Tuesday 5th March

[Meadow]

Yeah not a classic at all. We came for a point and looked to counter but didn't really get any of the breaks required to really put you under pressure other than a few moments. Felt you were playing for set pieces despite Bugiel not being available so kind of smacks of a lack of plan B and probably indicates why you are just a bit shy of a playoff push. Hard fought midfield battle though, I think a bit of credit has to go to the defences of both sides. Harvey Cartwright in net for us MOTM, has had a tough season so definitely encouraging to see him put that kind of performance in. Lost count of how much he came for and caught. Best match in a Town shirt for him.

Yep, have to give him credit here. One of the red flags from the Crewe fans was that he would absolutely not deter from his chosen style whatsoever. It's taken some extreme flexing but he has done that and in doing so effectively held his hands up.

We look so much more solid now and Mullarkey and Rodgers look like different players, not sure they can do what Artell wants them to in the long term but perhaps that is a fluid ideology and these performances are forming a part of what we're building as opposed to being a short term fix. Thompson is a great L2 battle axe, if we could get him playing 90min games in time for next season that would be huge.

You defended so well and your goalie put in a MOTM performance although he was time wasting quite a bit. We missed Omar Bugiel tonight and I suspect that we'd have won if he had played.

Yours and Donny's points have probably sealed Sutton and FGR's fate.

 

[Son of Cod]

That was the kind of performance that would generated night-time emissions from the current Shrewsbury manager…

 

[WhiteRussian]

MK best side we’ve played this season

The most inconsistant side you've played this season.

 

[Meadow]

I work weeknights and have to book holiday for Tuesday night matches. Three Tuesday matches so far - two losses and a draw. Should I cut my losses and cancel my holiday for Gillingham at home next week?

 

[Limerick Mariner]

Fair play to Artell for realising just in time that his style needed to change to suit a relegation battle, after shipping goals for fun he ditches his preferred style and we concede just 1 goal in 3 games and pull 7 clear of the relegation zone in the process.
It might not be pretty but it was what was needed for our current plight and in an interview yesterday he admitted he tried to change it all too quickly which is good to hear that he will admit to making mistakes.
Feel like after that our fickle fan base are mainly supportive of him now which is a big turn around from a couple of weeks ago.

I think we are somewhat entitled to be “fickle” - we’ve won 13 times at home in 41 games since promotion and still have nearly 6,500 home fans turning up every other Saturday. We swapped the dourness of PH for school second team like defending such that we are welcoming back the dourness.

 

[Alfie]

Trying to find attendance for Bradford v Doncaster when I came across match report paragraph that made me blink twice !

 

[loz]

Trying to find attendance for Bradford v Doncaster when I came across match report paragraph that made me blink twice !

View attachment 19873

Hope we don't get him again. Sure Donny fans will say the same.

 

[loz]

2 lower 4th division sides. pitch a sand heap, ref who thought people were there to see him, the game lived up to these. 2 bits of quality brought goals.

 

[Conker]

Bit of a stinker from Mansfield yesterday as a collective and individually too, a lot of players just were not at the races and Clough got the midfield all wrong against a side like MK, basically giving them control in the middle, was a poor selection.

MK looked good going forward, quick on the brake and deserved the victory although it’s got to be said we probably had the better chances in the game purely down to shocking defending from them, they looked poor at the back but we obviously did not capitalise on that. Both goals conceded came about from fortunate circumstances for them but both finished very well.

I’m not too concerned we are in a position where we can afford a defeat like that so it’s just about getting back on track Saturday now.

 

[EnglishRed]

Bit of a stinker from Mansfield yesterday as a collective and individually too, a lot of players just were not at the races and Clough got the midfield all wrong against a side like MK, basically giving them control in the middle, was a poor selection.

MK looked good going forward, quick on the brake and deserved the victory although it’s got to be said we probably had the better chances in the game purely down to shocking defending from them, they looked poor at the back but we obviously did not capitalise on that. Both goals conceded came about from fortunate circumstances for them but both finished very well.

I’m not too concerned we are in a position where we can afford a defeat like that so it’s just about getting back on track Saturday now.

Everyone can beat everyone in their day. MK are such an erratic team, but have some quality players.

Makes it exciting for the neutral at least!

 

[pontoonlew]

I could never understand why Artell got hammered so relentlessly by the fans, yes we got a few hammerings but I don’t think any of those score lines ever reflected the game. He’s adapted (a couple of weeks too slow) to hopefully allow us a summer to work on what he wants to work on with the players he wants to work with.

Long term I think he’ll be a good fit, and I’m pleased it’s looking like he’ll get that opportunity.

One word on Wimbledon’s pitch, is it always like that? It was like watching a bunch of kids play on a playground, ball bouncing all over the place.

 

[DippyDon]

Everyone can beat everyone in their day. MK are such an erratic team, but have some quality players.

Makes it exciting for the neutral at least!

It's really our away form that's erratic so last night was absolutely massive for the players, especially coming back from behind against probably the best team in the league.

We still have all the top 3 to play but thankfully Mansfield and Crewe are at home, so I'd like to think if our home form continues we can really make a move on the top 3 and sneak in towards the end of the season (where we have Sutton at home final day) but it really is all to play for, knowing us we'll win all 3 of those games but lose at Grimsby, Notts County and Harrogate away or something.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Trying to find attendance for Bradford v Doncaster when I came across match report paragraph that made me blink twice !

View attachment 19873

Every now and then you come across one of these tosspots, who both managers want to chin. This is why the fair play table in the lower leagues is meaningless, the amount of petty yellows for nothing then a leg breaking red gets waved away(there wasn’t one in our game it’s just an example), there wasn’t a bad tackle in the game and tbh it was a very tame ‘Derby’. I’m not sure on the attendance I think the club are embarrassed to announce Tuesday night games at the ground as there is obviously nowhere near that number there, keep an eye out they’ll sneak it in at some point.

 

[Alfie]

One intriguing result of Tuesday night was that Walsall dropped down table despite topping form table by winning last five matches.

 

[Nipper81]

I felt if I said the same then I'd be accused of being a bad loser, but they genuinely are a disgusting side to play.

What a load of absolute nonsense.

 

[iesty wfc]

Oh no, no no no. I'm not having another game at yours like last time

its written in the stars....

 

[MTFC]

MK absolutely bossed us last night.

 

[joethegill]

What a load of absolute nonsense.

I'm not going to bother engaging in too much on this as it's ultimately futile, but two shocking challenges in the first 10 minutes for which there was clearly no intent to win the ball, followed by an evening of non-football, killing the game dead every 30 seconds, snide fouls all over the place on a shite, bobbly pitch. It was a dreadful 90 minutes to watch.

 

[Son of Cod]

I'm not going to bother engaging in too much on this as it's ultimately futile, but two shocking challenges in the first 10 minutes for which there was clearly no intent to win the ball, followed by an evening of non-football, killing the game dead every 30 seconds, snide fouls all over the place on a shite, bobbly pitch. It was a dreadful 90 minutes to watch.

Being Holker Street'd on a Tuesday is a rite of passage. You're annoyed right now but ultimately you will thank Barrow for enriching your football fan experience in the long run.

 

[womble76]

I could never understand why Artell got hammered so relentlessly by the fans, yes we got a few hammerings but I don’t think any of those score lines ever reflected the game. He’s adapted (a couple of weeks too slow) to hopefully allow us a summer to work on what he wants to work on with the players he wants to work with.

Long term I think he’ll be a good fit, and I’m pleased it’s looking like he’ll get that opportunity.

One word on Wimbledon’s pitch, is it always like that? It was like watching a bunch of kids play on a playground, ball bouncing all over the place.

I think that was the shit players on both teams not the pitch. IMO its a good pitch and has held up well.

 

[Tinpot and proud]

I'm not going to bother engaging in too much on this as it's ultimately futile, but two shocking challenges in the first 10 minutes for which there was clearly no intent to win the ball, followed by an evening of non-football, killing the game dead every 30 seconds, snide fouls all over the place on a shite, bobbly pitch. It was a dreadful 90 minutes to watch.

......but what are you really trying to say Joe....are you going to have a sixth sense movie moment where you realised you were not as good as you thought you were all along

 

[DippyDon]

......but what are you really trying to say Joe....are you going to have a sixth sense movie moment where you realised you were not as good as you thought you were all along

It sounds to me like after two bad decisions early on you simply were very good at managing the game and frustrating Gillingham.

I've only seen the Stockton challenge myself and it's a howling challenge, not sure what the Referee has seen to make it only a yellow.

 

[Scum.]

Bit of a stinker from Mansfield yesterday as a collective and individually too, a lot of players just were not at the races and Clough got the midfield all wrong against a side like MK, basically giving them control in the middle, was a poor selection.

MK looked good going forward, quick on the brake and deserved the victory although it’s got to be said we probably had the better chances in the game purely down to shocking defending from them, they looked poor at the back but we obviously did not capitalise on that. Both goals conceded came about from fortunate circumstances for them but both finished very well.

I’m not too concerned we are in a position where we can afford a defeat like that so it’s just about getting back on track Saturday now.

We are still missing our best defender (Tucker) and our best striker (Dean). Also we were missing Wearne last night who has been exceptional in terms of goals, assists and performances since joining from Gateshead. Makes it even more surprising we took the win, especially with rubbish away form.

That said, the evidence shows if we had Williamson at the start of the season (instead of Alexander), we would be top of the league, so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. Crazy league though, one of the weirdest I have ever seen where anyone can beat anyone!

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Trying to find attendance for Bradford v Doncaster when I came across match report paragraph that made me blink twice !

View attachment 19873

Utter show pony, not one tackle was worthy of a yellow, both managers carded for complaining about how shite is decisions were shouldn’t have been carded only Lo-Totula should have for time wasting has he turned it into an art form

 

[AdamStag]

Bit of a stinker from Mansfield yesterday as a collective and individually too, a lot of players just were not at the races and Clough got the midfield all wrong against a side like MK, basically giving them control in the middle, was a poor selection.

MK looked good going forward, quick on the brake and deserved the victory although it’s got to be said we probably had the better chances in the game purely down to shocking defending from them, they looked poor at the back but we obviously did not capitalise on that. Both goals conceded came about from fortunate circumstances for them but both finished very well.

I’m not too concerned we are in a position where we can afford a defeat like that so it’s just about getting back on track Saturday now.

think sometimes though got to hold your hands up and say fair played, MK did deserve the win in the end though we certainly contributed.

We can’t keep missing the chances we did at 1-1, some of the chances were ridiculous to miss and we’ve got to sort it out.

We go again on saturday.

 

[Gunit]

I'm not going to bother engaging in too much on this as it's ultimately futile, but two shocking challenges in the first 10 minutes for which there was clearly no intent to win the ball, followed by an evening of non-football, killing the game dead every 30 seconds, snide fouls all over the place on a shite, bobbly pitch. It was a dreadful 90 minutes to watch.

Would have honestly thought that would suit Gillingham quite well generally. Tight, scrappy games you win 1-0 is kind of what you do? Must have double figure 1-0 wins making up a big chunk of your points?

 

[Casey]

Been away but the loss at Morecambe wasn't a surprise. Seems the two keepers had blinders.

Seems our keeper, Corey Addai, has won the EFL player of the month

Casey

 

[jojo]

Been away but the loss at Morecambe wasn't a surprise. Seems the two keepers had blinders.

Seems our keeper, Corey Addai, has won the EFL player of the month

Casey

Atleast you can relax now without the threat of relegation even if you're out of the running of playoff places

 

[joethegill]

Would have honestly thought that would suit Gillingham quite well generally. Tight, scrappy games you win 1-0 is kind of what you do? Must have double figure 1-0 wins making up a big chunk of your points?

We do win a lot of games 1-0 but not really by design in the main, we're just too shite up front to score any more than 1.

 

[joethegill]

It sounds to me like after two bad decisions early on you simply were very good at managing the game and frustrating Gillingham.

I've only seen the Stockton challenge myself and it's a howling challenge, not sure what the Referee has seen to make it only a yellow.

Yeah pretty much.

A lot of my annoyance Tuesday night was down to our constant inconsistency and the fact that we might be facing up to another season in this shithole league playing dreadful sides who just strongarm their way into play-off spots like Barrow. Sooner we get back up and out of here the better.