Saturday 21st January 2023

[Stroud]

Stats will be posted after match on Monday: Port Vale v Peterborough

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Into must win territory with this six pointer. Have a horrible feeling the promising new signings will go backwards longer Burchnall has to coach them but maybe I'm too negative.

 

[WhiteRussian]

Into must win territory with this six pointer. Have a horrible feeling the promising new signings will go backwards longer Burchnall has to coach them but maybe I'm too negative.

Beat me to it. An absolute 6 pointer this. I'm not yet convinced Jackson is an improvement on Manning so we shall see. We squeaked a win against you for his first match but since then it's been pretty dire for us.

 

[Greenacres]

Probably be a draw next Saturday, both teams need to take three points from relegation rivals, expecting a game where there are two teams trying not to lose...more than go for the win.

 

[K-Win]

Home to the Grecians. The Cowleys left on Jan 2nd and there is no guarantee that we'll have a replacement by the 21st. If we do then maybe it's "impress the new boss" day. If we don't then it's "going through the motions" again as we continue to tailspin towards the relegation zone.

Good luck to whoever does eventually come in. They're going to need it!

 

[denzel ecfc]

A long week ahead, I expect a few signings with hopefully no one leaving.
White to start after impressing yesterday.
Strange having this fixture so soon after the reverse fixture, I would hope for a more open game and a good atmosphere in front on 1600 Grecians

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Scoring first is crucial for us.

Of our 12 home games, we have won 2 and drawn 10. We have scored first in 7 of these games but not been able to see them off (only winning the 2), 2 games have been 0-0 (Charlton & Wycombe) and we have come from behind to draw three games 1-1 (Exeter, Sheff Wed, Plymouth). We've only won by more than 1 goal once (2-0 against Derby).

Away from home is horrendous, 13 away games. We've drawn 2 0-0 (Portsmouth and MK), all our defeats (7) we've conceded first and only 1 game we have scored after going behind (Bolton, Cambridge, Peterborough, Burton, Charlton, Port Vale, Shrewsbury). We have scored first in 4 and won all 4 (Bristol R, Oxford, Ipswich, Barnsley).

All I know for Saturday is we need to get on the front foot and score first! Burton concede a lot, but never looks like conceding against us on Boxing Day.

 

[Bar Carousel]

Let's hope for a win, new manager or not. The locals are getting restless.

 

[thewwfc]

I don’t have anything against the Gas as a club, but would love to get yet another begrudging post-game barbed swipe out of the twat Barton if we get the win here like we did at home on Boxing Day.

These are the kind of games (against those directly around us) we need to be taking points from if we’re going to have any hope of the playoffs this season.

Not to say we will, mind, but we have a mostly fit squad, we’re doing ok, so no excuses.

 

[BarrieOwl]

On paper it looks a home banker but football isn't that simple.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

I don’t have anything against the Gas as a club, but would love to get yet another begrudging post-game barbed swipe out of the twat Barton if we get the win here like we did at home on Boxing Day.

These are the kind of games (against those directly around us) we need to be taking points from if we’re going to have any hope of the playoffs this season.

Not to say we will, mind, but we have a mostly fit squad, we’re doing ok, so no excuses.

You shouldnt have a problem our defence was poor before, but now most of them have either left or are injured. Only one fit CB at the moment. Definitely a good time to play us

 

[Si Robin]

I'd rip your hand off for a point at Plymouth.

We won't get it.

 

[91SPP]

Big home game against Bolton. We recently went to their place and drew 0-0 in what was a very dull affair so hopefully this one has a bit more life to it. I definitely won't be complaining if we come away 1-0 winners, though.

I've just had a look at the available tickets online and there's around 3000 left. Bolton have sold out their allocation, so considering we have a week left then we should exceed 30,000 which would be the first time since the opening day of the season. We've had a couple of 28k crowds, but this is looking like our second highest attendance of the season.

I like that we've got a full week to prepare for the game, with a squad as small as ours then that is truly a godsend for a game of this magnitude. A win would give us a 3 point cushion on them, with a game in hand. I'm really not entertaining any thoughts of the top two, so I'm really just interested in keeping that gap between us and seventh. We need to continue putting performances together, although we've been good and putting results together, I still feel we have plenty more left in the tank - most of the time I still get the feeling that we're playing within ourselves and there is certain things that just need to click. It's definitely going in the right direction, though. Majority of the team are playing their best football of the season - fingers crossed that McGoldrick is 100% for the game this weekend as he's a difference maker at this level and we will need his craft to open up a very good Bolton defence.

 

[Stroud]

 

[Andy Proctor]

Morecambe home win is a banker

 

[ProfessorGreen]

A win at home to Cheltenham this weekend will make our last 2 away draws look pretty good. Ipswich with a tough away fixture and Fleetwood are no pushovers although I'd expect Wednesday to win.

Need to keep Broom and May quiet.

 

[Si Robin]

I really wouldn't worry. If, as expected, Sercombe is out, we will have absolutely nothing in midfield.

 

[Luke Imp]

Need to be beating Burton and getting some wins on the board at home now.

A few injuries in the squad, not many options on the bench at the minute either. Desperately in need of a midfielder or two through the door to save us from having to witness the current combinations on offer.

 

[valefan16]

Tricky trip to Morecambe, we've had a couple of poor results up there in recent times and made hard work of beating them on Boxing Day.

Wilson is definitely out, more ambiguous on Harrison after a positive scan but need some attacking threat, notice they've lost one of their key men in their recent revival after his loan was cut short due to long term injury.

Odds heavily in our favour, seems strange considering Morecambe's form and our injuries.

A win to calm the nerves after a poor showing last night would help, hopefully a body or two in from the transfer market.

Big away following going up, 1350 sold so far, hopefully we can bounce back.

 

[CTFCfan99]

A win at home to Cheltenham this weekend will make our last 2 away draws look pretty good. Ipswich with a tough away fixture and Fleetwood are no pushovers although I'd expect Wednesday to win.

Need to keep Broom and May quiet.

You'll beat us 3-0 minimum

 

[Chris FGR]

We really cannot afford to lose again to MK, if we do it hammers the first nail into our relegation coffin I reckon as I’m struggling to see where enough wins are coming from if we can’t get anything from games like that, having already lost to Burton twice and at home to Morecambe.

 

[WhiteRussian]

We really cannot afford to lose again to MK, if we do it hammers the first nail into our relegation coffin I reckon as I’m struggling to see where enough wins are coming from if we can’t get anything from games like that, having already lost to Burton twice and at home to Morecambe.

I feel the same. If we can't beat you and get a bit of positivity at the club I can see it spiraling down the plughole for us. I really thought a new head coach would mean Winkleman loosing the purse strings to keep him happy but it doesn't seem to be happening.

 

[codaplenty]

2 tough consecutive weekend matches, against Sheffield Wednesday and they dont come any harder. Hard to see us getting anything from these, more chance the F A Cup purely on the basis that upsets do happen in this most wonderful of competitioms. Awkward period for Fleetwood, a loss last Saturday, could be another one this Saturday and then Pompey next Tuesday,. Its very tight at the lower end of the table, a few wins and you shoot up ( great credit to Morecambe for their up turn ) A few losses and you are back among the brown stuff
The best we can hope for is a draw, my glass is always half full so 1-1

 

[K-Win]

2 tough consecutive weekend matches, against Sheffield Wednesday and they dont come any harder. Hard to see us getting anything from these, more chance the F A Cup purely on the basis that upsets do happen in this most wonderful of competitioms. Awkward period for Fleetwood, a loss last Saturday, could be another one this Saturday and then Pompey next Tuesday,. Its very tight at the lower end of the table, a few wins and you shoot up ( great credit to Morecambe for their up turn ) A few losses and you are back among the brown stuff
The best we can hope for is a draw, my glass is always half full so 1-1

Not sure we should be classified as a "tough" fixture at the moment. We are currently the footballing equivalent of a clown car.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Need to be beating Burton and getting some wins on the board at home now.

A few injuries in the squad, not many options on the bench at the minute either. Desperately in need of a midfielder or two through the door to save us from having to witness the current combinations on offer.

Don’t worry. You will beat us. We are going down like the Hindenburg.
And no sign of him getting sacked either.

 

[codaplenty]

Not sure we should be classified as a "tough" fixture at the moment. We are currently the footballing equivalent of a clown car.

I know your on a bad run mate but our home form is shite so you've got every chance !

 

[codaplenty]

Congratulations to Fleetwood who are through to the 5th round of the F A Youth Cup after beating Middlesbrough 3-0
A fantastic achievement by the young lads. Man City or Brighton away in the next. City will be easier and nearer !!

 

[Floreat Salopia]

Cambridge at home for us.

After watching us against them on Boxing Day (even though we lost), Cambridge were terrible and I’ll be disappointed with anything other than a home win. I’ll be surprised if they stay up after reading about their injury problems and small budget which is a shame as I’ve always seen Cambridge as a likeable club so I hope they can find away to keep above the bottom four.

Us on the other hand, after three consecutive defeats, we stopped the rot with a convincing 4-0 win away at Burton last weekend. The new lad Phillips seems to have given us more energy in the final third and was big threat which we’ve lacked at times from midfield. Still riddled with injuries ourselves but our starting 11 should have enough this Saturday, I’ve got a good feeling for this one.

Salop 3-0 Cambridge

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Cambridge at home for us.

After watching us against them on Boxing Day (even though we lost), Cambridge were terrible and I’ll be disappointed with anything other than a home win. I’ll be surprised if they stay up after reading about their injury problems and small budget which is a shame as I’ve always seen Cambridge as a likeable club so I hope they can find away to keep above the bottom four.

Us on the other hand, after three consecutive defeats, we stopped the rot with a convincing 4-0 win away at Burton last weekend. The new lad Phillips seems to have given us more energy in the final third and was big threat which we’ve lacked at times from midfield. Still riddled with injuries ourselves but our starting 11 should have enough this Saturday, I’ve got a good feeling for this one.

Salop 3-0 Cambridge

Nice to see a bit of confidence shown on here about an upcoming game for once!

 

[leedsvaliant]

Nice to see a bit of confidence shown on here about an upcoming game for once!

The thing about being a lower league team is that it's not like a Man City where you turn up every week expecting a win. Even if we're in good form and playing a team bottom of the league, I'm never confident. Been stung far too many times. I generally go into games fearing the worst and then anything better than that is a bonus.