Week ending 12th March

[Moomin]

Well that was an odd half. Swindon started really well and had lots of possession, without really creating much, but it seemed like they were building up to the first goal.

We the finally got our act together and started to create. Another great goal from Brown but think there was a deflection and Jonathan Grounds scoring against Swindon is probably what you’d expect after he was so disliked there last season.

Since then we’ve been well on top and should’ve added to the lead. Swindon are still a threat though so I’m not counting my chickens.

 

[Devon_Lad]

The first 15 minutes or so Swindon had a lot of the ball but haven't created anything like the numbers of chances we have and it could be three or four on the board at this point. Nombe is the best player this league has ever experienced. That includes Watkins.

 

[Agombar stool]

Why can't you defend corners? Is it just cause of injuries? Super Grounds, by the way. Why you ever let him leave is anyone's guess. I lumped on 2-1 so hope you score second half.

We've been unable to defend crosses/corners for most of this season. Just seems to be a continual achilles heel that never gets resolved.

 

[AdamStag]

Why can't you defend corners? Is it just cause of injuries? Super Grounds, by the way. Why you ever let him leave is anyone's guess. I lumped on 2-1 so hope you score second half.

In fairness you weren’t far off being as good as us the other night, of course you’re in with a chance .

 

[Devon_Lad]

In fairness you weren’t far off being as good as us the other night, of course you’re in with a chance .

It was a good game and the score wasn't fair IMO. I see us both going up especially with the away games (12th on ppg on away games) you've got left and playing FGR twice. I think between us 3 there won't be much separating us come May.

 

[Devon_Lad]

We've been unable to defend crosses/corners for most of this season. Just seems to be a continual achilles heel that never gets resolved.

Fair enough. You're a good side (as ive admitted to all season, give me my credit) I think you'll finish 4th comfortably but unfortunately it's then a lottery. As we know..

 

[Devon_Lad]

Was also the only one to predict FGR aren't as good as the table shower at the time and they'd be brought back into the fight...

 

[Casey]

Haven't gone to the game today. Suffering with a nasty cold (screaming headache, sneezing constantly).

Good to see the old Crawley boy score even if it's against us.

Going to bed now sod the score!

Casey

 

[Devon_Lad]

Haven't gone to the game today. Suffering with a nasty cold (screaming headache, sneezing constantly).

Good to see the old Crawley boy score even if it's against us.

Going to bed now sod the score!

Casey

Aw not a cold. Get better soon. I'll call A+E

 

[Moomin]

Important 3 points. Only downside is that it looked like Nombe pulled his groin so may be out for a couple of games.

Make no mistake, we were very lucky to catch Swindon on a day where they had so many missing, but we still had to do a job. Jevani Brown is playing some amazing stuff and is finally fulfilling that potential.

Swindon looked tidy and I’m sure they’ll be up there at the end. Decent crowd (just under 6k).

On to Salford now and I’d imagine we’ll rotate a couple of players once again to keep things fresh.

 

[Devon_Lad]

FGR won't come top. Likely us. It'll be close between Mansfield and FGR for 2nd. Mansfield the better side but tough fixtures given the aways on paper. But that's the 3 automatic sides. Comfortably. Swindon 100% behind us 3 in fourth. Gotta feel gutted FGR got so lucky earlier in the season. They're a 7th/8th team tbf. Should be fighting the last play off place, but that's footy.

 

[Devon_Lad]

On a serious, before Bristol, Mansfield and Swindon I'd have wanted 6 or 7 points from them minimum. However, given Mansfields fixtures, our next 2 at home, our squad, FGR's slide.. I can't help but think I'd be happy with them. We win our next 2 games at home and we are going up as champions. Otherwise I guess we settle for top 3 (2nd), but even then it's the same prize as top and we go into it with the best youth team to pick players from outside the prem. The question is, 4 or 5 years till we're playing in the prem? 6 years I'll genuinely be upset. Shouldn't take that long given our talent.

 

[Moomin]

Impossible to call this league. We’re still only 3 points ahead of 9th and we’ve won 5 of our last 7. Mental.

I reckon they’ll still be 4 or 5 teams going for the auto spots with 2 games to go.

 

[Devon_Lad]

Seriously you look at the fixture list and if we get 4 or 6 points from our next 2 (at home) then there is honestly only one winner. Jesus christ. All those years of hurt but we are actually going to do it. FGR & Mansfield surely can't beat us if you compare fixtures. It's ours to lose.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

On a serious, before Bristol, Mansfield and Swindon I'd have wanted 6 or 7 points from them minimum. However, given Mansfields fixtures, our next 2 at home, our squad, FGR's slide.. I can't help but think I'd be happy with them. We win our next 2 games at home and we are going up as champions. Otherwise I guess we settle for top 3 (2nd), but even then it's the same prize as top and we go into it with the best youth team to pick players from outside the prem. The question is, 4 or 5 years till we're playing in the prem? 6 years I'll genuinely be upset. Shouldn't take that long given our talent.

You are Lee Johnson and I claim my £5

 

[kieran_vale]

Don’t know how the game between Crawley and Rovers went but hopefully they’ll be feeling a bit deflated and weary after losing tonight. Still won’t stop us going all out for the 0-0 though.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Don’t know how the game between Crawley and Rovers went but hopefully they’ll be feeling a bit deflated and weary after losing tonight. Still won’t stop us going all out for the 0-0 though.

It was nerve jangling for us. Both teams missed chances. We played the better football but looked shaky at the back with Crawleys more direct tactics and pace up front.
They look a decent outfit to be fair just need to be more clinical in front of goal

 

[Gassy]

It was nerve jangling for us. Both teams missed chances. We played the better football but looked shaky at the back with Crawleys more direct tactics and pace up front.
They look a decent outfit to be fair just need to be more clinical in front of goal

I'm never able to watch much on Tuesdaysbut from what I did see, Crawley looked a decent team tbf.

Collins' goal was absolute class - if he did that in the Prem they'd go on about it for weeks

 

[denzel ecfc]

Swindon looked like a side missing a few players. First 15 minutes I thought we were poor, gave the ball away too often and against a sharper side we would have been punished.
Jevani's goal changed everything though. Could have had four in the first half alone, and whilst I thought the first 20 minutes of the second were a bit dull the quality shone through.
I liked the way Swindon play, though it does play into our hands.
Not sure what happened with Nombe, hope he will be OK for Saturday but confident whoever plays.
Feeling giddy now.

 

[valefan16]

Don’t know how the game between Crawley and Rovers went but hopefully they’ll be feeling a bit deflated and weary after losing tonight. Still won’t stop us going all out for the 0-0 though.

Hopefully the Colchester game is the turning point where AC realises the system isn’t working and we finally revert back to 3 bloody 5-2 and get the show back on the road.

If he doesn’t change back now to what worked then we may as well just pack up for the season.

 

[Devon_Lad]

You are Lee Johnson and I claim my £5

You're 3 points behind us and have played 2 more with a worse goal difference. Get in your lane. We have pummeled you heavily twice. We are 8 points behind FGR with 2 home games to come plus FGR still have to play Mansfield twice and tranmere etc. Tranmere aren't a threat given their away ppg. We are winning this league.

 

[Moomin]

You're 3 points behind us and have played 2 more with a worse goal difference. Get in your lane. We have pummeled you heavily twice. We are 8 points behind FGR with 2 home games to come plus FGR still have to play Mansfield twice and tranmere etc. Tranmere aren't a threat given their away ppg. We are winning this league.

We’re 11 points behind FGR

 

[E10rifle]

Last time we played Hartlepool we bummed them 5-0. I expect a mirror-image score line this week. Pools fans who were there won’t believe how comprehensively we’ve fallen apart since then.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Last time we played Hartlepool we bummed them 5-0. I expect a mirror-image score line this week. Pools fans who were there won’t believe how comprehensively we’ve fallen apart since then.

Aye the game which Challinor downed tools, you capitulated shortly after, I'd almost guarantee we'll be playing a full strength team tonight in the Pizza Cup, so we'll probably make some changes for Saturday.

Even so the form Orient are in we have to be confident of all three.

 

[shoddycollins]

Should be a good attendance on Saturday. A combination of the Simmo effect, half-price tickets, and local businesses sponsoring free tickets for schools/community groups etc.

Hopefully this will help, we do have a habit of falling flat when there's a big crowd, but it's a game we won't be expected to get anything from anyway, so less pressure and I'd take a draw.

 

[Devon_Lad]

We’re 11 points behind FGR

Not after we win our game in hand we're not

 

[Bottega Don]

Our great escape starts this weekend*

*It doesn't

 

[AdamStag]

A bit like last week against exeter, any winner will go top 3 for the night.

I said in february before we had a run of games against bristol rovers A, newport A, bradford A exeter H, tranmere A and port vale A anything north of 6-7 points would be an a massive achievement we’re currently on 8 after 4 games.

Tranmere and port vale will be favourites and being at home but there’s no doubting all the pressure will be on them.

Come out of those 2 games with 2-3 points and maybe it could be time to re-evaluate

 

[BRFC_Gas]

You're 3 points behind us and have played 2 more with a worse goal difference. Get in your lane. We have pummeled you heavily twice. We are 8 points behind FGR with 2 home games to come plus FGR still have to play Mansfield twice and tranmere etc. Tranmere aren't a threat given their away ppg. We are winning this league.

Ill forgive you for getting excited considering you have been in the basement for a decade. Still really hope you fuck it up though..

 

[Agombar stool]

Disappointed with our defeat last night but not totally surprising. I thought we started the game really well and had some good possession. Exeter were sloppy but we didn't really make their keeper work. It's all well and good playing well between boxes, but when you continue to defend as pathetically as we did from corners and crosses it doesn't really matter. Conroy, Baudry and O'brien as a back 3 didn't instill me with confidence and O'brien who had been decent previously was dragged down to his partners level. It should have been 3-0 by half time truth be told.

Second half I think Exeter put cruise control on and just sauntered through the second half. It was only when Jack Payne came on that we livened up but still their keeper had nothing to do until Payne's goal. Exeter's defenders really showing how to defend properly at this level, very solid showing from them and in Jay and Brown have match winners.

I know he is bombastic but I agree with Devon Lad, I think Exeter have all the ingredients to go up automatically. We have an ask to get into the play offs but that was our toughest remaining game on paper. The Sutton game at home is now a big 6 pointer to see if we can get into the play offs. I'm sure Sheridan is keen to spoil the party on Saturday.