Thetownend.com

I'm going to miss this game  :(

Think we'll lose this 2-1 Att: 7,662 (362 them)

Doyle to score for us  :footinmouth:

Swindon 0-0 Crewe in front of 7,495 with 311 Crewe fans there.

These 0-0’s are a regular prediction now, then?

If we get a CB in and get Grant back in midfield, we’ll sneak a far from comfortable win. Wouldn’t say no to another 1-1.

If we don't get a CB in, or no-one recovers, shut the game down and get out of there with a 1-1.

If we do.... 3-1 Town. They'll want to come on to us for an open game.

Maybe ;)

Last two games against Crewe they've completely battered us and we were fortunate to lose by a small margin in both games. They were my dark horses for promotion before the season started, a very good side who are organised and play decent football. With our current absentees and likelihood of no Doyle, I'm going for a 1-3 away win.

Artell has figured us out of late plus Town are tired and depleted.

I'll go for 6-0 Swindon  :)

Round dodger!

I was hopeful that their signature of Flitters' golden boy Lancashire would throw them off track, but as usual the half-arsed, useless wanker is typically nowhere to be seen.

I won't miss your bad guts  :) be back for Port Vale or Exeter  :pint:

This has defeat written all over it. We're a very good side but there's only so many injuries and suspensions a side can take. Head says 4-0 defeat, heart a tight 1-0 win.

I think I'll take a point considering our injury problems.

A point would be excellent under the circumstances.

We are top of the league having lost one game in 12, winning 9, unbeaten in 7 at home since 28th Sep.  We scored 5 in two games before Doyle slotted in, so even if he departs, we should go into this in a positive frame of mind.

2-1 victory with both of our goals coming from corners.

It's not Doyle I'm worried about. We only have one fit CB.

Pfft, who needs centre backs these days.  Doughty has played there before, anyone can do it.

eleventy-one to nil, in their favour. Can't re call it. Feels like a loss.

First time in a while that I've been fearful of a defeat, I think we'll lose if we go in with a patched up defence.

Sent from my CLT-L09

Crewe's GF and GA are almost identical to ours which would suggest our defence needs to be strong. Here's hoping the week off will have done us some good in that regard.

So will theirs...

They have scored 4 goals three times and 5 goals twice which skews the goals total somewhat but obviously have the firepower, albeit like us winning against the lower half teams.

Missing my first league games in many years as wife decided back in the summer that a visit to number two son in Perth Western Oz was necessary and I fly out tomorrow. Had I known that we would be in such a great league situation would have made absolutely no difference! Will have to be on the ifollow the rest of January which I do not really like but just hope we can keep things moving along nicely.    :nod:

Have a great trip, Ticker. Watching on ifollow isn't so bad, I've been enjoying it this last month being away. It's like how it must be to support one of the big Premier league teams, so easy!

Crewe were quite soundly beaten at the weekend by Barnsley at home even though they had more possession, they have been playing with a midfielder at centre back similar to us, due to a few defensive injuries and he was found out by a decent Barsnley attack line.

Barnsley hit them from the off and outplayed them for the first 25 mins and got a very early goal.

They looked pretty suspect to crosses put in early and had trouble clearing their lines.

Barnsley won with the last kick of the ball after the Crewe keeper Jellyliner(sp) came up for a corner and they scored on the break.

They don't looks that solid at the back, much as we don't so there are goals to be had for certain.

Crewe are hardly world beaters, just because they beat us fairly easily in the first game that was only courtesy of 2 very late goals. We are a very different proposition now to back then.

Their form in cup and league recently has been LWDDWDLWWL so only 4 wins in 10 games with 3 defeats, our last 10 games have been WWWWWWWLWD.

Even with no new Incomings we could still field a half decent team

Benda

Caddis
Broadbent
Grant
Hunt

Rose
Doughty

Isgrove
DJ
Woolery

Yates


 

If we can get in a centre-back for Saturday and move Grant back into midfield, then we might have a chance with this team.

Yeah all thats really lacking is cover at CB, I (and Grant himself) want Grant put back in the middle where he is far more effective.

I've a sneaky feeling that Fryers and/or Baudry might be available. Wellens has a habit of exaggerating injuries.

Yeah that passed my mind too, I certainly hope so.

I'd rather see Doughty or Rose as CB than Grant, but as Flashheart says we may well see one of the injured players return.

I think letting Zakuani go means Wellens is comfortable with someone returning and/or Broadbent filling in.

Oh deffo Grant in midfield if we can get in a cb or baudry/fryers are fit.

It is still a pretty decent 11.

What was Baudry’s injury? Can’t see Fryers being fit in a week.

It was stated as 2-3 weeks at the time.

Zakuani's hamstring went so he was injured anyway so imagine that factored into his release as well.

As for Saturday we can field a half decent XI but the problem is that's it, other than McCormick you wouldn't say we have a single 1st team player to go on the bench assuming neither centre backs miraculously recovers.

The two highest scoring teams in the league, although we've just lost our main goal threat.
However, Yates is the 2nd highest scorer in the league, and Anderson recently bagged a hat trick, so we should still be OK attacking wise (hopefully).

A well fought 3-2 victory in front of 7,800.

Anderson is out for 6 to 8 weeks.

I wouldn't trust that timeline!

I dunno, looked like something (Quad?) let go against Vale. He was pretty much just hopping around to make 11 players for the last 10 minutes. He’ll be out for a while yet I would expect.

Ah fuck, forgot that.

Got my ticket online earlier and it's a lot less busy than before Cambridge / Bradford. Would be a shame to drop below 8K but I guess there's a bit of negativity around at the moment.

I wouldnt really say negativity, I would say its more a lot of disappointment at the whole Doyle situation.

The only negativity has come from those who do not attend/watch games and are always negative, makes them shout louder.

These match threads are starting earlier and earlier which is surely a (small) sign that there's a lot of excitement around the club at the moment.

I'm buying into the Wellens mind games re injuries theory.  We'll have a team.  I'm going and expecting a good game and a good win.

3-1  Att 7030 with 309 Crewe.

Silver lining and all that . .

How's Anderson being out a silver lining?

One of the best attacking players at the club when on form, which he has been this season, massive loss IMO.

Exactly. Just looked back and after the Vale game he described him as "another Nathan Thompson get rid"  ::)

I think he's just doing it for a reaction. I've seen a few controversial comments from him and chosen not to bite.

I’m sure it’s nothing to do with his skin colour though

Mother Brown is almost as trolly as Sir Dread Ken. Since we have "Yellow troll" may I suggest Mother Brown be given the mustardly title of "Gamboge Troll"? It does after all, have more Caramel and Umber like hues so is a perfect fit.

I do struggle sometimes to understand a fucking thing you post!

SRK hasn’t been around for a while, more’s the pity!

Sometimes?

2-1 to the railwaymen

What is there to struggle in understanding from the previous post?

Anyhoo, as you now live in Greece, Gamboge will be a familiar colour for you at nearly every sunset. I use it (along with other hues) when painting sunset landscapes. Try it, it's quite cathartic.

Down to the bare bones for this one. Fryers and Baudry both 2 weeks, Anderson 5-6 weeks, Doughty struck down with illness all week and not trained, Lyden suspended.

Come out of this game unscathed would be good.

What, another one?

So who will we have for midfield? Rose and? McGlip? Or maybe he'll try Curran in defence to shift Grant into midfield?

Or maybe this will accelerate a signing or two...

When is May sent back!

*shudder*

Fuck it, let's go with a 3-2-5! ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK.

Going to be a hard game,  especially if Doughty is unfit.
Fuck it,  2-0 to th e Town,  both from Yates,   We are Swindon,  we score when we want.......................

Not confident now after the things that happened this week.

Defeat. 1-3

This is a difficult game to predict - our injuries, Lyden’s suspension and Doughy’s illness mean we don’t really know how we will line up, although what is certain is that we won’t have any game changing options on the bench. Also a couple of the likely starters - Isgrove and DJ - have generally struggled to last a full 90 mins, partly no doubt because they both had lengthy spells out injured.
However we don’t know how well off Crewe are in that regard - someone earlier in the thread suggested that last week they also had some injury issues in central defence.
We have the two highest scoring teams in the division, both defences conceding more than a goal a game, so everyone will probably expect some goals, although football often confounds these types of expectations so don’t rule out a 0-0 draw.
To be honest, I would settle for a draw now, and in the context of a target of 8 points from the remaining 4 games in January (including tomorrow) that would be fine.
However I have a feeling we will sneak a narrow win 1-0 or 2-1.

We’d be better off playing one of our own youth players.

If (and it's a massive if) RW is telling the truth re injuries and no incomings before tomorrow, what side do we put out? Any advance on the below? That XI fills me with dread up against a very very good side who tore us a new one in the Autumn.

Benda

Caddis
Grant
Curran
Hunt

Rose
May

Isgrove
DJ
Woolery

Yates

Broadbent can play thought, can't he? I'm sure he'll be selected ahead of Curran.

There's something odd with Curran. He's, genuinely, been on the bench for every league game for which he's been fit, stretching back into last season. When we've had a fully fit squad, very competent players have been left off the bench to accommodate him.

However, he has only ever made 3 sub appearances - each of them coming in injury time, when we are several goals ahead. The sort of point at which RW might as well bring you or I onto the pitch.

I really don't see him starting a game, regardless of how desperate we are. Broadbent would be far ahead of him in the ranks.

Of course. I knew I'd miss someone.

I think it would benefit the defence (and the team) more if Grant was in midfield.

Key tomorrow is midfield so we need to get a Grant back in there. So sack off May and hopefully we can pull a rabbit out of the hat and fill the centre back void.

+1 for Grant in midfield.

Assuming no incomings or miracle recoveries, that leaves us with Broadbent and Curran at CB? Or, move Caddis to CB and find a full back from somewhere.

Actually... why haven't we recalled Reid?

Things look a bit bleak on the pitch just now. I have a hunch that rather than give up three points to our biggest rival, Wellens might just announce a new loan signing or two today, or knowing him, when the teamsheet is released tomorrow afternoon.

Quite - without any shenanigans from RW re miracle recoveries or inbounds, it'll be our weakest XI of the season by some distance.

In the words of Oasis....Definately maybe.

Apologies if i have missed it but do we know how long Baudry is out?

RW said "another 2 weeks" yesterday.

Blimey, time to put the sharp tools away everyone

Plenty of tools on here, not many of them terribly sharp ;)

Cheers mate. He will be back tomorrow then

last time he said that someone was ruled out, they played..

mind you, perhaps it wasn't the wisest (Fryers)

Reckon Baudry will play tomorrow, Doughty will be on the bench and possibly a surprise. Have a sneaky feeling as well that Ralph Graham might be in the squad too.

Got to love the OS though. Not bad for a first year pro. Proof that any of us still has a chance to make it in the game.

www.swindontownfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/midfielder/ralph-graham/

I know he is ginger but he looks a bit burnt in the picture as well!

It's almost as if they're taking the piss!

I think they may risk Curran tomorrow.  The worry with him I think is standing-up against the Div 4 pressure of big lumps, crosses and high balls.  I doubt Crewe present that problem.  Grant in front of the four can add the protection for through balls and Caddis/Hunt are pretty capable at holding the flanks.  Rose & Grant in the middle is secure enough and then the front four are released to cause problems.

Let's just hope Hockaday is not involved in the commentary tomorrow,  thankfully I'll be at the match so won't have to listen to the negative twat.

Ralph Graham is currently on loan at Hungerford. I went to see them over the holidays in the hope of seeing him play but he was only a sub and didn't get on.

He played in the next game, scored a goal, I believe, and was a class above the rest.....according to a Hungerford-supporting mate of mine.

Wellens rates the Swindon Ray Parlour very highly, one of the few youth players Wellens actually likes the look of.

When did Graham go out to Hungerford onloan? has it ended or has he been recalled?

Didn’t a youth teamer have his first game away at Crewe and score a screamer.

Led to all sorts of kerfuffle. Tom Smith.

What’s the point of having young ‘uns on professional terms if you don’t use them when circumstances dictate.

Wellens said that Graham was nowhere near the first team during the podcast live event. He was on the bench against Rovers in the FLT the very next day but was overlooked for Parsons and Holland for minutes.

He went to Hungerford before Christmas but it wasnt announced.

I think he will better off served by getting game time there rather than sitting on our bench anyway. Next season it could be a different story.

Still there as far as I know. I think he went there just before Christmas.

There's a whole piece on him at Hungerford in today's Adver, sounds like he's doing well:

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/18151099.hungerford-town-manager-ian-herring-provides-update-ralph-grahams-loan-stint-hungerford-town-national-league-south/

Used to see Graham on the train everyday from Stonehouse to Swindon when I worked in Swindon, he’s very hard to miss with that hair.

Could leave Herring in a pickle if he gets recalled.

Ahh gotcha. I knew he's gone out but thought earlier as was thinking it was a month. So he could be back before end of the month? As others have said though, probably better to get game time in Tier 2 of the NLS.

I suppose it could cause a little tenchion  :pint:

Bamboorollmop   :)

Seems like they have same sort of problems we have in defence, so this will be 3-3.

Perhaps Wellens will pull a Donohue and have a new signing tomorrow that’s been kept quiet. Can only hope...

Nice!

I'm hoping my ropey WiFi connection will allow me to watch this one, otherwise it's a PV/jiff combo, which isn't a bad back up plan to have  :)

Win by any means necessary.

First home game of the season for me and we're certainly up against it. Management / players / fans need to adopt a siege mentality and just give it everything today.

Hate to say it about a home game but I will be happy with a point, however I predict....

2-1 Yates x 2

I’ll be watching behind the sofa with a friend

Bloody hell...I reckon that label's just missing a skull and cross bones ...enjoy :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Strangely enough, it’s not a bad drink - especially at €3.60!

A neighbour dropped off a bottle of home brewed wine - he’s got 56 litres of it. God, it was awful. Undrinkable stuff.

Not that I told him that!

Occasionally when we are in Turkey we travel to Samos in Greece. They do some pretty nice wines there.

First home game of the season for me, got a Crewe fan coming with me so hoping we at least put on a good show. 1-1

Wouldn't be surprised if we have a new signing today, Wellens does have a habit of keeping his cards close to his chest

Wouldn't be a bad time to do our first 0-0 of the season.

your a bundle of fun :)

Wouldn’t it be fan fucking tastic if the team sheet comes out and Doyle’s name is on it.

Haha fun for me nowadays is a Saturday, cups of tea, my living room and soccer Saturday from 12 till 6.

 0-0 or 7-7 I'd take a point, keep Crewe at arms length in the table and wait for some players to return

Lots of goals in this fixture of late, 32 in the last 7 games here. So 0-0 it is then.

Hopefully we can defend better than last season.
Their manager storming off into the stand and taking his seat still wearing the bib was good fun though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOR1JGxVVuM

Back to the game...I think its got draw written all over it, both teams having almost all their first choice centre backs unavailable, both teams with their best midfielders playing as fill in centre backs, both teams have their leading scorer unavailable for the game.

This could well be a mix and match team we put out but hopefully one or 2 of the unfit players return for us today.

Hopefully birthday boy Woolery has a good one today.
Has done some good things this season but continues to frustrate on too many occasions.

Absolutely, there definately is a good player in there somewhere.

One minute a world beater, the next a meat beater.

If he could improve his getting shots on target or improve his crossing and he would be a really good player, his heading has improved a lot as has his throw ins but the critical end peice is still too often wayward.

Which is why he is a second division player.

I see Lancashire is currently one of their injured defenders. Pity.

Indeed it is.

Apparently hes over his injury just not been picked, a bit like Robertson for us last season. Crewe fans have the measure of him and say he was their worst Summer signing.

So what happens when we go up in April? Room for him in league 1?

If he improves then definately, he has shown he has the capacity to improve some parts of his game, his heading has improved a lot over the last season, if he doesn't then he will be a bit part player at best.

Indeed, that’s how I see it.

Any news on Lydens red? Presuming we overturned it

Heart saids 1-0 town but head is saying 3 nil drubbing by crewe today  :no: att 7890

I think someone has filled that with methylated spirit

Sent from my CLT-L09

You do know that Google translate agrees with Benzel and says that says Methylated Spirit. :D

Really?

Ah well. In for a penny . . .

Definately Maybe.

(https://media3.giphy.com/media/XEmDbp41LHym9Perkd/giphy.gif)

He’s also third in the whole league when it comes to assists but that seems to get ignored by many.

He was fucked by the end or the Bradford game, hardly surprising though as the Christmas period will have caused a lot of fatigue especially on players that rely on pace. Hopefully the gap between games means he is fresh today.

I think no manager has known where to play Woolery in the past, what role is best, hes not a striker, hes not a winger, he is versatile but he needs to specialize in one position to get the best from his ability.

  It's a good feeling going to the match anticipating that they will work hard as a team, despite any (temporary) changed personnel.

Indeed, even when we play shit, which is rarely, every player wants to play for each other, theres definately a togetherness about the squad this season rather than a team of individuals.

I am actually looking forward to games again, enjoying the football, most of the time, I think most Town fans are apart from the most cynical negative ones, of which there are a few.

For the first time in years we are a team again. Thats from the management down.

Where Wellens plays him is his perfect position. As he’s able to win things in the air with a couple of flick one for Doyle already this season. Also allows him to get down the side of the opposition defence.

7 assists and 2 goals is a decent 1st half of the season for a wide player.

100%  agree.

Don't know if anyone said but Wellens is on 5 live after 2 apparently and then on the Football league show, on something called 'Quest' later tonight.

I now feel its inevitable we'll lose today! 

Yeah I don't know why but I hate all the publicity and expectation, the hyping up of us. We often tend to fall flat on our faces when that happens, the old cynics that we are!

Not confident but 3 points today would be massive. For all sorts of reasons.

Yeah one of the first games this season I have not gone into it confident we will, or should get 3 points TBH.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EOAPEeHWAAAvZ13?format=jpg&name=medium)

Grant still at CB by the look of it.

That's how I'm feeling. Expecting defeat, so anything else will be a bonus!

Blowing a gale out there - luckily it's two footballing sides today.

That’s some bench!

Doughty starts so will mean Grant will be in defence again then shame but it's a decent enough starting XI let's just hope we don't need to use the bench as there is absolutely nothing on it as you'd expect.

XI and bench is no surprise.

Let's see how this goes....

Great news Doughty is fit enough to start. That's the only bonus. The bench is terrifying. Take a point, move on and get bodies back.

This.

Bit of perspective here, over the last 2 or 3 years prior to this season we'd probably be calling that starting line up decent.

Moved to the right thread.

:)

Take away Luke M and the average age of the bench must be about 18

Just wondering why it's all been quiet on the"incoming"front given all the outgoings and injuries

It is decent. Better than anything we put out last year.

19.5 even including LMc its only 21.5!

Wellens was in the Adver moaning about agent fees pricing us out of players either yesterday or the day before.

Plus I'd rather 'sacrifice' one or 2 games to get the right players for the next 20 rather than get stuck with players that don't really fit and were more desperation signings. Bit of patience needed!

Something many Town fans are not known for, lately anyway.

Fair enough but our defensive dilemma has been pretty alarming,especially having to push Grant back, its like losing 2 players

Is the audio stuffed on iFollow?

AH on BBC Wilts has just mentioned that Crewe have a makeshift CB pairing this afternoon as well, one of the being a 36 year old RB. It sounds ripe for a complete harassment by DJ and KW.

Yes

Well yeah but in 2 or 3 games we could have both Fryers and Baudry back and end up missing out in other areas because we’ve paid over the odds on a centre back out of desperation. It’s a balance.

Yep.

That starting lineup is perfectly capable of winning. Grant is nowhere near as bad at CB as some are making out.

Cue him having a mare today

Hockaditis?

Its not so much a case of Grant being bad at CB its more of a case that we have nobody to protect the defence in midfield, something he does better than anybody else.

If it's Hockaday again, I think I prefer this.

COYR!

No way of knowing who it is....the audio is awful. Continuous stutter.

Definate very strong breeze out there to say the least.

Its Steve White.

And yes the audio is shot.

Benda collects the first cross of the game easily.

Town have the stong wind behind them this half.

Game being played at a fast pace with both sides trying to figure out the conditions so far.

Crewe looking a bit unsettled in defence, not clearing their lines well.

Broadbent with a great long pass to Isgrove who puts in a decent cross but its cleared.

We are working on it as we speak ... iFollow

Woolery cant get his cross in on the byline, looked like a corner to me.

Hunt brings down their winger on the touchline 30 yards out, free kick to them.

Awful free kick well over our bar.

Crowd doesnt look quite as big as last week, Crewe look to have brought about 400ish, decent turn out for a team that never brings many fans.

Crewe break but Town deal with it, easy save for Benda.

Crewe break again down our right but Isgrove puts him off enough it goes out of play.

Town started brighter of the 2 teams but Crewe having a few chances now and getting back into it.

Neither team have quite sussed the wind out yet.

Benda with a great low save from a 20 yard shot.

DJ puts in a lovely ball into the 6 yard box but Hunt can't connect at the far post behind Yates.

Corner to Crewe, town cant clear the cross and Caddis puts it out for a corner.

Easy claim by Benda.

Woolery with a great run into the box but his cross cant find Yates.

Wasteful shot by Crewe in a good position, well over the bar.

Crewe having more of the game now, our long passing is poor so far.

Crawley 1 up against Bradford.

OG by Doyle? :D

Chance for Crewe but hes just offisde.

Elsewhere in L2: Crawley go 1 - 0 up v Bradford with a goal from Palmer and Mnsfield are leading 1 - 0 at home to FVR.

Crewe are the better team here so far.

Yeah Crewe edging it so far, they are coping with the wind better than we are.

Woolery has an ankle issue

he's up

We've moved to a weird 352 it seems. Isgrove wing back and Caddis in a back three. Woolery up with Yates. It's not working.

Woolery down getting treatment, that will be a minute of added time.

So far its the best of no worlds.

Hooray...the sound is working

Which way are we kicking

Crewe player making the most of that challenge by Rose, like a diving salmon.

Funnily enough, just after I said I wanted a refund......

Thanks for the heads up, I had turned it off.

We need to change something.

All Crewe for the last 5 to 10 mins.

Towards the bank.

1-0 Hunt!

good hit!

1-0

30 yarder with the wind behind him, deflected in.

Yay. Over 30 yards.

against the run of play, but Ill take it.

Corner to Town.

There’s only one team going to win this - and it ain’t us

I was about to post

Nice corner from Caddis, just flicked over the bar by the keeper.

It's thatttt cuntt! Robbbeerrrttt Hunntttt! Nice 1 - 0

Elsewhere: Janners beating Plastic Jocks 0 - 1

They have a very small goalie.

Poor 2nd corner.

DJ 25 yard shot deflected into the keepers arms.

Ref misses a foul on Yates.

Isgrove doesn't look comfortable in the wing back role today.

Creepies 2 - 0 Bantams

Ng is a whining little bitch.

Doughty lovely cross for Yates but he cant get enough onto it at the far post.

Yates cross for Woolery but its just a couple of yards wide.

He's 6ft so smallish in GK terms. Also the son of Jussi. Who stands at 6'3. Forced career?  ;)

Good save by Benda again.

Yates falls in the box but the ref says he was fouling.

Hoping by 16:45 the penny drops with their manager that ED's face really doesn't fit.  Or, better still, he gets subbed off.

DJ beats 4 men but then is fouled and the ref ignores his claim.

Benda claims the cross easily.

Also if Reg would like to talk about "wheels coming off" he may like to look no further than Nailsworth. FVR currently 2 - 0 down away to Stags and as it stands sit in 8th, 12pts adrift of yours truly.

Benda tries a shot from the goalkick! out for a goal kick.

Grant tries a shot from 80 yards, easily claimed by the keeper.

HT 1-0

Pretty good first half all things considered. Yeah Crewe have got through a few times as you would expect but we are a big threat still going forwards and everyone is putting in a shift.

Well that’s the end of the long shots. We’ll have to walk them in second half.

Gotta be happy with the scoreline so far, especially considering our only player is unavailable. We came into it more after the goal.

Here's some half-time ska:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6fQnTyEniM

Benda, Grant, Rose excellent. Caddis the best player on the pitch. They look lethal in transition and suspect at the back. Sound familiar?

Poor start but we really got after them after the goal. Is 1 enough? Second half is not going to be fun.

thats got to be from the car park!

Rose is a 'vague un' apparently.

For all his faults, I love Woolery a little.

It seems Bradford have changed their formation to accommodate the ginger Pele. And it's not working. Doyle has barely touched the ball apparently.

My friend is doing fine

no doubt Crewe has the better quality in the pass. but you can't fault our hassling

Rotherham have chosen a very good time to show they don't need Yates.

Not quite ;) the pitch is 110 yards apparently, but close.

Quite happy with that considering the injury challenges.  We've rather vacated midfield today which is giving Crewe some good possession, but they are shakey at the back and when they dont get the passes around us they put themselves under pressure.  I wouldn't mind getting we played that way due to the weather and may try to get more of the ball second half.  Or we may just carry on knowing Crewe will present us another chance or two.

Could you imagine. He subs a striker in the form of 23 in 22. Some balls but it would also show his intent.  Game of two halves though. We have the wind against us now and Bradford have (or Doyle) 45mins to put things right.

According to BBC, Bradford have had only two shots on target. Doyle's first and only contribution; a blocked shot from outside the area on 43mins...suggesting he's had to drop a little deeper and is not getting service where he likes it. Inside the box, around the 12yd mark.

 Be surprised if Crewe don’t score. But we looked the better side after we scored.

I like the way Crewe play, tbh. No histrionics, neat passing.

I’d love an undeserved 3 points.

Depends what you mean by undeserved.  We've had more of and the better chances.

The league table looks very sexy As Is.  Be good to hold onto this one.

Can’t work out whether it’s the fault of the formation or the wind or just personnel, but considering we are going with 5 in midfield, there were times where there were massive gaps and no possession in the middle of the park. Come into it since the goal though. Would like to see that continue 2nd half.

Crewe look very shakey at the back especially with DJ running through the middle, the keeper doesn't look up to much either.

I would love us to win but at others have said we won't be taking long shots this half so it will be very different, I am not sure we will keep them out so need another goal or we will be under a lot of pressure late in the game again and I don't think we will hold out.

Would prefer Isgrove pushing forward more, over all we are playing ok but defensively we still look a bit shakey.

No passengers that half everyone putting in a shift.

Couldn't resist having a peek on their matchday thread. He apparently missed an open goal..... :girlgiggle:

The ref has not given anything for Yates every time he is felled.

Easy take by Benda from a cross.

Town break but Yates pass is too short and puts us under pressure again.

Isgrove bundled over on the touchline holding his face.

Ref is giving us nothing.

Hunt heads it over our own bar for a corner to them.

Yates especially so, hes ignoring every time Yates is fouled.

Our short passing in midfield is really poor by everyone, the wet pitch and wind have a big effect on how we are playing.

Isgrove wins a corner for Town.

The wind takes the ball as Caddis takes it, more time added.

RW has seen that though. We playing way more direct then normal, turning their FBs and winning second balls.

Caddis to Rose to DJ he turns inside the defender but his shot is way over the bar from 15 yards.

The lad Palmer for Creepies also hit the bar. Should've had a hattrick. I see JS-W doing his part in keeping Bradford at bay. As Bradford make a double substitution and go 3 up front with Doyle, Oteh and Vaughan.

Rose pass is just in front of DJ just outside the box, chance goes begging.

We are definately playing a very different game this half.

Yates wins a corner, great long pass to Yates from Broadbent but he couldnt get a shot in.

Near post corner but its cleared back to Benda.

Yates wins another corner after a pass by Doughty.

Elsewhere:

FVR wheels are back on as they level up at Mansfield from two down. Pilgrims go 0 - 2 up and Exeter nod one at home to Cambridge.

Good corner onto Broadbent and the keeper fumbles it but the ref gives them a foul.

1-1

Near post finish from 3 yards.

Isgrove not covering Caddis so well.

The ref is giving us absolutely nothing.

Groan; 😢

Town have been the better team this half as well, until the goal.

"He's down there on the touchline" says Steve White -  while looking at Wellens who was sat in the stands.

Corner to Town after a massive kick from Benda.

Ironically Wellens is sat about 10 rows in front of Chalkie!

Doughty to Woolery who turns and passes but hes inches away from setting up DJ.

This was always going to be a BTTS game.

2-1 Yates!

beautiful

Been trying for the last twenty minutes to get onto iFollow and a total load of bollocks! Relying on you guys to keep me updated.

Whats a ball to him from Hunt, what a turn what a finish!

Sky say it's been all Crewe.

What a goal, all Yates that - a lot of work to do once he received the ball

Crewe have had 62% possession!  Incredible stuff.

Yates beats him man and so nearly sets up Woolery in the box, great chance.

3-1 Rose!

It has been to be fair but the score is all that matters.

DJ hits the bar and post and Rose hits in the rebound!

That’s a brilliant finish from Yates.

Its been almost all Swindon this half, don't talk shit.

Love football.

Wow

DJ stunning attempt from a yard in from the bye line hitting bar and post before coming back to Rose.

Broadbent with a good interception in the 6 yard box.

soapy tit wank. Sky, bbc and neutrals all say Crewe have been the better side over the whole game. Like I have said previously, you watch a different game to most people

Corner to them.

Bullshit, you dont even watch games or go.

Broadbent has done well today, I am chuffed for him and us, gives us another option when needed

Another corner to Crewe.

Hes been very good today.

Three goals without GP is a bit of a statement. Still got to win this though.

Crewe have a very weak defence, we could get another if we press them.

Will the ref give us a free kick today?

This is lovely.

Hopefully people can focus on our team rather than ex players now, doubt it though.

Watching on Ifollow but have sky on background to see other score. Let’s wait and see what Wellens says at the end of the game. I’m sure he’ll acknowledge that Crewe have been better but that the result is all that matters.

Yes and how well we have played today considering the amount of injuries etc.

Yes of course.

DJ cant seem to stay on his feet.

I’d say Crewe look good. But, by Christ, we’ve put a shift in today.

At 3-1 who gives a fuck.

Caddis booked for timewasting on the throw.

Doughty out cold.

3 goals vs a promotion rival without GP and Bradford coming up short with GP in their side certainly puts their manager in a tricky position.  They may just conclude that there's a good chance we're going up anyway, and cash in.

DJ shot deflected but saved easily.

Just tell them to fuck off

Doughty cross claimed by the keeper.

Danny Rose is criminally under appreciated, class act at this level

Att: 7,600

We should definitely try & sign Yates this month

5 mins normal time left.

A swift (& welcome) recovery.

He wasn't moving when he went down, looked really serious, he seems fine now!

Crewe header wide.

Shit corner from Crewe.

As if they have an Owen Dale.

One man team? what did you say Bradford fans?

90 mins up.

5 mins added.

Danny Rose deservedly MoM.

DJ was down with cramp just now. Slightly odd how he always struggles to play the full 90.

Broadbent and Grant both had excellent games too, nobody has a poor game really.

Yes his fitness levels arent quite where they should be.

91st min equaliser for Mansfield.

Good interception by Benda.

They’ve all worked incredibly hard with the press today.

Media training?

Boom!

FT 3-1.

Good solid performance under difficult circumstances.

For all their possession and passing Crewe are as toothless as a 60 year old crack whore. Defensively they are very poor as well.

Great professional performance by Town, everybody put in a shift.

Who can't beat top 4 teams?

Who needs Doyle?

A really pleasing win, with a huge number of excuses ready to go we've gone and won anyway against the team in third. Magnificent

Not quite as good as the Plymouth result,  but a close second.  With all the players out, a great result.

Just wondering if Bowyer has either lost the plot or got very desperate. He started with Doyle & Vaughan, some 30+ goals between them. Brought on Oteh (granted he scored) but also brought on McCarten. Are they playing 4-2-4 now? Smacks of desperation.

If you can't get Doyle scoring then you never will. He looks like a kipper has slapped him in the willy.

Fantastic result for Town and considering we are a one man team...goals from each position all over the park (LB, CM, ST) and two were absolute beauties...that's not bad going. Bradford only managed one goal with an on loan player they were saying they should send back. Hmmm I hope Fordy & MitchelWeb (or whatever) are watching.


Exeter keep up the pressure but that's good. Yet we are 9 (nine) pts clear of 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th. We're 11 (eleven) pts clear of 8th.

Oh and Mansfield just got a late equaliser v FVR 3-3.

A very good weekend for Town. If your look at damage limitation then this is a very good return. Don't forget though - the wheels have fallen off 

:pint: :pint: :pint:

ESS TEE EFF SEEE

The “yeah but we can’t beat good teams” narrative can firmly be put to bed.

Well. Me of little faith. That couldn’t really have gone a lot better against tricky opposition. And Stefpol, we controlled that second half.

Let it go, it’s not good for your health

An excellent result, I would have taken a point.

3 points clear at the top.
9 points clear from 4th
11 points clear from 8th

Woolery my MoM. He put a real shift in.

As did all of them. Very impressed.

Great result. 9 point gap to 4th place. Who would have thought that at the beginning of the season.

36% possession in the match is a laughably wrong stat.

Best win of the season by far that every player to a man did their job, massive under the circumstances. No subs needed as well which is a bonus. Other than a couple of 10 minute spells we had Crewe well controlled and they couldn't handle our high press.

Ref was awful I must say.

Reg maybe?

We never really looked in any danger even at 1-1.

What a contrast with the disappointment of the late equaliser vs Bradford last week.  Well done, Town!  Bradford result and its possible implications for GP's future with them is the icing on the cake.

Danny Rose sounds surprisingly local, where's he from?

Gave us nothing all game even when we were fouled right in front of him, he was poor.

Bristol.

I was thinking this also, he also speaks remarkably well.

FGR scored a late winner.

Really? I thought the ref let a lot of the faux fouls go for both sides. Did well, I thought.

He was awful, gave us nothing, got in the way and the flash points in the game were the result of his inability to make a decision.

Who needs Pele
The ginger Pele
I just don't think you understand
We've got Jerry Yates
Who Wellens really rates
Who needs Ginger Pele.
(well, I like it)

Good performance for the conditions.   We were much more direct than normal and they looked like a team playing with a midfielder in central defence as a result.  For all their possession in the first half they didn't really create much and the second was a controlled performance from us against the wind.  Crewe were very scrappy once they were 3-1 behind.  I think we fully deserved that result.  9 wins from 19 games is all we need now.

Excellent! But, hopefully, next week, redundant!

Thanks for the updates gentlemen as I tried to get the IFollow and only got a heaving pile of s**t that kept asking for password and nothing else.

More importantly, the Town won, three points added to the total and bollocks to the chasing nonentities!

😀😀😀

That's 10 points from 5 games without Doyle, 10 Goals for and 5 against, Yates has 5 in those 6.

worked our nuts off today. Crewe started quite well but once we scored the game changed.

 9/10 for effort, and the goals were very well taken.

Benda was flawless too

Whoop!

53 points, does that mean we've pulled off the great escape for this season?

really chuffed that Yates scored, he deserved that, as for the Crewe fans singing where's your Doyle gone :smugfu:  :beers: COYR

We can be cautiously optimistic.....

home from work to check the scores and listen to the interviews. absolutely buzzing,
definitely didnt expect a result day, not because of no doyle but the defensive injuries which in turn messes with the midfield.

what a result!! lets keep it going

Fantastic result! Really didn't expect anything from today's game but all the players dug in. Buzzing!

7 points out of Plymouth/Bradford/Crewe . . .

Fucking brilliant

2.33pts per game return. Top fucking Banana.

Just back from what has to be the performance of the season. It just goes to show the character of this squad to produce a performance like that, when we're down to the bare bones. All 11 were immense - even Woolery!

Huge win! Id have been happy to come out of the last 3 games still in the top 3 so credit to ricthie and the lads.

 Stretched to the limit and still getting results against promotion rivals!

The 'poor return vs other top sides' hoodoo has been dismissed.

Winning this more or less cemented play offs. Be amazed if we're not top 3 now.

We were outplayed most of the first half, but second half we brilliantly pressed them,  and never gave up chasing to get the ball back. Fantastic fitness to keep that up

Great win, didn't think Crewe were as bad as some are saying!  If only Woolery and DJ could add a little bit of physicality to their game they would be top players.  Yates was my mom, he popped up everywhere on the pitch, ref was abysmal.  The fans were immense today, even hear the cemetery side joining in with a few songs, certainly helped us over the line.  Well done to everybody

It went strangely quiet for the last 15 minutes though - I guess a mix of disbelief and nerves that Crewe would get a goal back (as it turned out the last 15 was a non event).

Love the fact that Wellens said he made up the formation over night and hadn’t even practiced it.

I just wish people would stop this childish Doyle shite with the Bradford fans on social media. It is cringeworthy (from both sides)
We are an excellent team with or without him and that should be the focus, not the rest of the moronic drivel

Proud of the lads. Not pretty at times but a fantastic performance and result. The win today and away at Plymouth were season defining.

We won without Doyle, they lost with him. F*** you Bradford 😊

Meh sometimes you need to enjoy it. We've had a whole week of them telling us we were a one man team, they'll be above us by the end of the month etc. Karma is a bitch!

This.

Ssssshhhhhhh,  he's on his way round now with another five bottles.

Let's face it Swindon winning with Jerry Yates getting one alongside two first-time goalscorers while Bradford lose with Doyle playing 90 minutes and not scoring was the absolute best case scenario after this weeks events.

Some people love the to-and-fro from the wacky world of football banter, it's not for me, but they live by the sword and they'll die by it.

Weird game.  Great win.

Halftime we were lucky to be level never mind ahead.  Second half we were starting to look more and more comfortable and then they scored.  Lot of people fearing the worst, including me, but we never looked back from there.

Crewe are a neat team, carved out some good openings but couldn't find the final ball.  That's their problem, fuck em, particularly as they had a number of players who went down like they'd been poleaxed then made a miraculous recovery.

Really proud of the Swindon performance, battled hard, a neutral might say we were a bit lucky but sometimes you make your own luck and I think we got what we deserved today.

Wouldn't really disagree with Rose as MoM but really impressed with Doughty in the first 30 mins.  Tracked back well and made a number of key tackles and interceptions.

Who says we can't win against sides in the top 10? :) Very important win today, not just for the 3pts but also for the context, partly of the distance it puts between us and them, but also after what must have been an unsettling week for the players as well

100% agree

Absolutely, fans seem to forget the tightknit squad that we have it has been a massive distraction for them all I am sure.

Well done them all for showing such mettle.

Also worth a mention on Benda’s kicking. Their keeper struggled to kick it up to the halfway line when playing into the wind. Benda however was still able to smash it half way into their half despite the wind, pretty impressive and always gives us an out ball.

Benda was superb all round today, his handling, his claiming of crosses, his kicking, all absolutely top notch.

Talking of keepers, I see Vigs didn't get a game for Orient today :hmmm:

Edit: Apparently he has not got international clearance yet.

Highlights up. The Yates goal is beautiful

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/11906485/swindon-3-1-crewe

Will be interesting to see how far Benda goes as he has the potential to be top notch.

I like the Rose goal, it would have been very easy to put that into the Car Park.

We are now starting to get a few from other sources, which will be important as the season progresses. You'd like to think Doughty, seeing as how he is the leading scorer at the club, might be good for a few before season's end.

All 3 goals were brillaint strikes, even if Hunts took a deflection on the way, his power was brilliant.

Rose and Yates will never connect better with any shot too.

Indeed, he did really well with that. Not at all an easy finish

A lot to take heart from today. There was an actual atmosphere in the DRS. I’ve never been hoarse coming out of there before (since Block A days). Good effort from the Town End. It may have been 7,600 but it felt a lot more - there were a lot of people there today who really cared and were right behind the team. I’m not sure anyone didn’t play well - but special mentions to the BFG (better than Heaton was on loan? I didn’t see Given more than once...but maybe out best loan keeper (if you discount the ones who we then got on a perm, Fraser and Fods)) Tom Broadbent (like a new signing having been absent this year), Danny Rose (good luck Jordan Lyden getting back in) and Jerry Yates. Oh, and Michael Doughty - for a man who has been sick all week and has been criticised for strolling through games, he worked his knackers off. What a moment those two goals were.. One man team indeed...

Final thought I hope we have a few years of Wellens, he's had a similar impact to Di Canio but without the baggage. Also he seems to have a genuine respect for Power and proper working relationship with things seeming better off the pitch than they have been in a long time. He has the chance to put his stamp on the club so hopefully he's here for the long term. I see his mum is very active on the Facebook group so looks like he's even got his family involved.

Oh no. Not that FB group?

Mr. Walker lured her in.

Ah, not the Kostiuk one?

That one's not so bad to be fair, albeit with an owner that's a complete tool.

In the games that Doyle has not played, Yates has scored 1 per game. Just a fraction below Doyle's per game record.

Just sayin...

It is the Kostiuk one but he isn't a member anymore, think he got found out. To be fair it isn't too bad at the moment all the negative story tellers have fucked off.

Cool.

I think I'll pop in and have a look.

Richie Wellens to be a guest on Quest Efl programme today

Alongside SSP  :)

 :girlgiggle:

https://twitter.com/STFCcouk/status/1216061952914534403

1920/21 - 2020/21 outside Non-League football guaranteed!?

Yes please!

The turtle neck and blazer combo is horrific.

Along with the died hair and dodgy tash! Knows his stuff tho!

A good performance today - our first goal was a bit against the run of play, after that we were in charge and could have added another before half time. Second half we were better - their equaliser also came after we had a spell on top. We came back well from that and fully deserved the win.
I think Crewe were a good team for us to play in those conditions - they didn’t simply plant high balls at the edge of our box in the second half (as Newport would) which probably helped us. Ironically both teams had their best spells playing against the wind.
Benda’s save in the first half was crucial. Very good team performance, Yates, Rose and Broadbent in particular.  Well taken goals too.

You can't fault the man's industry knowledge, that's for sure!

Doughty should be ill more often, most effort I've seen from him for ages :)

Spot on

Wellens said he told Doughty before the game that he's playing the full 90 and won't be coming off under any circumstances. He reckoned being in a frame of mind where he needs to play the full game helped him get through it.

Doyle didn't even celebrate when Bradford scored. walked backed to the centre circle :badmood:

Yeah. You'd think them scoring in the 84th minute, he would've been buoyed at the prospect of possibly scoring an equaliser. Very odd.

Tbf they were losing and he's already scored a hattrick and won there this season.

Sent from my CLT-L09

32 points from 39 available since we lost to Crewe in the reverse game  :nod:

I spent the afternoon in Woking  :)
I'll be back for Port Vale or Exeter.

Pizza Express or the Kingfield Stadium?

I've always found it interesting that HG Wells' War of the Worlds was set in and around Woking. I doubt Orson Welles, could have created mass hysteria there if he'd beamed his radio show to Surrey rather than New York.

I have to say the peacocks shopping centre is fantastic, SBC could take a look at it.

I tried for something similar and this is much better. Hopefully of no use in a few days,  but I like it.

Yesterday was a cracking match, no point dragging up the same points as have already been made in the previous pages! The school kids in the DRS family section chanting VAR, VAR during the second half made me chuckle. Fair play to them, could hear they were singing quite a few times, most noise I've heard from the invited schools/teams section. Thought the atmosphere yesterday was bang on once we took the lead, didn't seem to drop much after we conceded either.

Yes it was a good atmosphere, throw back to the old days of Town End and DRS feeding off each other.

There's something about that mixture of excitement, hope and nervousness.

Couple of posters mentioned Broadbent, by the time I got home I'd forgotten what a strong contribution he made.  In the pub beforehand we were all explaining eloquently about how the Bradford high ball tactics played to his strengths but he'd struggle against Crewe's passing to feet style.  Completely wrong as usual.

I was in the Arkells for the first time in ages yesterday. Because we won I’m probably going to have to keep going there until we lose!

yesterday was fantastic- club united and moving forward together (coming from a Lee Power critic ill happily eat my words).
great to enjoy following town again

Only your words? Surely there must be a hat or underpants or something that you could eat as penance?

Just to echo what others have said.
The keeper, faultless display, a very handy bendy Benda.

Broadbent, did nothing wrong and good distribution, helped as well that Grant took care of their big guy up front.

Rose, a class act when fully fit. Maybe not so much of a problem with rushing Grant back into midfield if he can maintain the form. Knows what needs to be done in a promotion run in.

Doughty, showed a different side to his game with putting in a good defensive shift and still having the energy to make some good runs in the second half.

It’s getting to that stage of the season where grinding out the three points becomes, to a degree, more important than the performance.
And the home form, already better than 2 of the last 4 seasons!

Watching the warm up yesterday and Jacob Bancroft, he’s grown. Even more. :eek:

I think everyone is pleased for Broadbent - must be frustrating for him when it's ‘just’ self confidence that’s holding you back.

Mind you, better that than being just plain shite like a few of our recently departed CBs.

Can’t say how impressed I was with all of them yesterday.

3 or 4 seasons just waiting for the cock ups and realisation that we just weren’t good enough had taken its toll.

That was the first time I'd seen Benda live in a game where he actually had to do something (Crawley being the other). Brilliant... Our best keeper since Foderingham who in turn was our best keeper since Digby...

Just watching the re-run. Is that twat of a presenter an Oxford fan?

Again,  no sense repeating what's already been said,   we were superb from front to back, 110% effort,  a few more performances like that and we'll be up by the end of February.    Was gutted last week with the late undeserved equaliser,  walked back to the station with it feeling like a defeat, this week head in the clouds,  it's surprising how a result of a match can change your whole attitude over the weekend.   Come on you Reds lets keep the momentum.

Colin Murray has Sam Parkin on as a regular guest and has focused on SwindonTown a fair bit this season including showing our goals twice last night. I think Oxford fans might be asking if he’s a Town fan, not sure who he supports but thought It was Liverpool

I actually like Colin Murray and miss his knowledge and humour MOTD2 on Sunday evenings and for the record he supports Liverpool

Link?

yes he is a Liverpool supporter, I think he quit Talk sport due to them being associated with the Sun newspaper, who the Scousers detest

Another great result and massive effort. Good noise from all sections of CG. Club, manager, players and fans all pulling together, forgotten what a great feeling that is.  Long may it continue.

I think he’s better than Foderingham. I can’t remember the last time we had a ‘keeper that came and collected crosses like he does.

Absolutely.

Negativity seems to breed negativity too in our fanbase, lets hope the opposite is true too.

Yes I think he left Talk sport due the Sun links

I agree, he has the physical presence that Fodders hasn't got.

https://www.dplay.co.uk/show/efl-on-quest/video/efl-on-quest-110120/EHD_276287C (https://www.dplay.co.uk/show/efl-on-quest/video/efl-on-quest-110120/EHD_276287C)

I agree. What I meant was that we've not had a better keeper since Foderingham left.

You can tell he loves it here too, his reaction to our goals is ace. Hopefully we go up and can get another year of him on loan.

Thx.

POS plays the adverts then says no connection

https://fbwat.ch/1qNHqvQAKbiUE7kd

And in the latest round of Jerrybingo, “Like I say” comes storming through from behind for a predictable 10-4 victory against sorry “Obviously”. Nothing if not consistent.

No but I think one of the producers might be

Sent from my CLT-L09

I like Colin Murray.

George Elek is Quests resident Oxford fan, I think. I would say that even he's generally good with Swindon stuff on the NTT20 podcast but can sometimes go fishing for bites on Twitter.

I think he will be Swansea’s number 1 next season sadly as their current 1st choice is only on loan to them. Benda seems to have all the attributes including attitude to go to the very top, he’s the best keeper at any level I’ve seen at saving 1 on 1 ones for a long time.

Is this working for everyone else? When I go to any video on that site it just says "General Error"

Never mind, it was my ad-blocker stopping it

Works fine for me on PC in Firefox, doesn't work if I turn on my VPN though.

Had to download the dplay app on my tab in the end
1 hour 6 min in for league 2

I'll never be afraid again. This lot can do anything.

Sent from my CLT-L09

I also think Jaiyesimi was excellent. Sometimes ran into trouble a bit but was involved in all three goals. A great game and great atmosphere. Sometimes I sat there deliberately not joining in with some of the chants so I could here the crowd better. My little boy of eight was singing we are Swindon we’re top of the league all the way home. 😀


Sent from my iPhone

Jaiyesimi was dead on his feet when the final whistle and looked a bit overcome. I think he realised yesterday it sometimes takes to win in league football.

Impressed with how we closed out the final 20 mins as Crewe threw on two subs and everything at us but the players looked determined to win and pressed really well on tired legs.

Haven't read back.

It was excellent.

Weathered the storm against the best footballing side we have played.

Worldy goal that took a nice deflection that I didn't see from the TE.

Second half was a more even contest as we battled twelve men as the ref gave  them everything.

Great to win and after the turmoil this week. That result was massive!

Broadbean looks like a new player but all played well.

Is that nine wins needed now?

Still can't understand how Woolery finished up with a yellow card in the final minutes,  dragged down, attacked by the offending player and he's the one that gets punished,   absolute crap referee, Sunday league standard at best.

That ship sailed some time ago.... it's almost like some never noticed only 1 goes down this season and maybe none if Macc fold.

The mean points for sides finishing 24th in Div 4 this century is 35, only 5 times has a side exceded 40 points.

Steady that thought Reg. Even in recent years, Peterborough were relegated on 54pts. Albeit Div 2 to Div 3. So still some work to do. Nice to see some positivity though :pint:

That would be an interesting stat if we were in Div 2 or even 3, however bears no relevance to 24th in Div4.

At some point I might start crunching some numbers for auto, but don't want to put any mockers on matters... prob best wait til end of Jan.

do we really have wooden seats in our ground?? this surprises me if so! strangely i have actually sat in the away Arkells for a pre-season friendly many years ago and i can't remember them and all of stratton bank is plastic so I dont see why.

Just sounds like a plank  :)

The wooden seats in the Arkells were taken out 10 years ago so fuck knows where he was sitting.

Great win on Saturday. Everything has been covered really. Wasn't expecting much and before our first goal it seemed justified... But a great effort all round. Crewe are a good side and if we go up, I hope they come with us.

From an environmental point of view FGR and Nam would be ideal. I seem to remember div 1 is one of the leagues for us with most miles to travel for away fixtures.

Must have been watching from the cricket ground.

Wasn't the away allocation where the green seats were when the Arkells looked at its most crappy until they put all red seats in?

(I might have imagined this?)

Didn't rovers fans help remove some of the old seats?

Yes but they basically relocated them onto the pitch :)

Just for the record, did anyone hear Wellens acknowledge that Crewe were the better team? Because their manager didn't.

https://www.crewealex.net/news/2020/january/artell-we-went-away-frok-what-we-are-good-at/

Nope Wellens said we had a good win against a good footbaling side, at no point did he say they were the better team, and he was right not to say that.

Some fans underestimate how good we actually are at times.

I think it's fair to say Crewe were the better side up until we scored. Not after that, though. And even when they were on top they never really created anything

Long may it continue, under the radar is good!

Thought not. Just wanted to drag up that post, really.  ;)

Yes first 5 mins we took the game to them, they were slow settling and we got to grips better, then they started playing their game and looked much more likely to score than us.

After the goal though it was almost one way traffic in our favour.

:D

Yep.
Cant remember the order but there were yellow,red,blue and green in the arkells

33 pages and counting of MDT. Happy days indeed!  :beers:

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hzcfe6-cGhU/UDtMJ6qIPLI/AAAAAAAAAAA/u-mXWr4ka-E/s1600/County%2BGround%2Bn12.jpg)

Don't forget the orange

so what time era did we ever have wooden seats? the Crewe comment has really thrown me as its such a random thing to lie about! very strange

In the Arkells/North Stand...never.

Its a 70's stand isn't it?

Yep 1972ish I think it was built.

Perhaps he’s actually a Crewe player moaning at being on the bench.

I sat close to the away supporters bit when we played Franchise in that Easter top of the table debacle - not much wood in sight that day, I can tell you!

Very good Audrey  :)

I may be wrong but weren't some of the coloured seats just painted red when Fitton did it so wouldn't be surprised if some still have wooden backs or seats.

The Arkells has never had wooden seats they have always been plastic as far as I remember, they certainly have been since I first sat up there in 1974.

Looks like wood to me.... Well backs anyway.

https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/swindon-town-v-macclesfield-town-sky-bet-league-two-football-county-ground-uk-14-sep-2019--10407211cn

As I thought looks like they have just been painted red.

No mate thats painted plastic with undercoat coming through where they were undercoated previously to change ther colour, they have been like that since construction.

Well their crap either way so can see why they are moaning. Uncomfortable with peeling paint is pretty poor.

The backs are made of the same plastic as the seats and just painted.

Second review down. :hmmm:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g187049-d7053245-r475986765-The_County_Ground-Swindon_Wiltshire_England.html

Sat in the Arkells once in the mid 90's in the bit with yellow seats and pretty sure they were wooden.
I could be wrong but do remember it being bloody uncomfortable!

Nothing conclusive here, but good to scroll through anyway.
https://en-gb.facebook.com/pg/TheCountyGroundInOldPictures/posts/

Jeez we're having to dig deep to find stuff to argue about these days.

No we’re not

We bloody are too.  :crash:

I used to have a season ticket in the seats that were removed by the away fans. I'm sure they were wooden in the 90's.

I sit corrected then, I know they were certainly plastic backed every time I have sat around the central part of the stand.

FGR want to build an entire stadium out of wood, we should retain them until they come back in fashion.

I've only ever sat in the Arkells twice, once in the mid 80's with my dad (my first game) and once in the mid 90's with my then girlfriend who liked football until she sat through a Swindon Cambridge League cup replay.

Have no recollection of the seats although the only time I have sat on wooden seats (Turf Moor c.1999) I remember commenting to my mate that it was the first time I had seen such things.

I am fairly certain I've sat on a wooden one in that stand in the past.  It's not like the plastic ones are cushioned.  I like the seat in the Mercedez Benz Stadium here, place to put my spare beer in while I drink the other one.

They definitely weren't on Saturday though

Saltergate had lovely railway sleepers. They were actually fairly comfortable, just no back rest.

The east end at Ashton Gate for away fans had no backs. I've sat on wooden seats before at Goodison Park before about 8 years ago and believe they still have them now. I have no issue with them just baffled by Crewe fans saying that sat on them on Saturday.

Who would have thunk it?

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/18158170.swindon-town-manager-richie-wellens-said-touchline-ban-difference-three-points-none-crewe-alexandra/

Cant see where it says if he was on a wooden seat?