Thetownend.com

Croeso i Gymru  :)

We cross the bridge for the first time this season as we visit Rodney Parade.

Newport have slid down the table a little surprisingly, but you can't write them off in this game. They have only lost 2 in 13 at home but have drawn 6. A draw is my prediction.

1-1 Att: 4,878 (922 away)

Fuck i ffwrdd yn ôl i Cymru.

Newport 0-0 Swindon in front of 4,795 with 1,037 Swindon fans there.

This sounds ominous

‘The pitch is already showing signs of wear.
Whilst at last Friday evenings rugby match v Aberavon, the patches along the midway area appeared to have sand in them. By that, i'm only going by colour of the surface after a dry day. Rain is forecast each day this week (yesterday evening it rained fairly heavy) while there is also rugby on the pitch Friday evening. Dry Saturday on the current seven day forecast but i fear the pitch will be a mess which is natural as the season progresses.’

It was an attrocious surface last season when we played them, didn't matter to them as the ball was in the air almost all the game anyway.

They should be fined by the FA/FL for the quality of the pitch.

Havent we already sold more tickets than that?

We always struggle against Newport. Horrible big ugly side and it sounds like the pitch will be awful so it will be a big ask to get 3 points, maybe even 1 point.

I tried to look but I couldnt find an official figure of how many they have given us, the initial was 800 I think then we asked for more and I think they gave us another 200. Maybe more?

209

important ticket news of you are planning to pick up your tickets at Newport, you can't:

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2020/january/newport-ticket-collection/

Lots of Newport fans on their forum suggesting the game will be called off because of the rain on that pitch.

That’d be handy

They suggest the pitch does drain better now, but that its the worst its looked in ages.

#cabbagePatch

Bring on Storm Brendan - but it's due to be a lot more clement by the weekend.  :cry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c6NVV-SZ9I

Get that rain-dance out everyone.  :rain:

They have got some new groundsman equipment.

(https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2008/06/25/afpgetty.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6db26dee1b9aef08be1b6e16f18f6bad)

Hi all, if any of you are looking for a local pub that is extremely close to the away end, then look no further than the Excelsior Club on Corporation Road.
We are about 5 mins walk away from the away end. We offer a range of ciders, lagers and ales as well as shorts etc at really good prices.

Away fans are always welcome in our club, we dont currently offer food but there are plenty of eateries within close proximity of the club and you are welcome to bring food bought elsewhere back into the club. We have Sky/BT for the football (whoever is playing).

Safe trip Saturday, hopefully see some of you in the club!

diolch yn fawr!

Do you know Wobbly Bob?

See you Saturday!

If this is called off, I'm going to be pissed off, in a hole for our train tickets and unable to make the rematch.

1-1 draw, 4610 (1003).

There's a Spoons in an old cinema not too far from RP.... WB will be in there.

Like Swindon, Newport used to be a 4 Spoons town.
Decent pub crawl normally.

I tend to agree, within proximity of the Excelsior Club, there are a fair few watering holes, especially if you go through Maindee. Where our club is situated, it's literally along Corporation Road and you are at the away end in around about 5 mins. I always find it a bit of a faff when i go to away games and we have to go miles away from the ground for a decent boozer which will allow us access. AFC Wimbledon springs to mind for that one!

Used to drink in the Godfrey Morgan on Chepstow road. Only a 10 min walk to the ground

What is it with these "spoons" pubs .
Must be better hostelries (spolling)tucked around the corner.

Better, yes probably, cheaper...no.

The last time I went to Newport, was to get my passport renewed.
Only been there once before that. . .79 was it ?
Mmmm feisty . No sppons in them there days
No I am losing it, early 80s

Wellens on injuries: "Baudry could make at a push the Newport game but we don't want to risk him.

Anderson is out for 4-5 weeks, we're waiting for news on Caddis and Zeki Fryers will be out for a couple of weeks." #stfc #efl

Might be worth any going on Saturday to take their boots...

Was this what the 0745 Press Conference was about?

Will be surprised if it’s on with Newport’s pitch and all this rain.

Fixed it for you

Can't remember the last time I was so keen for a game to be postponed.

Wellies?

Oh and they are playing rugby on it on Friday evening so it’s gonna be destroyed.

Let us hope the rugby is cancelled then. May be to early after the deluge to play anything on it.

They are playing on Sunday according to their web site fixtures, they played on it last Friday.

http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/fixtures-and-results

On the Newport County forum they keep mentioning there’s rugby on it on Friday so dunno. Either way with all the rain we’ve had and a notoriously bad pitch it’s gotta be in doubt.

According to the Fixture List they're playing Friday 17th January against Enisei-STM

https://www.dragonsrugby.wales/fixtures.html

They need to make their mind up!

BBC seem to think its Friday?

Ah, think I have got this. Dragons who are the regional team are playing there on Friday night against Yenisey-STM Krasnoyarsk, Newport RFC (the balck and ambers) who play in the Welsh league are playing there Sunday against Swansea.

Jesus with all use that no wonder the pitch is crap!

Its probably confusion caused by all the kicks to the head those egg chasers have got over the years :)

Worst pitch in the league by a long way.

I think its us getting confused, see edit above.

To add to the potential trouble with Newport supporters there potentially will be Russian Rugger buggers also knocking about (not sure if they travel in numbers!)

Same answer in reverse then! why have 3 teams play on the same pitch, thats madness.

3 games in 3 days (wuith two being egg chasing) is mental, RP has a grass master pitch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GrassMaster but even that can't be expected to put up with that.

RP is a rugby ground.... the WRU a few years back were going to install an artificial pitch as they want to use RP to develop rugby in South Wales, so it could take the heavy traffic they envisaged.  Newport at that point were on the verge of the Conference who allow artificial pitches, but no way back to the FL if it happened.  Newport fucked up by saving themselves right at the end.  The WRU then shelved their plan for a about 3 years or so, to allow County to carry on. Their lease at RP runs out in I think 2023, so they're in a difficult place.

Just read on their forum that all ticket sales will finish at noon on Saturday.

So back to the game. Assuming Caddis is injured which is a big loss I guess that will mean REG needs to go straight into the starting line up and will still mean that Grant has to play centre back. Also unless the new striker does rock up we’ll again have absolutely nothing on the bench again which against a physical team like Newport isn’t ideal. I think this being postponed would be ideal for us.

They are playing both Friday (against Putin) and Sunday is Newport v Swansea (tasty)

According to the BBC Sport Website there is rugby on Friday AND Sunday

So if Caddis is out and no additions, another week where we have 13 pros available, unless we have a miraculous recovery or two. If Grigg signs, he'll start on the bench.

I think he'll go with:

Benda

REG
Frenchie
Broadbent
Hunt

Grant
Rose

Isgrove
DJ
Woolery

Jerry

Doughty instead of Baudry. We can’t risk him on their awful pitch it is a recipe for disaster, let him get fully fit this time.

So our absentee list is...

Caddis (potentially)
Conroy (thanks PP)
Baudry
Fryers
Iandolo
Lyden
Anderson
(Anyone else?)

Nearly a first choice back 4 out!

Conroy, which completes your first-choice back 4.

Conroy. There's your back four.

*EDIT: Panda Paws beat me by a few seconds!

I agree.

Also if you take Wellens at his word Donohue too.

4 games in 5 days on that pitch apparently!

I'll dubbin me boots.... things must be desperate.

Are you the (very) experienced RB we've needed all along?

Left winger

Left back in the changing room.

Right Back....behind the goal.

Assume you mean 1st choice/senior pros? We have plenty more professional players available than 13, albeit you quickly get into fringe players.

I’m of the understanding that while LMc is being paid he does not go to games, well not home games. A follow on from the days of PdC.

Does LMc mean Luke Mcormack?? The guy whose been at all home games this season, albeit on the bench since Benda joined?

Yeah, I'm not counting Haines, Bancroft, Twine etc. Senior pros, if you will.

Who is LMc

I may be wrong here, but I suspect LL is referring to the discussion above regarding Mr Smeaton of this Parish dubbing his boots to play if required when he attends this game, and relating it to the hoohah made by said poster when we signed McCormack suggesting he would never attend whilst said player was at the club?

Who the fuck knows with LL

Ahhhh right, I see

Who is LL?

Legends Lounge.

 :)

Infamy, infamy, they’ve all got it in for me. 🤣😁

(https://media1.tenor.com/images/b5e6a269430ac8854ada59d935d2ef7a/tenor.gif?itemid=14539926)

That’s the one. I love those carry on films.

LL=Forum Kenneth Williams :)

I've no idea what the fascination with Reg is all about or is it a closed shop scenario on this forum where only a selected few know!

Not quite and you can go off people Mr. PV.

Open forum feel free.

His name seems to crop up in many conversations!

FWIW I would be the forum Sid James :D

You realise REG is our new signing, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, right?

If you said Sid James instead of Kenneth Williams you’d be nearer the truth about me but it’s only cyber space after all.

Well pointed out but I'm talking about months not a couple of days!

I hadn't even realised until you said that, thanks, saves me a lot of typing on the matchday commentaries :)

Come on keep up old chap.

Romanski is in the squad for Saturday apparently.

I am an old chap! 54 in a month!

A few years on then so that makes me prehistoric.

As it’s Friday, Time for thoughts about tomorrow’s game.
This will be a battle, due to the state of the pitch - this week’s rain and rugby tonight mean it will be tricky to say the least - and also Newport’s style of hoofing high balls at big strikers.
A tough debut looms for REG, and if Caddis is unfit Reid at RB doesn’t increase confidence. As others have said, we shouldn’t risk any of the injured unless they are fully fit (Baudry, Caddis, Fryers etc) as the risk of a longer absence is too big.
On the positive side, Newport are only mid table so not as formidable as last year - too many draws. They have a tight defence but haven’t scored many, also have 3 games in hand. Also they have lost very few at home.
If it’s played - postponement could help as it would give some time to get the injured fit again, I would be very happy with a point tomorrow. I think we could have our first 0 - 0 of the season.

"Newport’s style of hoofing high balls at big strikers"

Should suit Broadbent then!

Postponed i reckon.

Rearranged for a week night.

Lots wont be able to go.

Tickets a'plenty!

Think the rugby is on S4C tonight so will be able to get an idea of the state of the pitch.

Win. 2-0

According to that Boo fella, Caddis is fit.

It is, just checked the goggle box.

Boo is reliable.

That's good news. REG in at CB, Grant into midfield you would assume...

You’d have to be mad to change the team that just beat Crewe.

Let alone thinking the best game for a kid to debut at CB is vs. Newport’s hoofball

It’ll be unchanged

It's bad.... not particularly heavy, but rutted and patches of sand in goal mouths and centre circle.

That's another way of looking at it...we'll see. Shouldn't be much of an issue with the game getting played anyway with no more rain forecast...looks like it will be playable. A bit shit but playable...

The second half has just kicked off and well, in places the tide appears to be out. And some Taffy has just intercepted a pass and raced clear to touch down. Not sure who it was but the commentator sounded like he was being sick. The pitch that has no sand looks very bobbly, not conducent for a Charlie Austin one on one. In summary a 1980’s pitch.

1-1

Just have to get through this one without picking up any more injuries!

Pre match fear of a Welsh planet in The Queens Hotel.
I recall that some of their fans were not entirely satisfied with some aspects of their visit to Swindon, so quite looking forward to exploring the baroque splendour of Newport today.

Not seen us win in the league here on previous 4 visits.
Could be classed as a different club for a couple of those I guess.
Missed the game in 1979 when Andy Rowland (I think) kept a clean sheet. The same scoreline, 2-0, would be very welcome.

Ashan Holgate springs to mind for some reason.
Played for both clubs, not the greatest, but certainly the best flowing dreads in action.

Hopefully the heavy roller has been used overnight.
Could do without any wobbly bobbles on the pitch today.
Might be a few in the stands though.
Not a day for playing out from the back methinks.

Good works as always WB...have one for me :pint:

I'm going to go with that 2-0 score line...Yates, Doughty COYFR  8)

Going for 2-0 also 👍

1-1

I expect

Benda

Caddis/Romanski/Haines
Hunt
REG
Broadbent

Grant
Rose
Doughty

Isgrove
DJ

Yates

---

McCormick
Woolery
Curran
McGilp
Twine
Romanski/Bancroft
Haines

Think Woolery will be in there for his height and size.

Apparently the pitch looks as good as it can under the circumstances, so little danger of a call off unfortunately. Albeit around the freezing mark there at the moment.

Bad feeling.  Wrong pitch, wrong club, wrong time.

0-2

But .... usually it's me that's wrong  :)

It’ll be unchanged (if all fit)

As fans we love to reinvent the wheel.

We just beat Crewe 3-1 and need our most physically capable side away v Newport

Where are people drinking today? Wobbly Bob?

More of Gwent's finest in the town centre than locals.
Crossed over the crystal clear blue waters of the River Usk.
Sun is shining, sky is blue, not a cloud to spoil the view.

I see a fair few Town fans are in the Windsor Castle at the moment.

But its freezing, freezing in Newport...

The Godfrey Morgan.
Pretty quiet in here.

Hope that big dirty fucker 'Matt' isn't playing today,  he was continually niggling and fouling at the County Ground needs someone on him who's not frightened to put in a dodgy tackle early on.     Not sure how this ones going to pan out but as always will take any kind of a win. I suppose a point wouldn't be the end of the world but we're due a win here on this surface that resembles the horse of the year show has recently taken place on it.

Paddy Amond is their leading scorer so far on 11, hes been leading the line in recent games with Matt only playing in a few of the last 10 games.

But they are well aware we are susceptable to the big front man and high balls coming into the box so I wouldn't be shocked to see him play against us. Hopefully Broadbent will be up to marking him as even if REG comes in hes only 5 foot 11 so probably wouldn't have the beating of the 6 foot 4 front man in the air.

A draw IMO would be a good result but they have only won 2 games in the last 14 league games and 1 win in the last  9 but that was in the last game.

Their league form recently is DLLDWLLDLLDDW.
Over the same time ours is WWWWWWWDWLWDW.

So over the last 13 league they have picked up 11 points, we have picked up 32 points!

The pitch and their style of football will be leveller today, if the surface is decent enough, which I can't see, then they wont be able to get close to matching us football wise, win today and we will have a 23 point advantage over them.

We will aim to see you there. Train arrives 1301

Todays pitch.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EOj7NQbXsAAv4h-?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

She looks grand.

TBF it looked a lot worse last season later in the season, lots of tramline rutting but could be far worse.

Apparently, the Newport groundsmen paint the mud/sand green.

Don’t be fooled!

Looks worse on the BBCWilts tweet

https://twitter.com/BBCWiltsSport/status/1218522089671614465?s=19

How very "Carry on Camping".

We've been lucky with poor pitches so far.
Newport in January was always going to be a problem even if they have had a new pitch laid off the back of the cup runs.
Just another test that a side looking at the autos should have the wherewithal to overcome.

Definately not quiet at the Windsor Castle waching the my mates Swindon videos on Facebook! smokebombs already.

If Romanski is the answer god knows what the question was! He's always split opinion amongst town fans but I don't rate him at all I'm afraid. Maybe better on the bench than a teenager but I'm not sure!

Sid James always had that lived in face.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ejm2e5bxxcc

... but its raining in your heart?

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

Pretty much as we guessed at.

Grant in midfield?

Lovely.

No Doughty due to illness. Bench very inexperienced as you would expect.

Same as last week in terms of the bench strength then, hopefully we don’t need to make any subs again.

Yeah replacement off the bench looks poor, starting line up on par though and if the pitch is ok we can perform well with that line up, glad Grant is back in the middle.

The big lump Jamille Matt starts against us Amand out injured.

I've just tried to subscribe to ifollow to watch the game (i'm using a vpn) but the only option is audio only, there doesnt seem to be a way of getting the live stream ? Altho it does show as an option for the Colchester game !

Is there a time limit or something that stops you subscribing just before the game ? Anyone got any ideas how I can get the live stream for today ?

VPN's are (in the main) totally blocked by iFollow.

Be surprised if we get away without subs on that pitch, and against that side.

The only video matches available in the UK are Tuesday matches (Colchester and Northampton) I believe.

Yeah, worried about Caddis

Hoof, kick, foul, hoof, chase, whallop, kick, niggle, hoof, push, dive, hoof.

Pre match teamtalk for Newport today.

U16s beat Newport 6-0 this morning; U18s beat Newport 3-0. Therefore by a process of mathematical progression, we will romp home to a comfortable 1.5-0 victory!

A step up for REG.
Hopefully a smart performance from ourAmani today.

I have been drinking. :beers:

Town will be attacking our own fans in the 2nd half.

That pitch is grim.

0-1

Oops. Walked through our defence.

Doh!

Shocking defending innit

oh

bollocks

Defence split down the middle as he dribbled thro us and scored from 5 yards.

Bollocks

1 minute FFS.

Gives us plenty of time to score more than 1!

we will lose today and doyle will score

Its definately a battle out there.

The pitch is up there with the worst I have seen in 40 years.

Great tackle by Broadbent on Matt who wins us the goal kick.

The ball hasn't been on the pitch much so far.

You know how some people have habits that get on your nerves? - Steve White sucking in through his teeth when speaking.

DJ wins us a free kick 25 yards out.

Poor delivery by Caddis, Woolery tried a shot but its blocked and cleared.

Grant is felled in the box but the ref dosnt give us it.

REG passes the ball into touch with a long pass.

Awful dive by the left winger from an Isgrove touch, like a salmon.

Benda claims the free kick easily at height.

DJ cuts inside just outside the box and tries a shot but he leaves his foot behind and the ref gives them a soft foul.

REG wins a good defensive header after a decent leap against a taller striker.

Newports style as agricultural as the pitch.

punches thrown in the crowd, was that our fans or their fans (or both)

Looks like something was kicking off in the Swindon end

Hunt gives away a corner tackling and tracking back.

Our end.

Our fans in fighting by the look of it.

oh

REG blocks a shot for another corner to them.

We need to change something.

We cannot seem to get the ball on the ground to play football.

2 corners from them, both headed out by the smallest player on the pitch Rose.

we are losing a physical battle. it ain't going well, I don't know how is change it though

Benda easily claims another cross.

Doyle gets an assist for Brafgotd

No, we need to match them physically, that won't ever happen, we need to try and hit them on the break with some pace.

Isgrove tries a shot from just outside the box but his left foot is not as good as his right! nice break by Woolery.

and two seconds after you post, we string a few passess together!

Massive bobble as he hit it..  Austinesque..

Painful viewing. Can’t watch this stuff.

Their attacking wing back down injured, hes given Isgrove a torrid time so far.

Newport hit the bar after a long throw.

fookin hell, nearly 2

Benda just needs to step over the ball there..

Luongo sent off for Sheff Wed

Benda well beaten by that too.

It was headed back to him by Caddis so would have been a corner.

It seems Grant is sitting further back almost like a 3rd centre back to deal with Matt.

Ah fair enough, didn't spot that

This is not pretty to watch, the ball spening so much time in the air because it can't be passed on the deck.

Isgrove beats his man but comes inside onto his left and cant get a good cross in.

A foul given against Grant with very little actual contact, Newport are making the most of these tackles.

Grant given a yellow.

it's a hard watch, so I went back to the fans fracas

looks like someone walking down the front and someone in the front row had words. the walker either went to headbut or spit at crowd bloke, who then put in some punches.


anyway back to the game

Nice break by Town but Rose softly passes the ball out of play down the left.

Its canny management by Flynn, nobody could play good football on that pitch so bypass the surfce.

Its working so far but fucking hell its winning ugly.

The ref finally gives us a free kick.

Newport falling like flies and playing the ref.

finally getting our foot in and dishing some our. yellows incoming though

Chances of this finishing 11 vs 11 pretty much zero i would say

Newport players moaning at the ref and lino all the time, presurising them and its working a lot of the time with the home fans shouting too and getting on the refs back.

And I guarantee it won't be a Newport red, the way they are conning the ref so easily.

They should get some sort of punishment for this pitch, in this day and age away teams shouldn’t be allowed to suffer from such a disadvantage.

Caddis wins a free kick after being pulled left and right down the wing.

it's shit. doesn't suit us.

but it's no worse than the 80s pitches

The ref gives a free kick against DJ as he is felled on top of the ball saying its obstruction!

That sums it up.

yay, corner kick

Woolery wins Town a corner.

Horrible to watch is this..  imagine being a Newport fan

I disagree, this is as bad as any pitch I have seen at league level.

Mannington rec is better.

Watching this AND being Welsh! jeez.

got to do better with our crosses

Yeah but there’s rules in place now to stop teams suffering obvious disadvantages.

I am not sure we have managed to put together 5 passes in a row, thats not the players faults either.

Benda comes but misses the catch, was fouled but the ref missed it again, its cleared though by the defence.

Well, when we never score from set pieces this sort of game is going to pass us by.

Town making progress down the left by winning throws, 4 throws gained us 40 yards.

Diving bastards.

There was almost no contact by DJ yet he gets a yellow, FK just outside out box now.

never a foul that

Easy save by Benda from the shot.

Woolery with a good break down the right but his cross cant beat the 1st man to get to DJ in the 6 yard  box.

I concur, shit reffing, hes being influenced by the home fans and the Newport team who are a bunch of divers so far.

Woolery winning his fair share of headers today.

2 mins added.

Newport players get in each others way in our box or that could have been 2.

Newport shot into the side netting.

ht

HT 0-1

This is horrible. Newport are totally anti-football, bullying our players into absolutely nothingness. This isn’t going to get any better.

We need to change something, but it's hard to see what we can do considering our options (or lack thereof) on the bench.

Here's some half-time ska.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpwH2Y58TeI

Can’t really blame the players, it’s pathetic that the league allow this. At the very least there should be rules preventing rugby on the pitch the day before.

1-0 sounds like a let off at half time. With nothing on the bench, we just have to hope for a lucky break in the 2nd half.

yeah, rugby the day before is a joke.

and there's more tomorrow

That was horrible viewing. Newport are brutish and bullying, and that’s just the crowd. Everything feels very 1983 out there. Ugh.

Sounds like getting through the next 45+ mins with no injuries or sendings off will be the best we can hope for today. 

It's the Rugby on the pitch today that's the problem.

Awful game, awful pitch.  I can see why they are average this season overall because they dont create much playing like this.  However its effective against a team built like ours.

Just get out of this one without any injuries.

Not really, they aren't creating much.  It's just a series of high balls.  Zero chance we can use our abilities on this pitch though.

Difficult to watch, no entertainment, one of THE worst pitches I have ever seen, Newport stiffling any football and hoofing it into our half at every opportunity, they are diving and conning the ref.

Its shit, its not our quality its the pitch.

If you said end it now with no new injuries and no more bookings I would probably take it.

Not that we can't beat them, as we can but we have not even tested their keeper yet.

Yates and Isgrove not getting any chance to shine, DJ relies on his close control to beat his man...that surface wont allow that.

Tighten up at th back and hit them on the break is all we can try this half.

"dem a loot, dem a shoot"

Att: 4,981 (1,033 away)

Pretty close guess again :)

Apparently Town had 60% possession that half, didn't feel like it, I would say 20% Swindon 10% Newport and 70% the earths atmosphere.

4981, 1033 away att

Don’t mind a shit pitch, plenty like this 20-25 years ago.

However it clearly hampers our style so nicking a point would be excellent, a defeat could be written off due to unusual circumstances.

We only have 3 players that this pitch and opposition suites really - Benda, loves to come for a big bomb in the box, Broadbent loves a battle and a header and Grant, who loves to mix it up but is in the book already..

Anything better than surviving with no injuries and suspensions today will be a bonus

See above ;)

Newport have started how they finished.

Free header in the box from Newport but his connection is poor luckily.

game over

2-0

Yuk. Goal like the game. Hating this.

Shit defending by Town scrambled over the line from 6 inches.

Horrible goal, horrible game.

DJ wins a corner.

Unfussed by this to be honest. It’s only one game, get it out of the way and move on.

This feels like a game designed to be a nightmare for us, doesn't it? Nothing worth getting too worried about I think, just hope for no injuries or suspensions coming out of it.

Another Newport player down.

Eugh!

Yes I just want no more goals conceded and no more injuries or bookings now.

DJ wins another corner after trying a shot.

Town having a bit of pressure.

DJ easily our best attacking option today.

The Welsh do like their rugby.

Good long throw by Woolery but its easily headed clear.

I don’t know why refs let players kick the ball away at every stoppage. Drives me mad.

Hunt fouled 40 yards out.

Town back in the game since the goal.

Grant in the box cant get a shot in properly, corner to Town.

DJ has a shot and its easily saved.

Twine preparing to come on. Blimey.

Twine coming on, really not his type of game IMO, but we will see.

Twine on for Isgrove.

Though even less Isgrove’s tbf.

Twine goes wide left.

Isgrove has been poor today by his standards.

Their players have fouled Benda at every corner or throw in, finally the ref spots it.

Listening on the radio and I haven't heard Yates name once.

Always though this was going to be a tough game with a team that plays the ultimate shithouse football. They are thuggish and don't actually play football, more lump it and pray for them but it gets them results.

Get through this with no injuries and then crack on for the rest of the season in my eyes. Gotta take a loss every now and again and we are in a position that even if we lose, and those behind us win we are still top of the league.

Woolery falls over the ball but we still win a corner.

Good delivery by Caddis.

Benda saves as they break away after the corner.

Yates has had no service really today.

Been all Town since the goal.

DJ wins a corner.

The ball is in the air so much even the camera man is struggling to keep up with play

REG shoots just wide from the edge of the box.

We’re still knocking too many high balls into the box.

It awful to watch every time they get the ball...hoof.

We are, its not rocket science that they are clearing it easily most of the time.

64% possession to Town now.

Yates to Woolery in the box but the keeper blocks Woolery shot.

The keeper down injured now.

We've remembered that we're actually quite good.

Problem is what’s the alternative? The ball doesn’t roll....

When we keep it down and try shots we look alright, its not a surface to run with but we are looping deep crosses in all the time, thats not our strength but is theirs.

Its difficult but just test the keeper.

Sheehan is a diving bastard.

Easy claim by Benda from a cross.

Exeter winning. What a shit day.

All results going against us now unfortunately.

Yates offside after a great long pass set shim up in the box.

Nice long ball over the top to Woolery but his cross is weak to the near post and easily saved.

We are trying putting a few more balls over the top to Yates and down the channels and its working at the moment.

Woolery fouled on the edge of the box as he ran through, almost inside.

Low free kick from Caddis finds Yates but he cant connect well enough in the box.

S cunt horpe equalise against Bradford. Doyle out  :)

Yates cuts inside and wins a corner for Town.

Nice play by DJ again to get a good cross in.

Just not our day.

Let’s avoid injuries and red cards now. Put this one behind us.

Benda misses his catch but we manage to clear the ball.

Agreed.

We never score from corners

For a big team they go down quicker than a prostitute when she see's some lose change !!!

Good cross from DJ to yates but the keeper just gets to it first.

They do.

The ref gives them the decision again in the box as Twine is fouled.

McGilp on for Rose.

Jaiyesimi our best player today. He’s really earned his place in recent weeks.

They're basically Lincoln...

They are very very similar in style to Lincoln, thats for sure.

I agree, easily our best attacker today. Even though we have conceded 2 to some poor defending both Broadbent and REG both have played really well today.

This ref has given us hardly anything today at all.

Woolery moaning to the bench about not being passed to by the look of it, thats a bit uncalled for by him.

Not a bad model to follow tbh. I can't really imagine they have much choice, with a relatively small budget and ground sharing with a rugby team they'd be utterly mad to play any other way. Not pretty, but it should keep them in L2 consistently at least.

Gobby bearded number 25 facing up with Hunt.

The pitch has determined their style of play for sure.

The pitch doesn't have anything to do with diving and moaning and niggly fouls on us though.

Woolery has lost his cool for the last 5 mins.

Oh good, kicking off and cards coming, that's what we need.

Now Twine being pushed by their keeper.

Yates and their keeper booked.

4 mins added.

McGilp good cross to Yates but he heads wide.

Corner to Town after nice flick by Woolery.

McGilp already played more passes to Town players than May did in 5 months.

Mcgilp already looks a better player than May in 20 mins

I don't think that even with a full compliment of fit players that we would have won today TBH.

beat you ;)

FT 0-2

Shit game.

What a horrible bunch of cunts this Newport team is, glad that is over and that they will be staying in Lge2 next season..  along with their cabbage patch pitch..

I'm bloody glad we don't do it.

Ha, great minds

This.

At least we won't have to play that lot again next season  :)

DJ, REG and Broadbent had decent games in bad conditions.

Nobody played particularly badly, even Isgrove played ok he was just asked to do a defensive role that doesn't suit him so well.

We just couldn't get our passing rhythm going on what was essentially a farmers field.

This is not sour grapes but Newport should be fined for that monstrosity of a surface.

This is exactly why we have to get out of this division. I never want to have to watch that sort of rugby-football again. Nasty, niggly, whinging with it. Ugh.

You'd have so many more opportunities to head the ball in the stand though.

Eugh

It was always going to be a tough game, just so much going against us today. I would have taken a point before the game so it's 1 point lost as far as I'm concerned.

Still top on goal difference, but Exeter have a game in hand.
6 points from Plymouth in 4th. They have 2 games in hand so they could catch us if they win those.
9 points on Colchester in 8th. They have 1 game in hand.

We're in a better position than I was hoping for considering the run we are going through. Would still be nice to get a couple more wins to widen the gap again.

Eugh!

(https://i.imgur.com/4l7GyQA.png)

Need a similar response to the Port Vale defeat when we coincidentally play them again.

I'm sure RW will sign at least one player next week, and with Baudry hopefully fit we should have enough quality at home to beat Vate.

Colchester will be similar today, so the Exeter at home game is looking a biggie.

On the plus side, we didn't get any injuries today (as far as I know).

That's something I think a lot of us were concerned about considering the state of the pitch beach. That could be worth more than 3 points in itself.

Pound Land Power.... ha. Comical Genius.

Well Steve in Chippenham is a bit of a dick - this is obviously the first game he has listened to this season

Until the play offs.

You chalk those games down to experience and move on.  The Colchester game could be similar.  It's not winning these ones that will see us up.  Beating teams like Crawley, Cambridge, morecambe and so on is where we will get the points, then take a share of the points against the better footballing teams up top when we can.

:clap:

Sadly we won't play Cambridge again this season... Div 4 is attritional, it isn't particularly easy to win any game when you're depleted and players are knackered. We do have a chance for some strengthening and how the rest of the season pans out is probably going to be down to recruitment in the next couple of weeks.

Did my eyes deceive me but was Woolery lobbing in some decent long throws?

Perhaps he has finally found his best weapon in attack!!

It’s turning ugly at Bradford

Grab the popcorn.

But they have gone a point closer to overtaking us at the top of the table, which is definitely going to happen, apparently.

Certainly brought Doyle down to a below average player.

Comment on their forum.

don't even joke about it :suicide:

Streamed it.

Haven't read back...

Shit Ground
Shit Pitch
Shit Goals
Shit Ref

Wellens said keep it tight for 45 .....he meant minutes not seconds.

Not as angry as I was with the home defeat....we are clearly a side that cannot cope with tactics of Newport, not many footballing teams will.

Be interesting to see who Newport have left to play around us but get that ref every week and the points are theirs.

Tip my cap to them, not the sort of shit I want to see every week but fuck me are they good at it. Drilled into the whole club from management to players to fans.

John Beck style with polish.

Dead rubber..write it off...no reds and injuries (I hope). Next!

Down to bare bones and a difficult opponent caught up with us today.
The pitch shouldn't be an excuse.
Hopefully a couple of bodies back for next week.
Dust ourselves down and move on.

Needed a virtual Paolo on the pitch at the end to give their lot some index finger pointing.

What was REG like?

Tough game to judge him on I guess.

You missed out hole  :)

Just read back.

Even with Doyle, Austin up front and  Shaun Taylor at the back...that was a defeat all day long.

Another incentive to get out of this league is to leave shit like that behind.

Wellens mime to the ref at the end was excellent.

A scared little schoolboy of an official totally intimidated and controlled by them. Let them kick balls away stand in front of freekick takers but whistled when a Town player stole a yard for a throw on.

Reminded me of that joke ref at Wycombe that let Afinkenwa barge everybody over at random.

Story of my life!

You showing up next home game!? Lucky Talisman now!

Of course  :)

did wellens have much to say

Took it in his stride. Didn't think any team he put out would have got much today. But recognises that the team's been running on empty for a few weeks now. Needs to boost options, not just loans but also some permanent. Getting close to an attacking midfield player (thought to be Tom Pett of Lincoln).

You missed the bit where Wellens didn't realise that he was live on air and we heard him say fuc*ing hell in conversation but know idea in what context!

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/newport-football-fans-county-swindon-17590846

Looks like the Town faithful made their mark anyway

Embarrassing behaviour.

Wellens said hes been practicing this since the end of least season, in a fair few games he has done this and pretty well but we don't have a man who can head the ball when it is put in there.

Lawnmowers in the background
What a brilliant name for a band.

They were rather loud!

He and Broadbent played well as I said a few pages back, yes they were rusty for both goals conceded but for his football league debut he looked far better than Romansku and Lancashire, has a good leap on him, decent in the tackle, can pass it and for being under 6 foot he beat their huge strikers a fair few times in the air.

I didn't really notice REG, which is probably a good thing.

I made a point of watching his positioning, he was caught out of position a few times but over all he had a solid debut against very difficult opposition strikers, all elbows and fouls.

Braindead idiots

Judging by my Facebook feeds many Swindon fans are back in the Windsor Castle doing much the same thing now too.

It's funny how they never behave like that in the centre of Bristol

They do, every time we play in Bristol there are always scenes similar to this, its just the Bristol Post doesn't report it so quickly as the Welsh news does.

It is returned too, last few times we played in Bristol vs Rovers there has been lots of trouble, from both sides.

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/1363159.thugs-baseball-attack-on-town-fans/

I don’t think it matters what our team was today, even if Anderson, Lyden, Doughty, Baudry and Fryers were fit, that pitch was always going to work against us.
On to the next one, with hopefully a couple of bodies back and a couple of signings.

Probably not the best example to evidence ‘trouble from both sides’ seeing as how it’s widely recognised that the incident referred to involved innocent town fans/families (including TEF’rs!) being attacked!

No, thats just all I could find in the Bristol Post concerning violence at games with bristol, our fans are just as guilty although probably not to the extent of that particularly pointless viscious attack on innocent and youthful/elderly victims.

I've witnessed it many times with both Bristol clubs at home from the late 70's onwards but never heard of swinson fans playing up in Bristol. The attack by Rovers fans in Horefield was cowardly on innocent supporters not looking for trouble

There is always trouble in Bristol when we play them, the fact its not reported does not mean it doesn't happen.

Anyway its pretty irrelevant anyway, bunch of mindless morons, even if I know a fair amount of them, with beer in their bellys they become immortal twats.

Swindon skins took the East end in the early 70s

I've never heard that one before but trust your knowledge

I went in the home pub in 91 and it was obvious we weren't city. They didn't want to know  ;)

Where was that in North street, Aston Road or the Miners arms maybe

Ashton Road

I see the TEF gets a mention in this  ;D

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/1078988.fans-clash-as-rivalries-boil-over/

Rovers again  ::) I think they are envious of what a great club we are, and the fact they are in city's shadow  :)

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/swindon-town-bristol-rovers-fans-2165735

Remember going into the pub opposite the home end at the edge of the park,  can't remember the year, probably 90's, got in there and recognised several Town Enders, kept quiet though,   have been told that the pub has since been demolished.

I remember the Rovers game as that was a cock up by Wilts constabulary letting it go ahead 3pm on a Saturday knowing there was massive potential for trouble as both teams were near the top   

Robins nest and no longer there but either way you brave going in there!

We woundn’t have won today even if we had a fully fit team. Next week we should have Doughty and Baudry back, following game we will have Lyden back and by Exeter Fryers will back so things will rapidly improve. Factor in we will get a couple of new seasons and things will be all good again at the start of Feb.

Did they have a one armed Oirish washer upper?
Slave traders main pubs are more Bedminster aerial

Totally agree...no footballing side would of got a sniff today.

Miners arms half a mile behind the old east end, coopers arms Ashton road and a few others in north street bedmister. No idea if they had a one arm washer up

He's talking about Albert  ;)

Obviously too young to remember the series !!.

No I remember but Tessa Wyatt was more my thing!

If they did it would probably improve the place.

Exactly,  she was gorgeous,  but sorry mate - wrong thread !!.

Blame Mother Brown it was all about football until he changed things

:hmmm: nothing wrong with Brizzle city centre

Just seen the highlights, their two players giving the cupped ear type responses to our fans for their first goal when they should have been celebrating with their teammates is pretty embarrassing  :girlgiggle:

Watched it on iFollow as currently in Oz and did not realise that the game in Wales is called Hoofingthrowball. I knew from past games against them it was going to be difficult given the injuries etc., just trust we can leave horrible teams like them behind.

Pitch, game, performance, result much as many feared.

Move on.

Agreed

Need to really smash the shit out of PV next week.

Not read back. Great day, predictably terrible match. Still top, move on.

Would help, two in form teams to play in next three games.

Who have to play an in form team. WHAT, I Hear you say? Well if you look at our form this season as a whole we are an inform team. We have not just become an out of form team.

If winning all those games on the bounce made us an in form team then surely losing the same would make us an out of form team, except we didn’t did we. No.

If you look at the last five matches the defeats have not been because we are out of form. If you look at our circumstances over the last month, we have been hit hard with injuries and our talisman going back to Bradford. YET, we’re still top of the league, a position we’d all have taken back in August. Power, Wellens and Jewell can smell promotion and trust me if you were in that position you’d fucking move mountains to maintain that. The next two weeks off the pitch will be as defining in a way as on the pitch. Hence a convincing win over PV, without Pele if that’s the case will tell the rest of the league we won’t give in come and get top spot.

Over the last 18 games we've won 10 drawn 3 and lost 5, replicate that til season's end and we should have enough for auto.  Sounds easy enough, but it isn't.

Enjoyed the Newport players giving it the biggun when they took the lead, from a ridiculously safe distance. Like kids in a school ground.

Was there any trouble after the game?

Only if you were dying for a dump - Newport was a bog roll free zone.

Throwing toilet rolls? Even the town centre invasion was in keeping with the 1980s theme of the day. What a throwback.

Celery I could understand

Leeks would have been a nice touch.

Before we know it the Town End will be wearing red and white scarves hanging from their belts.

But the nearest one is Bridgend.

 So 3 games in hand matches in the week.   Bradford visit ColU, a draw would be very nice indeed... Crewe visit Macc you'd expect an easy win there for the Railwaymen.  Cobblers at Leyton Orient, before an FA Cup Sat.  Cobblers worry me, a slow start but have been in decent form of late, will pick up a useful pot from the Cup and we've still to go there in what may be a 6 pointer. Here's hoping for some surprises.

As we speak it's hard to shake off Exeter and Crewe with Plymouth and Northampton getting their act together and Bradford loitering with intent. Colchester always  seem to flirt near the play offs like Tranmere years ago, Cheltenham are finding their level and who knows what to expect from FGR. The biggest surprise is Mansfield everybody's pre-season favourites

Isnt there one in Melksham ?

I think Exeter will win the league, we are in the top 4. I think it will be Exeter and 2 from us, Plymouth and Crewe for the autos

Exeter usually have a habit of dropping off towards the end of the season,  just hoping that's the case this year.

Yes.

Post the Exeter game, 12 of our last 15 games are against teams outside of the top 10. We've got a great run in, and a great record against those sides.

If we're still top, or within striking distance, after the Exeter game, we'll win the league.

I think you're on the right track there, but it will depend on who we bring in in the next few weeks and if we can stay relatively injury free.

A lot of our wins were tight games that Doyle won for us. We're a good side that creates chances with or without Doyle, but having the confidence that your centre forward will take his chances is huge IMO.

agreed Tails