Thetownend.com

Getting this in early on feelgood Saturday.
Top of the league, scoring for fun and £10 a ticket. I'm in for Tuesday  :)
Glue Pot Flash & co?

If I didn't live so far this would be an exciting prospect. Can't beat a cup replay under the lights. Especially now we are unbeaten four on the spin in the league.

Jibber is there. I'm at some corporate do in Bristol.

Great post match interview with Wellens on the twitter site.

He seems to have got it exactly when it comes to the fans and the club. Seems relaxed about whether Doyle stays or goes.

One question, though. If finances were tight a week or so ago re Caddis, what’s changed in that short time?

Donohue’s gone/going

I have a feeling that Donohue will accept our offer with a clause that if he fouls up with the law or goes to court/prison for his misdemeanors then he will have his contract conacelled.

Do we need another full back, though? Iandolo had a good game yesterday plus we have Hunt and Caddis.

Any spare dosh should go towards sorting out Doyle and Grant.

Caddis only here until January at the moment though.

When's Donohue's court case. Maybe they'll sign one or the other longer term.

I’m having a sneaky tenner on Baudry to score Tuesday. He’s come close a few times.

Power knows we will beat cheltenham on Tuesday

Swindon 0-0 Cheltenham in front of 6,025 with 511 Numb fans there.

Don't leave us in suspense mate, what's going to happen in the shoot out??..

Mate from work who is basically a slightly younger 4D is going so we will lose unfortunately. And he will have to take Wednesday off.

2-0 Win.

0-0 and the game is called off when the ref falls asleep after so many failures. :)

Is it straight to pens in the FA Cup now?

Of course in our 30 year Cup replay hiatus we do have a 0 in a pen shoot out, which equalled the world record held by Barca.

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=20080604

I can't make the game tomorrow, but think we'll win this one, hopefully within 90 mins, as extra time / pens is not ideal ahead of another tough game on Saturday.

Disappointed the game is not on iFollow but being its an FA cup game there could be a stream somewhere on one of the "foreign" channels, hopefully.

Attending for the first time in a while tomorrow. Anyone confirm that Spring Gardens is open until 10.30 pm? I got caught there a few years ago on a bank holiday (although resolved in the end as there were about 30 angry motorists).

2-1 Town !

I see on the Numb forum they are suggesting a crowd of as low as 4,500 with just 450 of them coming despite the short distance and cheap tickets, one of their fans suggest we will only get 2,500.

That last bit is a bit insulting to be hones. That would suggest a similar home crowd number to them which let’s face we have to be really shit to get remotely close to that.

That's because they're judging us by their own tinpot standards #properclub

Yes we had 2 low FA cup crowds last season but both were a fair bit more than the low guess and both against non league opposition, and we were playing pretty poorly at the time too and certainly not at the top of the table.

In other posts most of their fans expect them to lose, not so sure I am THAT confident we will easily beat them, what with the Numb hoodoo (yeah I know its worse away) but beat these and then a game vs PV who are not a great side but are difficult to beat and we could have a great money spinner in the 3rd round.

Away to Spurs or Arsenal would be good, or even West Ham.

Not that I am jumping the gun though, we have such a shit record in recent years in this cup.

You do get shocks in the FA Cup, and us ending the near 30 years of replay hurt and beating Numb would be right up there. Let's face it if we were going to do it going 1-0 up with a couple of minutes left would have been a good time.

BTW, BPV have new owners, a local business couple. The distaff half, seems the driving force and she's very keen to place the FC right at the heart of Burslem.  She acknowledges that government is likely to do nothing for Brexit voters, so they'll have to do it themselves.

It's probably no coincidence that their form has picked up.....

They bought the club 7 months back....

I'm sure you wouldn't need to pay to park this evening.  It's not even going to be a particularly large gate, I'd imagine.  Loads of free off street parking if you know where to look.

We do indeed have a poor run of FA cup results from replays.

Last replay won was home to Orient in 1990-91.

A run of 8 games without a replay victory, only 2 of those losses have come at the CG both being the last 2 replay defeats vs non league Eastleigh and Crawley.

Runs are there to be broken though.

And  :hmmm:

The end of last season.... so this campaign is first with the Shanahans i/c

After some poor recent seasons under Smurthwaite, they seem to have picked up this season, so could be one to watch.

Any sniff of a stream somewhere?

Another post, very ill educated about our attendances.

Our average this season is 7390

Just to highlight how clueless they are at £10 a ticket and in good form I predict us to have more tonight than their record league attendance which is 6005.

They do realise they are playing away tonight?  :)

:D

It's a fair point to say that attendances for mid week cup replays these days are down on league attendances.

We've had 2 in the 2010's  4321 v Eastleigh with 778 travellling and 2955 v Crawley.... it was very cold.

They were both low crowds vs non league opposition at the time, for the Eastleigh game we were sat in a very lowly 21st position in the league which obviously affected that attendance considerably and the Crawley game IIRC it was snowing and bitterly cold, again which would have had a huge impact on the attendance.

There is no doubt that we will not be close to our season average of over 7,200 which is why the club have decided, wisely, to lower the ticket price which could get a few fans back.

We are playing good attractive football and also sat in 1st place with a run of just 2 defeat in the last 8 first team games, 1 was at a higher league opposition who played a full strength side against essentially our reserves and the other was away at Crewe who were top at the time.

There is no doubt the crowd will be less than our average but I think with us being top of the league, a local derby and cheap tickets we will see a crowd of 6,000+ even if Numb bring their usual paltry following for such a short distance of about 400.

Eion Doyle favourite to score first on bet365. I've lumped on. Free money!

Trying to think when we've ever had an average attendance as low as 5500?? You'd have to go a fair way back.

I take it you’re joking. You do know he’s Cup tied

I reckon he could still score first in a game he's not allowed to play in.

I'm not joking that they've got him as favourite.

They’re fucking bandits. They’ve got prices for

Doyle - Cup tied
Grant - Cup tied
Anderson - injured
Isgrove - injured
Donohue - no longer at club
Ballard - no longer at club

Have you just found a stat that http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk doesn't track?!!! I can't see it.

He isn't.

He's just not allowed to play.

Certainly wouldn't call Swindon beating Cheltenham an FA Cup shock,    come on Reg, it's not like we're playing Liverpool !!.

One of the seasons under King I'd say.

I'm expecting a low crowd, which would be disappointing given the cost and the form we're in.

Also expecting a loss because I'm going :D

Worse, you can bet they know he's cup-tied too. Like when I placed virtually my only ever footy bet on Hazard to score before our Wembley final in 1993, and he wasn't even in the side.  >:( Upside, it probably saved me a subsequent fortune.

00/01 had some low gates, but Reading, Oxford, Rovers and City were all in Div 3 with us, so no doubt bumped up the average.

The 80's in Div 4 would be the most likely.

It'll be a shock to me  :o

Looks like we got close 02/03(?) though maybe not quite.

AHA, 5462

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Swindon_Town_F.C._seasons

Rose and DJ start

Why can’t Caddis be in the squad

Does the FA Cup have a 'must signed before the first game's rule?

Rule 15f players have to be eligible for the first match to be able to play in the replay

Ta. Didn’t know that.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EJwZXxvWwAA58iC?format=jpg&name=medium)

Pretty much as expected line up obviously without the ineligible Caddis.

Very weak attacking options off the bench.

I’m guessing there’s no stream online that anyone’s come across?

Luke Varney is out tonight for them, he was their best player in the league game against us, hopefully that will give us the advantage.

They have replaced him with pacey and tricky sub from the first tie, could be a test for central defenders.

Fryers mess up and nearly costs us a goal. Luckily the stand in striker Addai fucks up.

Pen to Swindon 2 mins.

Like London buses. You wait for an age, then...

Penalties everywhere

Doughty misses it and Flinders saves it.

Stupid sexy Flinders.

Lyden knocked the rebound over.

Luckily 'Half Empty' Hockaday can cheer us up after that penalty shock.

FFS Hockaday is pissing me off already.

Sounds pretty empty.

Stand in striker fucks up yet again when clean through.

The comms just said it seems quite full...ironically.

Great block by Bouldry

Hussey fucks up in front of goal.

Hit the woodwork now

Jaiyesimi sounding interested.

Yates hits the post with a header from a DJ cross.

It's hurting my ears

Especiall his emphasis on YAN rather than Ian in Iandolo......Yandow low.

Difficult to tell from the commentary if we are playing very well or not TBH.

I think that's actually closer to the original Italian.  :toocool:

Not with a broad Durham accent it isn't! Wellens calls him "I ando lo" so I will go with that :)

Apparently we are "dominating" according to Hockaday, the commentary doesn't come over that way.

Special mention to the townend, bunch of right twats in there tonight! Every time the ball goes in there they are wasting time throwing the ball around. Also results in us switching off, how brain dead are some of our fans?

HT 0-0.

Hockaday is moaning about that too.

Some half time ska:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLLL1KxpYMA

they are a bunch of Cocks full stop.

First time I have listened to BBC Radio Wiltshire in years but I find Hockaday very refreshing (this isn’t  wind up post either). He seems to be very balanced in his comments and tells it as he sees it. At least he is providing a realistic view of how the game is going.

One of my ska cd’s keeps skipping to the beginning of the track. When will this madness end?

we aren't*. it's 50/50 where we started the better, they probably finished better

* probably had more of the ball, but not quite created that much. we nearly look dangerous.

:D

Swindon are on 52% possession
7 shots to 4 for them
5 on target vs 9 on target for them
0 corners vs 6 for them

Nothing screams local radio like Stuff The Bustard.  :headhurts:

This post proves that you are a troll, Hockaday is a fucking negative twat....oh of course...so are you.

fucks sake

Any and all Ska just makes me think of the Young Ones.

0-1

Looked a long way offside

The FA cup is over rated anyway.

No giant killing tonight then. Reg will be pleased.

Hit the woodwork again

Doughty hits the post.

Is 4D there by any chance? :D

  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Shrews 1 up

Nope, will be on Saturday though  ;)

our tactic of turning their defence and playing the channels isn't quite working.

we've looked a bit better since the goal though.

Their keeper doing the injury routine again. Every game he just sits down with ‘cramp’

Oh dear. Was hoping that this wouldn't happen but sort of expected it after failing to win in Nam.

It sounds more and more likely to be "one of those games" where very little actually goes right.

Sidy coming on for Rose.

The fucking "quality street area" shut the fuck up Hockaday you knob.

Fizzling out now.

That was shit.

Fucking Cup chumps. Year after year, no matter if we’re good or shit, it’s the same old story.

Does my head in.

Someone clip that Hockaday NO WAY which was audible comedically high pitched.

FFS. You think you've done the hardest bit.  :doh:

Out to another shit team, only ourselves to blame as they were there for the taking. Really missed Grant, Doyle and Donohue. Strange tactics as well as we didn’t even try to get Woolery in behind, very slow and lethargic

Anyone seen a replay of the goal as did look miles offside, pathetic defending though and not the first time we’ve let a player do that down the wing this season. Just foul him, basics.

That fucking Hockaday must be the most repetitive irritating cunt in the world.

And Isgrove, and Anderson, and we can count Caddis as well.

We had half our first team missing. Shit to go out again but I don't think we should be too harsh.

I just think we’re kidding ourselves if we think that we would be half as effective if we don’t keep them. I hope Donohue comes back as Iandolo isn’t the answer and he always seems dead on his feet after about 70 mins.

BREAKING: Richie Wellens confirms Dion Donohue will be signing for the club tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, Tyler Reid will head out on loan to Wrexham until January. #STFC

Thank fuck for that on both counts!

Concurred!

I had a feeling about Donohue ;)

Goal's on what's currently page 3 of the BBC's live text commentary. Can't tell from the camera angle whether Addai was offside, but I thought Benda looked a bit suspect at his near post. Edit: Oh, it actually went across him into the far corner.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/50427038/page/3

Must admit that I was thinking how the hell are we going to manage in January if this is all we have.   Didn't realise we had so many first teamers out.  Fortunately we can now focus on the league,  the cash for progressing  would have been a help in trying to secure Doyles services,  however with Bradford losing as well things don't look quite as grim as they did.

And remember, we'd definitely have lost to Port Vale. One more blank weekend for our injured players to get fit.

He’s not even in the frame when the ball was played I’d say he’s a mile off. That said Hunt was brainless, stood off him and let him cut in, kept giving the same player too much time in the first half as well. Front post? The ball went in far post so not sure you can blame Benda.

If you look, there's a red shirt at the bottom of the screen who might well be playing him on. And yes, I subsequently edited my mistake.  :-[

Of those players mentioned, all but two should be available again on Saturday. (I think)

Hockaday seemed fairly sure that Iandolo played the scorer onside...make of that what you will.

Hope you're right FH, let's get back to winning ways.

If true he'd have to be 5 or 6 yards behind the other defenders looking right across the line. If he has done that then he really is hopeless!

At least tonight proves we need to pull out all the stops we have left to keep Doyle and Grant. Found the budget for Donohue let's hope we can do the same again.

Well, its Cheltenham, its the FA Cup 1st round. What did you expect.

First half fairly even. Missed a pen. Fluffed the rebound. Hit the post from a header.

Second half, they score. We dominate then on. Hit post from a 1 on 1 and a few half chances.

Not much more to say

Hockaday has already said it (several times tonight) If you don't score you don't win.    (Clever cunt).

What are you on about, we got to round one and a half  :)

Their goal was definetly offside   !  😡 It wasn't Addai over on the Arkell side, but the player by the Don Rogers sideline who passed it to Addai - I was at the perfect angle and I reckon he was at least a yard offside - the linesman was way behind the play and didn't have a clue - he was being abused way before the ball hit the net, and it carried on for most of the match  !

Didn't deserve to lose that 😞

FFS away with work...gutted after going to Salford but relieved when the result came in.

Fucking jinxed!

I would trade third place for a an away day at United all fuckin day long....let's get out of this league.

I thought we were good again, just lacking the end product. Cheltenham came with a game plan and executed it superbly, I think the vast majority will come to SN1 with a similar one - Sit right back, put 11 men behind the ball and hit us on the counter. One of those 'it just wasn't our night' feels. Full focus on the league now, secure top 3 and get out.

I fucking hate that ‘concentrate on the league’ shite spouted after yet another early exit. We still, clearly, have a problem with our home performances. They are still a fairly grim spectacle - such a contrast to the away performances.

Wonder if Donohue will get wound up on Saturday. Anyone know the situation regarding the accumulation of yellow cards.

Grant must be close - when is the amnesty?

Very disappointed with last night's result. We are not quite there yet - A good team is able to over come teams that come with that game plan. I remember the Macari team getting caught out every now and again. This team has got caught too often this season so far.We are better than last year, but not the finished article yet.

All this moaning about not being good enough is getting on my tits.   Ok, we're not going to win every single game and by all accounts we didn't play that bad.  What must be remembered is last night we only had half a team out there,  a full squad and we would probably have pissed all over them.  Rather lose this than lose Saturday.

Here's a question, posed as somebody who hasn't made it to a game yet this season...

It's clear we miss Doyle when he doesn't play, and for all Yates' hard work and endeavour he simply can't replace him as the centre forward. Is this because we can't live without Doyle, or is it because we are sipmly less effective with Yates playing that central role? I.e. would the best response to losing Doyle in January be to bring in another centre forward who Yates can combine with? Whilst Doyle is clearly bang in form, we seem to be creating a hatful of chances for him that any reasonable centre forward should thrive off.

Thoughts?

30th November.

Baudry and Doyle are on 4 yellows. I assume these are all league - must be 5 in the league before suspension

Then its 10 before 37 league games/second Sunday in March

http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/discipline/suspensions

Bear in mind that we effectively played a half and half side last night, so while the comment may be valid about last night, don't know that they necessarily translate into a full strength league side.

I agree, the FA cup is a nice money spinner and a good day out if we get a decent draw....but....its all suplimental.

Lets get out of this league and also that means less chances of bookings and injuries in the extra games.

We were well able to beat Numb but we didn't partly due to reffing and partly due to poor finishing and hitting the post twice and missing a penalty.

With Donohue back who for me has been missed the last 2 matches even though Yandolow wasn't too bad on Saturday, hes still a miss.

On Saturday with Grant and Doyle back, and with Isgrove and Anderson both on the road to recovery for me its all looking good.

Now just tie up the Doyle and Grant on a contract till at least the end of the season, along with Caddis and Donohue till the Summer and we will be back on it.

I see again the attendance was witheld by the club last night.

Whilst I agree in general our home performances aren't up to scratch for whatever reason, be it we tactically struggle to break down teams who park the bus or whatever reason, as posted above we didn't have a full team out so to put this into the same bracket as Northampton & Colchester would be a tad unfair.

 
I couldn't agree more.

So no shock then..... which isn't a shock. 

That's 9 replay defeats now going back near on 30 years.  8 games without a win v Numb, going back to PdC.  4 games for Wellens v Numb without a win, 2 draws 2 defeats,, and no wins in a cup game in his managerial career.

The die was cast, when there was a bit in the Adver about Doughty taking over pen duties from Doyle.

Positives... weather permitting the game v Bradford will go ahead.  Could be a biggy.

Relevant
About as relevant as the sun rising in Scorpio through the house of Venus

For me I like Yates work rate but hes not a clinical finisher.

Doyle leads the line well for a man of his build, his link up play is excellent in pretty much every game and bring other players into the game and works very hard in the channels, not what he is known for TBH but he has done well.

But, for me the clincher is that hes cool and calm and can finish given half a chance, he is a real sniffer.

Something we havent had since probably Austin. Ajose was decent but not a patch on Doyle for clinical finishing IMO.

We do change our style somewhat when its just Yates up front and Yates cannot play the same role as Doyle.

Assuming Doyle will be gone in Jan, what's happening with NA.   I noticed he played a bit in August early Sept for Grecians but seems to have been missing since.... assume injured.  If fit could he be a realistic replacement, someone to finish off moves  :hmmm:

Didn't go, but it's clear we did break them down, but just missed sitters when we had the chances.

No concern here - 9/10 times you win that game, but Cheltenham is always the one time we don't.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49924699

Out for a long time.

You have to think that with Isgrove, Anderson, Doyle & Grant we would have beaten them in both of those games. Created enough and did enough to win both games, but didn't. Cheltenham well drilled but little in terms of quality, constantly looking for the pacey little guy up front with balls in behind which Baudry and Fryers dealt with well all but once (my initial thought was their goal was offside but I was probably wrong and haven't seen it back).

What is it with Cheltenham?

And the Pox.

Some teams just have the "evil eye" over teams, ours are Cheltenham and Oxford.

We have similar over Port Vale (2 wins in 15 games) and Mansfield Town who have only beaten us 3 times, all at Mansfield in the last 22 games.

Up until they moved to the Kassam.... Swindon/Oxford was the most one sided derby in English football. We've lost 7 league games to Numb it took Oxford 33 years to register that amount.

We've yet to score a goal at the Kassam.

Today is the 54th anniversary of beating Mansfield 6-2 when Keith East scored 5.... the only time I've seen a Town player do that.

We then won 5-1 at Field Mill, with Owen Dawson and John Trollope, full backs scoring within a minute of each other in the 88 and 89th, which at the time and probably still is the fastest example of both full backs scoring.

Having seen the highlights back... Lyden's miss after the penalty... Jesus...

When Doughty missed, my brain went "Ffs..................oh, tap in.................Ffs!"

Just watched them on the BBC site. Jeez Lyden! Yates! Doughty! Jaiyesimi! Though we looked to have a pretty lenient lino for some of those chances. We really only have ourselves to blame.

the BBC summed up the match for me.


Iv been banging on about the finances this tie could bring, mightily disappointing. Missing so many key players BUT we still deserved to win. thats football. a win Saturday and il be over it. (until the 3rd round draw)

[quote author=Reg Smeeton link=topic=57964.msg1520401#msg1520401

That's 9 replay defeats now going back near on 30 years.  8 games without a win v Numb, going back to PdC.  4 games for Wellens v Numb without a win, 2 draws 2 defeats,, and no wins in a cup game in his managerial career.

[/quote]ahh but records are there to be broken,   oh yee of little faith  !!,   it will happen (one day).

It's much more likely that replays will be phased out before we win one.  They've already gone after the 5th round, inclusive.

Not having been for a while, I oddly enjoyed the experience last night. Weirdly thought the penalty had hit the post, not been saved. After the goal we played pretty well, and had enough chances to at least get level. On another night Doughty's strike goes in, or rebounds off the keeper and into the net. As time dragged (raced?) on it just had the feel that we wouldn't score, and in the end, faced with the prospect of extra time, I kinda didn't mind.
Why I ever thought we had a chance considering (a) the jinx against Cheltenham and (b) our record in the FA Cup and in a replays, I have no idea. Maybe just giddy with being top of the table at a decent amount of time into the season.
If I'd been there as a Cheltenham fan I'd have gone home delighted with a perfect away win (steal?) Took their chance, defended stubbornly, rode a bit of luck
Most sides as this level will struggle to keep standards up when missing as many key personnel as we were last night, not least the leagues top scorer. Its a terrible rule - a player on loan should be able to play in all the clubs games no matter what.

At least we can concentrate fully on the league now...*









*Love you Audrey.

Anybody know why ours is the only attendance not recorded (not in my paper anyway)?

The calculator broke and we didnt have a spare.

I noticed the turnstile wasnt working in the Arkells. Not sure if its linked. The bars would rotate without scanning the ticket

Hillier type scam....clearly remember the cries of laughter when the gates were read out back in the day!

Shouldn't make any difference these days,  there's no cash turnstiles so even if a turnstiles not working the ticket office should know exactly how many tickets have been sold.

  So Port Vale having beaten Numb, get a trip to Manchester City.  WE do this every year and because a year ago is quitea long time I forget.... had we prevailed would that have been us  :hmmm:

 I vaguely think yes, second round games get a number which carries into R3.

I kept sighting the cash and how important it was and how we have missed out on cup runs for years and years. port vale have got man city.

(que someone saying we would have been a different bal number etc etc) can still be jealous though!

No, all teams have new numbers

*citing
**cue
***ball

And we would have been a different ball number. We have this discussion every year, can't believe people are still falling for this.

For the 3rd round, nos 1 to 44 are the Prem and Championship clubs in alphabetical order. Nos 45 to 64 then follow in the order of the winners of matches as drawn for the 2nd round. For the 2nd round draw, we shared a ball number with Cheltenham and, had we beaten them (hah!) and then Port Vale, we would have been ball no 62 today and would have been Emirates Etihad bound!  Here’s the detail:

http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/nov/28/emirates-fa-cup-third-round-draw-details-281119

http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/nov/11/fa-cup-second-round-draw-111119

cunt

Cheers PF, the fount of knowledge re our annual missed Cup Draw.

 :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZr07AYWLSo

:D Sorry, couldn't resist!

How did we end up at Arsenal?

Mornington Crescent!

Ask Sippo.

 :doh: Now corrected.

😀

This annual debate “see who we would have drawn in round 3” reminds me of Jim Bowen and Bullseye - “let’s see what you would have won!”
... and “never mind we are concentrating on the league” is of course replacing “here are your tankards and tungsten darts”