Bristol Rovers 0 Chesterfield 0

My piece from this morning's paper

Steve Mildenhall is happy to play Peter Pan to help Rovers' Lost Boys find their way.

Veteran keeper Mildenhall, 35, shut out Chesterfield to help earn his side a valuable point before revealing:

"I think I bring the average age up to about 25. They call me Grandad, but I give as good as I get. My missus thinks I'm a big kid though - it's the old Peter Pan complex."

But Mildenhall has been impressed with the youngsters even though they are still looking for a first win in ten games. He said:

"The young lads are giving everything even though they're still learning and you could see that the fans appreciate the effort by the way they applauded us off at the end.

"I looked up at the players box during a break in play and counted seven players who were either injured or suspended. That sums it up at the moment, but you just have to keep working hard and no-one can say we're not doing that."

And Mildenhall is not going to hang up his boots any time soon. He said:

"When I started out we'd have a crate of beer and fish and chips on the way home from games. The penny dropped though quite quickly and I started to look after myself. I now hope to play into my forties."

Mildenhall first came to Rovers rescue in the 64th minute when he threw out a leg to block a low ten yard shot from winger Gary Roberts with the goal begging.

Twenty minutes later he needed to be alert to beat away a fierce 25 yard drive from  midfielder Jimmy Ryan.

Doyle squandered a great chance to put Chesterfield ahead three minutes after the break when he pounced on a defence splitting pass from co-striker Armand Gnanduillet, but then chipped both Mildenhall and the bar from the edge of the box.

Rovers came close to stealing the points in the last minute, but keeper Tommy Lee did well to turn away a 22 yard shot from midfielder Ollie Clarke.


Chesterfield had the better of very few first half chances and wingers Jamie Devitt and Gary Roberts both saw long range efforts go wide.

Chesterfield had striker Eoin Doyle sent off in the 84th minute after picking up two bookings and boss Paul Cook admitted:

"To be honest I didn't know Eoin had already been booked, but he had a little tug on the lad and picked up a second yellow card. We accept the decision and get on with it.

"We're on a poor run at the minute, but Rovers were excellent and worked very hard for each other. As a manager, that's what you want to see."

Rovers managerJohn Ward was pleased with his players and said:

"I thought it was a fantastic effort against a team that have started the season like a storm. A win will be a big occasion, but it's a good point and we stood our ground.

“If anyone wants to say they are not working hard, I think we have a case against them on that performance."

Sunday's edition

Swindon Town 1 Walsall 3

Ashley Hemmings scored a brace to help see off sorry Swindon.

Hemmings opened his league account for the season with a 20 yard rocket in the seventeenth minute when he drilled in a half-cleared corner.

But Swindon's central defenders gifted Walsall's next two goals.

Two minutes after the break skipper Darren Ward gave the ball to Sam Mantom on the edge of the box.

Mantom then played a neat one-two with Craig Westcarr to leave Ward's central defensive partner Grant Hall flat-footed before drilling a low shot into keeper Wes Foderingham's body. He then then reacted quickest to prod in from close range.

Hall was then left red-faced in the 78th minute when he lost the ball on the left side of the box and it bobbled its way to Hemmings who slotted in from eight yards.

Nile Ranger nodded in a late reply for Swindon in the 83rd minute, but should have buried a six yard header minutes before and saw an overhead kick cleared off the line by Westcarr in the first half.

The game was similar in many respects to the game the Robins won so convincingly last Friday night against Notts County, but this time they were on the receiving end and it was Foderingham who kept the score down to a respectable level - while the Magpies keeper did the same job last week.

Westcarr in particular tormented Swindon and although he saw Foderingham make one smart save to stop him and headed another effort over the bar, we worked his socks off for the team.

It was interesting comparing Ranger and Westcarr. 

While Ranger was always a threat on the ball and showed some lovely touches and skill, Westcarr seemed more aware of his team mates and brought them into play whenever he could. His experience, guile and intelligence proved to be the difference between the two teams.

Saddlers boss Dean Smith was clearly proud of his players after the game and said:

""They're getting better all of the time. I'm blessed to have them. I'm just angry we let one in. It should've been a 3-0 or 4-0 game."

Smith was being kind to Swindon as I counted at least six very good saves from their keeper.

Robins boss Mark Cooper was suffering from a sore throat and so asked coach Luke Williams to attend the post-match conference. Williams seemed to indicate that Copper was carrying a bug of some sort, but it wouldn't be surprising if he had just lost his voice peeling the paint off the dressing room wall! Williams said:

"Credit to Walsall they did their homework. We know that their manager was at last Friday's game and they didn't give us a foot hold in the game. We're disappointed."

My piece from this morning's paper

Bristol Rovers 0 Wycombe Wanderers 1

My piece from Sunday's paper

Max Kretzschmar showed his class to teach Rovers a late lesson in front of his school mates.

Super sub Kretzschmar, 20, sealed the win from six yards in the 82nd minute after keeper Steve Mildenhall palmed a low shot from fellow substitute Jon-Paul Pittman into his path and then revealed:

"I managed to get tickets for six of my mates. They are all at university in Bristol now, but we all went to school together and so it was great to share the moment with them."

Midfielder Kretzschmar, 19, has now scored three times from the bench since breaking into the first team in August.

And Kretzschmar is delighted to be making the grade at Wycombe after leaving the Southampton Academy at fifteen. He said:

"I was there with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. It was tough leaving, but I've really enjoyed my time at Wycombe and now I just want to repay their faith in me."

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth has been impressed with Kretzschmar and explained:

"He was the only player we had last season who didn't get onto the pitch. Physically he hadn't quite developed. Teenagers develop at different rates and so you don't want to push them too early. Max was frustrated, but channelled it in the right way. He gave up his summer holiday to do extra work in the gym instead and it's paying off."

A relieved Ainsworth admitted:

"They made us work extremely hard. They were organised and strong - everything you'd expect from a John Ward team. I made the point at half time that we'd have to be patient and that it could take 80 to 90 minutes. That's how it turned out."

Disappointed full back Michael Smith lost Kretzschmar for the winner, but was honest enough to say:

"We gave 110%, but haven't played well enough. I'll take the blame for the goal though."

It was tough on Mildenhall and Rovers who had to work hard from the 26th minute when striker David Clarkson was shown a straight red card for swinging an arm at midfielder Josh Scowen on the half way line, but manager John Ward was still impressed with his team and said:

"We tried very hard, but it has not gone our way. It is my job to get these boys up and going again on Monday morning. We are having a tough time - it is 'dig-in time'. It is question of everyone pulling together."

Rovers have now not won in eight outings, but manager Ward defended Clarkson. He said:

"I don't think he has a bad bone in his body and can't imagine he has punched anyone on purpose. If anything he's the sort of person who could do with being a bit more aggressive."

Five minutes before Kretzschmar's winner Mildenhall had done superbly to dash out and block a Pittman effort with his chest.

Wycombe huffed and puffed, but could not take advantage and were restricted to long range shots after Clarkson's dismissal that Mildenhall dealt with easily.

Wycombe keeper Matt Ingram had to be at his best as early as the second minute to turn Sean Clucas's header past the foot of his post.

And former Rovers striker Jo Kuffour saw an attempted overhead kick fly over the bar from twelve yards in what was a dire spectacle before Kretzschmar settled it.

... and from this morning's edition

Swindon Town 2 Notts County 0

Mark Cooper admitted he was still frustrated despite Swindon's super show.

The Robins have dropped only two points in six home games and bossed County, but manager Cooper said:

"We played well, with purpose, but we didn't finish it off properly. 2-0 is a horrible score line when you have so much possession."

Former Newcastle misfit Nile Ranger opened the scoring from eight yards in the eleventh minute.

Hit man Ranger was booted out of Toon, but nodded in Alex Pritchard's corner from six yards for his fourth of the campaign as he makes the most of another chance at the County Ground.

Co-striker Danny N'Guessan doubled the lead from the spot in the 28th minute after Sierra Leone full back Mustapha Dumbuya up-ended winger Nathan Byrne.

Striker Danny Haynes fired a 73rd minute penalty high over the bar after Callum McGregor was felled by Yaser Kasim to sum up County's night.

Bartosz Bialkowski pulled off a string of excellent saves as Swindon threatened a rout and when he was beaten by Byrne in the last minute, his post rescued him.

Magpies boss Chris Kiwomya fumed:

"We have to be stronger and more physical in our defending."

Dany's penalty

Oxford United 2 Northampton Town 0

My piece from this morning's paper

Andy Whing won the battle of the Brummies while James Constable helped get Oxford out of jail by arresting their poor home form.

Oxford had lost three games on the bounce at the Kassam and Northampton had the locals chewing on their nails before Constable stunned them twice in one minute before the break.

Co-striker Dave Kitson linked well with Whing in the centre circle before the midfielder split the Northampton defence to pick out Constable who drilled his shot under keeper Matt Duke from twelve yards.

Constable's opener

Whing, 29, was up against old pal Darren Carter in midfield and revealed:

"We used to play in the same Sunday league team together. He's a Blues fan and I'm a Villa fan. When he tackled him in the first half I told him it was because he's a Bluenose and nothing personal. He managed to get me back twice in the second half, but we came out on top. He's a very good player and a friend, but the one thing I never enjoyed seeing was seeing him score for Birmingham."

Whing was delighted with his 44th minute pass, but joked:

"I think that was my first assist, well, ever. Dave Kitson played a Johan Cruyff touch to me and luckily I read it before playing the pass."

One minute after his goal Constable won a penalty which midfielder Danny Rose converted - to the fury of Northampton coach Tim Flowers who was sent to the stands at half time by referee Darren Deadman.

Rose's penalty

Skipper Jake Wright returned to the defence to help move Oxford to second in the table after missing a run of three home defeats through injury. He said

"It was nice to show the everyone the sort of football the 1500 travelling fans have seen. It's been frustrating for them because they pay good money to come and watch us, but we're still right up there."

Constable could have claimed a brace in the 83rd minute, but scooped full back David Hunt's cross wide from eight yards.

Northampton midfielder Darren Carter came closest to breaking the deadlock before Constable's opener when his volley from 22 yards flew inches wide and Duke had to beat away a snap shot from Sean Rigg.

Oxford chief Chris Wilder was delighted with the win and said:

"We played well and knew they'd be a threat. They were ninety minutes from League One last season."

"There's no given result in this league. You have to work extremely hard and we did.

"Winning games is what it's all about. They have an excellent manager so they'll start moving up the table."

Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd was frustrated by the penalty decision, but admitted:

"We shouldn't have allowed him into the area in the first place."

Northampton have only picked up one win in ten games and Boothroyd said:

"When it rains, it pours. We created a couple of chances and then had five minutes of madness. We huffed and puffed in the second half, but it was lost in those five minutes."

Sunday morning's clipping

Oxford United 0 Southend United 2

Conor Clifford is determined to keep scoring - if only to keep his old man out of the poor house.

Midfielder Clifford celebrated his 22nd birthday last week by opening his Southend account  with a long range strike in the fourteenth minute and then joked:

"Dad usually puts a few quid on me to score. It's about time I did - I must've cost him a fortune over the years."

Conor Clifford's opener

And former Chelsea youth team skipper Clifford believes boss Phil Brown's ability to mix fun and hard work will pay dividends. He revealed:

"He will join in if we're playing table tennis and beats us all at pool. In fact he's so good at pool he must have a table to practice on at home. He's not aloof like some managers, but you still know who's in charge. You can tell he's managed at the top level."

Central defender Luke Prosser, 25, nodded in Kevin Hurst's free kick on the half hour before making a beeline for first team coach Graham Coughlan and explained:

"That's the first goal we've scored from a set piece. It's been a long time coming and Graham's put in a lot of hard work so if was right to celebrate with him."

Luke Prosser seals the win

Brown was delighted with his team's first win in seven games and said:

"It's long overdue. People get scared of 2-0 score lines, but I'd rather be 2-0 up then 2-0 down! We're after consistency now and we need to compound this with a win on Tuesday night and then another in the league against Burton next weekend."

"We matched them in every department. It was a good day at the office.

"You have to win your individual battles and that’s exactly what we did. We scored two good goals and kept a clean sheet."

Oxford were jeered by their fans at the final whistle and manager Chris Wilder admitted:

"It was individual errors that cost us. Southend didn't really have to work that hard for their goals. It's so disappointing to give away daft goals, like we have done. Both goals gave them a massive lift. The second one was a great ball in, but we defended it badly. It's a tight competition though and there are no mug sides."