Thetownend.com

What do we reckon?

I think a narrow 1-2 (Williams & Obika)..

Come on you boys in magenta.

Fuck yeah. And I want to buy that shirt, too. Or in another world, we never win at Sheff U, so I'll take a draw.  I'd still buy the shirt, though.

Every time I think we might be in for a struggle we go and win 3-0!

Shocking record there but let's win and disappoint the slavetraders and the club stealing twats.

4-2

I can feel a tonking coming on

1-4

Think Bayern have just lost 4-1 after a warm weather break.  Remember when we did the double over them in 69/70....if it's played* time for another.

* just come home in a snowstorm, so has to be worse up north.

I'll take a point.

I would also take a point. Luckily the Franchise result in the week has took the pressure to win off a little bit.

Safe journey to everyone going today and let's hope it's still on. COYR

It's snowed in Highworth but the live cams in Sheffield look fine. Will be a shit journey up though so hope it's worth it!

Come on you reds!

magenta army !

Standard 3-0 away win

I'm just about to leave....third time lucky please...

Today will be my fifth visit to Bramall Lane and, results-wise, I have a 100% record (of the wrong kind).  Sorry chaps!  

PS - It's gotta happen one day, hasn't it?

Nice local one for the Derbyshire Reds. Roads etc are all clear so shouldn't be any problems...

1-1.

Would very happily take a point with our recent record at their place.

How much does a teams record at a particular ground matter? Perhaps another thread o discuss?

Granted we've played there last 2 seasons with some of the same players, but this team shouldn't worry about what happened 10,20,30 or even 40 years ago because it should have no baring on today.

2-0 win with late goals from Thompson Twins.

3 of us on the way up from Lincoln.  Clear but cold.  4th visit to sufc, all loses, time for change..safe trip up t North you lot.  Come on you Magenta Army.

1st visit today, intend to be very drunk so no matter happen I will thought we won 4-1. Brian Deane for the blades

Either 5-0 United because of the magenta kit, or more likely a draw, 1-1 with Michael smith to net a lucky equaliser off his arse to get some confidence back.

Good news

Best result I've seen there was the 2-2 draw when Todd arrived,however,optimistic that we'll get at least a draw.Score early and silence their crowd and run out 3-1 winners,Swift,Obika and Turnbull

Fancy the draw today and think that will be a decent result. A win would be lovely mind.

One of the rare occasions where a draw would actually serve as a decent result for us.  A win would be superb...but I'll be a happy Swindon fan at 5pm if we manage to avoid a defeat.

was 50/50 about going up today, due to the weather.
train prices have put paid to that. safe trip to those that have gone; 1 point will do 3 will be smashing.

Heavy snow in Coningsby, will make a decision in the next hour, I assume Lincoln's clear?

I find this weather chat amusing. I'm in Glasgow and it's gloriously sunny. Would have loved to go today, decent number travelling too. As others have said, a draw will be a good result.

It's not bad in London. There was rain earlier but that's passed and it's now grey and cold.

No need to thank me for the weather update from the south east.

This is a tricky/tough game. United have noticeably strengthened their squad, probably more than any of the other promotion chasers thus far. I don't really subscribe to the notion that Sheffield United will be knackered after the Tottenham game so hopefully Town's Tenerife trip will have done its job.

Bayern Munich went on a sun training session and got spanked 4-1 off Wolfsburg so hopefully we aren't rusty today.

On the train, unfortunately with a load of Millwall fans

Just passing Derby on the Fosse. What pub is the target? Sheffield Tap?

Snow in Peterborough, but son is in Sheffield and says its fine (if a bit cold)

Just left Nottingham, Millwall fans gone (tbf they were ok), sun is shining (hopefully on a Town win :) )

Parked up. On the way to the Sheffield Tap.

Thanks. Keep us updated.

Foderingham; Branco, N Thompson, Turnbull; Byrne, Swift, L Thompson, Stephens, Toffolo; Obika, Williams

Subs: Belford, Barthram, Rodgers, Marshall, Hylton, Obika

Only 6 subs named today.

no smith?

Kick off delayed, 3:15pm.

Smith is on the bench. Obika is starting

No, but two Obikas.

Oops I just copied from the Swindon Link Sport website :) Smith on the bench.

Sheffield Utd have made 10 changes from the game in midweek, such is their depth.

Thats a luxury, but they played their strongest side in midweek so could be a slightly weaker team maybe, but also have 3 new signings making their debut today.

You feel we should go there and win if that's the case. Never that easy though.

Not sure if its better to play enthusiastic, rested 'lesser' players, or cream crackered and mentally drained 'better' players.

Swindon winning away at Sheff utd is never the case :D

We have only ever won away at Bramhall Lane twice and the last time was in 1970!

In the last 13 games there we have lost 11 times.

I would be happy with a draw up there today but records are there to be broken whether good records or bad ones.

past performances are irrelevant.having said that,i think we may lose

Bramall Lane is a much underrated ground, and as a student when in Sheffield I used to enjoy the somewhat intimidating atmosphere there...expect of course when they played us - I've never seen Town win there.

It's a tough ground to visit, I'll be happy with a draw out of this in truth.

Che Zach Everton Fred Adams..

What a fucking name that is.

For that typical Yorkshire name you can just truncate that with the last 2 of those.

Their league form is 1 win in 8, and it's not easy messing around with your starting 11, especially making 10 changes.

Two Obikas ?

See previous post, I copied striaght from the Swindon Link Sport website, Smith on the bench not Obika. :)

We've only ever won at their place once but to put that in perspective they've only won twice at our place.

Jake Reeves scores for Wimbledon.

Jake Reeves scores for the Wombles

Dongs 1 nil up

We could finish the day 3rd, without Bristol City even playing.

COME ON SWINDON!

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B8sA9OOIIAASnYV.jpg)

Preston 1-0 down/

Free kick to Swindon just outside the box.

Let's hope Ajose can help us out against Franchise.

Curled just wide from Toffo.

Phil King sounds like he is having a stroke when we are on the attack..

MK two up ffs.

Dongs 2 up :(

MK 2 up

Dongs 2 up

Curse those Bletchley Stealers.

Can Phil King stop celebrating, it's getting quite annoying.

Town putting pressure on...sounds close. "Sheffield can't cope with Town passing"

David Prutton is reporting on the match for Sky.

Phil King is gonna have a coronary soon when we attack.

dongs 3 up

Dons 3 up. Doing their goal dif a power of good

Swift misses a sitter.

Don't worry, Crewe will score some goals.

As long as they thrash City as well next week

MK can score as many as they like, as long as we get one more than Sheff U!

Turning the screw apparently.

I am not as confident as you are about this mate.

Higdon is a dirty bastard.

He's walking a tightrope. However turnbull and Branco also booked.

Changed for you...

And Swift

Referee is card happy.

Two CBs in the book. How long until Thompson completes the set?

Oh, and now Swift too.  ::)

True :)

5 bookings in half an hour. This game is going to end 9 v 9

Just missed post...

Fuck that was close from them...phew.

Phew, that was close from Utd.

FFS Phil King stop getting excited!

Wow, Phil King isn't going to last the game.

Off the crossbar.

Somebody give Phil King a box of Kleenex.

Stop fucking saying 'get in' and 'yes' when no goal has happened...cunts

This.

Please Phil can you get excited AFTER we score not before. Thank you.

Higdon taken off before he is sent off.

fucksake im on Swift 1st scorer-missed a sitter and hit the bar

He sounds our best attacking option so far today.

Ref not having a good game apparently

So the Wonder kid comes on.  Could be an interesting second half for our centre half's with those bookings.  My money's on Branco for an early bath..

Phew. Off the post.

They've hit the post. Thought it was in. It isn't.

Phew Blades hit post ball comes back out

HT 0-0 Town best team so far it appears

United having a big chances missed.

This one could go either way.

Sheff u rocky at the back. Sounds like swift has been culpable in front of goal.

Let's get an early goal second half and settle down. Don't like the fact both Branco and turnbull on yellows.

wouldn't worry too much. I'm sure the Ref would simply allow one of our players to be subbed rather than actually sending them off, just as he did with Higdon. *

*sarcasm

Preston score :(

ref is a joke and for the ability Swindon clearly have (and they should be winning) I've never seen a team throw themselves on the floor so much. Been about 8yellows but no bad tackles. Ridiculous.

From a blade.

I've been listening to Sheffield coms and I'm not sure they would agree.

do do do do Ashen Holgate..

1,071 Town fans there. Good effort.

Please can we take one of our chances now.

Fuck off Phil....shouting "goal" when there wasn't one. Get him off the radio now!

I cannot take much more of Phil King. I've thought we've scored about 5 times now.

 :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

:nod::nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod::nod: :nod: :nod::nod::nod: :nod:

Fods injured?!

fuckssake Kingy

This.

In other news ... Blades' player keeps breaking down a la STFC Player.

Dongs 4 nil up

Franchise now 4 up.  Not doing their goal difference any harm  :(

It's working perfectly for me.

They are as clinical as we are powder puff today so far.

Not for me its as clear as a bell.

Time for smith I think

They can do what they like.  As long as we manage a point today, I'm still happy.  And Franchise will always be ####s.

Bloody sanctions!

Smith on please.

@SamMorshead_: Swindon not getting close to playing the sort of crisp, pass and move football we've got used to this season in this second half.

Ominous :(

Time for Smith to grab a cracker like he did vs the 82ers.

Jeez that sounded close,

Uggggggggh there's still 30 minutes to go.

Not really.  MassYas back soon.  If we do manage to grab a point today, just consider how successful Jan 2015 will have been...while we were fearing their absence.

Crawley beating Preston

Preston losing

If only we could make the most of Preston losing...

Nathan in trouble.

N Thompson late late challenge it appears - yellow

dont like the way this is going

All three CBs on a yellow now

We have sounded as poor this half as we sounded good in the first half.

FFS Sheffield on top - a draw will be good at this point

Come on lads dig in and hit them on the break.

COYR

Branco has been shit

This is the story of our last few games. Surely we should be the fresher.  Use your subs Voops.

This is a real test of our character.

We have nobody to bring on at the back to replace him though as Barthram is not really a centre back.

a draw i would have taken before kick off. even more so now after the way we seem to be playing

Cunt

FFS it was coming.

Been coming.

Balls

It was coming, Utd 1-0

cunts

It's felt like one of those days.

Time to step it up then.

Hang on a minute...Blades are no mugs.  Our two best players have been out for the last month.  And we're still hanging on for a point at Brammall Lane.  Why the doom & gloom?

Ditch them fucking shirts

We're losing.

Not hanging on for a point, though. We're losing

Second half we've been shite can't see us getting a point

OK.  Thanks fellas.  We weren't when I wrote it.

Not panicking.

Bletchly Stealers v The 82s will be interesting next week.

Well, normal Bramall lane bollocks then.

What result would suit us best?

Entire back 5 been booked

ISIS blowing up the stadium.

Draw, with 3 sendings off on each side !!

Paris on.

Come on supersub hylton.

And a few fatalities.

 :D

We have Mass & Yaser on their way back.  One defeat (if it stays this way) while they have been away is a good record.  We were due a defeat.  We pick ourselves up and move on.

I have just explained all this to my 5 year old.

we can't really afford to lose these games

All sides in the run in are going to lose games.

The frustration appears to be how have we not scored...? There seems to have been plenty of chances.

Dare I say it, but does Feb look a little easier for us, bearing in mind the return of the wonder boys?

come on you reds, time to sneak a goal at the death.  not used to this losing mallarky

We can, it's no disaster. We weren't going to go unbeaten the rest of the season

Had a feeling we'd lose today.  Never get anything at Brammall Lane irrelevant of form.

I blame that fucking kit, not scored in it yet.

Burn the kit now and down use it again ever.

5 mins of stoppage time...

Oh FFS Phil shouts penalty and it isn't one.

2-0.

2-0.

I second this !!

MK play City next Saturday. Beat Barnsley and our position is perfectly healthy whatever the outcome of that one.

Does that mean we slip to 3rd without City even playing?

Burn the fucking purple disaster. Knock down Bramall Lane. I'm off.

Ah well.

We have a relatively easy couple of months ahead of us, until we get to April which gets tricky.

And someone lock Phil King in a cupboard.

Indeed.

Sounds like we should have had a penalty before they got their second.

We'd have missed anyway!

FT 2-0

Bramhall Lane is never a happy hunting ground for us.

Spot on. A month ago we were worried what the Asian Cup was going to do to our season. Now we have Mass and Kas returning with us sat right on the edge of the automatic spots and a relatively comfortable schedule for the next 2 months. As I said above, beat Barnsley next week and we'll be looking good, seeing as Franchise are home to City.

you cant fault King's passion and love for Town but bloody hell!

Very true mate but he is put there to commentate on games not to be a fan. Just get excited AFTER we score and don't shout "YES" when it is not a goal.

I'm not as nonchalant as some but as long as we're still fighting come that MKD/82 double-header then I'll be happy.

I did fear we would be rusty today.

Ah well, home game against Barnsley next week so get back on track.

Arse. You could see it was a pen from here.

We are safe from relegation, right?

Big time.

In the grand scheme of things, losing away to Sheff U being the only real blip with Mas and Kas away and Gladdis injured, its not so bad..

But in some ways it puts us under a bit of pressure to win next week. Its nothing like a must win game, but there seemed to be a real belief we can do this building amongst the fans.  Expectations are already raised, so the best way to stop that becoming a burden is to win. Hate to say it, but City did that well after losing two, Preston less so!

Got the transfer window to negotiate first though. Long way to go, and City still haven't played their hand in replacing Smith yet..

Indeed.  I saw it was a pen from chippenham.  And the guy who scored there goal only came on because their player was pulled off when the ref should have sent him off already.  Its a disgrace.  Everyone is against us.

I am being slightly sarcastic.

Meanwhile, in South Bristol, it was a clear dive and a sending off for cheating.

The police have been informed.

[Hello lurking OTIB'ers  :bye:]

Cotterill is preparing his statement now....

 :D

At the moment it's turning into a three horse race against the two teams we like least in the division.

If it stays that way Easter Weekend will be massive.  We need to get as many points in the bag before then, as like fh said April looks tricky.

There will be twists and turns every weekend. We have taken a blow today but we will get some go in our favour. 3 very even teams at the top. Sadly one will miss out. I hope its not us.

I still hate 1982 and Franchise.

I agree with you on both counts.

But then you do hate everything, don't you.

Disappointing result with 2-0 flattering them a bit by all accounts. These things happen as someone else said there will be twists and turns every week.. roll on transfer deadline day and Barnsley.

Also, id rather BCFC 1982 Ltd. went up with us than Franchise, they are our (2nd or 3rd) local rivals but at least they are a club. MKScums in The Championship would be rubbish for football.

This is all a lose/lose scenario with Franchise and Shitty atm. Whichever ends up going into the autos with us (I still have faith we'll win the league), we'll be slightly tainted by association.

No, there are plenty of things I do like, I just don't find them around here.

Good point, looks like a bunch of cunts go up with us either way.

If it came down to it, ,1982 would be my preference.

nailed it - Sean bean is a cunt!

Some reasoned posts in here - we are well placed and if we navigate the transfer deadline then the title is there for the taking.

I do hope that was not Andy Williams' last match in a Swindon shirt...I fear a left field departure ala L.Thompson to Norwich albeit he returned on loan.

Meh, we've got through the month without Luongo and Kasim and lost once, if anyone had offered us that, we would have all taken it.
It's a poor result but a good month, looking forward to the rest of the season with a full squad.

Oh do kindly hush your mouth.

Oh well a blip on the way to the championship. I'm the most pessimistic fucker I know and I still think we'll do it. Not many sides will get anything at bramall lane to the end of the season. We can afford this defeat.

We have a fantastic away record, but we cant win them all away. Its a shame we lost but Shef U are a decent team and by all accounts the result could of been different with the chances we had. I'd be worried if we didnt create anything and lost. WE've got 2 of our best players back for the next game and to date we are picking up 2 points a game which usually wins you the title!

Question is can Bristol/MK and us all keep up that pace and which one will be left with the playoffs. I hope MK sell Ali and he doesnt get loaned back, lets see what happens.

Big couple of months for us before the scary looking April where it seems most will be decided.

Oddly I'm not that worried about April. I'm more worried about still being it it by then. We certainly have the talent to be.

Just got back.  

One of those games today.  Too many players not quite at the races.  Didn't take advantage of being well on top of them for most of the first half.  Front men weren't a threat of any kind and midfield ponced about a bit too much.  

Abysmal referee (supported by one of the most inept linesmen I can ever remember seeing).  That said, the Blades should have had a penalty in the first half (Toffalo's handball WAS in the box) and N Thompson might have got a red card instead of the yellow on another day.  

Good turn out by Town fans.

That's five defeats from five visits to Bramall Lane for me but I still like the place.  It's a proper football ground.

And can we now burn that fucking cerise third shirt and find something else, please?

To lob in my thoughts...

Firstly, the stuff we can control.  We started the match like we were the home team, applying pressure, but sadly creating few chances.  We needed to turn that possession and pressure in to goals.  I said at the time that it could come back to bite us in arse, and I'm sure I wasn't alone in that.  We did try to play football today, but I think that the lack of Mass and Yass finally caught up with us.  Of course it's hard to play football when the opposition are intent on fouling constantly.

Opposition fouling is something we can't control.  We are better than most (all?) the teams we play, so they try to hassle our young squad and disrupt our rhythm.  However, it is presumably fair to expect the referee to apply the law and sort this out, but he was a clown of the worst kind.  How their fat 21 wasn't sent off is a mystery.  He should have received a second yellow, instead got a very firm talking too...and then fouled again...a second yellow this time?  No!  And to prove that even Sheff U thought he should have been sent off, they subbed him.  Late tackles form them, no booking, but a tiny little tug of an arm from Swift and he gets booked.  A truly appalling performance from the ref.

A bloody frustrating day, but if you offered me a defeat today, and our squad remains intact after Monday, I'd have taken it.  So fingers crossed for a quiet couple of days.

PS The ref was a colossal bellend.

So it's all the refs fault

Summed up perfectly.
Dirty bastards they were, ref bottled it against the home crowd.
Could have been worse if Tommo would have been sent off.
That fat piece of shit should have got a red, an absolute disgrace and lucky he was substituted first half.
They were nothing special. Needed to have a few more efforts on goal with all that possession.
Still well optimistic if we keep this team together and hopefully our internationals :)

Ref was shit for both sides and missed a penalty for each...cannot blame him for defeat.

Too much tip tap back and forth instead of tip tap tip...bang.

Just didn't do enough to score....hit the bar, miskick in front of goal and didn't cross enough until they went a goal down and by then Blades were happy to do a Doncaster and just pack out midfield and defence and stifle...job done... Hit us on the break and 2:0.

We didn't play badly and a million miles better than last years embarrasment but just not enough.

Too many bad decisions made at vital moments and Swift should of gone off on about 70 minutes.

A bit frustrating but on we go.....we were never going to win them all.

Nice finish from Murphy for the first goal.

That was a pen. All day long.

No, as I said we needed to take our chances, but they should have been down to ten men in the first half... Very different game if the ref actually does his job properly.

Or you could try actually reading the posts?!

As painful as the result is, when we kick off in Aug for our first foray into the championship for many years, today's result won't even register.

May have been mentioned, but Nathan Thompson's tweet to Scott Murray is ace.

Please link it.

“@nathan_t23: I see @Scotty_Murray desperate for some attention again. Geez you pick up lad's pants for a living😂. Have a day off.”

Scott Murray is a complete tosser.
I might have been nearly 46years ago, but we've still won 1 major trophy than them, despite all the money they have spent over the years

Just been on Iplayer to see League show......usual utter shit highlights...

I would have thought they could at least have shown the pen that wasn't given immediately before their second  ::)

I've witnessed some bad refereeing performances over the years but Coote was by far the most incompetent. He got just about every decision wrong and was just as bad for them. I can only think he left his red card on the kitchen table and asked Clough to substitute fatty Higdon, like they do in friendlies. Thompson probably would have walked too in the 2nd half but if he did his job properly we may not have been under pressure at that point. Their handball appeal was at least 3 yards inside the area but we also had a least one stone wall pen turned down.

All the strikers had an off day today and the defence never looked comfortable.

Swift for me was the best player on the park. I'm not sure how we can accommodate both him and Mass in the same team but I'd love to see a midfield with Swift, Mass and Yaser in it.
 
Best part of the day was going to Nando's after the game!

I'm not too disheartened as we'll soon have three of our best players back, plus a winnable home game on Saturday, whilst Franchise and City play each other.

That was in reply to Murrays tweet that they had gone above the world and European champions without even playing

Fixated much

7 page match-day thread on us but no mention of Franchise. Come on OTIB, just admit you hate us more than Gas.

As long as we beat Barnsley next Saturday, whatever the result of Franchise v 82ers will see us in the top 2 again.

Pretty good as January was supposed to be our meltdown month

Have you forgotten the 82's have a game today?.  We could be third on goal difference next Saturday.

fleetwood are pretty stubborn; hopefully they continue that today.

We weren't at the races yesterday over the 90 mins, but 2-0 flattered them, with the second coming on the break as we pushed up for an equaliser. That's just how it goes as many have said there will be a lot more twists and turns before the seasons end.

Thought the atmosphere in the away end was pretty decent yesterday so credit to everyone that made the trip.

Walked into the Golden Lion for some pre-match beers with 4 others, safe to see we got a few funny looks being in there!

Makes no difference. We will still be in the top 2 no matter the result next Saturday - as long as we win

But if city win they are 3 points ahead aren't they. Then if mk win on Saturday  ....

If City win today they'll have 57 if they lose to Franchise and we win we'll be above them on GD with 57 points.

Surely that'll depend on how many we win by though?

what if they win 27-0 today :)

As good as that sounds, I think you need Louis in midfield. He offers the bite that you need in middle of the park.

82ers 1-0 up.

Booooo

26 TO GO

City win 2-0. Boo

City are going up, we might as well face that.

I did see two of their players pick up yellow cards for very cynical challenges, which surprised me because they're not that sort of team... Right!?!

I went into the red lion and walked out again for the same reason went to the roebuck the Sheffield Tap was good

We still have a good say in this between 3 teams at the moment for automatic

Yeah agreed

I actually want them to beat the Dongs next week.

2 horse race for second, with us playing M-K at home..

I think I'd like an mk win or a draw. I think city probably will go up, but they still have smith to lose. for that reason I'd like them to be in  touching distance - just in case they do have a late stutter.

Yep!

There are 57 points to play for between now and the end of the season. We need to concentrate on our own form and not worry too much about the other teams around us. If we win consistently at home and keep the away form of recent weeks we will be OK. There's no point getting too excited about other results until at least mid April when most promotions. Yes it's great if City & Franchise slip up but we need to accumulate our own points to do anything.

It'll go to the last couple of games, always does. Preston will come back into it, and Sheff Utd will go on a run I'm sure. Loads of twists to come, just glad were in the mix at this end tbh, far less stress than the other end of the table.

I don't know why but I think those club stealing wankers will drop off. With that in mind, I hope City beat them Saturday.

I hope city and Franchise totally fall away to mid table.  :pint:

City to win on Saturday to make some contribution to Franchise falling away. It's going to be a really interesting end to the season. From a neutral's point of view, it's going to be a must watch.

I went out in Sheffield after the game on Saturday night. Hung out with some group of Swindon fans all night and got absolutely smashed.

(http://photos-e.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t51.2885-15/10919516_1529725537301604_37177525_n.jpg)

Tis a good night out in Sheffield. How many times did you hear Rick Astley?

Spot on.  Getting obsessed with other teams results at this stage is a big mistake.  Its all about points accumulation.  Only the last few games when the relative result becomes more important.