Port Vale (H)

[Didledee]

Port Vale had the first 25 mins and deserved a goal or 2, but from them on it was a deserved win, I thought Cissoko did a lot of good today, but with his stepovers it's not proper fluent, ACD did one second half and with pace and forced a corner from keeper, I just would like Cissoko to do his tricks a little more quicker, he clearly can take a player on and his cross led to the first goal, so it's only a nit pick today, Randall was not in the game at all, Burstow was quiet but played a part in 2 goals.

Dempsey in the 10, Gale to come back, given the points we've dropped when we should have won earlier in season, we are in a good space right now, 2 points of top, who we should have beaten in that first half on opening day, so we've taken more points of other teams than them, which is a positive, Bradford come to us next out of winning form.

I don't know what ACD's ceiling is, but it's not League 1, 2 goals, 2 assists and I wouldn't say he was our main focus of attack at all today, he just as that wow factor, he's truly awesome.

 

Edited November 8, 2025 by Didledee

[waffer cup 07]

No complains today, but still don't get Randall.

[Zico]

1 hour ago, Wanderlust said:

Classic demonstration of the need to score when you’re on top and they had 5 shots, 3 OT before we got out of bed.

First game where I've thought TSL made a difference, in a positive way

[CambridgeBWFC]

Kyle Dempsey is everything that Joel Randall isnt, hopefully stays fit now as could really push us forward with two decent players for that position in Dempsey and Forss

Edited November 8, 2025 by CambridgeBWFC

[CambridgeBWFC]

Thought Sheehan was also superb today, barely put a foot wrong. Second have played and absoultly ridiculous pass out to the right

[wanderer1984]

Excellent 

[Wanderlust]

Don’t think I’ve ever seen 7 of the top eight losing on the same day before. In any division.

[athywhite1958]

19 minutes ago, waffer cup 07 said:

No complains today, but still don't get Randall.

I thought he had a reasonably decent game, seemed to get more involved than usual

[Johnnyrotten]

5 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I get the "any win will do/keep it solid" talk, but we've got the best home record in the division and we're playing a team that's not on form (and lost their last away at Wigan who had 10 men for most of the game).  I'd like to see us return to our best today and see a few goals and loads of attacking.  I know I'm being greedy, but this team is capable of it and shouldn't be settling for a scrappy 1-0 win against Vale at home when there are tougher tests to come.  I'm expecting an entertaining afternoon.

That's what I was hoping for and they delivered!  After the first 15 minutes as comfortable as any game in 2025, which was what I was expecting.  And two great saves from TSL to add to the completeness of the performance.  

[paulhanley]

This was a game we were hot favourites to win but the manner of it combined with results elsewhere makes it feel like a significant day.

Suddenly we are third. We are still unbeaten at home (not sure I can remember us getting this far in to the season unbeaten at home since the big 96/7 season), best goal difference in the league joint with Cardiff, three league wins on the spin. 

This is now November so it's all for real. Next up a titanic encounter with the team directly above us in front of what is likely to be a near sell out.

A great place to be and we have that priceless feeling of footballing optimism for both the immediate and medium term future. Its the stuff that makes you want Saturdays to come around quickly But lets keep our focus - club and fans alike. The division is opening for us ... lets make it count week in week out as we head in to the key winter months.

[Duck Egg]

3 hours ago, masi 51 said:

Jesus Schuey you do not make it easy for yourself

Or perhaps he knows what he's doing? 

[Johnnyrotten]

3 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I'm with @desperado, surprised at the inclusion of Randall and Cissoko, and Christie to a lesser extent.  I expect to see two of Forss, Tutu and Dempsey before the 65th minute, but a big opportunity for them all.

Or even earlier 😀 

Dempsey such a step up, and what a finish.

Christie was superb once we got going, great strength and use of the ball.

[L/H White]

47 minutes ago, bwfcuk said:

You must be so disappointed..

Incorrect 

[Arrested development]

We were certainly flat first 25 but they were very basic. Hoofball ,get it wide , get it in. Couple of headers from crosses, one great save from TSL. But no real clear cut chances. Once we got the goal we were miles better and deserved the 4 nil. 

Thought Cissoko had his best game for us today. Everything had a purpose, no pointless skills. Amario superb, way too good for this league. Shout out to Demo, great cameo, another option for that 10 role. Maybe not a natural 10 but makes runs and gets in the box.

[Johnnyrotten]

3 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

Slightly worried we will get bossed n the middle with that selection. Although since Sheehan learned to tackle we might be ok.

A very different performance today from Sheehan compared to last week.  Won a few easy enough challenges and a couple of interceptions, but there was very little need for winning 50/50s or sliding into challenges, from either him or Simons.  Took everyone 15 or 20 minutes to get going but then it was easy street, they didn't have to be outstanding, just kept it ticking over.  They each had a great shot on target, one went in, one saved and Sheehan did 3 or 4 outstanding long passes.  He is our best midfielder on current form and is the undroppable one now for me, not based on today just his general performances recently.  I would say let's hope he translates it to away games but it still seems ages till the next one!  

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, woolli said:

who was saying TSL doesnt make saves?

I was pointing out the freakish stat that game after game he wasn't making a save.  2 great one's today, especially the 2nd.

Handling and kicking as ever immaculate.

[ianofcleveleys]

Just back on the Fylde Coast, after a sticky 20 mins where TSL put the 'doesn't save much' thing to bed, brilliant performance from 1-11 and subs, great entertainment, some of the football we played was outstanding. 

Could well have been 6 or 7 but a handsome win nonetheless. Things to enthuse about across the board. Great moment for Dempsey, made up for him

[ianofcleveleys]

56 minutes ago, CambridgeBWFC said:

Thought Sheehan was also superb today, barely put a foot wrong. Second have played and absoultly ridiculous pass out to the right

The more the game wore on the more he ran it, just knew where to be and used the ball ever so well

[Johnnyrotten]

55 minutes ago, CambridgeBWFC said:

Thought Sheehan was also superb today, barely put a foot wrong. Second have played and absoultly ridiculous pass out to the right

As good as that was, Johnston made the pass of the game 1st half to Burstow, he's got that in his locker, did the same v Cardiff.  And another 40 yard pass to feet 2nd half.  And I read on here Johnston is hopeless in possession.  His block at 0-0 was as big as any saves or goals we scored.  Obviously ACD MOTM but Johnston 2nd for me, at it from the first minute to the last and I'd say he was the only one of the 11 that applies to.

[Johnnyrotten]

On any other day Conway MOTM too, absolute quality on the ball, that was championship standard.

[Mounts Kipper]

Impressive that,  we’ve turned it round after the Burton Northampton setbacks. Got a very positive feeling for the season. 

[CumbrianWhite]

Ignoring the first 20 minutes or so that was probably the most complete performance we’ve had under Schumacher.
 

Good individual performances round but a special mention to both fullbacks and of course Duberry who was outstanding again. 

[W.cramp]

59 minutes ago, athywhite1958 said:

I thought he had a reasonably decent game, seemed to get more involved than usual

Are you on the wind up or been drinking heavily ?    Randall is the biggest waste of space in the squad.   He is terrible,  massive visible difference when he went off.

[Zico]

On 03/11/2025 at 09:02, Zico said:

5-0 @ 66/1

thought Forss was bringing it home today

anyway

the main positive for me was the return and performance of Dempsey - with his injury probelms, have refused to pin any hopes on him coming back and being as good as we know he can be - but that today was everything we need in a #10 and everything Randall and McAtee are not

if he can stay fit, we become so much better up top

[Kane57]

Great game. Traffic on Middlebrook getting worse