend. Looking back, it's been a stinking set of fixtures we've had in the last 7 or 8 weeks - Bolton, Derby x2, Posh, Barnsley, Blackpool, Wigan.

No new suspensions or injuries for us apparently, which makes a change. Will be interesting to see if Hackett starts, he got 25 mins or so last weekend.

 

[EricSabin]

Home to Derby. Not holding much hope out for this or Posh next weekend. Looking back, it's been a stinking set of fixtures we've had in the last 7 or 8 weeks - Bolton, Derby x2, Posh, Barnsley, Blackpool, Wigan.

No new suspensions or injuries for us apparently, which makes a change. Will be interesting to see if Hackett starts, he got 25 mins or so last weekend.

Oi don’t leave us out of that list we’re one of the form sides

 

[Luke Imp]

Oi don’t leave us out of that list we’re one of the form sides

Haha you were at the time, and Reading had picked up as well when we played them!

 

[EricSabin]

Haha you were at the time, and Reading had picked up as well when we played them!

Win and a draw since then we still are!

You must have some of the dross coming up soon then

 

[Luke Imp]

Win and a draw since then we still are!

You must have some of the dross coming up soon then

February is Burton, Fleetwood, Charlton, Exeter and Vale (maybe Stevenage as well, can't remember if they fit into it).

 

[valefan16]

Nothing official but fans on our forum suggesting Vale v Wycombe is postponed.

 

[hellogregory]

I’m pleased ours at Cheltenham is off as it gives us more time to improve the squad, but looking at the forecast it’s 7 degrees in Cheltenham tomorrow. It seems a crazy decision!

 

[valefan16]

Bonkers, screenshots on social media supposedly of Vale standing down casual staff for tomorrow, and talk that Wycombe's team coach turned around and has already got back to Buckinghamshire but nothing from either club officially yet.

 

[Luke Imp]

Another update at around 6pm for our game. Comprehensive update in the article tbf.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1748336222051729805

 

[valefan16]

Vale - Wycombe Off

 

[Si Robin]

I’m pleased ours at Cheltenham is off as it gives us more time to improve the squad, but looking at the forecast it’s 7 degrees in Cheltenham tomorrow. It seems a crazy decision!

It doesn't reach those temperatures until the afternoon.

The big problem is the 18 yards or so in front of the away stand. It gets no sunlight at all so will remain solid all day today and overnight. The ambient temperature tomorrow is likely to be not enough to thaw it and I suspect the clubs thought it best to get it postponed before Carlisle set off on their trek down.

 

[The Terminator]

Our game has passed an inspection today.

It should go ahead, it’s been cold but there hasn’t been any frost in Leyton all week.

Famous last words but I think it will be ok.