Another team that are having a fruit salad season - proper mixed bag of results although their surprise loss to Plymouth on Tuesday brought a 12 game unbeaten run to an end - a run that included a lot of draws so they are mid table.
Another conundrum for SS to solve. I think Duff sets them up to be a “hard to beat” team, usually 4231, rather than an attacking force although they are strong on the right with Jack Grimmer at the back and the dangerous Fred Onyedinma ahead of him.

 

19 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

Another team that are having a fruit salad season - proper mixed bag of results although their surprise loss to Plymouth on Tuesday brought a 12 game unbeaten run to an end - a run that included a lot of draws so they are mid table.
Another conundrum for SS to solve. I think Duff sets them up to be a “hard to beat” team, usually 4231, rather than an attacking force although they are strong on the right with Jack Grimmer at the back and the dangerous Fred Onyedinma ahead of him.

 

I’d forgot Duff had gone there.

Usually a scrap when you play his teams.

Where did that good forward go who was knocking them in for fun this time last year? 

4 minutes ago, desperado said:

I’d forgot Duff had gone there.

Usually a scrap when you play his teams.

Where did that good forward go who was knocking them in for fun this time last year? 

Kone?

QPR

After they beat us last season they were 2nd by one point with three games go. Lost all three and then the play-off semi. It's no wonder they're patchy this season.

Good test for us as man for man I guess they're probably a bit better than their league position.

probably an away defeat 

One where I'd take a repeat of last year down there, a dour 0-0 draw where we show good resilience and threaten to nick it late on. Maybe we will this time...

Win this and we are in a strong position; Lincoln home to Cardiff and Bradford away to Orient so we could finally hit the autos position with two home matches next

Tough game this, if we drew here then won the two home games I'd probably be chuffed.

Looking forward to the day, a shit away but make the best of it

Gale for twinkletoes please.   Watching Conway yesterday and he looked so wary of cissokos non movement.    

I think the left side will be a lot better (more fluid) - jeesus i sound like some of our resident experts!   

After our recent great form and results I see this match as a bit of a free hit really.

Edited December 14, 2025Dec 14 by jmjhb

Draw this minimum, obviously a win would be exceptional.

The home games over Christmas are great fixtures but not guarantees. However after these next 3 games we could be in a seriously strong position.

Unsurprisingly alongside our form, our position in the table has been slowly going up. We couldn't get into the top 6 for a while and now find ourselves 5 points clear with a game in hand. 

Its felt like the same with the top 2, we haven't been there yet once, whilst Cardiff, Bradford & Lincoln have been there all season. 

But it just feels like it's a matter of time until we do finally break in.

Will be a tough test this game, but we've got nothing to fear despite our record there and we can get the 3 points. Hoping we will be in the top 2 by the turn of the new year. 

Edited December 14, 2025Dec 14 by Lostock Whites

1 hour ago, jmjhb said:

After our recent great form and results I see this match as a bit of a free hit really.

I don’t. I still think we blew two points (and a three point swing) against Bradford. Winning this, will cancel out the two points, in my opinion.

If we were above 2 points a game and top of the league, I’d agree a point is good. But we need to recover earlier setbacks and, therefore, raise expectations from games such as this.

4 hours ago, L/H White said:

probably an away defeat 

😴😴😴

Have to continue these improved away results.

We have to go to Cardiff, Bradford, Lincoln, Stevenage later on, and this will be difficult too.

If we can pick up wins away at some of these, that would be sensational. 

Some wins elsewhere would be helpful though to bring confidence. 

 

21 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Have to continue these improved away results.

We have to go to Cardiff, Bradford, Lincoln, Stevenage later on, and this will be difficult too.

If we can pick up wins away at some of these, that would be sensational. 

Some wins elsewhere would be helpful though to bring confidence. 

 

Stevenage fan i know reckons they are running on empty and they will drop 

Says their tactic is go one nil up then put everyone behind the ball 

Says if that Reid doesn't score they rely on defenders and Reid can only manage 70 minutes as he's fucked

There could be massive generalisations there but I will be going there optimistic 

Good.

Reckon we will need to be resolute initially then.

They were good winners at Stockport yesterday and are clearly decent.

5 hours ago, Rival Son said:

I don’t. I still think we blew two points (and a three point swing) against Bradford. Winning this, will cancel out the two points, in my opinion.

If we were above 2 points a game and top of the league, I’d agree a point is good. But we need to recover earlier setbacks and, therefore, raise expectations from games such as this.

Agreed.  We're on a decent run but its 2 wins from the last 4.   We're trying to catch up to around 2 points a game like the top 2, if we draw we won't even be 2 points from the last 5 games never mind the season.  Bradford can afford to lose their next game and would still be 10 points from the last 5, we are the team that needs the wins that aren't the routine home one's.

4 hours ago, DirtySanchez said:

Stevenage fan i know reckons they are running on empty and they will drop 

Says their tactic is go one nil up then put everyone behind the ball 

Says if that Reid doesn't score they rely on defenders and Reid can only manage 70 minutes as he's fucked

There could be massive generalisations there but I will be going there optimistic 

That sounds great to be fair, they have the best defence in the whole EFL by some distance.

And if Reid only does 70 minutes, I bet he's played as many minutes as Burstow or any of our strikers.  Anyway he's only scored 7 out of 22 for them, if their defenders have scored 15 as well as hardly conceding any can we buy one or two 😀

They may fall away, but Revell is proving himself to be a great L1 manager and I wouldn't underestimate them.

Massive game. One I’d have down as a really good win, rather than an expected win. If we were to get 3 points and keep the momentum going, you’d think with our home form that 2 wins will (should follow) and suddenly you’re staring at 5 wins in a row and 26 points in 10 games.

It’s quite presumptuous but I genuinely think if we can find a way to win this one then the other 2 follow it and we’ll be top 2 at the turn of the year and flying.

Any away win will do 

2 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

That sounds great to be fair, they have the best defence in the whole EFL by some distance.

And if Reid only does 70 minutes, I bet he's played as many minutes as Burstow or any of our strikers.  Anyway he's only scored 7 out of 22 for them, if their defenders have scored 15 as well as hardly conceding any can we buy one or two 😀

They may fall away, but Revell is proving himself to be a great L1 manager and I wouldn't underestimate them.

From what he says, and he sounds sensible, they are a league 2 team punching well above their weight 

They won't have the money to strengthen in January and they don't have anyone to sell that could bring in decent money 

3 hours ago, Big E said:

Any away win will do 

Have you read the Mansfield (A) thread ? 

Wonder if SS contemplates starting Dalby here? 
 

Burstow picked himself the first 10 games or so but not scored in 12 now is it? And he can’t buy a chance let alone a goal. Confidence will inevitably be low

This place, probably not the best conditions, will be a tough, battle and grind it out type of game. We’ll get challenged by set plays and balls going in to the box so Dalby will be an asset defensively too 

55 minutes ago, barrycowdrill said:

Wonder if SS contemplates starting Dalby here? 
 

Burstow picked himself the first 10 games or so but not scored in 12 now is it? And he can’t buy a chance let alone a goal. Confidence will inevitably be low

This place, probably not the best conditions, will be a tough, battle and grind it out type of game. We’ll get challenged by set plays and balls going in to the box so Dalby will be an asset defensively too 

Been thinking this

I think Burstow is great at getting into the right position and very good with his feet 

But he's not scoring 

So at what point do you look to another goal scorer

12 minutes ago, Zico said:

Been thinking this

I think Burstow is great at getting into the right position and very good with his feet 

But he's not scoring 

So at what point do you look to another goal scorer

He’s going to get rested at some point over Christmas.

A bit of good man-management (which SS seems pretty good at) would be telling him he still trusts him, he’s going to bang one in soon and don’t worry when I rotate the squad as he would do this anyway.

Pick him Saturday, whether he scores or not give Dalby a start against Rotherham or Mansfield.