Saturday 6th February

[FGR Stroud]

 

[FGR Stroud]

Mansfield v FGR
Mansfield inflicted upon FGR their joint heaviest home defeat of season [1-2]
Mansfield caught FGR cold at start of game and scored in 6th minute. [Regular FGR failing at that time] Thereafter FGR were chasing the game.
That defeat knocked FGR down from 3rd in table [auto-promotion] to 5th [play-offs]
It was Mansfield's first league win of season, coming in their 11th league game of season.
Mansfield are current form team, winning their last five games. FGR's form is mixed, although they will claim they have had some difficult fixtures since Xmas.
The two clubs first met in the Blue Square Premier league [2008/09 season] where they played each other for five seasons. During that time Mansfield completed the 'double' over FGR on two occasions.
Sometimes clubs have bogey opponents and Mansfield must be hoping they become FGR's bogey team and win on Saturday.

 

[chipmunx]

Barrow v Cambridge Utd;-

Cambridge might be top - but they won't have an easy game here having been 2nd best for most of the reverse fixture where they somehow kept Barrow out until the 96th minute in a 1-1 draw.
Barrow have only had 1 match in the last 3 weeks, but that will have given them time to work with the new players.
January recruitment has been good (on paper) with Neil Eardley, Tom Davies, Dion Donahue, Jamie Devitt and Ollie Banks all being seasoned L1/L2 players.
We just need a 2 minute downpour or hailstorm prior to kick off like v Cheltenham and they won't fancy it at all...
3-0 to the good guys;- Quigley, Kay and Mikael Ndjoli to score.

 

[shoddycollins]

Could definitely do with Mansfield restoring our advantage over FGR (albeit in the form of a game in hand rather than three points). After yesterday I'm starting to worry about our ability to remain in the automatic places so any help would be appreciated.

 

[chipmunx]

Could definitely do with Mansfield restoring our advantage over FGR (albeit in the form of a game in hand rather than three points). After yesterday I'm starting to worry about our ability to remain in the automatic places so any help would be appreciated.

At least you're almost safe from relegation now.
Thought I'd put that before HG comes on.......

 

[Laker]

Barrow v Cambridge Utd;-

Cambridge might be top - but they won't have an easy game here having been 2nd best for most of the reverse fixture where they somehow kept Barrow out until the 96th minute in a 1-1 draw.
Barrow have only had 1 match in the last 3 weeks, but that will have given them time to work with the new players.
January recruitment has been good (on paper) with Neil Eardley, Tom Davies, Dion Donahue, Jamie Devitt and Ollie Banks all being seasoned L1/L2 players.
We just need a 2 minute downpour or hailstorm prior to kick off like v Cheltenham and they won't fancy it at all...
3-0 to the good guys;- Quigley, Kay and Mikael Ndjoli to score.

We were crap at home to Barrow earlier this season and the late equaliser was the least Barrow deserved. I also don’t think Barrow’s league position reflects how good (or bad) they are and they are suffering from a similar season to what we had in our first year up from the Conference - ie they deserve more out of games than they’re getting. Then you get stuck in a rut and it becomes hard to stem the tide. I reckon we’re in for a really tough game on Saturday.

We have our keeper, Mitov, out for a few weeks which isn’t ideal but Burton isn’t bad so it won’t be game changing. We’ve signed two centre backs this week but Okedina played so well on Saturday that I’d be surprised if we dropped him. Otherwise, we’ll be pretty much full strength - only question mark is whether Hoolahan plays (with an eye on Salford next Tuesday) as he generally doesn’t play 90 mins twice a week. But we should have a decent side out either way.

I’m gonna back us to win. We’re on a great run and any other prediction would be mental. I seem to recall we won at Barrow in 09 under Brabin late in the season when we were on a brilliant run and almost caught Burton. It was one of our most impressive wins towards the end of that season as it was definitely a potential banana skin. Saturday is no different.

 

[chipmunx]

We were crap at home to Barrow earlier this season and the late equaliser was the least Barrow deserved. I also don’t think Barrow’s league position reflects how good (or bad) they are and they are suffering from a similar season to what we had in our first year up from the Conference - ie they deserve more out of games than they’re getting. Then you get stuck in a rut and it becomes hard to stem the tide. I reckon we’re in for a really tough game on Saturday.

We have our keeper, Mitov, out for a few weeks which isn’t ideal but Burton isn’t bad so it won’t be game changing. We’ve signed two centre backs this week but Okedina played so well on Saturday that I’d be surprised if we dropped him. Otherwise, we’ll be pretty much full strength - only question mark is whether Hoolahan plays (with an eye on Salford next Tuesday) as he generally doesn’t play 90 mins twice a week. But we should have a decent side out either way.

I’m gonna back us to win. We’re on a great run and any other prediction would be mental. I seem to recall we won at Barrow in 09 under Brabin late in the season when we were on a brilliant run and almost caught Burton. It was one of our most impressive wins towards the end of that season as it was definitely a potential banana skin. Saturday is no different.

from memory Mitov had a great game in the match at yours so that's good news

 

[kieran_vale]

Probably be the same lineup for us that started Southend (technically I know Crookes was a sub but came on after 5 minutes so counting that as a start really). Hopefully see Will Swan get some time on the pitch as am interested to see what he has got and ease Manny further back into it.

Be difficult though, Tranmere are in good form and even though the sending off last time was what really hurt us even when we were at 11 aside they were more than in the game. Do feel we owe them one though as our slide in the league can be traced back to this game and the couple moments of madness in stoppage time.

 

[Shrimper92]

3-0 loss

 

[valefan16]

Tough tough game, that said the last side we faced on a long winning run we beat 6-3 so you never know with Vale over the past couple of years.

Of course we may have a new manager we may not, Pugh excluding the two games we has missed as won 2 and drew 1 league game so isn’t the end of the world if not sorted.

The return from long term injury and absence for Gibbons and Oyeleke, along with having Rodney and Monty available for the first time together since that pasting of Bolton should see us improve if they all stay fit.

Had the luxury of resting Gibbo and some of the key players second half at the weekend with the game won and got minutes into Manny.

Professional pride should at least see them pumped up for it after what happened at VP you’d hope. If they are not then I’d question their character.

Expecting a loss but with the returns from injury improving the squad massively I wouldn’t be shocked if we did get a positive outcome.

 

[Bottega Don]

I can see this game being a lot tougher than our last three.

Oldham seem to have a really good away record. We dispatched of them quite easily at Oldham, Van Veen was outstanding that day but he has been injured since. He may be back on the bench for this game though.

I was really impressed by Bahamboula when we played at Oldham, think he's gonna be difficult to deal with.

 

[Huntsman94]

Expecting a very tough game against Port Vale as they should be looking for revenge given what happened in the reverse fixture.

We’re flying at the moment and confidence throughout the squad is very good. Even last night against Peterborough we made 7 changes to the starting 11 and as Posh ended the game with a near full strength team, we were bringing on youngsters that saw us through.

Following the Port Vale game we host Stevenage and travel to Grimsby. With no disrespect to those two sides, we should be getting 6 points given league positions so a win against Vale could really continue this great run of form. Anticipating a good game on Saturday though!

 

[Gladders]

Easy 3 points for Grimsby this weekend.

 

[chipmunx]

Easy 3 points for Grimsby this weekend.

well you've only got 1 less points than Newport in the last 6 games - so you've at least got a chance...

 

[BlackHaddock]

I should imagine Newport will allow the pitch to get waterlogged because they'll be quaking in their wellies about playing us.

 

[F!RTHY]

Exeter City away:

A place where we never seem to play well, let alone get a result. We haven’t won their since 1993 - we haven’t played their much in recent times, granted, but you get the point.

We’re in great form since McCall left. Unbeaten in 8; winning 5 of those.

Can’t see us changing the team, if we do it’ll be Vernam coming in for Billy Clarke.

GK: Sam Hornby

RB: Finn Cousins-Dawson
CB: Anthony O’Connor
CB: Paudie O’Connor
LB: Conor Wood

DMF: Elliot Watt
DMF: Levi Sutton

RCM: Gareth Evans/Billy Clarke
CAM: Callum Cooke
LCM: Charles Vernam

CF: Danny Rowe/Andy Cook

No Rory McArdle or Nicky Law for the Grecian’s - but I’d be happy with a draw.

 

[SVH]

Barrow away. We need to improve our away record so we need to get something from Saturday.

I know nothing about them but from what it seems they are in a false position and have had a half decent window on paper.

Burton

Knoyle Taylor Alese Dunk

Hannant Digby May Hoolahan

Ironside Mullin

 

[E10rifle]

The Ewes are in freefall and some idiots in our respective social media teams will be calling it “the A12 derby” as if there’s the remotest bit of rivalry between us. 2-0 them.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Expecting a very tough game against Port Vale as they should be looking for revenge given what happened in the reverse fixture.

We’re flying at the moment and confidence throughout the squad is very good. Even last night against Peterborough we made 7 changes to the starting 11 and as Posh ended the game with a near full strength team, we were bringing on youngsters that saw us through.

Following the Port Vale game we host Stevenage and travel to Grimsby. With no disrespect to those two sides, we should be getting 6 points given league positions so a win against Vale could really continue this great run of form. Anticipating a good game on Saturday though!

Like yourself I think Port Vale will have a point to prove after our last encounter and are more than capable of punishing us should our level of performance drop. Whilst at the same time I don’t think Keith Hill has got us fully tuned yet and think our best is yet to come.

 

[Robshep]

Like yourself I think Port Vale will have a point to prove after our last encounter and are more than capable of punishing us should our level of performance drop. Whilst at the same time I don’t think Keith Hill has got us fully tuned yet and think our best is yet to come.

Somebody on Merseyside has to put up a show of winning a title.

 

[Casey]

I'm expecting a tough game against Harrogate. Notwithstanding we haven't played well in the last couple of games Harrogate's style is not something we cope with very well.

Tunnicliffe went of injured on Tuesday. He is our defensive rock. If he doesn't play Saturday it will definitely make it harder...saying that, McNerney is a good back up.

I hope we can get back to some form but I'm hoping not expecting.

Casey

 

[GTFCfish]

Newport away is one of those horrible fixtures you just want to get out of the way, we always play shit there and even on the rare occasions when we’ve actually been in good form we’ve still always gone there and lost.
Can’t see any different this time, 2-0 Newport.

 

[Soz]

tough game, not confident. I'd like to see us go for it though with a similar set up to the last game. I think we may be a bit more defensive being away from home though.

 

[valefan16]

tough game, not confident. I'd like to see us go for it though with a similar set up to the last game. I think we may be a bit more defensive being away from home though.

Imagine so, probably sit back like the FGR game although with Gibbons and Monty back we should hopefully have more of an avenue to get forward.

I would keep Rodney out wide as I prefer Dave there, he’s on fire at the moment (4 in 3 starts I believe) so have to hope he carries on. Loved the video clip made for him by a fan

 

[masi51]

Salford away.....Evatt got a good problem he now has the best squad in the league to choose from.
Cannot see many changes from our team that beat Orient, but the now will be some quality not even getting on the bench.

 

[Roger Stone]

Newport away is one of those horrible fixtures you just want to get out of the way, we always play shit there and even on the rare occasions when we’ve actually been in good form we’ve still always gone there and lost.
Can’t see any different this time, 2-0 Newport.

Rugby at Dave tomorrow evening so playing surface come 3pm Saturday may be a little worn in places. However, not much rain forecast between now and then and temps ok so game should be on for a change. Need our new recruits to gel soon as. Sheehan back after serving his ban could be the difference between us and Grimsby, fingers crossed.

 

[valefan16]

Salford away.....Evatt got a good problem he now has the best squad in the league to choose from.
Cannot see many changes from our team that beat Orient, but the now will be some quality not even getting on the bench.

I didn’t realise Evatt has left Bolton for Bradford

 

[pontoonlew]

Rugby at Dave tomorrow evening so playing surface come 3pm Saturday may be a little worn in places. However, not much rain forecast between now and then and temps ok so game should be on for a change. Need our new recruits to gel soon as. Sheehan back after serving his ban could be the difference between us and Grimsby, fingers crossed.

Newport’s version of ‘Worn in places’

 

[Boz]

Rovers v Vale is a hard one to call. We’ve been getting some good results but not putting games to bed and at some point that may come back to bite us.

Reckon line up will be similar to the one starting the second half at Morecambe with Danny Lloyd starting, though it’s possible Crawford may come in for Paul Lewis who looked a little jaded towards the end of a decent game and goal in the Pizza Cup.

Can see this being another high-scoring game.

 

[Robshep]

Salford away.....Evatt got a good problem he now has the best squad in the league to choose from.
Cannot see many changes from our team that beat Orient, but the now will be some quality not even getting on the bench.

OK. Keep taking the tablets.