Thetownend.com

Town are off to gatwick on Saturday, Crawley have won once in their last nine competitive matches but haven't lost to us in the last 4.

I'm going for a 1-0 away win, 75th minute Doyle goal.

Att: 3,343 (456 away)

Crawley 0-0 Swindon in front of 2,795 with 652 Swindon fans there.

Tuesday's win will act as a catalyst for some sock-pulling-up throughout a clearly talented but recently underperforming squad who look to use this as  a platform to recapture the promise of early season form, a galvanising and season-turning 3-1 win for the team and a massive win in football cliche bingo for me

Crawley like to have possession and keep the ball on the deck, they have a quick team who attack down both wings, they are playing some decent football under the Italian manager Cioffi (isn't that a posh name for a fanny fart? :) ).

They have only suffered 1 defeat by more than a single goal and that was at FGR (3-1).

Their recent form has been LLWLD whereas ours is LLDLW.

They have ex Swindon (hero to some) Jamie Sendles-White on their books although he has ony started 2 games since joing on deadline day, neither of those appearances have been in recent matches.

We have only ever lost at Crawley once (2014) in 7 games played there but have also only won there once (2011).

Draw. 1-1

Crawley is a strange one... after the initial run of 3-0 wins under PdC, when Evans was around...we've played them 9 times without winning.  They seem to score a lot and ship a lot, I'd rather go into such a game knowing we're solid at the back, I can see us shipping a few, and then it will down to scoring a few more. Never the most reliable method.

PS tell us more about Italian words for fanny fart, could come in useful  :)

Not sure I can help much with that one!I know that Zidanes nickname was Zizou, it was often Zizi when he was younger but that was changed as in French that means Willy (gentlemans sausage type willy) :)

Crawley also score a few and concede a few. I think it’s 23 for and against this season.

We were pissing all over them until we had 2 sent off in 10 minutes the other season.

I reckon a Grant needs to be careful.

DJ to start, please. Plus a rejuvenated Isgrove could tear them to bits.

Who drops out for Lyden?

Nobody for me, put him on the bench in case Grant is walking a tightrope.

I too would play DJ from the start at the expense of Woolery.

Figa Scoreggia Reg?  :hmmm:

2-2.

DJ starts. Lyden doesn't.

 :thumb:

These are the sort of games we need to win, hopefully we can, but on previous results can't see this ending goalless so will go 1-1.

Goal fest 3 - 3

Hopefully their mind is on there league cup match next week with Colchester that will put them in the QF if they win.

I cant seem to quote, but I've seen us win there twice JJ.

I hate that fuck ing bell.  Decent club bar at the Ground though.

We will win 3-1 easy 3 points

Quick tip for anyone going and buying tickets on the door. It was a fucking nightmare last season because they insist on selling tickets from a little hut outside rather than cash on the gate, huge queues, and very few staff.

Buy your ticket before enjoying said nice clubhouse at the ground, not at 2:55.

Seconded...

Only Dagenham was a worse set up.

Another tip take the Horsham junction off the A23 not the first Crawley one

Yes mate but one of those was a friendly.

Really annoyed not to be going to this tomorrow but family plans put paid to that - good terrace, good clubhouse, easy journey.

Where are the good watering holes where the town fans will be or are the majority just heading to the club bar?

Where’s best to park?

Housing estate, opposite side of the roundabout next to the ground

Cheers

Doyle says he’s not expecting to be recalled by Bradford in January.

Pre match a day lost in my life in The Jubilee Oak.
At least it doesn't smell of piss in here. Not yet anyway.
I'm assuming that the clear up of fag ends and chewing gum from the High Street was an effort to impress HRH Ronnie O'Sullivan. Or a tidy up ahead of the veteran car run passing through next weekend.

It's not such a bad place.
A bog standard new town and the locals are ok.

Anyway, seems like one hundred years since we last won here.
They have scored in every league game so far. A good day for that run to end.
The game could be just like heaven if we win or the end of the world if we lose.
Give it to DJ should be the play for today.
Keep the faith.

How are conditions looking?  Not very pleasant for football in Swindon.

Had to laugh last night before the Soton game, pundits asked if the foul South Coast weather would have an impact suggested should suit Saints as home side.... score 0-9

Let's hope that's true.

Holy shit, knew the game was on, but of little interest to me so haven't checked the score.  Saw your post and thought you were joking,  just, looked at the paper,  that's an amazing score - Let's hope we can replicate that score this afternoon.

Dry at the moment, but quite windy.
Rain forecast for before kick off so could be tricky.

Saints managed to disprove the belief that 10 men can be more difficult to play against.
Leicester, a good side, but seem a bit over hyped by the media.

Can you buy tickets at the ground today?

Yes mate.

Thanks JJ. : )

Anytime mate, hope that if you do go then the weather doesn't affect you and the boys viewing pleasure(!) :)

Two 9-0 wins in Premier League history (yeah, I know)
24 years apart.
Both winning teams had Schmeichel in goal.

I have seen a few high scoring Swindon wins in my 45 years of following this team, they are the days you never ever forget and come round so rarely.

To do it in an away game makes the achievement even better and to do it in the top division, against a side that are by no means utterly shit or even rock bottom is amazing.

I have been lucky enough to have seen the Town beat Bury 8-0, Kettering away 7-0, Aldershot 7-0, Bromley 7-0 plus 4 wins by 6-0.

Absolutely stunning result, havent watched any of the highlights yet but that is some achievement by Leicester.

The best thing is that it is apparently the highest away win in top flight history.  The airbrushing of history implying nothing of importance happened before 92 is hugely annoying.

Don't you realise that Sky created football in 1992?

Before then it wasn't the top flight just League Division 1.

It meant nothing to win it back then to supporters and players. Everyone did it, it was easy.

I have no problem with them saying the highest win since the start of the Premier League, but not "in top flight history" because it blatently isn't.

Whilst I’ve only done a very quick google I’m lead to believe it is the biggest away win in England’s top flight history

I’ve seen us take a fair few hammerings, too. Quite a few 7s.

It's not airbrushing, it is the biggest away win in the history of the top flight of English football. There have been higher margins of victory in home wins, but the previous highest margin of victory for an away win was 8 goals, jointly held by West Brom, Sunderland and Wolves. Thought you'd know that.

Apart from this one

Record away win: Port Vale 0–10 Sheffield United (Second Division, 10 December 1892)

(Was RCC around in them days)

If this is indeed true, which it could possibly be then I stand corrected.

I have been lucky enough to have not seen any defeats larger than the 6-0 home defeat hammering by Ipswich in the 90s. I didnt go to Villa, Newcastle, Forest or Bolton for the 7 goals games.

Top flight?

I’m pretty certain the second division isn’t the top flight.

Add Everton to that list. Seen the lot.

More importantly, can you get the Adver at the ground today?

Everton was only(!) a 6-2 defeat so thats just a 4 goal margin defeat.

Had the pleasure of the midweek 6-0 at Middlesbrough in the McMahon years.
A very strange game that. Could have been 6-6.
Went to the bookies for the odds on us getting relegated a few days later.
They weren't taking bets. That remains the only time that I've tried to place a STFC related bet.
The nice lady behind the counter did give me a sympathetic smile.

Away games vs the Smoggies were never much fun even when we were playign well!

The seats on the Stratton Bank were bought by the club as a job lot from Middlesborough after they demolished Ayresome Park. Useless fact.

DJ hoorah!

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHzj-QaWkAEF97U?format=jpg&name=medium)

Nice to see DJ start, looks a decent bench.

Nice to see they we have 2 number 11's  ::) Eoin Doyle is number 28 as normal.

Crawley are without their leading scorer Bez Lubala who has 7 goals so far, Jamie Sendles-White on the bench.

Exeter 2 up in the Clotted Cream Derby

Mmmmmmm clotted cream derby

TBF Exeter look a much better side than Plymouth did.

Exeter 3-0 Muff.

4-0

Thats a whooping.

Equalling Plymouths worst ever result at Exeter apparently, the same score as the 4-0 defeat on Christmas Day 1925! that will hurt the pasty eaters.

Crawley captain and centre back Tom Dallison is a big old unit!

Ivo Graham is in the house 👍😊

Grant gives the ball away and then fouls the player just inside our half.

Hes a nice lad, met him a couple of times.

Some lovely attacking movement by Town from Grant, Yates and Isgrove.

1-0 Doyle.

boom!

Lovely cross from Grant in the box taps in from 4 yards out.

Who's this on co-comms?

Some good Town pressure prior to that, Isgrove beating his man several times already.

Isgrove wins the ball and dribbles down the wing beats his man, puts in a cross but its cleared iot comes out to Doughty but his pass is poor, throw to them.

Dj loses the ball then wins it back and is felled in the area but its not a pen.

Ben Purkiss.

Town getting a few good crosses into the box already.

Corner to Town.

Awful corner by Doughty but the ball defelcts out to Grant who shoots and misses the ball then he wins the rebound and shoots again but cant get hold of it just outside the box.

Very funny too... should have won House of Games this week...lost to Phill Jupitus😵

Looking really dangerous going forward...DJ looks good too...

I am happy with that! Joops is a friend of mine and I have tried to get him to Swindon games in the past, he said he will come with me one game as he hates the new West Ham ground says it feels soul less.

Hes taken to going to games at East Fife of late as he now lives in Pittenween.

Pushed off the ball a little easily so far but he always tries to win the ball back as quick as he can, unusual for a winger.

Good start by Swindon. Best I have seen them play in the last few weeks.

Isgrove has the beating of Nathanial George every time he has the ball.

Donohue cross a bit too deep the ball come sout to Grant who is fouled 30 yards out centrally.

Doughty shoots but its 4 yards wide.

Good interception by Fryers.

Long shot 2 yards wide from Crawley, their first shot.

really positive start this

Nice cut out by Grant in our box, Crawley coming back into it the last 5 mins.

Hunt down injured.

hes up and walking around again.

Grant is up chasing down a backpass to THEIR keeper!

Easy claim by Benda from a deep cross.

Grant is definately playing a role that pushes him further forward than we have seen him play.

Isgrove down injured after a tackle by him, gives away a corner.

isgrove down as Crawley come back into it in recent minutes

he's on his feet again

Chance for Crawley but its blocked.

Isgrove down again.

think isgrove is gone

sub. on comes Anderson

Yep Isrgove off Anderson on.

Fantastic block by Benda on the edge of the box as they broke.

Some great attacking play by Town bt cant quite get a shot in.

Grant has covered every inch of grass already, hes like a man possessed.

Grant chases back and wins the ball in our box and is fouled in the process.

Town coming back into control the last 5 mins.

Grant is immense.  Everywhere.  Committed.

Grant limping badly since the last foul.

DJ loses the ball too easily in the middle.

Crawley create a chance but they fire it 10 yards high, bad miss.

I fucking hope Grant can carry on, hes playing so well.

Yates down injured with a bang on his head.

Anderson fouled, take a quick free kick passes to Yates who fires well high and wide from 25 yards.

2-0 Doyle.

Whats a move!

Playing mode football, scoring goals.  It's like the start of the season again.

That cross was poetic.

Anderson makes a break down the left cuts inside and backheals it to Donohue whos deep cross finds an unmarked Doyle who heads in with power from 15 yards centrally, great goal and move.

Anderson finds Doughty 20 yards out and his dipping shot comes off the bar.

I love Doyle.

Just what I was thinking. Some good stuff being played.

DJ looks far better down the left than the right.

5 mins of the 7 added left.

Lovely long free kick from Fryers to Hunt down the wing but he cant quite control it after a first touch it goes too long.

Be quite an achievement if we could get a clean sheet today, crawley haven't failed to score in the last 21 league games!

Crawley hit the outside of the post from a 25 yarder..

I think Benda may have even got a touch to it looking at the replay.

Long free kick taken by Doughty onto Yates head but its well wide.

HT 2-0 to Swindon, solid performance all over the pitch.

Decent half.

Some half-time ska:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2kLdZgv28s

A
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vCaRdCQCSuc

Can't fault anyone today so far really solid all over the pitch, Doyle has taken both his goals so well, real poachers goals. Grant has covered every inch of the pitch, he looks like he has run off the injury.

Anderson looks lively and DJ looked excellent down the left not so effective down the right yet though.

Benda made a super interception to save a certain goal.

We looks much closer to the early season performances so far than we have recently.

Perfect cross from Donohue for the 2nd, great move too.

Grant MoM for me so far.

No but the pink 'un will be available from 5pm onwards.

Doughty’s ball for the second big was lovely. His return aligns with a return to form. Coincidence?

Agree with all of that🙂

Hunt just having a word with Lyden...on for Grant perhaps?

From the Crawley forum....


5-0 would please me today :)

I did some stats last season. our win % is impressive when he starts. looks like the same again this season. a huge player for success

I hope not but it could well be.

As you were... Grant's come back out...good

Grant isnt moving as freely as he did but hes still on the pitch for now.

Every time Anderson has the ball he is fouled, yellow for the Crawley defender for another foul on him.

Yates goes down in the box under little pressure, the ref wont ever give those.

Lovely run down the left by Doyle and nice deep cross for Grant but the keeper picks it off his head.

They counter and win a corner.

Benda doesnt come out to claim the corner and a header goes well wide.

Fryers wins the ball and breaks but his pass is high and the wind takes it way behind the intended recipient DJ.

Crawley making a change already. Striker off midfielder on.

Long pass down the right to DJ who cuts inside and shoots from 20 yards with his left but he scuffs it straight at the keeper.

just got home who is the co commentator :hmmm:

Baudry brings the ball forward but his pass is too high and floats out for a throw.

Ben Purkiss.

cheers PV

Nice defensive play by DJ who sets Hunt off down the wing his long pass to Yates is good but Yates misscontrols it.

Always welcome Woolster.

DJ off Lyden on.

Probably means Anderson will have a free role now with Lyden sitting in front of the back 4.

We seem to be lining up a bit more defensive which doesnt suit our style so much.

Doyle tackles the defender as he breaks and almost beats his man to the ball as he runs past him.

Yates fouled as he passes to Anderson, free kick to Town 40 yards out centrally.

Att: 2,601 with 621 of us

Nice free kick by Doughty over the top and an unmarked Yates fluffs up his shot totally unchallenhed, the ball goes out to Doyle and his good deep cross is onto Baudrys head but he heads straight at the keeper.

Quite close again!

That's not good if that's how we now line up

3-0 hattrick.

Bobby Howe’s sexy football! :beers:

Poor Yates, he's seems to be struggling a bit still his mate's quite good

 :toocool:

Doyle is scoring too many goals!
Feels like is might go a bit Darius Henderson. Hopefully not...

Doyle, 3 chances, 3 goals.

He is really struggling in the last 4 or 5 games, some things he does so well then simple things he struggles with.

(https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/another-one.jpg)

Nothing a goal won't cure

I would love him to fire in a cracker, get that early season confidence back.

Crawley are chasing Shadows...

And still getting nowhere near them!

He scores, hes red, he talks like Father Ted... Eoin Doyle...Eoin Doyle...

Nice deep cross from Yates who is now playing right wing, finds Donohue but he cant fully connect and the ball is cleared, nice move.

Maybe a rest for a game or two for him?

Lyden is playing well since he has come on, made a few decent long passes on the break.

As we cruise into sixth place in league 2, the mighty Swindon comeback commences !.

Nice move down the right from Yates who finds Hunt in the box, hes tackled though, corner to Town.

Poor long corner from Doughty well over everyones head and out for a throw.

Lovely tackle by Anderson outside their box, he dribbles it into the box and finds Yates but instead of shooting he passes back to Anderson and its saved by the keeper at his feet.

Dribble down the right from Hunt and his early cross finds Doyle but its a little behind him and the volley goes well wide.

They bring on the huge target man Palmer.

Woolery on for Doyle.

We're so poor. Rubbish even. Can't believe this team thinks it can be automatic promotion contenders, let alone playoff contenders!

Great interception by Woolery who wins the ball beats his man down the wing and his cross finds Doughty 16 yards out but his shot is poor and at the keeper.

Town passing the ball through their defence with ease.

Purkiss summed the match up "men against boys" today.

This is a complete and utter stroll in the park. Piss easy...

Purkiss has been very good.

Doughty shot hits Anderson and then Yates both a yard out but the ball just wont go in the net.

I like his commentary.

4-0 town

Massive holes in Crawleys defence today.

4-0 Yates.

Hunt breaks down the right beats his man lovely low cross  finds Yates free from 3 yards out, I hope that helps his confidence.

Please don't ever let Hockaday come back.

Cross from Woolery. 

Another vote for Purkiss from me.

The match stats tell it all today.

Possession 65% to Swindon.

18 shots by Swindon to 6 them.

6 on target to 1 for them.

Massive goal for Yates that. Nice to have both strikers on the score sheet. Now to obtain that clean sheet.

superb dominant performance. brilliant

Apart from what he just said

‘You can’t ask for more than 4-0 away from home’

Yes, yes you can Ben, ask Leicester City!!

TBF I missed the replay :) I thought I saw Hunt :D

Good man.

That Crawley fan wasn't far out in the end.

Benda lucky to get away with that, bad decision making coming out for a cross and missing it totally, goal disallowed for them.

Anderson felled as he beats his man, free kick 40 yards out.

Donihue beats his man and crosses onto Yates head but its just wide.

Now we cruise into 5th  COYR COYR

Either Crawley are shit or we made them look shit!

We have controlled almost the whole 90 mins today, they hardly had a chance all game.

Can't fault the team today at all. Yates missed a few chances but made up for it with the goal.

Grant my MoM even ahead of Doyle, Lyden and Anderson both excellent when they came on, even Woolery too.

Excellent all round performance.

Donohue’s crossing ability is an unexpected bonus. Best LB we’ve had in a while?

Gotta be happy with that.

For me, yes he is.

I’d be embarrassed to be a Crawley fan watching that.

Hopefully that walkover will kick start our confidence.

Back to the start of the season, that was classy.  Could have had a couple more as well.

Grant was running the show today, managing to outclass the Crawley midfield by just standing still by the end.

We're one RB (Caddis?) away from being an auto promotion side...

Is that 13 in 11 for Doyle?
Possibly 8 in ?? for Yates?

To go away to a side who have been playing quite well recently and one match from the league cup quarters, a team that have scored in their previous 21 consecutive matches, totally outplay them all over the pitch, keep a clean sheet, scored a few brilliant goals, pass the ball aorund with ease.

Cannot fault the team today at all.

Thank you Swindon.

That result certainly helps our goal difference.   Puts us back on par with other teams, lets kick on now !!.

Wow - my goal fest prediction partially came true.

100% This.

I have no idea what Bradford did to Doyle, he is a proper sniffer in the box.

Why? What’s wrong with Hunt? He’s been one of our most consistent players.

I think that’s a jab at someone

I think today showed the boost we got from Tuesday’s late goal (despite all the undeserved whinging the team took) and the extra control we have in the middle with Doughty back in the side. Lots of good performances, especially Doyle, Grant, Doughty and Donohue. Hope Isgrove isn’t sidelined for long.

Not quite a 3-3 though !!.

The top 7 is looking soooo tight, although there are a few with games in hand.

You've been 'whooshed' Glenn ;)

I think it’s a dig at Reg’s previous comments regarding experienced right backs

Tight as a Nun's Chuff  :eek:

Nothing that a good LB shouldn't be able to manage.

Epic away performance...

Clinical!

Can’t complain with that. Fab win.

Injury comes with a dip in form....nice rest do him some good...not long I hope.

Yer wot?  :hmmm:

Donohue looks pretty assured at left back from what I have seen.  Good going forward, some good crosses and looks to have some steel and doesn't mind defending.

Superb. Grand and doughty in the middle are quality. Donohue was excellent. Doyle and Yates were all over their back line. I like fryers at cb aswell, 3 games at cb and no goals conceeded. No-one was close to being poor today

Really do hope it's in our hands to keep Doyle as their fans do want him back. Also a couple have mentioned they should sign Yates as well so same applies to him  ::)

my thoughts completely. he isn't been effective for quite a while and even at his best it was never 90 mins worth and overdue a rest. an effective Isgrove is fantastic

Great day of sport, rugby & football.

Nice to get another clean sheet.

As said already, hopefully Yates goal will help his confidence.

 been a good week... means we can now start to look up again rather than  down.

 Probably one for Venkers, not sure I can think of an away hat trick scorer since Coxy. Although that seems unlikely as we've had a few good strikers since him and the odd good season

We’ve got a lot more points with doughty playing this season... (don’t have actual stats but does feel like it)

Paynter certainly managed a brace (v Leeds 0-3) but did he ever get an away hat trick?   :hmmm:

There's been a few braces.  I can look it up but just thought someone like PV might have it in their head

OK it was Ben Gladwin at Spotland Aprol 2015.

Nobody else between Doyle and Cox.   Coxy got 3 hat tricks on the road that year, only won one and drew t'other 2.

Ben Gladwin vs Rochdale away in 2015

Yeah, for some reason I feel like Andy Williams, Benson or Connell in the PDC seasons may have got one? Possibly Kerrouche v Walsall? That's just a hitch though.

James Collins away at Stoke in the LC

I remember him being immense/unplayable v Notts County a few years back.

Speaking of away hat tricks & Simon Cox

Am I correct in saying all 3 of his hatricks for us were away from home?

I was thinking league games.

It was as tans says Gladwin.... he should have stuck at Town. OK his bank balance improved somewhat but money isn't everythng

Quite possible... we drew 3-3 with HPool and Scunny and won 4-3 at Sixfields.

Good game that, looked assured thru the bulk of it.
Nice to see Yates score one as does a lot of running with little to show for it for himself.
Doyle is class anywhere near goal.
Though Isgrove looked brighter than previous weeks, hopefully a rest will do him some good.
Good all round team performance  :pint:

Now to lose at home to Walsall  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

If anyone ever questions if you are a Town fan, show them this post.

Bayo has scored again today he's got one or two recently. He'll probably want to show something.

Only one player with more league goals right down to National Leagues North and South than Doyle.  Jerry Yates is joint second top scorer in L2.

#GatwickHattrick

 :D

There have been a few, the most memorable for me was Alan Mayes scoring an away hattrick on his Swindon debut, now that is a feat.

Not that impressive TBH, just the 2 all season in 13 games.

I've seen 2 4's on the road. Dennis Brown and Duncan Shearer.  Hat tricks Peter Thorne at WBA, Dave Mitchell at Brum. Kevin Horlock at Rovers.  Steve White at Watford, can't think of any others.

And the award goes to....

I was at all of those games except for the Dennis brown game when I wasn't even born :).

I was too young to go to the Alan Mayes hattrick as I was only 12 and didnt get to away games much unless it was a cup game!

Also Colin Gordon at Hereford I saw in 85, also Charlie Henry at halifax in 86.

Missed Mayes, CG and CH. They are pretty rare, relative to home hat tricks.  Likewise not too many have done it at the CG, for oppositions.

No StefTrol today?

Well, I never!

#Terminal4

#ExtendGatwick

Kevin Campbell for Arsenal is the only one I can think of.

He certainly is, but in addition, he works bloody hard all over the pitch, gets involved loads in the build up play, tracks back... fantastic player👍

Second game this season which was even better than the first(Orient).
We bossed the whole 90 with Doughty and Grant and Doyle all giving 10/10 performances. Cant remember 2 Central midfielders giving more impressive performances concurrently.
Everyone else a 9 for me, love the left back and the central defence partnership looks like it could be our strongest. Keshi was very impressive and that 3rd goal, unbelievable.
Great support 'n' all. Oh, and a mention for Yates who worked his knackers off and fully deserved his goal

Doyle (the ginger Pele) says that as far as he's concerned, he's here for the rest of the season and he wants to be at Swindon.

Of course, ultimately it's not up to him, but...

Is anyone else having problems with Sky Sports match report? It cuts out at 44 secs for me..

In the very early Hoddle days, away at Plymouth? Those are all pre 1997. It’s been a while.

Yup, same.

Sent from my Mi A1

#me too

Coulthirst of Barnet got one couple of years back.  They are rare... I've seen us ship 6 three times at the CG nobody scored a hat-trick

Brilliant performance. All players outstanding (except DJ who was off the pace) - Grant, Donohue, Yates and Doyle all 10/10. Amazing what a crucial part of our play Donohue is for a bloke who signed 2 weeks ago.

For as good as we were getting to 2-0, when Lydon came on and we went 4-3-3 we went to another gear. Crawley didn’t get out of their half for the last 35 and it could have been 6 or 7. Would like to see us stick with that. But assuming plan a is to play a front 2 it was good to see Yates and Doyle better connected to the midfield today with Yates dropping deeper to pick the ball up and bring others into play.

Bantams forum fans nearly all going mental about paying half Doyle’s wages to score 13 goals for us and demanding him back in Jan.  Makes I larf as most have forgotten how they were considering him not only ineffective but lazy at the outset of his loan.  Some questions had been raised as to the wisdom of loaning him to a direct rival in the same league, tbf.  

He’s certainly worth some results to us as, however well you play, it’s to no avail if the goals don’t come.  He has that most valuable of knacks.

Meanwhile, whilst taking nothing away from that performance, the Crawley forum confirming that that was a shocking performance by the oppo.  One said it looked as if we were having a glorified training session for the last half hour.  I was amazed to see us hardly closed down at the back.  Really, bar a couple of 5 min spells in the first half with a penalty claim and hitting a post, they showed nothing on the day, not even effort.

That said, today was one of those days when we looked a couple of leagues above our opponents.  Loving this squad and Lyden and Grant giving the base for the others to show their talent.  Baudry and now Fryers also looking a plausible pair even if they were not truly tested today.

Loved our second goal, sparked by Keshi’s back heel.  

A Brighton fan I follow on Twitter was in our end today and said it looked like L1 vs Conference.

Sent from my CLT-L09

That sounds a tadge gay.

I constantly remind my Bradford work colleague of the goals he scores.   :)

League 2 top scorer

The powers above need to sign Doyle and fork out a bit if necessary. We cannot risk him being recalled.

I think that if push comes to shove, Power will find a way to sign him permanently if that turns out to be the only way we can hold on to him.

On to Walsall Saturday - they’ve lost 5 on the trot.

One thing is for sure - there is no one outstanding team in this league this season. No Luton or Lincoln. Everything is up for grabs for whoever can be less shite than the others.

I’m a bit wary after yesterday as Crawley we’re unbelievably poor. The question is whether that was more down to us than them.

It really is open - compared with L1, where there appears to really only be 1 of the 4 relegation spots up for grabs, despite the genius that Bolton have had the foresight to appoint as their assistant manager. On the other hand Stevenage, who have spent most of the season bottom of our league, are hard to beat (they’ve conceded 21 in 16 compared to Southend’s 43 in 15) and have only lost half their games.

Crawley seem to be in the Macclesfield bracket - they’ll work hard to get into the top 10, then relax and start getting spanked by a good team such as ours. Because they know, and I expect subconsciously accept, that they’re not going to get promoted.

Thing is, nobody knows what the terms of his loan are. Neither club, for whatever reason, seem inclined to let anyone know.

Could be season long with no recall, option to sign perm in January or a renegotiation completely.

I’d imagine it’s more down to Bradford not wanting the terms made public. Their fans are already spitting feathers.

Not just Doyle but isn't Grant's loan up in January? The new left-back is also only on a short-term deal.

So many imponderables...as a wise man once said  ;)

On a side note - Credit where it is due, the pitch yesterday was superb. I know it's still fairly early in the season but it rained constantly for 90 minutes yesterday - lashing it down, not just a bit of drizzle. But it didn't cut up in the slightest and the ball was still bouncing and running true, even at the end of the game. Certainly helped our passing game, that's for sure.

Believe Grant's is. Would be a massive loss because he's been MOTM in more or less every game he's played. I presume we will try get Dave off the wage bill again and go in for Grant, who completely fell out with everyone at Shrewsbury.

The Eoin Doyle thread is currently at 23 pages on the Bantam Talk forum...it's a rather strange situation, that's for sure...

https://bantamtalk.com/index.php?threads/eoin-doyle.2889/page-23

I don't care if we don't make a single solitary 'new' signing in the window as long as we can tie up Doyle, Yates, Grant and Donohue (who I thought was excellent yesterday) until the end of the season at least, preferably longer.

Try this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv5glvkOgrQ

It's a pity that the highlights don't show the passing moves that led up to a couple of the goals in full.
Things of beauty.

Bad mistake from Crawley in letting us play out from the back, with little or no pressure for pretty much the whole game.
Regardless of them having an off day or minds being elsewhere, that was our best performance of the season.
Two wins in a week, hopefully back on track and with an opportunity to improve the home record coming up.

Reminiscent of the Us-Colchester-Cureton-loan saga of 05/06.

I'd say we have 3 we need to get off the wage bill, TD, Broadbent and perhaps Sanokho.

Zakuani is only on until January and is clearly ahead of Broadbent so we either part ways with both and get another in or keep Zak, probably keep him, good experience and probably happy with squad player status.

Sanokho could well be a gem but hasn't made it onto the pitch once and midfield is an area we're OK in so could be sacrificed, Wellens has said good things about Ralph Graham too so could come into it if needs be.

Toums is a given, we really have to hope someone somewhere is desperate for a player like him and we can negotiate his exit.

I really don't think Doyle fits in to how Bradford want to play so think it would be unfair on him to recall him and unnecessarily frivolous on their part, if a team like Bradford have to worry about hampering us then they've failed.  He can't go elsewhere so they would have to break their budget for him to probably sit on their bench.

Grant absolutely has to be kept on, like others said he was MOTM by a mile yesterday despite a Doyle hat-trick and other very strong displays throughout the side.  He looks like he's enjoying himself and was the last player to leave the pitch yesterday.

Benda is really coming into his own and is similarly enjoying himself, geeing the crowd up and hugging fans at the end, if there is any way at all we can sin him permanently then we should.

Donohue has a brilliant left peg and is defensively sound too.  I assume insurance money from Conroy's wage (something mooted at the time of his injury) is covering his and Zakuani's so now that we know his season is written off we should be able to keep them both (or another CB) regardless of outgoings.

I imagine we'll look to send Twine out on loan too.

The starting 11 from yesterday, replacing DJ with Anderson, is probably our strongest team and is backed up with a really strong bench.

I know nothings about Bradford’s ins & outs but I imagine once Doyle’s wages (or a percentage of) were off they’re wage bill they *probably* spent them elsewhere.

So, I guess they’d probably have to move people off their wage bill first before they took Doyle back.
Let’s say they’ve used Doyle’s wages to bring a defender in on loan - will it unbalance their squad to send a defender back to call a striker back?


I know if I were a Bradford fan I’d expect the club to do what was necessary to bring back the leagues top goal scorer...

I think thats a little unfair on DJ, it was his first ever start for us and when he was out left, his natural side, he looked very good.

That dropped off as he went to the right side when Isgrove went off.

He kept trying to cut inside onto his left foot and Crawley found that easier to deal with than having a natural right footer on that side as Woolery proved when he came on.

Top scorer outside of the Premier League right the way down to Aaron Martin at Guiseley on 14 goals in the National North division.

I agree, the man is a revelation in every single game he has played at this level.

We need to break the bank to get him and Doyle signed up, I like the look of Donohue who is a far better left back than we have had probably since Toffolo or even before him.

Reminds me very much of that  :nod:

I really liked what I saw of DJ...very exciting prospect who I'm sure will only get better.

Cheers. ;D

Talk of the Town with Doyle and RW.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p07s5b9q

Two further points on the Doyle loan

1.  The Bradford Forum mentioned the proposition that all season long loans may have an implied break clause regardless of the terms
2.  I have a feeling this may have cropped up before but does a season long loan extend to the play offs?  Obviously, if we were came up against Bradford...

  Some interesting fixtures next weekend at the top end of table....

  El Glosico
  Bradford v Exeter
  Crewe v PV (a local derby, they don't like each other much)  PV going OK relative to recent sesons.

I loved the new, to me anyway,  Eoin Doyle song. I was singing that diving home.

Good display although I didn't think it was a foul on our keeper at the end!

621 Swindon at Crawley. Real good numbers that considering the weather.

Must’ve been a good journey home!

Which song is that Donkey?

On iFollow its hard to make out any singing from either set of fans TBH.

According to this, we are paying Doyle the bulk of the salary he was on at Bradford

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/17845325.city-boss-gary-bowyer-aim-shop-eoin-doyle-cash/

We've got Pele, the ginger Pele,
I just don't think you'll understand,
He's Ritchie Wellens' man and he's better than Zidane,
We've got the ginger Pele.

Cheers KT, not heard that before.

Cheers KT, just about to respond.

To which tune are these words sung along to?

Achy breaky heart.

Cheers mate.

 :thumb:

Still think I prefer PV’s suggestion for a Doyle song.

It was ruled out for offside, not a foul.

He really does sound like Father Ted!

Fthr Jack:  Feck! Arse! Beer! No!!!

Mrs Doyle: Milch teeeee faaatherr?

Fthr Ted:   No thank you Mrs. Doyle!

Mrs Doyle: Oh go on...

I heard a different one. To the tune of 'Too good to be true' by Andy Williams...

I love you Eoin something something my life...
I love you Eoin, I'll let you shag my wife....
I love you Eoin, something something ginger hair...

OK, so I wasn't really paying attention. Someone can fill in the gaps though, I'm sure 😉

That's a very interesting article... surprised no-one else has commented on it. It's the key to the whole issue along with the fact that he's out of contract at the end of the season.

That also featured, yeah.  The other one had a good 3 or 4 minutes non stop at one point.

I love you Doyle, you are the love of my life,
I love you Doyle, I'd let you shag my wife,
I love you Doyle, I want ginger hair too

Sounded like Oh Eoin Doyle where I was. Details, I suppose.

Probably was to be fair...

Cheers for that...all clear now..

See he's been a free agent since the summer. Hopefully gets a new club soon.

Still in the process of recovering from a serious injury I understand.