Thetownend.com

The Opponent: Crewe Alexandra

Another football day has arrived for us fans/supporters/followers to look forward too. Although the Crawley game was nothing special I still enjoyed being there every single minute, I admit there were times on Tuesday night where I could have happily been in 101 different places, but had I been in any of those places then I would have only been gutted that I wasn’t at the football. The heckling of our own goalkeeper was a rather poor show it must be said, fingers crossed today’s limited away following is a bit kinder to the lad. Seeing as I only got home from work a short while ago (10.50pm), I will keep it brief, and look forward to the inevitable meltdown should things not go our way. I’m in Cheltenham between 2-4 in the afternoon, I’m seriously hoping the trusty Transit Radio finds BBC Wiltshire.

Weather or not? – It seems the people of Crewe have had their own weather related issues after 500 passengers had to be evacuated from Crewe station after a fire was sparked by felt from the roof, blown loose by strong winds, falling onto overhead cables. Things should be rather less wild today with a decent amount of sunshine, light cloud as the afternoon goes on, temperatures around 7 degrees with a very light breeze.

Where the opposition gather – Makes you grateful for the TEF.

http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=168&fid=90&sty=2&act=1&mid=2111478181


Last 6 – LWDLWL – Currently 20th

They have served us both – Keith East, Tony Grant, Billy Bodin, Marlon Broomes, Paul Edwards, Fred Chandler, Gary Roberts, Gareth Whalley, Anthony McNamee, Jimmy Thompson, Tommy Weale, Alan Navarro, Maurice Lindley, Patrick Noubissie, Colin Prophett, Teddy Ware, Alex Downie.

The Odds –   Crewe 13/8  Draw  23/10 Swindon 6/4  Crewe may be in 20th position but our away form must be comparative. Smith and N’Guessan lead the way in the first goalscorer stakes, both around 11/2 or 6 to 1. I fancy an unlikely bet, Crewe HT Swindon FT, pays 20/1 with Ladbrokes but 33/1 with Stan James.
 
The Son Says – Seeing as we thrashed them 5-0 at home he thinks it will be slightly tougher away and has plumped for us dishing out a 4-0 thrashing to our fellow railway town folk.

The Prediction – Positively leading the way as ever, we will win 2-1. Goals from Smith and Belford in front of 4’229, 228 from Swindon.

And Finally – Alexandra? Simply down to the name of a princess at that time in 1877.

COYR COYR COYR

Wonder if Luongo and Troy will return. Any others back from injury? Desperately miss Mason and Pritchard. 1-1 I think. Byrne.

2.1 to the Alex

198 hardy town souls

0-0. Shite

A point later would be very acceptable...not expecting it, but stranger things have happened.

Dull 0-0 drab draw with 3,623 there with 455 Town fans.

2-0 Crewe

Is it Crewe?

I've got a good feeling about this! 2-1 Swindon COYR

 :)

I think we will win and Yasser will score.Orient apart,our away form has improved.We were never gonna get anything last week with that 11

We've got to win this, Crewe are a young team, like us, but I'd like to think our team is simply better. 2-0. Byrne (because he appears to be on a run of tapping balls into the goal from 1yrd) and Kasim.

Why? The only reason I can think of is to stop the inevitable meltdown if we lose.

2-0 crewe

2-0 Crewe with 243 from Swindon

The shit run must come to an end....1:1 pen to us

358 stalwarts there.

3-0 to us.

I can't see it but it would be nice to get something today. Okay, if we manage a win or even a point, I'll change my avatar to a sickening picture of Harry Styles (I'm that confident!)

Their squiffy form and the fact we beat them so comfortably earlier in the season. As well as the points I mentioned in my first post.

All games for the rest of the season are MUST WIN

New co commentator on BBCWilts

you know x 3 million.

Belford, Thompson N, Archibald-Henville, Ward, Byrne; Harley, Kasim, Thompson L, Luongo; Smith M, Murphy

subs: Bedwell, Barthram, Smith A, Branco, Gladwin, Barker, N'Guessan

That should put to bed the Troy conspiracy theories.

Until after the next (x) amount of games anyway.  :suicide:

That 11 was outplayed for 80 minutes, however Orient didn't create much in
The way of clear cut chances. It could of been a dire 0 0 draw and away from home, a good result. In short Orient were'nt up to much

Today... 3 0 to Crewe unless the Town have rediscovered their confidence.

Fucking STFC World.

yeah-it has to be the worst in the league! Crewe commentary working

No BBCWilts commentary either as lost the link from Crewe

Smith miss-one on one.

we are all over them. need to make possession count

288 town fans att 4433

Crewe Alex Police ‏@CreweAlexPolice  2m
Official overall attendance is 4,433

Up to 7th.

Rovrum 4-0 up after 29 mins

Notts County FC ‏@Official_NCFC  6m
Complete disaster.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

They could be the dark horses in the promotion push.

Sounds like we are dominating chances. Only a matter of time before Crewe score.

Pox 1 down.

 :suicide:   :pint:

Pen to Crewe
Sigh

Plenty of time left, remember Port Vale.

Missed!

waaaaaaaaaaaay over the bar  :D

Penalty missed!

 :D

Blazed over the bar ( swindon special )

did Reis take it?

Feels like we've given a lot of pens away this season.

May be wrong, though

0.0 HT
Sounds like we dominated that without the end result
NEED to score while on top.
Luckily a skied pen means all still to play for

Sounds like we have played well in the first half.

However, but for a penalty miss we could be 1-0 down.

Have to take our chances if we get them in the second half

C'mon lads....smash n grab

I calculate Belford has faced 7(?) pens in his 3 games so far.

Get in!

Oi Oi scapegoat

Harleeeeeeey!

That seemed to take ages!!!!!! GET TFIT!

Bitter sweet for me

Got an 8 game accy on the go - 7 are winning and you can guess what the other one is!!

Oxford two nil down. The post Christmas plunge down the table going well as usual.

You bet on Crewe-you deserve to lose!

I still hate harley anyway

Worth over £2500

Still, it's Swindon we're talking about

Pox getting dicked 3-0 by Rochdale

er..............make that 3 nil

10 in the jpt

Pikeys draw level at the Slave Traders

Just in.  Liking the score.

Why so few posts on here?  Are you all in Crewe?

Funny that, because a few of the pikeys have been doing a bit of slave trading themselves

See Pardew has just head butted a Hull player

Have they got a manager at the moment?

Apart from giving away a soft penalty just before HT it sounds like we have dominated the game, therefore nothing much (yet) to moan about.

I'm moaning

Because we are winning. When we are losing/lost it all kicks off...

I hope this is true.....will check..

It's true alright

Been sent off - or to the stands a la PdC

it is true-sent "off"

If we were losing 1-0 and playing below par I feel we would be a couple of pages longer. Still time though :)

Audrey-will you stop going on about your bet.No one on here wants you to win!

Jay mac is pretty good on the wireless....

Under the cosh at the minute!

Time to make the other two subs.

Looks like Colchester may get me out of the shit - just equalised against Orient

Come on, Town!!!

Fuck it

1-1  :crash:

just knew it was coming

Just got out of bed and see we are winning...................Ah!....I mean drawing now!...Sorry.

On the plus side, it doubles their gap to Bristol City

Leaving the subs too late.

Peterborough losing, we really need to win here.

sounds like someone's being strangled in the crowd!

Late winner from Murphy to come...

Benson scored again

Is there a pterodactyl at the game?

Barker the saviour. Please, do something with the kid.

The screaming kid needs a slap

.....next week

 :D

Yeovil down to 8 men :eek:

And the Plastics are still only drawing...

Fuck me....Yeovil down to 8 men!

Sorry....need to catch up..

Ft. Draw

Not the disaster that many will make it out to be on facebook/twitter.

Not a bad result, 4 tough games now with Franchise, Wolves, Bristol City and Preston.

Tough games indeed
Would have taken a point at Crewe before KO so not entirely gutted

Really have to take our chances when bossing the game, wont get too many second chances in the above 4 fixtures

Awaits the texts  :popcorn:

Predicted a loss. Got a draw. Not disappointed.

A decent point, which moves us closer to 52.  Sheffield United now look like they could make the PO's, having been recently in the drop zone, which shows how quickly things can change if you either get on a roll or start to slide.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Cooper;
Forward players, young lads still learning their trade

I wonder if there has been an interview where he hasnt trotted that line out  :hmmm:

He doesn't sound very chirpy  ???

Yasser off on international duty tomorrow. Back Friday.

Would've taken a point before the game, but certainly deserved and should've taken all 3. Can't fault the effort from the players, mentions for Troy(for keeping their front two quiet), Thompson's and Harley did some running and scored a good goal. Luongo hands down best player on the park.

Frustrating but not the end of the world. Also a top effort from the fans, was a good atmosphere throughout and no real negative comments even late on.

Sounded like we played quite well. Fair play to Harley for putting in what sounds like 2 half decent performances after orient.

Not too unhappy, but Walsall and posh both lost so we could have closed the gap for that last play off spot, well we did but could have been bigger.

Let's hope we can get 3 points against Franchise on Saturday.

At least it sounded like we put in a decent effort today, which is all most people want.

We need to start taking the decent chances we get.  Crewe should have been out of sight by the time we scored.

I'd have taken a draw before kick-off but having listened to it on the radio (and therefore not entitled to any form of opinion, I know) am now a little disappointed as it sounded like we were the better team. But pleased we played well, especially away.

Only heard the last 20 Paul. The tide had turned at that point.

I don't think the playoffs are in reach, so performance was more important than result in a way. That said, Peterborough don't seem to want the last spot. Not sure who will get it if not them.

Haven't read through it all yet,  can someone confirm are we going up or being relegated this week?

Watch out for them Blades

The cup may distract them otherwise you'd expect them to do it...

I think their cup form has propelled them up the league as it is.

The sides above them ain't really up to much

This is swindon,  probably both

I'm confused as Harley doesn't appear to be the scapegoat any more but we don't appear to have a new one. Who are we all supposed to blame as the nexus of all failure now?

Well read it then

One wayward pass next week and he will be top of the pile again.

It's a scapegoat squad rotation system, to ensure full fitness of our scapegoat in the tough run in towards the end of the season, in order to make sure Harley doesn't get overscaped like poor Reckord.

Oh FFS Sums up the tinpot nature of Power and Cooper that they won't go into the scapegoat market when we need a new one.....

Can we just blame you Paul?  :)

Only 3 points separating 13th from 21st  :eek:

Anyone on a run in the bottom half can climb rapidly
Similary the reverse is possible

Tight old league this season

Yeah that'd be fine. Seems to go down well at home so don't see why it shouldn't work on here too :)

Both goals were brilliant. Ours came from a mesmerising Byrne run, great feet.

We're 7th and hoping to get to 52 points, Sheffield United in 12th are going to get the play offs.

I never went yesterday therefore no Scapegoat can be picked as I know best.

Win lose lose lose methinks

At least be a decent away turnout for Wolves ( 800 sold the other day ) and Preston who for some reason usually bring around 1000

A sound analysis. It's quite interesting to look at last season's and this season's table at the same point.

So for example we were a dozen points better off, and eventually squeaked the final PO place, but perhaps of greater significance was that the top 7 were covered by a mere 4 points...whereas this season it's 23 points. This suggests the top teams are consistent and reliable....which seems to be the top 5, then 6th place is very much up for grabs, with a clutch of inconsistent teams. Posh are in the driving seat, but 4 wins since Boxing Day in 12 games is less than convincing.

Blades are consistent atm, and are the sort of club, who could keep that going until May....how they react to the rigours of the cup will decide...

We're 2 wins in 10, with some tough fixture on the horizon.

True but we are also 2 defeats in 10 games (excuding the penalties because the 90 mins ended 1-1)  which shows we are tough to beat, but we need to turn those 6 draws into wins.

That said I think play offs are beyond us now but who knows, one good run of results and its wide open again.

Posh are capitulating and I think one of the chasing pack will take 6th from them. Whether or not that is us remains to be seen, although those around us aren't in great form either.

Hall will be fit again soon, and will come back into the team because we won't be able to afford to play Troy. We will then have our scapegoat back. ;)

I'm only doing league fixtures. 6th place is definitely up for grabs, Posh aren't much different to us, but do have the extra points, a couple of games in hand, and maybe might get some inspiration from the JPT...equally they're just as likely to fall apart.

However, we just don't have the goal threat atm....early season, Ranger, Ajose, N,Guessan, was decent enough front line and we need to score to win as we'll more or less always concede.

In the last 13 league games we have won 3 drawn 6 and lost 4 scoring 13 and conceding 16.

I feel that the problem is not defensively so much as it is offensively, averaging 1 goal per game in 13 games is not good enough but conceding little over 1 per game isn't that bad.

Over the same 13 game period Brentford have scored 24 and conceded 12, but they have won 8 of those games losing once.

Peterborough over the last 13 league games have scored 21 and conceded 22, they have won 4, drawn 3 and lost 6 and they do indeed look like they will miss out on the play offs if that form continues.

I was surprised to see that Sheff Utd have won their last 6 games in a row in the league, and in that time only conceded 1 goal, thats a good momentum for a team that were in the bottom 3 until a couple of weeks ago.

There's often a team that makes it into the playoffs with a late surge and it looks as though that team this year could well be Sheff U. Unless, of course, another team in the pack gets their act together.

They were in a misleading league position before enlisting Clough as manager,
As is our luck there league position has improved massively before we meet, Bradford too to a certain extent  :crash:   

Agree with some of the comments about our potency up front. I didn't go but with ajose or ranger up front yesterday we probably could have been 2 or 3 up at the break.

Smith missed a 1 on 1 yesterday and I'm not convinced he can play up front on his own.

What the answer is, I don't know, give ranger a new leg? Give N'Guessan a go up front with smith?

They played together against Crawley. Not much of a succedd

When you've non scoring forwards, then you have to try and get goals from other areas of the pitch....Chelsea show how it can be done.

In very tiny patches some of our boys have shown they can score a few..eg Luongo Kasim and Byrne, Harley chipped in yesterday, when Pritchard is back, he's shown he can score free kicks.  The massive gap this season is from centre back....most centre backs should be worth 3 or 4 goals a season...ours have managed zip, as far as I can recall.

Flint and Ward last season managed 4 in the league...not great but helpful.

Mason when he's played has shown he's capable of scoring.

There is only one answer...pay out on a decent striker or two......Smith and co are decent players but hardly prolific.

Really miffed we let Storey go out on loan...great time for him now to get some games,get full fitness back and score some goals....most natural finisher we have here except Ranger in my opinion.

We'll have Storey back soon, don't think he's the answer but it will be good to have more competition for places.

Still not convinced that Storey is the goalscorer we need but will concede that giving him a chance right now would do us no harm. The loan has certainly transpired as pointless.

WWell he has 47 mins today to show what he can do

Gnasher, not that I really want to see a picture of the Plug ugly cunt but, you did promise....

Looking at the highlights, TAH looked awful. Backing off too much.

Sheff U have Posh at Bramall Lane in the week, win that and they're 3 points off us and a game in hand, and puts Posh very much within their reach. Massive game, Posh win and they'll be 8 points clear of us and a game in hand.

Let's hope them Blades win, then.

Keep us in the hunt, I suppose - however faint..

When is Pritchard due to be back

Are we not playing Saturday then Reg?

Be more than 52 to guarentee safety I think, more like 55, everyone from us down still have a chance of the drop.

Blades v Posh is this midweek. So if they win, before Saturdays fixtures they will only be 3 points behind us with a game in hand

Ahhhh i see. Will be an interesting game then I agree.

There has been the odd side who've gone down with 52....like us in 81/82, Wimbledon joined us on 53. But it is unusual.....Coventry because of their deduction rather than looking at the Po's a couple of weeks back are now very much looking over their shoulder, and given their situation could very well go. Port Vale, are another who having been 2-0 up v us and looking to overtake, a couple of weeks ago, must now be starting to get a bit twitchy.

Of course for the likes of us and Vale, who have a bit of a cushion means if you find a win somewhere or get a few draws it makes all the difference.

If we do go down at least we can all have fun winning League 2 again.

Yes I believe we are due to play in Saturday....Dongs at home I think.

I think we've yo-yo'd enough recently for the novelty to have worn off a bit...

A quote that sums the game up from the Crewe forum.

Any highlights anywhere of this? Was in London all weekend and haven't seen any goals.

I'd have thought they'd have Sky Sports in London...

As always the highlights are on the official Youtube site.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YOR9UVlzTs

Thanks mate, I'll remember for future!

Byrne's assist!

If you have a google or gmail account you can subscribe to the channel. You'll get a notification on your phone when they upload a new video.

Blades one up at the mo,
Bunching up well at the top now

So they win 2-0....our remaining home games in no particular order, Wolves, Brentford, Preston, Sheff U, Rotherham;  not pretty, Dongs is a chance for a win Bradford City hard to beat. Not impossible to see 2 points from that lot

On the road Notts C, Shitheads, Tranny, Carlisle, Coventry...this looks a bit better perhaps offering the chance of 4 or 5 points...so the necessary 5 or 6 points is difficult but doable...

Ever done any motivational speaking Reg? Maybe Cooper would have room for you in his back room staff.

League 1 form guide (based on last 6)
1. Wolves
2. Sheff Utd
3. Rotherham
4. Preston
5. Brentford
6. Franchise

17.Swindon Town

Rest here: http://the72.co.uk/league-one-form-guide/ …

Something looks familiar with that list of names  :hmmm:

I can only assume you're taking the piss. There's no point in having another debate about it because it's all hypothetical until games have been played. In the extremely unlikely event that we end up with more than 55 points you'll probably turn around and tell us you saw it coming all along.

Don't take the bait

The Bradford "hard to beat" comment, they have won 4 out of last 24

Has Reg shat in your kettle or something?

He should be working for the Samaritans

and lost at home to Stevenage.

Yes, Reg. I know we lost away.

Or that place in Switzerland where people go to top themselves

Looking at the highlights Murphy can definitely pick a pass. Shame Smith didn't take the golden one in the first half. He could have easily gone round the keeper.

and Murphy was in a great position for Nathan T. to pull the ball back rather than go for goal.

You do realise that hard to beat means they draw a lot...14 the most in Div 3, so one suspects that Parkinson will set them up like last season, when they were the only visitors to keep a clean sheet at the CG.

They have still lost 10 though so they're hardly invincible.

Personally I think every team in the division will win some, draw some and lose some from now until May and that will ultimately have a say on where we finish in the table.

Bosh. Discussion over.

You boring bastard Tails! It's much more fun pulling stats out of our arses and summising how we're about the plummet down the table.

Well, for some anyway.

Yes, he had far too much time to think about what to do, shoot or pass, and in the end did neither!

Well Saddlers are at Sixfields tonight, with a decent chance of getting back in the PO picture and going above us...Cov have hit the skids and really need to get something tonight....the loss of Clarke's goals seems to have screwed them up lately. Few weeks back they were looking at an unlikely PO spot, now 3 off the drop zone.

The other guy Wilson was also out for 2 months, Coventry could well be the team that plummets, rather be in our shoes than theirs, even if they do have games in hand. Lucky they signed that prolific winger that used to play for us..

Coventry beat Walsall 2.1 then.....
Somehow, we are still in with a chance of getting the plays offs, how that has happened is beyond me.

Seems all around us are as poor as we are,
Sheff utd are the dark horses, on a late run

Massive win for them...leaves them 6 off the drop and 6 off us.

The division is parting its waters to allow Sheffield United to get that final Play-Off place.

I'm sure we'll do our bit.