I managed to speak to both Gills strikers after the win against Cheltenham last Sunday and have posted these below. I spoke to Adebayo about McDonald and vice versa and also - politely - broached the subject of the older man's weight. There's no arguing with the fact that he looks a little on the large side compared to your average footballer, but manager Andy Hessthaler won't give a stuff if he keeps on doing what he does.
At 13st 5lbs Akinfenwa puts himself about and has achieved cult status among the fans ... and not just Gillingham fans. I watched him against Wycombe and fans of the Chairboys and the Robins fans at the weekend were all singing his praises. I think that geniune football supporters appreciate it when a player puts in a decent shift- even if he plays for the opposition.
London Akinfenwa is one of the best pound-for-pound strikers I have seen this season and McDonald is a real poacher. I wouldn't bet against the Gills bouncing back up to League One by the end of the season.
Akinfewa, 28, has scored ten goals this season so far while McDonald has weighed in with 22.
I first asked Adebayo if he was enjoying himself as much as he looked to be ...
"It's good. It's always nice when you're going for something. We had a slow start and we've picked up now so hopefully we can finish strong. I'm quietly confident because I think we've got one of the best squads if not the best in this league. The quality of the substitutes we are able to bring on keeps everyone on their toes.
I've played with some good forwards, but Cody is good off the pitch as well as on it. He's a humble lad and he's going to go somewhere. He'll keep running for you and there's no one you want more in front of goal when you need a goal.
I'm learning from him as well. He's making me move more. I like to stay central, but when he's running around, I have to run a little bit too so we're both learning from each other.
I genuinely buzz off him scoring goals because it's a team effort. I'm not a betting man and so I like to go for the ‘sure thing’ and at the moment Cody is the ‘sure thing’. If I put it into the right areas I'm quietly confident that Codes will get on to it.
There's a perception of how a footballer should be and I don't fit that mould. I've always been my size and I know that people think I shouldn't do what I do with my weight, but it's just my size. It's just me. But when I get going I can get on to the ball. I'm quick.
I think everyone's got a reason for being I this league and I guess it's faster higher up the leagues and so I guess that's why I'm here, because of my size. But I'll pit myself against the very best. Give me Sol Campbell or John Terry and they aren't going to be stronger than me it's just the other sides of the game where they might be better.
The more games I play though the stronger I get and the fitter I get. I feel strong and fit at the moment.
There's a perception of how a footballer should be that everybody has to get over. Before I broke my leg I was a quicker and more powerful runner, but as you get older you have to use your brain a little bit more. I've always been able to use my body, but as I've got older I've realised I can't do what I used to do when I was twenty-four in my Swansea days before the broken leg.
Everyone thinks a footballer should be eleven stone, but I can't do what Cody does and he can't do what I do and that's what makes for a good partnership. We work off each other's strengths and that's why we're working well together and that's what I think football's about.
It's a team game and I'm just one piece of the puzzle. I love the physical stuff. If I go down after a shoulder to shoulder challenge or I don't get hold of the ball against a defender I'm disappointed because that's my game, that's my forte. I love the battle. When a team has to screen me and put two men on me I know they're scared and that's what I like.
I'm enjoying myself at the moment ad even enjoy the running around as it's usually for a purpose and not just for the sake of it.
Co-striker McDonald, 24, said:
"It's been a brilliant season for me. I was with Norwich and the manager Paul lambert told me to go out and get some games under my belt and hopefully score some goals and thankfully I've managed to do that. Unfortunately he couldn't give me the chance after the step up in leagues for Norwich last season, but hopefully I'm going to give him a bit of a headache for next season.
The boys here have been brilliant and they've put in a lot of chances for me and Bayo to get on the end of. This team don't really know they're beaten until there are beaten and the final whistle goes.
We'll have to see what happens at the end of the season but hopefully I'll get the chance up at Norwich.
Bayo is brilliant. He'll take the time to talk to me and he's been around long enough to know what he's talking about. And he really cares and will sit me down and spend time trying help me improve. He's a decent man as well."
I've set up this blog (Monday-Friday) to give extra coverage to teams I cover for the national press. Any views and opinions are all my own. Best wishes, Jeff. Follow me on Twitter and I'll update you each time I blog. http://twitter.com/JeffTaplin P.S. During the summer break I reserve the right to ramble on about anything and everything!
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Bristol Rovers Quotes - Buzzing
Following Friday evening’s draw against ten-man Peterborough, Rovers defender James Tunnicliffe was wheeled out to face the media and said:
“I’m just trying to keep each game as it comes. Without doubt it’s been the ‘mad-est’ season of my life. I can’t really comment on what’s go on. There’s been ups and downs, but at the minute I’m fully focused and trying to keep my shirt as I know I can’t take anything for granted.
It’s a hard one to explain, but it was a funny atmosphere in the last few months at the club. I put it all down to confidence. I think the lads were all just absolutely drained of confidence. The training’s picked up and everyone has pulled together for each other and Hints (Craig Hinton) has come in and been brilliant. He’s like one of the lads as well and so it’s really good. We’re looking forward to the last few games.
Personally, I’m waking up now and buzzing to get into training. I lost that for a while. It was difficult. That’s personally, for me. I’m not saying the other lads didn’t want to come into training, but I’m absolutely buzzing now and enjoying every day in training.”
It would be strange if James was the only player who was waking up dreading going in to training though and so perhaps explains why they are in their current predicament. How many of us do a good job of work when our hearts aren’t in it?
As for the game, he revealed:
“We are absolutely gutted in there that we didn’t win, but I think that shows how far we’ve come in the last few games. It’s disappointing that they went down to ten men and we didn’t take advantage of that, but on the flip side we’ve come back from 2-1 down. It was just disappointing not to finish a couple of the chances.
They are a brilliant team and you can see why they are up there. The way they kept the ball in the first half and even when they went down to ten men they were still a threat. We had to be on our toes and so looking at it in that respect we’ve picked up a point against one of the top three sides in the division so that’s not bad at all.
I was delighted for Kus (striker and goal scorer Jo Kuffour). Like me it’s been difficult for him in the last couple of months being in and out and not plying, but he got his start tonight and he took his chance.
We’ve had a joke with him (team mate Byron Anthony who put through his own net for Posh’s second goal) ) because I think he’s scored as many own goals as he’s scored goals this year, but it’s good to have him back and at least it hasn’t cost us a result.”
Tunnicliffe was also prepared to pay credit to Peterborough’s main threats George Boyd and Craig Mackail-Smith who made his first international appearance on Sunday when he appeared as a late substitute in Scotland’s game at the Emirates against Brazil. He said:
“They’re two great players. Mackail-Smith’s a great talent and so is George Boyd. They’ve played in the Championship and they are great players and so again, credit to the lads. It is a good point, but like I said we’re disappointed not to get three.”
Mackail –Smith could have stolen all three points in the dying minutes, but dragged his shot just wide of Conrad Logan’s goal and Tunnicliffe admitted:
“It was lack of organization by ourselves there. Maybe we were pushed on a bit too much trying to get the winner and luckily for us he didn’t put it in.”
On Jeff Hughes’s equaliser he said:
“It was a good goal. Harry (Pell) has come back off loan (at Hereford) and he’s playing on the right and gives us that little added height. And Hughesy’s been very consistent all season whether he plays in the middle, on the left or full back.”
Tunnicliffe’s long throws have caused chaos among opposition defenders in recent weeks and he revealed:
“It was difficult in the first half as it was wet, but we put the towels out in the second half. I’d like us to score from one. We’re getting close, but again we’ll be working on it again this week in training because we’ve got a massive, massive three games coming up from Saturday. Hopefully one of them will go in soon.
We go into the game against Yeovil full of confidence. We’ve only lost one in four since Cams (player-boss Stuart Campbell) has taken charge. The performances have improved so we’re going into that game, a local derby, with a lot behind us.
The fans believe and so do we. There’s been such a massive change; the atmosphere, the training. We’ve been very disappointed with what’s happened earlier on in the season. There’s no quarrels about that, but the lads have pulled together and we’re going to give everything we have until the last game of the season and we’re all confident we going to do it.”
“I’m just trying to keep each game as it comes. Without doubt it’s been the ‘mad-est’ season of my life. I can’t really comment on what’s go on. There’s been ups and downs, but at the minute I’m fully focused and trying to keep my shirt as I know I can’t take anything for granted.
It’s a hard one to explain, but it was a funny atmosphere in the last few months at the club. I put it all down to confidence. I think the lads were all just absolutely drained of confidence. The training’s picked up and everyone has pulled together for each other and Hints (Craig Hinton) has come in and been brilliant. He’s like one of the lads as well and so it’s really good. We’re looking forward to the last few games.
Personally, I’m waking up now and buzzing to get into training. I lost that for a while. It was difficult. That’s personally, for me. I’m not saying the other lads didn’t want to come into training, but I’m absolutely buzzing now and enjoying every day in training.”
It would be strange if James was the only player who was waking up dreading going in to training though and so perhaps explains why they are in their current predicament. How many of us do a good job of work when our hearts aren’t in it?
As for the game, he revealed:
“We are absolutely gutted in there that we didn’t win, but I think that shows how far we’ve come in the last few games. It’s disappointing that they went down to ten men and we didn’t take advantage of that, but on the flip side we’ve come back from 2-1 down. It was just disappointing not to finish a couple of the chances.
They are a brilliant team and you can see why they are up there. The way they kept the ball in the first half and even when they went down to ten men they were still a threat. We had to be on our toes and so looking at it in that respect we’ve picked up a point against one of the top three sides in the division so that’s not bad at all.
I was delighted for Kus (striker and goal scorer Jo Kuffour). Like me it’s been difficult for him in the last couple of months being in and out and not plying, but he got his start tonight and he took his chance.
We’ve had a joke with him (team mate Byron Anthony who put through his own net for Posh’s second goal) ) because I think he’s scored as many own goals as he’s scored goals this year, but it’s good to have him back and at least it hasn’t cost us a result.”
Tunnicliffe was also prepared to pay credit to Peterborough’s main threats George Boyd and Craig Mackail-Smith who made his first international appearance on Sunday when he appeared as a late substitute in Scotland’s game at the Emirates against Brazil. He said:
“They’re two great players. Mackail-Smith’s a great talent and so is George Boyd. They’ve played in the Championship and they are great players and so again, credit to the lads. It is a good point, but like I said we’re disappointed not to get three.”
Mackail –Smith could have stolen all three points in the dying minutes, but dragged his shot just wide of Conrad Logan’s goal and Tunnicliffe admitted:
“It was lack of organization by ourselves there. Maybe we were pushed on a bit too much trying to get the winner and luckily for us he didn’t put it in.”
On Jeff Hughes’s equaliser he said:
“It was a good goal. Harry (Pell) has come back off loan (at Hereford) and he’s playing on the right and gives us that little added height. And Hughesy’s been very consistent all season whether he plays in the middle, on the left or full back.”
Tunnicliffe’s long throws have caused chaos among opposition defenders in recent weeks and he revealed:
“It was difficult in the first half as it was wet, but we put the towels out in the second half. I’d like us to score from one. We’re getting close, but again we’ll be working on it again this week in training because we’ve got a massive, massive three games coming up from Saturday. Hopefully one of them will go in soon.
We go into the game against Yeovil full of confidence. We’ve only lost one in four since Cams (player-boss Stuart Campbell) has taken charge. The performances have improved so we’re going into that game, a local derby, with a lot behind us.
The fans believe and so do we. There’s been such a massive change; the atmosphere, the training. We’ve been very disappointed with what’s happened earlier on in the season. There’s no quarrels about that, but the lads have pulled together and we’re going to give everything we have until the last game of the season and we’re all confident we going to do it.”
Monday, 28 March 2011
Cheltenham Town 1 Gillingham 2 – Too Early
My clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun
How often do we see it? Your team scores a very early goal and then eventually gets turned over in the dying stages.
This is what happened to the Robins on Sunday. To be fair to them though they didn’t sit on the lead and just try and shut Gillingham out and they could have sealed a win if Jeff Goulding’s volley hadn’t hit the post and bounced back into keeper Alan Julian’s hands.
And home keeper Scott Brown must have been as stunned as anyone after producing a string of great saves in the second half, but ultimately Gillingham showed the class they’ll need to end up in the play-off positions at the end of the season – or even snatch an automatic promotion spot.
Cheltenham reminded me of the team that opened the season. They knocked the ball about well and their movement was great.
Danny Andrew whipped in a third minute cross for skipper Steve Elliott to prod home from about four yards to open the scoring and the home side had much of the first half.
The Gills forced their way back into the game after the break though and Cody McDonald’s 86th minute leveler was definitely deserved.
The striker – on loan from Norwich – nodded the ball against the woodwork, but was first to the rebound to head home his 21st goal of the season.
The winner though was a little harsh on Cheltenham who deserved a share of the points.
Co-striker Adebayo Akinfenwa hooked the ball across the face of goal and McDonald had the easiest o headers to win the game in the 90th minute.
While Gillingham have it all to play for now, Mark Yates now has the luxury of being able to plan for next season while the players have seven games to show they are worth keeping at the club.
I suspect that most of them will be. Of the players that started yesterday, Martin Riley and Frankie Artus are looking for new contracts while top scorer Wes Young has apparently indicated he will open contract negotiations at the end of the season.
I would expect Wes to move on and who can blame him? He’s done the business this season and presumably there will be bigger clubs ready to offer him a chance. As a professional he has every right to try and better himself and will probably leave with the best wishes of the Cheltenham faithful ringing in his ears.
It’s doubtful that Cody McDonald will be replacing him next season as Paul Lambert will have taken note of his efforts during his loan spell in Kent and probably has a squad number already assigned to him.
Adebayo Akinfenwa might be up for grabs though and most managers would give their right arms for someone like him. Forget the rotund figure, this fella can play and has a great football brain.
It’s the second time I’ve seen Akinfenwa play this season and he’s given both the Wycombe and Cheltenham defenders a torrid time.
Bristol Rovers 2 Peterborough United 2 - Everyone's Happy
Both managers were upbeat after this draw, although arguably they both saw their teams drop two valuable points. However, you could understand why they preferred to remain optimistic.
Rovers worked their socks off in the first half in particular and every man-jack of them chased and harried their promotion chasing guests. Player-boss Stuart Campbell has had an incredible effect on his team and they have now lost only one game in four since he took over from Dave Penney as Rovers battle to beat the drop.
My clipping from this morning's paper
There is no disputing the fact that Campbell has galvanised this squad as manager - and whether his appointment came too late probably won't be known until the last kick of the season - but for me it was his presence as a midfielder that was really missing.
Campbell refused to get carried away with his impressive - if short-lived - managerial credentials, but did agree that an injury which had kept him out for numerous games, hadn't helped.
The Rovers players are backing Campbell to a man. Not merely in utterings to the local media, but more importantly in their attitude, and application, on the pitch.
An audacious bid from Champions-elect Brighton was made for hotshot striker Will Hoskins on the deadline day, but didn't go through.
The word from within the camp is that it was a close run thing with the board tempted by the Seagulls offer reputed to be in the region of £1 million. It's a figure not to be sniffed at by a club in Rovers' financial position, but it would have sent out all of the wrong signals at this stage of the season. I suspect all of the good work Campbell has done I a few short weeks would have been undone overnight.
There will be time at the end of the season for Hoskins to make a big money move and - given his heroics this season - few Gasheads will begrudge him the opportunity. For now though he is their talisman and their skipper.
Darren Ferguson was just as happy with the point after seeing his side reduced to ten men in first half injury time.
Defender Mark Little was harshly booked for a touchline challenge on winger Jeff Hughes just aft the board showing four extra minutes was shown, but then stupidly dumped Campbell on his backside in the last action of the half.
I suspect Campbell felt the former Wolves man's presence and was hoping for the eventual outcome!
Unfortunately Rovers came out in the second half believing they had an advantage and although they still worked hard, they weren't in the Posh players' faces in the same way they had been I the first half. Had the impressive George Boyd or one of his attacking colleagues been set off, then Rovers might have gone on to win the game easily. As it is, Peterborough's great strength this season has been the way they go forward - an incredible 88 league goals is testament to that.
Ferguson was delighted with the effort shown by his ten men and was correct in his belief that if Craig Mackail-Smith had netted his 28th goal of the season I the dying minister, the points would have been theirs.
Then again, if keeper Joe Lewis hadn't superbly blocked Jo Kuffour's late chance they might have gone home with nothing.
This was a really great game to watch and while it was hours even, Rovers played like a side that showed they really are better than their league position suggests.
Next weekend's game at Yeovil is now crucial to their hopes of survival, but on this performance I wouldn't back against them.
Friday, 25 March 2011
Cheltenham Town v Gillingham – All Over Now
On Sunday I’m off to watch Cheltenham play Gillingham in a League Two fixture.
Barring an incredible run of results it looks as though the Robins can start planning for their holidays – and Mark Yates can start planning for next season.
Cheltenham have flattered to deceive this season in my view. They have played some lovely football at times, but then have let themselves down with s few silly results which has seen them drop off the play-off pace.
Recent results have not gone for them and they have won two and lost four of their last six games.
Next season could be a big one for both Yates and the club. I would suspect that there are a few directors around the country watching Mark’s development and I certainly think he has what it takes to become a very good league manager. If he can knock Cheltenham into shape and have them challenging by Christmas this year, I suspect he’ll be picked up by a bigger club.
It would appear that Yates agrees with me and told the club’s website:
“The disappointing thing is that we have to keep putting things right and we just haven’t been consistent enough this season. On our day we can be as good as anyone, but we have to improve at everything.”
I know that fans of every club expect or want silverware, but Robins fans should be as realistic as Yates is honest in his assessment. At the midway point of last season they feared that they would be back in the Conference by the end of this season and so a mid-table finish is a step in the right direction – and they do play some good stuff.
On the first day of the campaign these two clubs produced a 1-1 draw, but Gillingham still have it all to play for and sit in the final play-off spot going into the weekend.
Andy Hessenthaler is another good young manager, but is in his second stint as manager (leaving in November 2004 after four years and returning in May last year after the Gills had been through seven other managers) and he hasn’t given up on an automatic promotion spot. He said:
"We have to keep our eye on second and third, that’s what we’ve still got to aim for. There’s 24 points still available to us and the tally needed to finish there will be lower than last season. We have a chance and while we have that we’ve got to try and finish in the top three.
I think it is, providing we’re winning our home games, which we’ve been doing. I would like a couple more wins away from home and we’ll probably need it, along with winning our four home games, to finish in the top three."
Barring an incredible run of results it looks as though the Robins can start planning for their holidays – and Mark Yates can start planning for next season.
Cheltenham have flattered to deceive this season in my view. They have played some lovely football at times, but then have let themselves down with s few silly results which has seen them drop off the play-off pace.
Recent results have not gone for them and they have won two and lost four of their last six games.
Next season could be a big one for both Yates and the club. I would suspect that there are a few directors around the country watching Mark’s development and I certainly think he has what it takes to become a very good league manager. If he can knock Cheltenham into shape and have them challenging by Christmas this year, I suspect he’ll be picked up by a bigger club.
It would appear that Yates agrees with me and told the club’s website:
“The disappointing thing is that we have to keep putting things right and we just haven’t been consistent enough this season. On our day we can be as good as anyone, but we have to improve at everything.”
I know that fans of every club expect or want silverware, but Robins fans should be as realistic as Yates is honest in his assessment. At the midway point of last season they feared that they would be back in the Conference by the end of this season and so a mid-table finish is a step in the right direction – and they do play some good stuff.
On the first day of the campaign these two clubs produced a 1-1 draw, but Gillingham still have it all to play for and sit in the final play-off spot going into the weekend.
Andy Hessenthaler is another good young manager, but is in his second stint as manager (leaving in November 2004 after four years and returning in May last year after the Gills had been through seven other managers) and he hasn’t given up on an automatic promotion spot. He said:
"We have to keep our eye on second and third, that’s what we’ve still got to aim for. There’s 24 points still available to us and the tally needed to finish there will be lower than last season. We have a chance and while we have that we’ve got to try and finish in the top three.
I think it is, providing we’re winning our home games, which we’ve been doing. I would like a couple more wins away from home and we’ll probably need it, along with winning our four home games, to finish in the top three."
Bristol Rovers v Peterborough United - Posh
Back to the Mem tonight for the clash against Peterborough.
Posh lost their last game away to local rivals MK Dons, but won their previous five and scored 19 goals in the process – so I guess Rovers keeper Conrad Logan is looking forward to this one!
But the Gas have hit a little form themselves and won two of the three games since Stuart Campbell took over as player-manager from Dave Penney.
Campbell appears to have the boys all pulling in the same direction and by turning down a loan bid from Brighton for 19 goal leading scorer Will Hoskins, they have shown that they are still ready to scrap for the right to stay in League One (I suspect that several board members valued their testicles at a little higher than £1 million because had they sold Will at this juncture there would have been a long queue of Gasheads ready to perform the operation without anesthetic and with blunt instruments).
An offer of about £1 million was reportedly on the table from the high flying Seagulls, but I suspect the Rovers directors never really considered parting company with Hoskins. Well not until the summer anyway. Without him, Rovers would already be preparing for life in the bottom division.
Rovers made one deadline day addition by signing right-winger Reggie Lambe on loan from Ipswich Town for the rest of the season. The 20-year-old Bermudan international has made six first-team appearances for the Suffolk club, starting four games in the Carling Cup with another two appearances from the bench in Championship games.
He has also scored four goals in nine appearances for Bermuda after making his international debut aged only 16.
Campbell has said: "Reggie is a right- sided midfielder who is an exciting prospect. He is very quick and I am looking forward to working with him an he goes straight into the squad for tonight's game. I am sure the supporters will be excited by his talent and give him a warm welcome."
Meanwhile Posh striker Craig Mackail-Smith., 27, has been called up by Scotland for the first time and could feature in Sunday’s game against Brazil. Mackail-Smith has scored 27 goals this season and so Rovers fans will have been hoping that the lad missed tonight’s game, but that’s not the case.
Byron Anthony could shore up Rovers central defence since the win against Oldham in mid-February and his experience could prove invaluable against free-scoring Posh.
It seems as though every preview piece I write about Rovers at the moment infers it’s a must win game, but this really is a must win game.
Posh lost their last game away to local rivals MK Dons, but won their previous five and scored 19 goals in the process – so I guess Rovers keeper Conrad Logan is looking forward to this one!
But the Gas have hit a little form themselves and won two of the three games since Stuart Campbell took over as player-manager from Dave Penney.
Campbell appears to have the boys all pulling in the same direction and by turning down a loan bid from Brighton for 19 goal leading scorer Will Hoskins, they have shown that they are still ready to scrap for the right to stay in League One (I suspect that several board members valued their testicles at a little higher than £1 million because had they sold Will at this juncture there would have been a long queue of Gasheads ready to perform the operation without anesthetic and with blunt instruments).
An offer of about £1 million was reportedly on the table from the high flying Seagulls, but I suspect the Rovers directors never really considered parting company with Hoskins. Well not until the summer anyway. Without him, Rovers would already be preparing for life in the bottom division.
Rovers made one deadline day addition by signing right-winger Reggie Lambe on loan from Ipswich Town for the rest of the season. The 20-year-old Bermudan international has made six first-team appearances for the Suffolk club, starting four games in the Carling Cup with another two appearances from the bench in Championship games.
He has also scored four goals in nine appearances for Bermuda after making his international debut aged only 16.
Campbell has said: "Reggie is a right- sided midfielder who is an exciting prospect. He is very quick and I am looking forward to working with him an he goes straight into the squad for tonight's game. I am sure the supporters will be excited by his talent and give him a warm welcome."
Meanwhile Posh striker Craig Mackail-Smith., 27, has been called up by Scotland for the first time and could feature in Sunday’s game against Brazil. Mackail-Smith has scored 27 goals this season and so Rovers fans will have been hoping that the lad missed tonight’s game, but that’s not the case.
Byron Anthony could shore up Rovers central defence since the win against Oldham in mid-February and his experience could prove invaluable against free-scoring Posh.
It seems as though every preview piece I write about Rovers at the moment infers it’s a must win game, but this really is a must win game.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Back At My Desk – Back Again
Following my ‘mid-season break’ in the USA where interest in March Madness (the college basketball play-offs) eclipsed every other sport including soccer, sorry, football, I thought I’d have a quick catch-up on the clubs I cover.
In the Championship Cardiff and Swansea are still tussling for what looks to be one automatic place with QPR continuing to set the pace at the top of the table.
Swansea’s great 3-2 win at home to Forest has certainly done them no harm and Cardiff are hanging on in there, but the play-offs are a lottery and Norwich will be determined not to drop from second spot and get sucked into the end of season scrap.
Bristol City now look safe and great credit goes to Keith Millen and his team after a terrible first half of the campaign. I’m sure that they’ll be licking their lips in anticipation of the new season starting down at Ashton Gate. If the board continue to back Keith and he can hold on to key players, they’ll be in with a shout in 2011/12.
Things are still tight at the foot of League One, but it was good to see Bristol Rovers notch up a second win in three games at Notts County who are one of the sides they will need to drag back into the mire if they are to escape relegation. Their cause will also have been boosted by the signing of loanee keeper Conrad Logan until the end of the season. The last thing the Rovers defence need is a new voice behind them and the uncertainty that that brings.
On Friday evening Rovers have a home fixture against high fliers Peterborough who still have one eye on an automatic promotion spot and have scored 86 goals already this season. No easy task for the Gas, but imagine the confidence boost if they win.
Swindon managed another draw, but wins are needed now and while I haven’t been to the County Ground for a few weeks, I suspect that nerves are becoming a little frayed. I worry for them if they suffer a heavy defeat in the coming couple of weeks. Fortunately their next game is a ‘banker’ away at, er, league leaders Brighton on Saturday! Again though, a win on the south coast and suddenly the confidence will coming flooding back.
Walsall haven’t given up hope either and put five past the monkey hangers of Hartlepool at the weekend.
In League Two Oxford still look like they could force their way into the play-offs and last season’s Blue Square Wembley win will stand them in good stead if they manage to get to this year’s final at Old Trafford. It will prove to be a nail-biting finish to the campaign for everyone at the Kassam. Their only disappointment may turn out to be the fact that they may miss out on a derby fixture against Swindon if they get promoted. I guess they'll live with that!
Wycombe have now only won one game in the last five, but have managed to cling on to the third automatic promotion spot. They now need to put together a winning run to put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack.
Cheltenham look like inconsistency has now cost them, but Mark Yates will fancy his team’s chances next term if he can hang on to key players in his squad. Wes Thomas must be on the radar of a few bigger clubs and his sale might bring in much of the revenue Yates will need to launch a promotion assault on League One. Whether he'd prefer to keep the player rather than have the cash, only he will know.
Hereford are only seven points above the relegation places, but with two games in hand you would expect Jamie Pitman’s boys to gain the wins they need to secure their pl;ace in the division. When I’ve seen them play, they haven’t looked like a side destined for life in non-league, but there will be sighs of relief all round once they have got those points in the bag. At that point, the board need to sit down with Pitman and plan properly for next season. If they don’t strengthen, I’m afraid the Bulls will be in for more of the same come 2012.
That’s enough waffle for now. I may be covering the Rovers game on Friday and have already been pencilled in for the Cheltenham game on Saturday and so expect to see my jet-lagged drivel in a newspaper near you soon.
In the Championship Cardiff and Swansea are still tussling for what looks to be one automatic place with QPR continuing to set the pace at the top of the table.
Swansea’s great 3-2 win at home to Forest has certainly done them no harm and Cardiff are hanging on in there, but the play-offs are a lottery and Norwich will be determined not to drop from second spot and get sucked into the end of season scrap.
Bristol City now look safe and great credit goes to Keith Millen and his team after a terrible first half of the campaign. I’m sure that they’ll be licking their lips in anticipation of the new season starting down at Ashton Gate. If the board continue to back Keith and he can hold on to key players, they’ll be in with a shout in 2011/12.
Things are still tight at the foot of League One, but it was good to see Bristol Rovers notch up a second win in three games at Notts County who are one of the sides they will need to drag back into the mire if they are to escape relegation. Their cause will also have been boosted by the signing of loanee keeper Conrad Logan until the end of the season. The last thing the Rovers defence need is a new voice behind them and the uncertainty that that brings.
On Friday evening Rovers have a home fixture against high fliers Peterborough who still have one eye on an automatic promotion spot and have scored 86 goals already this season. No easy task for the Gas, but imagine the confidence boost if they win.
Swindon managed another draw, but wins are needed now and while I haven’t been to the County Ground for a few weeks, I suspect that nerves are becoming a little frayed. I worry for them if they suffer a heavy defeat in the coming couple of weeks. Fortunately their next game is a ‘banker’ away at, er, league leaders Brighton on Saturday! Again though, a win on the south coast and suddenly the confidence will coming flooding back.
Walsall haven’t given up hope either and put five past the monkey hangers of Hartlepool at the weekend.
In League Two Oxford still look like they could force their way into the play-offs and last season’s Blue Square Wembley win will stand them in good stead if they manage to get to this year’s final at Old Trafford. It will prove to be a nail-biting finish to the campaign for everyone at the Kassam. Their only disappointment may turn out to be the fact that they may miss out on a derby fixture against Swindon if they get promoted. I guess they'll live with that!
Wycombe have now only won one game in the last five, but have managed to cling on to the third automatic promotion spot. They now need to put together a winning run to put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack.
Cheltenham look like inconsistency has now cost them, but Mark Yates will fancy his team’s chances next term if he can hang on to key players in his squad. Wes Thomas must be on the radar of a few bigger clubs and his sale might bring in much of the revenue Yates will need to launch a promotion assault on League One. Whether he'd prefer to keep the player rather than have the cash, only he will know.
Hereford are only seven points above the relegation places, but with two games in hand you would expect Jamie Pitman’s boys to gain the wins they need to secure their pl;ace in the division. When I’ve seen them play, they haven’t looked like a side destined for life in non-league, but there will be sighs of relief all round once they have got those points in the bag. At that point, the board need to sit down with Pitman and plan properly for next season. If they don’t strengthen, I’m afraid the Bulls will be in for more of the same come 2012.
That’s enough waffle for now. I may be covering the Rovers game on Friday and have already been pencilled in for the Cheltenham game on Saturday and so expect to see my jet-lagged drivel in a newspaper near you soon.
Monday, 14 March 2011
Away fixture - Georgia
I'm in Atlanta for the next week on business and so will be out of action for a while, but when I get the chance I'll post some rambling beer-induced thoughts. If anyone knows of a decent pub in the city where I can watch some footall, do leave a post in the comment box.
Best wishes, Jeff
Best wishes, Jeff
Bristol Rovers 0 Huddersfield Town 1 - Spirit
Lee Clark hailed the spirit of the Rovers players and fans after the game and said that if they continued to show that sort of spirit, they'd be okay. I'm afraid I'm not so sure.
I think that Rovers (as a club - and especially the board) may have left it too late to stumble on the right formula.
There is no doubt that Stuart Campbell is the right man for the job. The players were all up for it and Danny Coles left no-one in any doubt after the game that Campbell had the full backing of the lads:
"He's not just respected in the dressing room, he's respected throughout the game," the central defender said.
You could also see Campbell's passion on the touch line after he had subbed himself. Several decisions went against Rovers as they pressed and pressed for a goal and I thought the usually measure player-manager was going to self-combust with frustration.
Tunnicliffe in particular was unlucky to see a long throw, that squirmed through the keeper's hands and into the net, chalked off for a push. Well there was a push, but it appeared to be a Town player doing the pushing.
The replacement referee was endearing himself to the home support even less than the rotund guy replaced - "he went off with indigestion" was the great line uttered by a local reporter after the game.
It's still not all over for Rovers, despite my negativity. Swindon don't seem to be able to buy a win and look doomed and there are about seven sides all with a chance of going down.
Rovers need to drag some of the closer to the mire and see whose nerves are strongest. If they can maintain the attitude they showed on Saturday, who knows? Lee Clark might well be right and I'd love to be wrong.
I think that Rovers (as a club - and especially the board) may have left it too late to stumble on the right formula.
There is no doubt that Stuart Campbell is the right man for the job. The players were all up for it and Danny Coles left no-one in any doubt after the game that Campbell had the full backing of the lads:
"He's not just respected in the dressing room, he's respected throughout the game," the central defender said.
My clipping from this morning's paper
You could also see Campbell's passion on the touch line after he had subbed himself. Several decisions went against Rovers as they pressed and pressed for a goal and I thought the usually measure player-manager was going to self-combust with frustration.
Tunnicliffe in particular was unlucky to see a long throw, that squirmed through the keeper's hands and into the net, chalked off for a push. Well there was a push, but it appeared to be a Town player doing the pushing.
The replacement referee was endearing himself to the home support even less than the rotund guy replaced - "he went off with indigestion" was the great line uttered by a local reporter after the game.
It's still not all over for Rovers, despite my negativity. Swindon don't seem to be able to buy a win and look doomed and there are about seven sides all with a chance of going down.
Rovers need to drag some of the closer to the mire and see whose nerves are strongest. If they can maintain the attitude they showed on Saturday, who knows? Lee Clark might well be right and I'd love to be wrong.
Friday, 11 March 2011
Bristol Rovers v Huddersfield Town - The Resurrection Men
It’s another trip to the Memorial Ground for me tomorrow and – despite feeling Rovers were all but relegated after watching a wretched performance recently at home to Colchester – I wonder whether we’re about to see one of those Roy of the Rovers type revivals?
Stuart Campbell has been handed the Player-Manager reigns to try and steer his adopted club to safety against mounting odds and I’ll keep everything crossed for him as he is a good honest pro and deserves more than the poisoned chalice some people might think he’s been handed.
Midfielder Campbell has been missed on the pitch this year due to injury. There’s no doubt in my mind that his leadership qualities as skipper have been missed as well. I wonder whether he’ll captain the team tomorrow as well? Maybe the board have got him down to cut up the half time oranges too?
Whatever the role thrown at him though, Campbell is no shirker and the Gasheads will know he’ll bust a gut to keep them up.
But he needs their full backing as well and said:
“Huddersfield are one of the best teams in our league, especially going forward, and it's going to be a very tough game, but the lads will be up for it and hopefully the fans will be too. I'd like them to come out in their numbers because we need as many of them in the stadium as possible. We need them 100 per cent behind us.
I've been at the club so long now, but it was one of my proudest moments when the chairman asked me to take over. I was a bit worried and wary about how the players were going to respond, but as soon as they got on the bus for Tranmere I could tell they were right behind me.
They played with a smile on their faces and you could tell they were enjoying their football again, and that's all I wanted. We enjoyed the trip back on Tuesday, but now we have to focus on what is a massive game for us tomorrow."
Fellow midfielder Chris Lines could be the key tomorrow if Campbell gives him the room to play and he has told the media:
“We will all back Stuart 100% in the job he has and, on a personal note, I was very happy to get the winner at Tranmere for him.
I think he’s a top man and will do a top job over the rest of the season. The difference in people’s attitudes and moods has been noticeable over only a couple of days.
It didn’t quite work under the previous manager, but with Danny (Coles) and Byron (Anthony) there as well, it just felt so much better as a unit. That hasn't been the case in the past few months when we have been playing so poorly, but Tuesday was totally different.
We are buzzing for every game again now and have to do the same against Huddersfield as we did on Tuesday. We will be underdogs against one of the best three sides in the league, but we can go into it with confidence.”
And Lines is right to mark Rovers down as the underdogs in this fixture. Lee Clark is proving to be one of the top young managers in the country and you can see shades of his former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan in the way he has his side playing.
In the last seven games the Terriers have only won two, but they have drawn the rest. Clark is a realist and has said:
“We are not really playing as well as I would like us to at the moment, there have been flashes of what I want to see, but it is all about picking up the points over the last 11 games. We will be staying down south after the Bristol game and we have the facilities available to us down there to ensure we have the best preparation to take on Brentford on Tuesday."
This is a massive game for both sides. Huddersfield could force their way into the automatic promotion places with a win. Three points and a second win in a row for Rovers won’t see them move out of the bottom four, but it would do wonders for the confidence of players and fans alike and scare the living daylights out of the other clubs in and around the relegation zone.
Stuart Campbell has been handed the Player-Manager reigns to try and steer his adopted club to safety against mounting odds and I’ll keep everything crossed for him as he is a good honest pro and deserves more than the poisoned chalice some people might think he’s been handed.
Midfielder Campbell has been missed on the pitch this year due to injury. There’s no doubt in my mind that his leadership qualities as skipper have been missed as well. I wonder whether he’ll captain the team tomorrow as well? Maybe the board have got him down to cut up the half time oranges too?
Whatever the role thrown at him though, Campbell is no shirker and the Gasheads will know he’ll bust a gut to keep them up.
But he needs their full backing as well and said:
“Huddersfield are one of the best teams in our league, especially going forward, and it's going to be a very tough game, but the lads will be up for it and hopefully the fans will be too. I'd like them to come out in their numbers because we need as many of them in the stadium as possible. We need them 100 per cent behind us.
I've been at the club so long now, but it was one of my proudest moments when the chairman asked me to take over. I was a bit worried and wary about how the players were going to respond, but as soon as they got on the bus for Tranmere I could tell they were right behind me.
They played with a smile on their faces and you could tell they were enjoying their football again, and that's all I wanted. We enjoyed the trip back on Tuesday, but now we have to focus on what is a massive game for us tomorrow."
Fellow midfielder Chris Lines could be the key tomorrow if Campbell gives him the room to play and he has told the media:
“We will all back Stuart 100% in the job he has and, on a personal note, I was very happy to get the winner at Tranmere for him.
I think he’s a top man and will do a top job over the rest of the season. The difference in people’s attitudes and moods has been noticeable over only a couple of days.
It didn’t quite work under the previous manager, but with Danny (Coles) and Byron (Anthony) there as well, it just felt so much better as a unit. That hasn't been the case in the past few months when we have been playing so poorly, but Tuesday was totally different.
We are buzzing for every game again now and have to do the same against Huddersfield as we did on Tuesday. We will be underdogs against one of the best three sides in the league, but we can go into it with confidence.”
And Lines is right to mark Rovers down as the underdogs in this fixture. Lee Clark is proving to be one of the top young managers in the country and you can see shades of his former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan in the way he has his side playing.
In the last seven games the Terriers have only won two, but they have drawn the rest. Clark is a realist and has said:
“We are not really playing as well as I would like us to at the moment, there have been flashes of what I want to see, but it is all about picking up the points over the last 11 games. We will be staying down south after the Bristol game and we have the facilities available to us down there to ensure we have the best preparation to take on Brentford on Tuesday."
This is a massive game for both sides. Huddersfield could force their way into the automatic promotion places with a win. Three points and a second win in a row for Rovers won’t see them move out of the bottom four, but it would do wonders for the confidence of players and fans alike and scare the living daylights out of the other clubs in and around the relegation zone.
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Do Referees Get Too Much Grief? - Men in Black
I didn’t get to see Arsenal take on Barcelona on Tuesday night because I was at Ashton Gate for the night’s really big game. On the way home though I listened to Arsne Wenger complaining about the officiating and I thought that the Gunners must have been robbed ... until I saw the recording of the game and heard the facts.
Arsenal didn’t have a shot on target all night. Barca dominated the game and every fan I have spoken to (including Gooners) has told me how good the Spanish outfit were. So why doesn’t Wenger look closer to home for answers?
Too often these days managers blame officials for the shortcomings of their own teams. I could understand them lashing out if they felt referees were cheating, but is this ever the case?
Do they make bad decisions? Yes.
Do they make mistakes? Of course they do, but then, don’t we all? Including football managers and players?
It would certainly help if referees came out and explained some of their decisions afterwards or just held their hands up and said: “I got that one wrong.” No reasonable person expects perfection.
On Tuesday night Pompey boss Steve Cotterill was left fuming after a decision went against his side. Afterwards he uttered the well worn cliché: “Some go for you and some don’t.” And he’s right. As fans we all know that over the course of a season, the good and bad calls tend to even themselves out.
Maybe managers and players should be banned from speaking about officials and the decisions they make for 24 hours, but then of course they would have to defend their own team selection, tactics, etc.
Another thing they should consider is the increasing levels of ‘gamesmanship’ they have brought to the table over the years.
Is a player feigning injury or trying to get an opposition player booked?
Has he been fouled or did he dive to win a penalty?
Did he hear the whistle for offside or was he just having a shot to waste time – Mr. van Persie?
It’s all subjective stuff and the man in the middle has the final decision to make. Maybe if some players and managers were a little more honest themselves in the way the game was played, it would make the lives of the officials easier.
A couple of years ago the FA adopted rugby’s lead in moving the free-kick back 10 yards if anyone quibbled. What happened to that experiment?
As a kid I played rugby and you learned pretty quickly not to back-chat officials. If you did - and you were moved back 10 yards - your team mates certainly let you know about it.
Another thing you learned when playing rugby was that you always called the referee “Sir”. He might have been a total incompetent or a prat, but you still called him “Sir” and the captain was the only person allowed to talk to him about decisions. The whole set-up bred a sort of on-field mutual respect.
In football, you don’t need to be a lip reader to work out what some players are saying to referees. Sadly, neither do the kids who watch the players and then try to emulate their ‘heroes’. And so there is no respect given from either quarter.
Of course lashing out at match officials is also a very convenient way of deflecting the blame or merely the attention away from the fact that your side didn’t manage a shot on target while the opposition had nineteen as they battered you 3-1 ... and even scored your goal.
Arsenal didn’t have a shot on target all night. Barca dominated the game and every fan I have spoken to (including Gooners) has told me how good the Spanish outfit were. So why doesn’t Wenger look closer to home for answers?
Too often these days managers blame officials for the shortcomings of their own teams. I could understand them lashing out if they felt referees were cheating, but is this ever the case?
Do they make bad decisions? Yes.
Do they make mistakes? Of course they do, but then, don’t we all? Including football managers and players?
It would certainly help if referees came out and explained some of their decisions afterwards or just held their hands up and said: “I got that one wrong.” No reasonable person expects perfection.
On Tuesday night Pompey boss Steve Cotterill was left fuming after a decision went against his side. Afterwards he uttered the well worn cliché: “Some go for you and some don’t.” And he’s right. As fans we all know that over the course of a season, the good and bad calls tend to even themselves out.
Maybe managers and players should be banned from speaking about officials and the decisions they make for 24 hours, but then of course they would have to defend their own team selection, tactics, etc.
Another thing they should consider is the increasing levels of ‘gamesmanship’ they have brought to the table over the years.
Is a player feigning injury or trying to get an opposition player booked?
Has he been fouled or did he dive to win a penalty?
Did he hear the whistle for offside or was he just having a shot to waste time – Mr. van Persie?
It’s all subjective stuff and the man in the middle has the final decision to make. Maybe if some players and managers were a little more honest themselves in the way the game was played, it would make the lives of the officials easier.
A couple of years ago the FA adopted rugby’s lead in moving the free-kick back 10 yards if anyone quibbled. What happened to that experiment?
As a kid I played rugby and you learned pretty quickly not to back-chat officials. If you did - and you were moved back 10 yards - your team mates certainly let you know about it.
Another thing you learned when playing rugby was that you always called the referee “Sir”. He might have been a total incompetent or a prat, but you still called him “Sir” and the captain was the only person allowed to talk to him about decisions. The whole set-up bred a sort of on-field mutual respect.
In football, you don’t need to be a lip reader to work out what some players are saying to referees. Sadly, neither do the kids who watch the players and then try to emulate their ‘heroes’. And so there is no respect given from either quarter.
Of course lashing out at match officials is also a very convenient way of deflecting the blame or merely the attention away from the fact that your side didn’t manage a shot on target while the opposition had nineteen as they battered you 3-1 ... and even scored your goal.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Bristol City 2 Portsmouth 1 - Run on
City brought Pompey’s six game unbeaten streak to a halt and in the process extended their own run ‘on’ to four games.
I had a quiet chat with Keith Millen after the game and he is now looking up the table for the first time this season rather than sweating on how many teams are chasing City. I think it’s fair to say that this was the game that effectively sealed Championship survival.
Earlier in the season I found myself in the uncomfortable situation of having to ask Keith how he was coping with the pressure as City lurched from one poor result to another. At that point in the season, Millen and City were at a crossroads. He had been with the club in a coaching capacity for some time and seen managers come and go after similar spells. So how was he coping?
Keith is one of the game’s good guys and politely handled questions even though you knew that he’d rather be anywhere else.
“I’m a fighter,” he told me. “I believe we can get ourselves out of this situation.”
In the car park I had a chat with one of the players who told me that Keith had their full support and they really believed that they’d be able to turn things around.
To both Keith’s credit and that of the players, they have.
Millen still wants to reach the fifty or fifty-two point safety mark as soon as possible, but realistically it’s now all about finishing the season on a high and putting themselves in the right frame of mind as they start to prepare for next season.
Of course diehard Robins will tell you that they are still in with a shout of a play-off place and it is certainly a possibility, but how many felt that they would be struggling to stay up during those dark early season days?
Now they have a team that is full of self-belief and players who look like they could beat anyone – they’re also playing some nice stuff.
The return of striker Nicky Maynard from long term injury has also given them another dimension, but it would be unfair on the rest of the lads to point to his return as reason for their change in fortunes as they have all been contributing and have been doing so for some time.
Millen heaped praise on his team after the game and said:
"I'm so proud of my players. Some of them have gone through the pain barrier and done everything and more than I asked of them to beat a very good Portsmouth side. They are full of players with Premier League experience, were full of confidence after a great six-match winning run and showed that in the way they played.
We've had to hang on in there, scrap and fight for every ball and defend for our lives, but the lads have shown incredible fighting spirit and an amazing will to win and I'm really pleased with them. This was a big, big test for the lads and they've come through it with flying colours."
Pompey boss Steve Cotterill shrugged off the defeat and said:
“If we were to losing to anyone, City would be one of those sides. Keith Millen is an honest and hard working guy and has done a great job here. There won’t be many teams who come here and football them like we did. We were better – but just didn’t stick the ball in the back of the net.
We were fitter and stronger, we passed the ball better. ‘The only thing we fell down on was they scored two and we’ve scored one. That’s the only thing we fell down on. All the other aspects of football I thought we were superb, absolutely superb.
My clipping from this morning’s copy of The Sun
I had a quiet chat with Keith Millen after the game and he is now looking up the table for the first time this season rather than sweating on how many teams are chasing City. I think it’s fair to say that this was the game that effectively sealed Championship survival.
Earlier in the season I found myself in the uncomfortable situation of having to ask Keith how he was coping with the pressure as City lurched from one poor result to another. At that point in the season, Millen and City were at a crossroads. He had been with the club in a coaching capacity for some time and seen managers come and go after similar spells. So how was he coping?
Keith is one of the game’s good guys and politely handled questions even though you knew that he’d rather be anywhere else.
“I’m a fighter,” he told me. “I believe we can get ourselves out of this situation.”
In the car park I had a chat with one of the players who told me that Keith had their full support and they really believed that they’d be able to turn things around.
To both Keith’s credit and that of the players, they have.
Millen still wants to reach the fifty or fifty-two point safety mark as soon as possible, but realistically it’s now all about finishing the season on a high and putting themselves in the right frame of mind as they start to prepare for next season.
Of course diehard Robins will tell you that they are still in with a shout of a play-off place and it is certainly a possibility, but how many felt that they would be struggling to stay up during those dark early season days?
Now they have a team that is full of self-belief and players who look like they could beat anyone – they’re also playing some nice stuff.
The return of striker Nicky Maynard from long term injury has also given them another dimension, but it would be unfair on the rest of the lads to point to his return as reason for their change in fortunes as they have all been contributing and have been doing so for some time.
Millen heaped praise on his team after the game and said:
"I'm so proud of my players. Some of them have gone through the pain barrier and done everything and more than I asked of them to beat a very good Portsmouth side. They are full of players with Premier League experience, were full of confidence after a great six-match winning run and showed that in the way they played.
We've had to hang on in there, scrap and fight for every ball and defend for our lives, but the lads have shown incredible fighting spirit and an amazing will to win and I'm really pleased with them. This was a big, big test for the lads and they've come through it with flying colours."
Pompey boss Steve Cotterill shrugged off the defeat and said:
“If we were to losing to anyone, City would be one of those sides. Keith Millen is an honest and hard working guy and has done a great job here. There won’t be many teams who come here and football them like we did. We were better – but just didn’t stick the ball in the back of the net.
We were fitter and stronger, we passed the ball better. ‘The only thing we fell down on was they scored two and we’ve scored one. That’s the only thing we fell down on. All the other aspects of football I thought we were superb, absolutely superb.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Bristol City v Pompey – Clean Sheets
I’m down for this evening’s mid-table thriller between the Robins and ever-improving Portsmouth.
Steve Cotterill’s side are unbeaten in seven and have won the last six games. They sit eleventh in the table at the moment on fifty points, six points and four places above City.
Pompey's run has seen them equal the club record of consecutie clean sheets and so another tonight will see them set new standards and Cotterill said:
"We love it people are talking about clean sheets. We want people to carry on talking about it. It means we are doing well. It’s nice to be talking about that.’
It’s not a do-or-die game but you have to be careful sometimes not to build a game up into something it’s not. It would be nice to keep the run going and nice to get some more points on the board but it will be no more than that. If we were to win, we get another three points as opposed to breaking records."
Dave Nugent seems to have re-found the form in front of goal that had him knocking on the England team door several years ago and has scored ten times this season while co-strikers Liam Lawrence and Dave Kitson have weighed in with seven each. But other players are chipping in with goals of their own and so the home side should be on their guard.
Of course the other thing to consider is that they are not out of the play-off running either – certainly not on current form.
It’s good to see the Pompey fans finally have something to smile about. Following their FA Cup win back in 2008, they have suffered relegation from the top flight, gone into administration, run up debts of £135 million and have chopped and changed owners and directors more than most of us change our underwear.
City have even more to do if they are to make the play-offs, but who knows? Now that they have Nicky Maynard back, they have someone who they know they can count on to score goals, but have they left it too late? Probably.
The Robins's problems all stem from Steve Coppell's shock resignation at te end of last season and it will be interesting to see how Keith Millen copes with a summer of transfer activity behind him. I suspect he'll do quite well and - having steadied the ship - deserves a chance to launch a proper attack on the Prem.
But, if reports of interest from Merseyside in Maynard are to be believed, Millen might struggle to hold on to his striker. He said:
"There is always speculation and you cannot do anything about that, but I'm surprised to have to answer so many questions about this at this stage of the season. It does not worry me, because I know there is nothing in it. In fact, I see it as a compliment. I want people to be talking about my players, because that means they are doing something right.
We have not heard anything from Everton, Liverpool or any other club and, as far as I'm concerned, this is just newspaper talk. Sometimes agents put things out there and sometimes it's just gossip. He scored 21 goals last year and no-one came knocking on our door. I'm hoping it will be the same this summer, because we certainly don't want to lose him."
And looking ahead to the clash tonight, he said:
"Portsmouth are on a fantastic run and they will be full of confidence. I'm sure, given the position they are in, they will feel they have nothing to lose and will go for the win. I expect them to be attack-minded, not like some of the sides that have come to Ashton Gate this season and put 10 men behind the ball. Pompey have some very talented individuals playing within a solid framework and it will be to our advantage if they come and have a go at us."
I get the feeling that the fans at Ashton Gate are ready to give Millen the time to get things right and a glance across the City at the farce taking place at the Memorial Ground, shows that things can really get worse.
Rovers chief Dave Penney was sacked yesterday after only fifty odd days in charge and the board have now appointed skipper Stuart Campbell.
You have to ask what the Gas directors are up to. They sacked Paul Trollope without having anyone lined up to replace him. Asked Darren Patterson to take over for a few games before appointing Penney and now they've paniced already with only tweleve games to go.
Campbell will have the dressing room with him, but it remains to be see whether he is given the time Millen has been given to steer them to safety. I hope so as he is one of the games good guys, but the board's track record suggests otherwise.
Steve Cotterill’s side are unbeaten in seven and have won the last six games. They sit eleventh in the table at the moment on fifty points, six points and four places above City.
Pompey's run has seen them equal the club record of consecutie clean sheets and so another tonight will see them set new standards and Cotterill said:
"We love it people are talking about clean sheets. We want people to carry on talking about it. It means we are doing well. It’s nice to be talking about that.’
It’s not a do-or-die game but you have to be careful sometimes not to build a game up into something it’s not. It would be nice to keep the run going and nice to get some more points on the board but it will be no more than that. If we were to win, we get another three points as opposed to breaking records."
Dave Nugent seems to have re-found the form in front of goal that had him knocking on the England team door several years ago and has scored ten times this season while co-strikers Liam Lawrence and Dave Kitson have weighed in with seven each. But other players are chipping in with goals of their own and so the home side should be on their guard.
Of course the other thing to consider is that they are not out of the play-off running either – certainly not on current form.
It’s good to see the Pompey fans finally have something to smile about. Following their FA Cup win back in 2008, they have suffered relegation from the top flight, gone into administration, run up debts of £135 million and have chopped and changed owners and directors more than most of us change our underwear.
City have even more to do if they are to make the play-offs, but who knows? Now that they have Nicky Maynard back, they have someone who they know they can count on to score goals, but have they left it too late? Probably.
The Robins's problems all stem from Steve Coppell's shock resignation at te end of last season and it will be interesting to see how Keith Millen copes with a summer of transfer activity behind him. I suspect he'll do quite well and - having steadied the ship - deserves a chance to launch a proper attack on the Prem.
But, if reports of interest from Merseyside in Maynard are to be believed, Millen might struggle to hold on to his striker. He said:
"There is always speculation and you cannot do anything about that, but I'm surprised to have to answer so many questions about this at this stage of the season. It does not worry me, because I know there is nothing in it. In fact, I see it as a compliment. I want people to be talking about my players, because that means they are doing something right.
We have not heard anything from Everton, Liverpool or any other club and, as far as I'm concerned, this is just newspaper talk. Sometimes agents put things out there and sometimes it's just gossip. He scored 21 goals last year and no-one came knocking on our door. I'm hoping it will be the same this summer, because we certainly don't want to lose him."
And looking ahead to the clash tonight, he said:
"Portsmouth are on a fantastic run and they will be full of confidence. I'm sure, given the position they are in, they will feel they have nothing to lose and will go for the win. I expect them to be attack-minded, not like some of the sides that have come to Ashton Gate this season and put 10 men behind the ball. Pompey have some very talented individuals playing within a solid framework and it will be to our advantage if they come and have a go at us."
I get the feeling that the fans at Ashton Gate are ready to give Millen the time to get things right and a glance across the City at the farce taking place at the Memorial Ground, shows that things can really get worse.
Rovers chief Dave Penney was sacked yesterday after only fifty odd days in charge and the board have now appointed skipper Stuart Campbell.
You have to ask what the Gas directors are up to. They sacked Paul Trollope without having anyone lined up to replace him. Asked Darren Patterson to take over for a few games before appointing Penney and now they've paniced already with only tweleve games to go.
Campbell will have the dressing room with him, but it remains to be see whether he is given the time Millen has been given to steer them to safety. I hope so as he is one of the games good guys, but the board's track record suggests otherwise.
Monday, 7 March 2011
Cardiff City 0 Ipswich Town 2 - Old Friends
A great result for Paul Jewell against old pal and Bluebirds boss Dave Jones.
Cardiff looked by far the better team, but despite having proven goal scorers in Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd and Craig Bellamy attacking the Tractor Boys' goal, they just couldn't find a way past in form keeper Marton Fulop.
Once the threat had been soaked up, Jimmy Bullard did what he does best and fired two screamers past his old pal, debutant keeper Stephen Bywater.
Bywater was drafted in on loan from Derby until the end of the season following injuries to three of Cardiff's stoppers, but it would be harsh to lay any blame at his door.
Bullard's first was an angled drive from thirty yards that by his own admission afterwards "just bobbled up nicely to be hit". The second was a free kick hit from the same distance, but in a more central position, that took a wicked deflected of midfielder Stephen McPhail as the defensive wall broke to close down.
Assistant boss Terry Burton was sent in to the press room to face the media and when he was asked where Jones was, he looked somber.
"I'm not sure whether I should be telling you this," he said straight faced. "But Dave's family has been abducted by aliens and so he has had to go and sort things out."
As it turned out, Jones had a function to attend with Chopra and so had merely asked Burton to cover for him.
Jewell jumped to the defence of his pal after Cardiff left the field to jeers from some home fans. He said:
"Dave Jones and his team are 3rd in the Championship and if he doesn`t know what he`s doing, then we might as well all go home. Some fans had a go and it`s madness. City will go up, I am convinced of that."
And Cardiff skipper Bellamy said: “If we had come out and been hesitant the crowd might have had the right to boo us, but that is the way football is if you don’t get the result we each want.
That’s not a problem though because if you pay your money you are entitled to say what you want. I did sense as players that we did not deserve that to be honest, but in this game you don’t always get what you deserve.
We moved the ball well, we were quick and we closed down well, but in football, not just in our league, you do need that first goal and I think if we had got that we would have gone on to win comfortably."
And they might have had that first goal if defender Dekel Keinan's first half header hadn't been ruled offside. Burton said:
"“Sometimes you have to wonder if there is some sort of conspiracy going on. We do not seem to get many decisions. We have had a legitimate goal disallowed for offside when most other sides will get it because there was only a pair of shorts between the players.”
But Burton said:
"We are gutted. We don’t like to lose any game but when you look at the performance it did not warrant a 2-0 defeat.
I don’t think anyone will say we deserved to lose that 2-0. They got their goal and it gave them something to hold on to, we had to try and break them down then. We would have liked to kick on with more chances after they scored, but we had enough in the first half and we should have put one of them away.”
On the way home I bumped into the Plymouth lads who were lining up for a KFC with me on the services on the M5 and were in buoyant mood after their win at Sheffield Wednesday. We had a chat about the sides they were doing battle with at the foot of League One and they are certainly up for the fight despite their off-field problems. Swindon should take note before Tuesday's game!
Cardiff looked by far the better team, but despite having proven goal scorers in Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd and Craig Bellamy attacking the Tractor Boys' goal, they just couldn't find a way past in form keeper Marton Fulop.
Once the threat had been soaked up, Jimmy Bullard did what he does best and fired two screamers past his old pal, debutant keeper Stephen Bywater.
Bywater was drafted in on loan from Derby until the end of the season following injuries to three of Cardiff's stoppers, but it would be harsh to lay any blame at his door.
Bullard's first was an angled drive from thirty yards that by his own admission afterwards "just bobbled up nicely to be hit". The second was a free kick hit from the same distance, but in a more central position, that took a wicked deflected of midfielder Stephen McPhail as the defensive wall broke to close down.
Assistant boss Terry Burton was sent in to the press room to face the media and when he was asked where Jones was, he looked somber.
"I'm not sure whether I should be telling you this," he said straight faced. "But Dave's family has been abducted by aliens and so he has had to go and sort things out."
As it turned out, Jones had a function to attend with Chopra and so had merely asked Burton to cover for him.
Jewell jumped to the defence of his pal after Cardiff left the field to jeers from some home fans. He said:
"Dave Jones and his team are 3rd in the Championship and if he doesn`t know what he`s doing, then we might as well all go home. Some fans had a go and it`s madness. City will go up, I am convinced of that."
And Cardiff skipper Bellamy said: “If we had come out and been hesitant the crowd might have had the right to boo us, but that is the way football is if you don’t get the result we each want.
That’s not a problem though because if you pay your money you are entitled to say what you want. I did sense as players that we did not deserve that to be honest, but in this game you don’t always get what you deserve.
We moved the ball well, we were quick and we closed down well, but in football, not just in our league, you do need that first goal and I think if we had got that we would have gone on to win comfortably."
And they might have had that first goal if defender Dekel Keinan's first half header hadn't been ruled offside. Burton said:
"“Sometimes you have to wonder if there is some sort of conspiracy going on. We do not seem to get many decisions. We have had a legitimate goal disallowed for offside when most other sides will get it because there was only a pair of shorts between the players.”
But Burton said:
"We are gutted. We don’t like to lose any game but when you look at the performance it did not warrant a 2-0 defeat.
I don’t think anyone will say we deserved to lose that 2-0. They got their goal and it gave them something to hold on to, we had to try and break them down then. We would have liked to kick on with more chances after they scored, but we had enough in the first half and we should have put one of them away.”
My clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun
********
On the way home I bumped into the Plymouth lads who were lining up for a KFC with me on the services on the M5 and were in buoyant mood after their win at Sheffield Wednesday. We had a chat about the sides they were doing battle with at the foot of League One and they are certainly up for the fight despite their off-field problems. Swindon should take note before Tuesday's game!
Friday, 4 March 2011
Cardiff v Ipswich - Road Trip
I’m on the road today and so ill keep this sort. However, I will attempt to update it this evening (UK time).
I’m back down to South Wales tomorrow evening to watch the televised clash between Cardiff and Ipswich.
Cardiff could leap frog Swansea into the second automatic promotion spot if they win. In fact even if they draw and their neighbours lose by two goals away at strugglers Scunthorpe, they still might end the day with the bragging rights.
But Dave Jones’s boys need to concentrate on whoever they face on the day and not worry about any other team. And on the day tomorrow, the Tractor Boys are in town.
Ipswich under Roy Keane had a horrendous start to the season, but new boss Paul Jewell has seen them win five and draw two of the eleven games since he took over. These wins include a six goal trashing of Doncaster, but they have only managed one point in the three games since then.
This fixture isn’t a formality for Cardiff by any means though. Ipswich certainly still need some more points to ensure Championship safety and the players will all be playing for their futures knowing that Jewell will be shaping a new squad in the summer.
Jewell has confirmed that midfielder Colin Healy is set to miss the game, but said:
“Colin is our only injury. He will not be able to play at Cardiff due to a slight tear in his stomach.”
Blackburn keeper Jason Brown, 28, has joined Cardiff on a one-month deal and may well figure tomorrow given that Tom Heaton, David Marshall and Jordan Santiago are all carrying injuries.
Brown joined Rovers in 2006 following a five-year spell with Gillingham but has made less than 20 appearances for the Barclays Premier League outfit.
Stephen Bywater, 29, has also joined te Bluebirds from Derby County as cover for their goalkeeping crisis, but could be recalled to Pride Park on 24 hour notice should anything happen to first choice Frank Fielding.
I’ve only seen Cardiff play twice this season, but on both occasions they won (against Swansea and Scunny) with late goals. They look as if they really want this promotion and I think that if any manager in the Championship deserves success, it’s Dave Jones.
Jones was runner up to Swansea chief Brendan Rodgers for the Manager of the Month award announced today, but will still be hoping for the last laugh come the end of the season.
******
I’m back down to South Wales tomorrow evening to watch the televised clash between Cardiff and Ipswich.
Cardiff could leap frog Swansea into the second automatic promotion spot if they win. In fact even if they draw and their neighbours lose by two goals away at strugglers Scunthorpe, they still might end the day with the bragging rights.
But Dave Jones’s boys need to concentrate on whoever they face on the day and not worry about any other team. And on the day tomorrow, the Tractor Boys are in town.
Ipswich under Roy Keane had a horrendous start to the season, but new boss Paul Jewell has seen them win five and draw two of the eleven games since he took over. These wins include a six goal trashing of Doncaster, but they have only managed one point in the three games since then.
This fixture isn’t a formality for Cardiff by any means though. Ipswich certainly still need some more points to ensure Championship safety and the players will all be playing for their futures knowing that Jewell will be shaping a new squad in the summer.
Jewell has confirmed that midfielder Colin Healy is set to miss the game, but said:
“Colin is our only injury. He will not be able to play at Cardiff due to a slight tear in his stomach.”
Blackburn keeper Jason Brown, 28, has joined Cardiff on a one-month deal and may well figure tomorrow given that Tom Heaton, David Marshall and Jordan Santiago are all carrying injuries.
Brown joined Rovers in 2006 following a five-year spell with Gillingham but has made less than 20 appearances for the Barclays Premier League outfit.
Stephen Bywater, 29, has also joined te Bluebirds from Derby County as cover for their goalkeeping crisis, but could be recalled to Pride Park on 24 hour notice should anything happen to first choice Frank Fielding.
I’ve only seen Cardiff play twice this season, but on both occasions they won (against Swansea and Scunny) with late goals. They look as if they really want this promotion and I think that if any manager in the Championship deserves success, it’s Dave Jones.
Jones was runner up to Swansea chief Brendan Rodgers for the Manager of the Month award announced today, but will still be hoping for the last laugh come the end of the season.
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Danny Wilson out Paul Hart In –Robin’s Choice
I’m afraid I’m not one of those people who see Danny Wilson’s resignation as a cause for celebration for Swindon.
No wins in two months and so the writing was on the wall for Wilson though and he has said:
“I am bitterly disappointed to be leaving, but I know football is a results driven game, and unfortunately in the past two months the results have just not been good enough.”
But, for me, the problems at the County Ground lie higher up the food chain and possibly with the club’s finances - or lack of them.
As far as I am aware, Wilson didn’t negotiate contracts and so when Billy Paynter’s contract was allowed to run down and their leading marksman walked out of the door as a free agent at the end of last season.
When Charlie Austin and Sean Morrison – two of the brightest young prospects the club has had for many a year – were sold for what I consider to be peanuts in January, who allowed them to go? Wilson or the board?
And the money he was given to replace all three players. How much was forthcoming?
Wilson got lucky when Simon Cox was sold to West Brom two summers ago because hard working Paynter stepped up to the plate and started banging them in. He also proved he had a good eye for a player by playing up the prolific Austin from the Wessex League.
Apparently Charlie was spotted by one of the directors (according to one of the directors), but Wilson still had to agree to put him out on the park.
Look back further to the sale of Simon Cox. Sold for decent money and replaced on the cheap with Austin. But there are only so many bargains like Austin to be had and for me the investment in the squad just hasn’t been what it needed to be to build on last year’s excellent season.
Finishing as losing play-off finalists was more than most Robins’ fans had expected the previous August having just survived in League One the season before and also lost Cox.
Wilson showed what a good football man he is by getting them to Wembley and Swindon fans shouldn’t forget that.
The club just didn’t seem to want to take the financial risk needed to take the next step up to the Championship.
Then again, maybe – in these uncertain economic times – the board’s caution is well founded. Look at the state Plymouth are in. Perhaps it’s better to be a solvent club bouncing between Leagues One and Two than chance your arm by aiming higher.
It’s too easy to attack directors for not ploughing their personal wealth into something as unstable as a football club – how many of us would remortgage our homes to lend the club money which we may not ever see again? But if you can’t match the big spenders, it’s better to come out and say so.
Paul Hart has been appointed to keep Swindon up and is another very experienced coach, but whether he has enough time – or a strong enough squad – remains to be seen.
Everyone needs to pull together for the good of the club now; players, management, directors and fans. It’s not too late, but the scenario whereby Oxford end up swapping divisions with them looks a very real possibility as well.
No wins in two months and so the writing was on the wall for Wilson though and he has said:
“I am bitterly disappointed to be leaving, but I know football is a results driven game, and unfortunately in the past two months the results have just not been good enough.”
But, for me, the problems at the County Ground lie higher up the food chain and possibly with the club’s finances - or lack of them.
As far as I am aware, Wilson didn’t negotiate contracts and so when Billy Paynter’s contract was allowed to run down and their leading marksman walked out of the door as a free agent at the end of last season.
When Charlie Austin and Sean Morrison – two of the brightest young prospects the club has had for many a year – were sold for what I consider to be peanuts in January, who allowed them to go? Wilson or the board?
And the money he was given to replace all three players. How much was forthcoming?
Wilson got lucky when Simon Cox was sold to West Brom two summers ago because hard working Paynter stepped up to the plate and started banging them in. He also proved he had a good eye for a player by playing up the prolific Austin from the Wessex League.
Apparently Charlie was spotted by one of the directors (according to one of the directors), but Wilson still had to agree to put him out on the park.
Look back further to the sale of Simon Cox. Sold for decent money and replaced on the cheap with Austin. But there are only so many bargains like Austin to be had and for me the investment in the squad just hasn’t been what it needed to be to build on last year’s excellent season.
Finishing as losing play-off finalists was more than most Robins’ fans had expected the previous August having just survived in League One the season before and also lost Cox.
Wilson showed what a good football man he is by getting them to Wembley and Swindon fans shouldn’t forget that.
The club just didn’t seem to want to take the financial risk needed to take the next step up to the Championship.
Then again, maybe – in these uncertain economic times – the board’s caution is well founded. Look at the state Plymouth are in. Perhaps it’s better to be a solvent club bouncing between Leagues One and Two than chance your arm by aiming higher.
It’s too easy to attack directors for not ploughing their personal wealth into something as unstable as a football club – how many of us would remortgage our homes to lend the club money which we may not ever see again? But if you can’t match the big spenders, it’s better to come out and say so.
Paul Hart has been appointed to keep Swindon up and is another very experienced coach, but whether he has enough time – or a strong enough squad – remains to be seen.
Everyone needs to pull together for the good of the club now; players, management, directors and fans. It’s not too late, but the scenario whereby Oxford end up swapping divisions with them looks a very real possibility as well.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Bristol Rovers 0 Colchester United 1 - Paint a Vulgar Picture
A job vacancy might be about to come up at the Memorial Ground. Following Rovers’ manager Dave Penney’s one hour rant at his players after the game, a decorator may be needed to splash some paint on the dressing room walls.
As the media guys kicked their heels in the press room (which doubles as a gym), Penney was telling his players exactly what he thought of their performance after watching them lose for the first time ever at home to the U’s.
Conrad Logan’s part in the farcical goal (see report below) may well have been the headline grabber and main talking point, but to his credit he fronted up and made two excellent saves to keep the score down to a ‘respectable’ level.
A special mention too goes to Jean-Paul Kalala who cleared off the line on three separate occasions – once from team mate Jeff Hughes to avoid another Keystone Cops moment.
Another special mention to the Gasheads behind Logan’s goal, who immediately got behind their keeper, sang his name and got an acknowledgement in return. Boos rang out around the ground at the final whistle for the display in general, but they stopped short of singling out Logan who must have already been feeling low.
Before the game I felt that Penney was getting his players onside and that they were going to battle to get out of the mess they are in. As soon as the goal went in though last night their heads dropped and they looked like a team who were waiting for the inevitable to happen – relegation to League Two.
It will be interesting to see how they respond on Saturday against Dagenham & Redbridge. To suggest this is a ‘six pointer’ would be wrong because that suggests that the Daggers are relegation rivals. Wrong, because Dagenham have already gone. Rovers just need the points to give themselves a chance of survival.
With Walsall beating high fliers Southampton, the Rovers lads have proof that if you want it badly enough you can turn over anyone in this division.
They have a squad capable of playing in League One next season. Maybe not competing at the top level, but good enough to survive. The question is: Do they (or some of them) want to play for the club anymore anyway?
I believe that most of them do and really don’t want relegation on their CVs.
Meanwhile, Colchester and former Rovers boss John Ward was obviously delighted with the points that keep his team’s play-off ambitions alive and was also relieved that they had won for the first time away from home since October. He said:
“It’s been too long really. Tonight we could’ve wrapped it up earlier than we did, but it’s a delight to have done it and now we can talk about other things.
I’m biased, but I think we were very strong tonight and we deserved to win it. It was a bizarre goal, but it still had to be finished and Kayode kept his head when he could’ve let the situation get to him.
Generally people get carried away with a win, but we’ve got to win more games if we want to get into the top six.”
Penney was gracious enough to apologise for keeping us hanging around and on occasions like this you feel for the manager knowing that they are going to be questioned by the local media – most fans’ source of information about the club.
The Rovers manager appeared to be still seething as he sat down and honestly said:
“We didn’t start the game well and got exactly what we deserved. Leaving the goal aside, they did things better than us in all departments, worked harder and had more quality. There are no excuses. We didn’t play well and didn’t make the keeper make a save.
We didn’t pass it well enough, started playing long balls and got sucked into playing the way they played.
I thought we were going in the right direction and had developed a different mentality. The sooner we get back-to-back wins the better as the games are running out now.
I hate getting beat whether it’s five-a-side or training.
The buck stops here.”
Big decisions will now need to be made by everyone connected with the club, but the first might merely be: Gloss or emulsion for that dressing room wall?
As the media guys kicked their heels in the press room (which doubles as a gym), Penney was telling his players exactly what he thought of their performance after watching them lose for the first time ever at home to the U’s.
Conrad Logan’s part in the farcical goal (see report below) may well have been the headline grabber and main talking point, but to his credit he fronted up and made two excellent saves to keep the score down to a ‘respectable’ level.
A special mention too goes to Jean-Paul Kalala who cleared off the line on three separate occasions – once from team mate Jeff Hughes to avoid another Keystone Cops moment.
Another special mention to the Gasheads behind Logan’s goal, who immediately got behind their keeper, sang his name and got an acknowledgement in return. Boos rang out around the ground at the final whistle for the display in general, but they stopped short of singling out Logan who must have already been feeling low.
Before the game I felt that Penney was getting his players onside and that they were going to battle to get out of the mess they are in. As soon as the goal went in though last night their heads dropped and they looked like a team who were waiting for the inevitable to happen – relegation to League Two.
It will be interesting to see how they respond on Saturday against Dagenham & Redbridge. To suggest this is a ‘six pointer’ would be wrong because that suggests that the Daggers are relegation rivals. Wrong, because Dagenham have already gone. Rovers just need the points to give themselves a chance of survival.
With Walsall beating high fliers Southampton, the Rovers lads have proof that if you want it badly enough you can turn over anyone in this division.
They have a squad capable of playing in League One next season. Maybe not competing at the top level, but good enough to survive. The question is: Do they (or some of them) want to play for the club anymore anyway?
I believe that most of them do and really don’t want relegation on their CVs.
Meanwhile, Colchester and former Rovers boss John Ward was obviously delighted with the points that keep his team’s play-off ambitions alive and was also relieved that they had won for the first time away from home since October. He said:
“It’s been too long really. Tonight we could’ve wrapped it up earlier than we did, but it’s a delight to have done it and now we can talk about other things.
I’m biased, but I think we were very strong tonight and we deserved to win it. It was a bizarre goal, but it still had to be finished and Kayode kept his head when he could’ve let the situation get to him.
Generally people get carried away with a win, but we’ve got to win more games if we want to get into the top six.”
Penney was gracious enough to apologise for keeping us hanging around and on occasions like this you feel for the manager knowing that they are going to be questioned by the local media – most fans’ source of information about the club.
The Rovers manager appeared to be still seething as he sat down and honestly said:
“We didn’t start the game well and got exactly what we deserved. Leaving the goal aside, they did things better than us in all departments, worked harder and had more quality. There are no excuses. We didn’t play well and didn’t make the keeper make a save.
We didn’t pass it well enough, started playing long balls and got sucked into playing the way they played.
I thought we were going in the right direction and had developed a different mentality. The sooner we get back-to-back wins the better as the games are running out now.
I hate getting beat whether it’s five-a-side or training.
The buck stops here.”
Big decisions will now need to be made by everyone connected with the club, but the first might merely be: Gloss or emulsion for that dressing room wall?
My clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Bristol Rovers v Colchester - Essex Dogs
Back to the Mem again tonight to watch Rovers take on play-off chasing Colchester.
The Essex boys haven’t won away from home since October 30th when they beat Bournemouth and so that should encourage Dave Penney’s team tonight.
Despite the fact that they are sniffing around the play-off spots they form hasn’t been too consistent in recent weeks either and they’ve managed two wins and one draw in the last six games.
The two leading scorers are also midfielders. Dave Mooney has seven and Anthony Bond has six, although striker Ian Henderson has also weighed in with five. There doesn’t appear to be a Will Hoskins in their ranks though and the Rovers hit man will be hoping to add to his tally of fifteen league goals for the term.
A win tonight could see Rovers move out of the bottom four. Walsall (currently one place above them) have a tricky home game against Southampton and Swindon, who are fifth from bottom and seem to be imploding, don’t have a game.
Victory would give Rovers thirty-three points and should Yeovil lose at home against league leaders Brighton, move them to within three points of their West Country neighbours.
All in all, tonight could well prove to be a defining point in the season for the Gas. They have shown signs in recent games of being more than capable of winning games and definitely have the players to survive in this division.
Penney told the local media:
“It's more important to be out of the bottom four at the end of the season, but we need to get as many points on the board as quickly as we can. Three tonight would get us out of it and give us something to aim for on Saturday. Not that long ago, we were bottom of the league and six points adrift. Then we got a result against Oldham, Plymouth had 10 points deducted and now we're a point adrift. We would have loved to have got something on Saturday to make up more ground, but there's a chance to come out of the bottom four tonight so there's plenty to play for."
Added spice for tonight’s encounter will be the return of U’s boss John Ward. Ward was in charge for 155 Rovers games winning 65 of them and drawing 42. Not a bad record and he’s one of the game’s nice guys too … but he’s also wily and knows his stuff.
He’s also a former Bristol City manager which will endear him to the home support.
After Saturday’s defeat to relegation strugglers Plymouth, Ward said:
“It’ll be easy to pick them up - they’ll be ok. They were disappointed with the Plymouth defeat as much as I am, but they’re also very honest and they’ll know that they could have done better than they did. I didn’t say much to them immediately after the game, because I wanted to think about what I said to them.”
This is the first league game between these two sides this season and Rovers will be hoping that by the last day of the season on May 7th when they are due to visit
The Essex boys haven’t won away from home since October 30th when they beat Bournemouth and so that should encourage Dave Penney’s team tonight.
Despite the fact that they are sniffing around the play-off spots they form hasn’t been too consistent in recent weeks either and they’ve managed two wins and one draw in the last six games.
The two leading scorers are also midfielders. Dave Mooney has seven and Anthony Bond has six, although striker Ian Henderson has also weighed in with five. There doesn’t appear to be a Will Hoskins in their ranks though and the Rovers hit man will be hoping to add to his tally of fifteen league goals for the term.
A win tonight could see Rovers move out of the bottom four. Walsall (currently one place above them) have a tricky home game against Southampton and Swindon, who are fifth from bottom and seem to be imploding, don’t have a game.
Victory would give Rovers thirty-three points and should Yeovil lose at home against league leaders Brighton, move them to within three points of their West Country neighbours.
All in all, tonight could well prove to be a defining point in the season for the Gas. They have shown signs in recent games of being more than capable of winning games and definitely have the players to survive in this division.
Penney told the local media:
“It's more important to be out of the bottom four at the end of the season, but we need to get as many points on the board as quickly as we can. Three tonight would get us out of it and give us something to aim for on Saturday. Not that long ago, we were bottom of the league and six points adrift. Then we got a result against Oldham, Plymouth had 10 points deducted and now we're a point adrift. We would have loved to have got something on Saturday to make up more ground, but there's a chance to come out of the bottom four tonight so there's plenty to play for."
Added spice for tonight’s encounter will be the return of U’s boss John Ward. Ward was in charge for 155 Rovers games winning 65 of them and drawing 42. Not a bad record and he’s one of the game’s nice guys too … but he’s also wily and knows his stuff.
He’s also a former Bristol City manager which will endear him to the home support.
After Saturday’s defeat to relegation strugglers Plymouth, Ward said:
“It’ll be easy to pick them up - they’ll be ok. They were disappointed with the Plymouth defeat as much as I am, but they’re also very honest and they’ll know that they could have done better than they did. I didn’t say much to them immediately after the game, because I wanted to think about what I said to them.”
This is the first league game between these two sides this season and Rovers will be hoping that by the last day of the season on May 7th when they are due to visit
Stuart Fleetwood quotes - Strike!
As I had a few minutes to spare, I thought I'd type up and post some quotes from Stuart Fleetwood the Hereford striker who scored a brace on Saturday.
"We had a game plan. It wasn't pretty and sometimes we hooked a lot of balls forward, but we defended fantastically today. We knew what they were about and so stuck to our game plan and caught them on the break twice. Luckily I was in the right position.
It's probably more difficult when you go out with a game plan because you have to be more disciplined. We got a bit lucky with the one that hit the crossbar and Brats (keeper Adam Bartlett) made a few saves. We needed a bit of luck, but we were fantastically disciplined today and that was the important thing.
Once we got the early goal we just defended for our lives. There were some big tackles going in and I'm not sure where the five added minutes came from, but it felt like half an hour at the end. We weathered the storm and then caught them on the break.
We must be up there with some of the top contenders in the league on away form. We just need to sort out our home form and turn some draws into a few wins and then we can climb further up the table. It makes us think that if we'd started off like this, where would we be?
I set myself a target before the season started of fifteen (goals). When I didn't score for the first twelve or thirteen games I thought I'd struggle to get to five. I was getting a bit nervous and I played on the wing for a few games, but then once I scored the confidence came back. It's confidence with strikers and the goals have come and I got two today off either shin pad so I'll take that.
It doesn't matter what other teams do. We'll look out for the results as everyone does, but as long as we put in good performances - and I think we've only lost one game in eleven - as long as we keep picking up points here and there.
Our away form is fantastic at the moment. As long as we keep going we'll keep looking upwards.
We're playing for Jamie as much as ourselves and the fans. With such a bad start we have to look at our reputation as footballers. We all love the club and want to put in our all and show we want to be in the team.
I get passionate and want to win. If you can show some controlled aggression that's great. Sometimes I do let it spill over a little bit - that's probably why I've got about seven yellow cards."
"We had a game plan. It wasn't pretty and sometimes we hooked a lot of balls forward, but we defended fantastically today. We knew what they were about and so stuck to our game plan and caught them on the break twice. Luckily I was in the right position.
It's probably more difficult when you go out with a game plan because you have to be more disciplined. We got a bit lucky with the one that hit the crossbar and Brats (keeper Adam Bartlett) made a few saves. We needed a bit of luck, but we were fantastically disciplined today and that was the important thing.
Once we got the early goal we just defended for our lives. There were some big tackles going in and I'm not sure where the five added minutes came from, but it felt like half an hour at the end. We weathered the storm and then caught them on the break.
We must be up there with some of the top contenders in the league on away form. We just need to sort out our home form and turn some draws into a few wins and then we can climb further up the table. It makes us think that if we'd started off like this, where would we be?
I set myself a target before the season started of fifteen (goals). When I didn't score for the first twelve or thirteen games I thought I'd struggle to get to five. I was getting a bit nervous and I played on the wing for a few games, but then once I scored the confidence came back. It's confidence with strikers and the goals have come and I got two today off either shin pad so I'll take that.
It doesn't matter what other teams do. We'll look out for the results as everyone does, but as long as we put in good performances - and I think we've only lost one game in eleven - as long as we keep picking up points here and there.
Our away form is fantastic at the moment. As long as we keep going we'll keep looking upwards.
We're playing for Jamie as much as ourselves and the fans. With such a bad start we have to look at our reputation as footballers. We all love the club and want to put in our all and show we want to be in the team.
I get passionate and want to win. If you can show some controlled aggression that's great. Sometimes I do let it spill over a little bit - that's probably why I've got about seven yellow cards."
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