Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th December

[shoddycollins]

Ugh, well that was the most predictable result of the night. Sounded like we dragged Mansfield down to our level too, just not quite all the way down.

 

[AdamStag]

Mansfield we’re extraordinarily lucky to win that and with respect (sorry) they were extremely lucky to come across carlisle, who were, well, hopeless.

We bettered the 1st 30 and maybe could have been 2 up, after that it was a real struggle and the last 10 of the 1st half from us was complete dross.

Anyway after ya attacking the north stand in the first half with a gust during halftime the weather decided to pick up into a hurricane, which didn’t help.

A mixture of dogged defending, heaps of good luck, dreadful attacking play by carlisle and some decent saves by bishop meant we somehow won.

I was quick to bemoan our back luck earlier in the season which was justified, it’s only right to comment on it when we get some luck back.

 

[IanPVFC]

Made much harder work of that than necessary, especially with the way we were cruising in the first half.

Given the injuries we have now though every point is vital until we get some bodies back. We literally don't have a single striker fit now.

Just glad we have Garrity, the man is class.

 

[Sydney Posse]

We should have been dead and buried by half time, Northampton were all over us in the first half. Fantastic response in the 2nd half. Deserved a point but you don’t always get what you deserve. Not the first time we’ve been poor in the first half and looked different in the second. We need to have a serious look at why that is.

 

[Conker]

Bowery was our only option but playing him upfront alone is torture he doesn’t head the ball nor have a sufficient work rate to do it alone. Really poor quality game tonight but it’s another win.

 

[BogDaddyO]

4 1 a flattering scoreline against a Swindon side who looked as good as anyone we've played this season.

Great open game, chances at crucial moments for both sides, took our chances well. If we could string a few wins away from home we'd be a decent side, but our away form is really letting us down.

At home though I think we've scored 21 and conceded 2 in our last 4? Something like that anyway. Crawley at home on Saturday too, bring it on.

Fair play Swindon, feel for the fans, brought 1k and had very little to sing for.

 

[The Terminator]

That just sums us up at home this season, particularly in second halfs when we up the work rate and swarm on teams to win the ball back quickly in our opponents halfs and create chances - AND manage to take them.

We've scored 4 in 3 of our last 4 home games, in all comps and before that we even won 5-0 at home too. Tonight was another flattering scoreline and the game was alot closer for 60mins than the scoreline suggests but its nice to see us really punishing teams - If we could kill teams off away from home too we have a great chance.

1-1 at half time was about right, Swindon goal had a hint of offside about it, more annoyed that the linesman was so far behind play for a counter attack tbh to give a better judgement.

Biggest moment of the game was when Swindons left back Iandolo missed a great chance at 1-1 after beating two men and he rolled his shot wide. After that we was ruthless in our play.

Swindon are good side, especially for a young side thrown together at the last minute, keep the ball well and pace all over the pitch. Jack Payne is the sort of midfielder we're badly missing. Can see why they probably struggle a bit at home because teams will be happy to sit in and let them pass it around for long spells. They lost their discipline a bit at the end with McKirdy and Payne, although I admit the ref was a bit on the crap side and made some poor decisions both ways.

If Smith and Drinan both get injured we are fucked, literally no to replace them properly.

 

[The Terminator]

Very surprised with how Smith has done but clearly in a better environment for himself mentally and he’s getting chances this year unlike under Curle. Good on him.

He has suprised me, he's been as I expected - plays the big man striker role well, but the way Jackett plays has got him chances too and he's scoring more than missing ATM.

Think he's moved back in with his parents in South London/Kent, as he's been regularly seen going to home games on the tubes and trains. Seems to have helped him alot.

 

[Roger Stone]

Not sure how we found ourselves 2 down. We played some good football and dominated from start to finish. Sutton no 7 is some player, scored 2 crackers. Lewis negated his threat second half. Haynes had a mare but should have had support from the CBS. Red card looked fair enough - went in high on Wilmott. Pen looked stonewall too. Great comeback and 3 points. Onto Vale this Saturday with Telford back who we missed tonight.

 

[Boz]

Oldham hit the woodwork, have a goal disallowed (correctly if unluckily) the ball cleared off our line twice and unmarked forward can't convert a free header from a peach of a cross. Only from Rovers to nick a winner from Charlie Jolley in the 90th minute. Brave decision from Micky Mellon putting an inexperienced pair up front, but it worked, it was may of the older players who failed to deliver for us tonight. Daylight robbery but I'll happily take it.

 

[Bottega Don]

As most games under Keith Hill, our players worked their socks off but just don't have the quality to win games. We were the better team tonight, our players wanted it more but we're simply not good enough.

It's nice to not lose every week at the moment but we do need to start actually winning

 

[LordJord]

Scoreline is a joke, we've dominated this half

But we dominated the first. The wind was a massive factor to both teams either half. Wouldnt have argued with a point each though, not sure how the lad missed at the end on the back post!

 

[LordJord]

Fuck Northampton. Cheating c***. Absolutely disgusting. Fuck off.

A frustrating loss for you guys but think thats a bit harsh. Too be honest in the first half I think you guys should have done more to break up play as the wind was a massive factor. Definitely tried to spoil second half which is of course frustrating but perhaps something Exeter need to do more of? We seem to have an amazing record against your lot over the last few years, despite Exeter seemingly being better on the ball.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Thought we played well first half and deserved to be 2 up even if it was against 10 for half an hour.

Bristol didn't give up and came back into it well. With the wind helping them, they put us under pressure at times and could have even sneaked a penalty but highlights suggest it was a dive.

They'll be annoyed with the ref and he did give a couple of softish free kicks to us. By and large though I thought he got most decisions right and even the Bristol commentators said so. Occasionally when decisions go against you, every decision after that is focused upon but if you look back at the fouls I would say 90% + warranted a free kick. I thought Rovers put their foot in a bit too much at times and put themselves under unnecessary pressure.

We need to shithouse some results now as basically our entire forward line is injured. Never known anything like it.

 

[EricSabin]

A frustrating loss for you guys but think thats a bit harsh. Too be honest in the first half I think you guys should have done more to break up play as the wind was a massive factor. Definitely tried to spoil second half which is of course frustrating but perhaps something Exeter need to do more of? We seem to have an amazing record against your lot over the last few years, despite Exeter seemingly being better on the ball.

He’s just upset that Exeter‘s sexy football quickly turned into lumping it into the box and playing for long throws

 

[denzel ecfc]

But we dominated the first. The wind was a massive factor to both teams either half. Wouldnt have argued with a point each though, not sure how the lad missed at the end on the back post!

I was right by it, it was a very tight angle so not surprised he missed. Sweeney had a better chance at 1-1. Having said that if we had Big Sam it might have been different. He is going to be a big loss for us as we miss too many chances at the moment.

And 'dominated the first' is pushing it. You had the better chances, but don't take the piss

 

[EricSabin]

I was right by it, it was a very tight angle so not surprised he missed. Sweeney had a better chance at 1-1. Having said that if we had Big Sam it might have been different. He is going to be a big loss for us as we miss too many chances at the moment.

And 'dominated the first' is pushing it. You had the better chances, but don't take the piss

You didn’t have a shot in the first half and we should really have been 3 nil up

 

[denzel ecfc]

You didn’t have a shot in the first half and we should really have been 3 nil up

Disagree, especially i was right behind the goal. One good chance and the opener was a deflection

 

[northstandexile]

Wind was a major factor in second half at Mansfield, with the Stags unable to get out of their half, but Carlisle were more toothless than Scunthorpe which I didn’t think was possible.

 

[LordJord]

I was right by it, it was a very tight angle so not surprised he missed. Sweeney had a better chance at 1-1. Having said that if we had Big Sam it might have been different. He is going to be a big loss for us as we miss too many chances at the moment.

And 'dominated the first' is pushing it. You had the better chances, but don't take the piss

Fair enough, it looked a bit like Lewis attempt in the first half where it was at a bit of an awkward height and just didnt make contact on it but watching it online it looked like a shocking miss. We have a similar problem with Etete being out (our main goal threat and arguably best player). I guess both teams will be looking for an extra striker.

If you dominated the second half, then in terms of chances created I would say we definitely did the first. Both teams should be around the top 7 come the end of the season, January window depending then either could scrape the top 3.

 

[EricSabin]

Disagree, especially i was right behind the goal. One good chance and the opener was a deflection

Your local media and forum seems to agree but hey ho

 

[denzel ecfc]

Your local media and forum seems to agree but hey ho

Stats seem to suggest we had twice as many shots and more on target but hey ho.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59471439

I didnt get a view of the 'controversial' free kick but BBC seem to think it dubious, these things don't seem to be going our way at the moment.

 

[RLC]

Oldham hit the woodwork, have a goal disallowed (correctly if unluckily) the ball cleared off our line twice and unmarked forward can't convert a free header from a peach of a cross. Only from Rovers to nick a winner from Charlie Jolley in the 90th minute. Brave decision from Micky Mellon putting an inexperienced pair up front, but it worked, it was may of the older players who failed to deliver for us tonight. Daylight robbery but I'll happily take it.

You failed to mention Morris hitting the woodwork for us, forcing a worldy save from the keeper, Hawkes' goalbound shot deflected wide, Jolley missing another very good chance after scoring.....

A draw would arguably have been a fair result, but we took one of our chances, and Oldham did not, which is why they are struggling.

Jolley looks a completely different player to the one that was out of his depth last season. Our best player by a mile tonight, and not much chance of Chester getting him back any time soon I would imagine.

 

[Bluandwite]

You failed to mention Morris hitting the woodwork for us, forcing a worldy save from the keeper, Hawkes' goalbound shot deflected wide, Jolley missing another very good chance after scoring.....

A draw would arguably have been a fair result, but we took one of our chances, and Oldham did not, which is why they are struggling.

Jolley looks a completely different player to the one that was out of his depth last season. Our best player by a mile tonight, and not much chance of Chester getting him back any time soon I would imagine.

Shame but pleased for him, came here and embraced it with a good attitude.

 

[Uncle Pastuzo]

Sutton beat themselves. Red card was a Labadie-style "hardest kid in the playground" over-the-ball foul and the pen was a rugby tackle in stoppage time on a player posing no threat.

 

[Indian Dan]

That 4-1 defeat, while disappointing, has been coming. Harrogate should have been 4 up the other week but don’t have the quality strikers Orient have. It seems par for the course for us to put in a truly horrible 30 minutes in a game where we are an absolute shambles defensively.

Our football is a bit arrogant, if that’s the right word. Convinced of our supposed superiority on the ball will overcome. Problem is that Garner will not even attempt to tweak what he sees as the only way to play. It’s a lazy approach if you ask me - one dimensional thinking. I’m convinced he takes very little notice of the opposition pre match - believing his way is the winning way. He’s got a free hit this season with what went on before.

Saying all that, Orient are about the best side I’ve seen this season and deserved the win. Probably not by 3 goals but there you go.

 

[Gassy]

I can't agree, your lot were diving around so hilariously in the second half playing like complete victims. We were doing it against bradford when we'd have been better served trying to play the game than the ref. Two complete dives in the box, embarrassingly surround the ref when jones shoulder barged your guy and he went down like Fury had just KO'd him.

I've not really seen a more entitled fan base than bristol rovers judging from this game. I don't really know what decisions you can complain about.

I don't think we were ever in danger of losing that game to be honest. You had a free header go miles over and a deflected shot go in at 0-2 down with 10 men and soon to be 9. I don't think you'd have touched the ball second half if it wasn't for the injuries to our players

We have like 8 first team injuries, you’re not the only team to have injuries you know?

Not being funny but you talk about entitled…

 

[Gassy]

Lead from the top, what do you expect.

Whilst I agree, you do know before last night you had the worst disciplinary record in the division?

 

[Gassy]

From what I saw last night we were poor, ref seems to have got the 2 reds right - especially the 2nd. The first is so hard to see, but I’ll trust his judgement.

Even DC commented to say that the ref was in Vales favour tbf, and when Vale fans start shouting ‘off’ at every foul, it about sums it up. It was the constant falling over at any touch and the ref bought it, yet Pitman gets clattered and pushed into and it’s not even a freekick.

But ultimately, the ref didn’t cost us the game. Poor decision making, but that happens. Barton and ourselves did. We had a good 2nd half, sure - but we only had one choice when we’re down to 10 men. Vale did make hard work of it, but it was a gritty win and a classic away performance - one that’s needed if you’re going to go up this season.

 

[Devon_Lad]

am off to sit on the relegation thread for the rest of the season.