2-0 Dapo and Doyle

The promotion push continues 

1 hour ago, Rudy said:

On Gilks as well, he has a mistake in I’m but his claiming and catching of balls is so reassuring, not to mention his distribution was brilliant 

Given his age and the fact he didnt anticipate being first choice when he joined he has been fantastic.  As pointed out earlier, our defence does such a good job currently of protecting him that keeping your attention going for 90 minutes must be hard. 

But his overall command of the box and constant communication with the team demonstrates all his experience.  It has been fascinating watching games on iplayer without the crowd to hear the manager and players barking orders. Surprised Gilks can speak after games though.

Out out out OUT!!!

Edited March 10, 20215 yr by Cartman2932

Just now, paulhanley said:

Unimaginable even a month ago to be uttering this but ...... we've got to try for automatic promotion with the form we are in. I think it's won 8 drawn 2 from our last 10. We'd need 80 points to be in with a serious chance - that's 26 from our remaining 12 matches. A tall order that would require us virtually replicating what we've done since late January and with some awkward away games lobbed in (Forest Green, Newport, Salford, Morecambe). I honestly think we are capable of beating all those but I'll be happier once we really start taking chances and getting threes and fours in games.

It's such a shame the fans aren't in the stadium. We've been on late season runs like this before and its as good as football has to offer - 92/3 under Bruce, 99/00 under Sam, 02/03 under Sam to save our skin, similar with Megson in 07/8 and nearly doing it under Freedman in 12/13. Should also mention that run of games when we kept scoring four under Parkinson about this time of year - 16/17.

Come on you whites - its a hard ask but lets cut through the play off drama and do it automatically.

Teams taking points off each other and having two games a week whilst we have one will be a factor 

Exeter V Cheltenham 

FGR v Harrogate 

Morecambe  v Newport

We need to keep going one game at a time and the rest will take care of itself 

4 minutes ago, Rudy said:

Teams taking points off each other and having two games a week whilst we have one will be a factor 

Exeter V Cheltenham 

FGR v Harrogate 

Morecambe  v Newport

We need to keep going one game at a time and the rest will take care of itself 

Agreed. I reckon though we can afford two defeats at most and preferably one. Add that to our present run and it would be an incredible last half of the season all-told. But it's far from impossible.

Must admit I must have jinxed Gilks as I'd spent the previous five minutes saying how much more confident we looked having a keeper who was able to claim and catch virtually everything rather than punching the ball away from corners etc and leaving everyone on edge. In some ways though we might feel a degree benefit from seeing the job through at 2-1 and learning how to manage that, and I was certainly impressed with the positive attitude in response to Saturday's disappointment.

2 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Must admit I must have jinxed Gilks as I'd spent the previous five minutes saying how much more confident we looked having a keeper who was able to claim and catch virtually everything rather than punching the ball away from corners etc and leaving everyone on edge. In some ways though we might feel a degree benefit from seeing the job through at 2-1 and learning how to manage that, and I was certainly impressed with the positive attitude in response to Saturday's disappointment.

A lesson we shouldn’t need. Almost two-thirds possession ought to be equating to not being so bothered about a goalkeeping mistake late on in the game.

38 minutes ago, MickyD said:

A lesson we shouldn’t need. Almost two-thirds possession ought to be equating to not being so bothered about a goalkeeping mistake late on in the game.

Maybe so, but there was more than enough time and threat for Cambridge to have got an equaliser, so to have seen that through should be treated as a positive in my mind, even if it is admittedly affected by a decade of mental scarring. 

@hughmungus you ok luv?x

15 minutes ago, Rudy said:

@hughmungus you ok luv?x

Attending counselling with Nigel Clough. 

6 minutes ago, RONNIE PHILLIPS said:

Attending counselling with Nigel Clough. 

He’s still celebrating Wigan’s win last night.

3 hours ago, Rudy said:

@bolton_blondie get that push up bra and lippy on luv

Don't need a bloody pushup bra at this moment in time. 

Declan John; what on earth is he doing in the 4th Division?

16 minutes ago, bolton_blondie said:

Don't need a bloody pushup bra at this moment in time. 

13 hours ago, ianofcleveleys said:

For an hour that was as much as I've enjoyed watching us for a decade, absolutely scintillating football, made 2nd look like 22nd, playing a completely different game to them. Slickness of movement from back to front was a joy to watch, our passing was quicker and more direct, shredding them umpteen times.

Our only achilles heel there again though, still not enough goals to rest easy late on. Not exactly sitters being tossed up but some efforts that ought to have been better and a couple that were just a bit unlucky. 

2-0 never that secure a lead and, as has been said earlier, while you can't legislate for Gilks howler, they'd been allowed a sniff and a bit of momentum before that with Maddison sub. For him to be indulged we need to be at least 3 up with 20 minutes left. 2 up and half hour was high risk. 

Having watched that tonight the only thing that will stop us getting automatic promotion is us, whether it be wastefulness in front of goal, keeper howlers or over confidence with subs or selections. That starting 11, that shape, bit more ruthlessness,  that level of performance of the first 60 mins for most of all of the 90, we won't lose a game and could even win them all.

Agree with all of that, good post.  Just off top of head without looking at fixtures, the only game I can remember at home to compare in last few years was the Gillingham 4-0.  Ameobi had a stormer which helped, but so rare for us to look a division above our opponents, even in the last promotion year it rarely happened.  

I think refs/rub of the green will have a say too, simply because we dont score enough as you say, so a 1 goal/1 man swing by the ref, or a cock up like last night, or a worldy like Bradford's goal, will always have the potential to cost us 2 points.  Also yet to see how we react to going a goal down, its a different game then.

13 hours ago, Max Cherry said:

No sadly hes not. Also still seems to think he knows better than IE even after tonight.  One day penny will drop maybe when we get promoted that Darcy, Delaney, Tutte etc are not good enough to be in this team. Even Arthur and Miller don't start at the moment. (I would add Isgrove to the list as well).

 

I've never said those 3 are good enough to be in the current team.  I'd prefer Delaney on the bench as CB cover and I'd be happy with Tutte coming on for last 10 if defending a lead, but I don't have strong opinions it.  Refreshing to hear your's that Isgrove isn't good enough for this team, IE often picks him to start and I've no problem with him.  I suppose that means you think you know better than IE, even after tonight and Bradford, but I wouldn't put it like that, more that no 2 people see football the same way.

24 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Agree with all of that, good post.  Just off top of head without looking at fixtures, the only game I can remember at home to compare in last few years was the Gillingham 4-0.  Ameobi had a stormer which helped, but so rare for us to look a division above our opponents, even in the last promotion year it rarely happened.  

I think refs/rub of the green will have a say too, simply because we dont score enough as you say, so a 1 goal/1 man swing by the ref, or a cock up like last night, or a worldy like Bradford's goal, will always have the potential to cost us 2 points.  Also yet to see how we react to going a goal down, its a different game then.

This team were 2 down at Mansfield so I think they showed they are capable of responding positively.  They have been down to 10 men, incorrectly,  twice and responded ok. I dont think character is an issue. 

How they respond when we next lose is the remaining question

 

3 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Must admit I must have jinxed Gilks as I'd spent the previous five minutes saying how much more confident we looked having a keeper who was able to claim and catch virtually everything rather than punching the ball away from corners etc and leaving everyone on edge. In some ways though we might feel a degree benefit from seeing the job through at 2-1 and learning how to manage that, and I was certainly impressed with the positive attitude in response to Saturday's disappointment.

Yes in hindsight its great to have a last 15 minutes of nervy pressure to hang on, and come through it unscathed against a "top" team.  Its not been mentioned much but I thought that sliding block by Baptiste was one of the moments of the match, tremendous stuff, and that sort of desperation only happens when its a 1 goal lead.

I'd still prefer 2-0 but I'll take having a 1 goal lead in the 80th minute every game till end of season.

1 hour ago, boltondiver said:

Declan John; what on earth is he doing in the 4th Division?

I'm struggling to see him in Div 4 next season, not unlike Dapo, feels like we need to go up to get them to sign permanently, its not as if they're from around this area like for eg Williams/Lee.

6 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I'm struggling to see him in Div 4 next season, not unlike Dapo, feels like we need to go up to get them to sign permanently, its not as if they're from around this area like for eg Williams/Lee.

He’s brilliant, goes inside with intent and ideas, goes outside and whips in decent balls.

The one advantage we've got over any club interested in Lee and Dapo is, hopefully, at the start of next season they'll both be integral parts of a team that is on a massive upward curve, that plays some of the best football around, and is only one more (incredible) season away from playing in the Championship.

48 minutes ago, DazBob said:

The one advantage we've got over any club interested in Lee and Dapo is, hopefully, at the start of next season they'll both be integral parts of a team that is on a massive upward curve, that plays some of the best football around, and is only one more (incredible) season away from playing in the Championship.

And the fact Lee has signed an 18th month deal 

Thomasson looked great in the warm up 🤣🤣🤣

10 minutes ago, Ani said:

And the fact Lee has signed an 18th month deal 

Ha, oops. I meant John, obvs.

10 minutes ago, Horwich said:

Thomasson looked great in the warm up 🤣🤣🤣

Do you still think he's not good enough to play L2 football?

2 minutes ago, DazBob said:

Ha, oops. I meant John, obvs.

I know was just being a cunt. 

4 minutes ago, DazBob said:

Do you still think he's not good enough to play L2 football?

I dont think he is good enough to regularly start in a side looking for promotion.
Its also a good job or manager seems to think the same thing.