Thetownend.com

All hail the king!

bit early gonna be busy

I don't like this.  You've started too early.

1-2 defeat

2-4 defeat

Surely the matchday thread can't be started before matchday???

0-2

My thoughts exactly, but might be the 'new' good luck charm!

Still can't see us winning though unfortunately. 

There will be 5 goals score in this game.

Should have waited til midnight...

0-0 written all over it this match...hope i am wrong.

Think it may be a low scoring match, 1-1 or 2-1 either way.

Think this one will end in stalemate.

0-0, bound to happen after our high scoring games recentley.

3-0 home win. I got it right last week

It feels instinctively wrong to start it early but why the hell not. Today is the new tomorrow. I'm going for a loss tomorrow 1-3. Unfortunately, I think it will be an easy game for Colchester - they'll be too physically strong for us. Hope I'm wrong. Also a sub 8k crowd.

Hmm, not going to be a classic is it...

Anyhow Dougie should be back, will we go 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 again as a one off with Prutts, Timlin and JD in the middle to try and match their physical strength?

I'm going to be bold and go hell for leather for a 3-1 win (:)) in what will more than likely be the last game I get to for this season. (:()

Ditto

A lot of negativity in this thread.
I reckon we'll batter 'em 1-1.

 We could have had John Ward as manager....at one point it was him or Sheena Easton.

Crikey, this is an early start.

2-1 to us Charlie double

Pressure's off. So we'll probably win.

Have you looked at the league table lately?

17th vs 3rd. 

4-2.  I'm an eternal optimist.

I hope we win, obviously. I don't much fancy it, but hey, I'll be there all the same. Another Plymouth away performance please!

neither do i but , like you i'm still there

Hopefully Douglas is straight back in.

Timlin and Prutton have looked quite good in CM.

Oh well one of them will have to play elsewhere or look good on the bench, Douglas is our captain and by far our best midfielder and needs to go straight back in. Along with Austin first name on teamsheet every time.

I'm back for this, so it'll be a dull 0-0 or we'll get well and truly dicked.

I'd take a dull 0-0

Live the dream :clap:

christ there are some serious optimists on this site, arent there?

Some of you buggers must sit just behind us

an overwhelming home win this week. Timlin hat trick (all penalties) and Charlie from 40 yards to round it off. Peachy

I reckon we will win this, tends to happen when the general consensus is that we will get dicked, we turn in a good performance and everyone gets excited, then we go and lose the next one we expect to win. It's the swindon way.

did we win?

Yep! Too true.

YOU REDS!

WTF.

It isn't matchday (yet) & this thread isn't official.

That said I reckon we will batter them & restrict them to one shot on target all game.

Unfortunately that one shot will go in & we will draw 1-1

We will win. All hail the King!

I'm quite happy to start an 'official' matchday thread tomorrow if you want. Although quite often I do get Sammy Igoes to post for me if I'm too busy cutting cigars. But Sammy's a good lad, he's like one of the seven dwarves, although I haven't decided which one yet. He's also pretty low maintenance, he sleeps in the understairs cupboard and I feed him bread and water.

I didn't realise the old smoking chimp is chief scout at Colchester.  Good for him.

2-1 win for us.

I think a lot of the pessimistic predictions are partly a vague superstition that going on record that we'll win is asking for trouble. You have to raise the optimism factor by a good 30% to get the true optimistic value.

As someone who isn't superstitious at all, I'm going for a 3-2 defeat.

Think Sammy is very underrated....when peeps list their best XI of the last 10 years he never gets a mention...yet his free kick v Bradford City has to be right up there with the very best.

If we'd have had this stability with you in charge KOS, then NPC here we come.

2-1 Swindon

Charlie to get the first and Prutton to get the second shortly before he gets sent off.

Great first post.

Clearly barking....should fit right in here.

Swindon 6-7 Colchester
Swindon to go 6-0 up and then concede seven goals in seven minutes of injury time

Where the fuck were you for the Brentford game Yeo? If you're going to be a talisman you can't just turn up every other bloody game to start the matchday thread.

I always predict a win and today is no different.

2-1

Austin, Prutton

3-2 win austin ritchie and morrison  :beers:

got to be  2-1 to the town and us scoring the winner in the last couple of minutes

1 - 0 Town

The only time I've ever predicted a defeat was against Plymouth, so I shall continue. 9-0 Colchester.

1-4 Colchester

I think it's about time Danny said to the boys: "Listen lads, we've given the other teams in the league enough of a head start, time to kick on." As we all know that's really the case

COME ON YOU FACKIN' REDS!

i am going for a 2-0 win.

super charlie getting both goals

Swindon Town: Phil Smith; Scott Cuthbert, Sean Morrison, Lecsinel Jean-Francois, Michael Rose; Matt Ritchie, David Prutton, Jonathan Douglas (c), Michael Timlin; Charlie Austin, Thomas Dossevi

Substitutes: Mark Scott (GK), David Ball, Billy Bodin, Paul Caddis, Will Evans, Jon-Paul McGovern, Alan Sheehan

Nice to see Douglas back but is it too soon?

Very narrow down the right, ball going down the left a lot then.

Is this back to the stupid diamond then?
Also no Lucas on the bench, seems very odd?

Bugger, forgot to do my prediction.

FWIW, would have gone 1-1

Lucas injured apparently (shoulder .... cold?)

Who is RB?

Ifil is playing right wing for Aberdeen today WTF?

Do colchester still play shit football bypassing the midfield lumping it up front?

Come on Swindon 2-0 win today

Must be Cuthbert if the past few games are anything to go by.

Afternoon all. 8 minutes late on TEF... Luckily I'm not a Bolton fan.

Huh?

Timlin was clean through on goal, saved by their keeper.

Bolton scored very early on.

Imagine getting in 3 minutes late and looking at the scoreboard. I hope that pint was worth it.

We sound pretty good. I'll have lesbians at the ready just in case.

Have we scored yet?

Rose hit the post

Rose FK off the post, across the face and out for a GK

Bum

Dossevi is back heeling us to victory

Don't want to curse this but we're definitely going to win.

dosevi!!!

GOALLLLLLLLL! Dossevi

Yayayyyyyyyyy!

BOOM! Get in Dossevi!

YESSS WELL PLAYED SWINDON :nod: :clap:

Thats what he's capable of!!!

Dossevi!

Good work Dosser!

Legend!

Dossevi hat-trick of hat-tricks please.

I look forward to seeing that on the FL Show :clap:

Yeeeeeesssssssss Get in

We need another now, don't sit on it

ooooh noargh vic .

Fucking Hell unlucky-come on town

What's happening?

Douglas nearly scored. Everybody thought he had.

we're looking good and are winning 1-0 with a goal from dossevi.

Where has this new found confidence come from Ben?

It's nice. Last couple of weeks there has been pessimism before kick-off.

The radio.

sorry my fault 1-1

1-1. Typical.

Offside by the sounds of it too.

Tosser Ben.  I blame you.

Fucks Sake, always just before half time.

Hahaha! AGAIN!

That wasn't happy laughter either.

oh shittttt :badmood:

So often we get completley inept referee, the football league really need to sort it out.

Oh fuck

Let's not start blaming the ref...  there's two linesmen there as well.

Why are the officials to blame?

It's ok, we've sounded like the better team. I'm sure we can push on and win this one.

I will call you a tosser again if we dont.

Charlton winning 4-0 away to P'boro.

100% offside.  I'm directly in line with it.  could have scored 4 that half.  very unlucky and although they missed a sitter at this stage you wonder how the fuck they are third. no doubt they must be better than this.

Carlisle 2-0 Saints

We always get Shit Refs.

He's playing the Rugby advantage rule, you have advantage until you lose the ball & then he decides to bringmplay back.

Deffo looked offside in the build up to their goal.
That said, Sean should have dealt with the cross.

Why the fuck is it we always seemed to concede goals just before the end of a half.  .:(

Plenty of shit refs have won us games over the years. Score goals, win games innit.

COYR!!!!

Good philosophy Rich

2 corners at the start of the 2nd half, nice and positive. Shame we couldn't get anything from them.

Kaid Mohamed just scored for Bath!

In fairness, he does it reasonably often.

Hit the post

Prutton hits the post

Prutton hits post from Dosser cross!

hits the post

Austin scores a belter!

Twice now, third time lucky

WHOOP!

Is the site fucking up for everyone else aswell?

Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later.

Can this be sorted please?

Me an all. Has Charlie scored?

super Charlie Come on Swindon-yesssssssssssssssss :beers:

Yes. 2-1!

Charlie breaks the TEF!!! 2-1

Get in there Charlie!

Lets hope we've finally found a striking partner for him in Dossevi. Sounds class.

Fantastic

Knew a goal had been scored when the TEF was dead for a good few mins.

We need more bandwidth

Phil Smith knocks it onto his own post... Swindon break but Ritchie misses

And Dossevi almost scores another

Timlin goes close.

Speculation that Nicky Hammond is watching Charlie Austin

Ball coming on for Dossevi

We need one of them

Austin close again

Ball on for Dossevi....Standing ovation

WE NEED A THIRD.

Please.

4th would be handy too!

Att: 7679

JPM for Ritchie about to happen...9 mins left

We need 3-oh please get 3 :headhurts:

Who's looking the most likely to score?

5 more minutes-hang on Swindon

No one at the moment

Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaaasssssssseeeeeeeee

I'd settle for that....

Nearly conceded then

4 mins added...WTF!

4 minutes added....

4 minutes ?

Another chance squandered by Prutton.....Surprise that there is 4 mins added

4 minutes ?

Jittery

Colchester squander chance

Colchester offside...ironic cheers

COME ON YOU REDS!!!!

2 mins

That's the spirit!

Colchester break thwarted by Smith

1 minute

Col throw...Austin defending.....Bloody helll!!!!

30 secs...

Thought they'd scored...1 min

Col attacking

Defending..They're all over us

YESSS! Game over

Get in!!

[url width=471 height=347]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/robus1971/nwkot.jpg[/url]

Happy with that!

HUZZAH!

yessssssssss  :beers: well done lads-come on you reds

All hail the new King of Tonga!

Phew, brilliant. Thanks guys

Ben is no longer a tosser.

Thank Fuck for that!!!!

Long live the king!

Get in! Danny wilsons red and White army!!!!!!!


Big result for us today, brilliant!

Up the football league we go :)

Up to 13th, 6pts away from playoffs, 4 from relegation.

Is that 10 goals in 15 now for Sir Charles? Incredible scoring record whatever it is.
Sounds like the whole team put in a good shift today, and although we were hanging on at the end we seemed to deserve the points. Looking forward to hearing what those who went thought of individual performances.

I think with the chances that it sounds like we are creating in matches, we are due to give someone a battering at home soon.

Fantatsic result today, that cheered up my convalescing no end.

Colchester are obviously a damn good side as that was only their 2nd defeat all season and their 1st away from hom.

Excellent result! well chuffed.

excellent result.

Spot on. Sounds like in Odejayi they have their version of Big Vince.

Totally agree.  Two off the woodwork today which shows how close this could've been to being a very comfortable performance.

Excellent result. Could've won by more.

Officials were shocking, especially the lineman on the Arkells who had a fucking mare especially first half. He was never in line, and their goal was 5 yards offside.

Great performance today, a totally deserved win and only bad luck stopped us scoring a shed load.

However,....if there is a weakness we still look dodgy at the back at times.

But don't let that detract from a proper good performance. Our winner was a goal of beauty.

Terrific result, great performance going forwards, odd dodgy moment at the back but considering we'd have kept a clean sheet if the linesman could see three inches in front of his face no complaints.

Now we need to put a run together, we've had enough odd wins here and there. Lets go unbeaten for 10 games.

They obviously arent. They were fucking gash and barely troubled us.

Up to 13th and 6 points off the third, for those keeping score at home. A good run really will send us flying up the table, this Division is very, very close.

Colchester were shite, but take nothing away from our performance because we were excellent. Fair play to Prutton, his best game in a Swindon shirt.

Lets push on from here.

On a slightly different note, my mate who supports the posh says that there are rumours that their chairman is thinking of walking away as there are cracks appearing. They loaned out Charlie Lee and Chris Whelpdale to Gillingham, players who had previously shone at this level. He thinks that the only way for them is down.

Not saying I didn't predict it if that's the case. Their chairman's money is in timeshare in Spain, and the housing prices in Spain have collapsed due to the recession. There was talk a few weeks ago about the manager walking...and a 5-1 home defeat doesn't help.

Great result today and we deserved it make no mistake about that. Dominated for large parts. We were unlucky not to be 2 or 3 up at half time. Rose was so unlucky with the free kick and I honestly thought Douglas' drive was in until it smaked the post. Will he ever score for us? One hell of a hit though. I cannot believe their goal was allowed. Their striker was a mile offside. Total kick in the teeth when that went in on the stroke of half time.

2nd half we carried on where we left off. Just continued to dominate the midfield and create chances. Prutton became our 3rd player to hit the post before Charlie finished off a great move to make it 2-1. Only towards the end were we under any threat. I think they chucked more at us and we decided to sit back a bit. We deserved it overall though.

The passing game returned today. Good to see Douglas back. Prutton and Ritchie were very good today and Timlin did well on the left. Dossevi needed that goal and I think it will do him some good. We just need to start doing this every week now like we managed last season and we'll start to win more than we lose.

Thank heavens for that, hopefully that will kick start the charge up the table. Should move up some places in the prediction league with 2-1 What fun



Poole beat Wellington AFC in the vase 4-3

@leefer Oh dear

Blackfield & Langley  2  -  1  Brockenhurst  Wessex League

Bottom Three in the Wessex


20 Brockenhurst  16 3 3 10 20 39 -19 12 
21 Hamble ASSC  13 3 2 8 22 28 -6 11 
22 Alton Town  17 2 4 11 20 48 -28 10

has timlin come back a better player?

Far far better player.

Timlin was awesome on Tuesday, decent today. I'd say so.

good to hear.the sort of loan situation that benefits all then

I was genuinely pessimistic today along with many others on here and what a pleasure it is to say I was proved wrong.

That was a really good all round team performance.  Good to see Douglas back and we definitely looked stronger in midfield with him there, we commanded the midfield area today.  Austin and Dossevi seemed to work well together and although there were a few dodgy moments at the back, had it not been for the farcical officialling, we would have kept a clean sheet.  We really do seem to have had a succession of shite officials this season.

As mentioned we could have gone in at half time several goals to the good and really pleased that having ended up at 1-1 we came out second half immediately looking for the next goal and created a lot of chances.  At times we played some good football, prime example being the build up to the second goal.

Tbh there were a few players who could have picked up the MOM, for me Prutton just shaded it.  However, I can honestly say that everyone put in a good shift today and it was nice to see the passion and the passing back, both things that have been missing recently.

A couple of difficult away games coming up, but if we can play football like we can, there's no reason why we can't pick up points and push on.  Another key thing though is not losing players to injury and then hopefully we can find some stability.

cant be arsed to read 13 pages of comments here, suffice to say we were awesome today - that second goal should have Steve "If you havent played at the top level you cant comment" Claridge purring with delight.

Thought Ritchie was 100% right to be voted MOM - certainly his best performance for us. Shame for Dosser to be brought off - I am no fan of Ball and I thought we looked less potent after that swap. Maybe this guy needs a run in the team, he certainly looked better today than he has done since we signed him
Seems Prutton can dominate a midfield like he used to do for Leeds. He was immense. Rose as well looked good to me today. Morrison seems to get better every game - but I am still unsure about playing Cuthbert at right back - just dont think he is quick enough there, and he was playing so well in the middle before we moved him

I would love to see Smithy juggling that cross off his head against the post again, doubt they will show that on football league show.

Spoke to two Colchester fans afterwards who also confirmed they all thought their guy was offside for their goal - and they were 100 yards away from it

First of all, that was a good game. I don't think Col U were shite, we made them look shite. That was a very good performance by Town today. Prutton was MOM for me. It was nice to see some free flowing football and our second was a peach of a team goal.
As stated already their goal was a fucking joke. The lino can have no excuses for not giving offside -he was so close he could have wiped the guys nose. It was an absolute shocker. Both ref and lino should be neutered for it. The good news is though that we came out in the 2nd really wanting it and didn't let our heads go down. We challenged for virtually every ball. 

Good post...........fuck all the rubbish about the officials....Hudds,Gas,Saints and now Colchester.....lets start upping it for the shite teams.

Enjoyed the match today and a big up for Lescinal....after what hes been through i take my hat off.

Well played Town.

The FA should send all those officials to Stoke and Pulis can see what we have to put up with in the FL.

Was it me, or did Dougie and Prutton work well in the middle today?

Did well....but at the expense of Ritchie who seems to play deeper every match.

I thought that was the best Ritchie has played for us since the Bristol Rovers match. Timlin played well, not a left midfielder but put in a good shift.

Played well and dug deep.....how many crosses did he get in?

Good performance all round, yes we were still a bit shaky at the back but going forwards we were excellent and we dominated midfield. It was nice to see us play good passing football against a hoofball side rather than trying to play them at their own game as often happens.

Both goals were fantastic, loved Charlie's celebration, after hearing reports that was disinterested on Tuesday he looks like a player who is happy to be here to me and he just gets better all the time.

Fantastic performance. Prutton was superb. Made the journey from Essex well worthwhile. Come on you Reds!

Second weekend in a row I've decided against listening to the game. I know what I'll be doing next Saturday as well then.

For the celebration. Slid along the floor then saw the flood of fans at the barriers of The Town End so just dived right in! Was a great sight.

Yep. I predict all games to be 9-0 losses from now on as well.

Does today's result also mean that in future the Matchday Threads have to be started the day before?  :hmmm:

I think we should roll with it for now, for sure.

Comfortable performance really. Ritchie was superb and deservedly got MOTM. Seemed to be absolutely everywhere today and started the move for the second goal with an ace piece of skill.

Thought we dominated the midfield. Prutton and Douglas appear to have worked out how to play together. Some of the bursting runs Prutton made today were superb. It was funny to see Perkins snapping at his heels like a little albino puppy. How Col U ever thought playing two midgets in centre mid against Prutton and Douglas was a good idea, I'll never know.

The lino in front of the DRS was absolutely shocking. Constantly gave offside against us first half and then never gave anything when they were miles off in the second half. The biggest cheer of the game came when he [correctly] gave us a decision.

Ironically, I thought Charlie was a yard offside for the second :D

I fucked that quote up good and proper didn't I

Been backing Dossevi to come good since he moved, and he'll only get better with games as he acclimatises. Great goal, superb workrate and umpteen times better than Pericard. Get him on a regular run and he'll become a serious player

:D

Prutton and Douglas were the difference for us today. As someone said earlier, Pruttons lightening runs out of midfield were excellent and were difficult to deal with.

Dossevi was a big influence up top as well. His work rate was top drawer and his overal contribution to the side was what we've been missing since Paynter left.

I didnt think Charlie had a belter of a game and wasnt up to his his usual high standards, but he found the net - again. He and Dossevi could well be the best option for a reliable front pairing.

Much better team performance. Pushed the ball around well and quit the fucking hoof ball that has dragged us backwards sometimes this season.

Lino in front of the DR was indeed a cunt. Ditto the overly officious referee.

Good 3 points and an entertaining game though. Well happy tonight :clap:

Really satisfying performance today and you got the feeling that things are clicking again. Great to see Dossevi score.he was a real handful today and hopefully there's more to come from him. JDs long ranger would have been one to remember.

Good day at the office.

That really would have 'raised the roof'

Great game today for us, as somebody said last week about Plymouth they made it relatively easy for our defence in that tended to hump it forward which we dealt with well I thought, what I think they failed to do, which they have done here to good effect before, was to pressure the second ball too often.  In previous visits they have always had a real desire to get in your face and try to win those second balls if insert name of appropriate 'big lump' didn't win the first.

That said of course we were so up for it that I think we could have dealt with that too.  Wilson said on the wireless that we had our 'business heads on' and he was exactly right.  Every player stepped on to the pitch believing we would win and did their utmost to make that happen.  We thoroughly deserved to win today and if we can show that commitment over a good run of games then we are good enough to beat anyone and could be pushing the playoff spots again.

Prutton was my man of the match for reasons mentioned by others, really impressed with what I have seen of him lately, could be a big player this season.  Dossevi also looked more at ease with things and that was the best certianly I have seen from him, long may it continue as he was a big factor in the ball being on the floor more what with him coming short to pick it up and looking to be positive with it.

Very happy with that display and more of the same would be very welcome.  ;D

Yeah, he was then joined by Timlin, Ritchie, Prutton, Douglas, Rose, Ball and possibly some more. Yet, they didnt get booked!

Prutton was ace. He was certainly getting forward alot more than last time he played with Douglas. Last time they seemed to both sit, maybe thats tactics, maybe thats fitness, maybe it was opposition. They didnt play the same game out there.

Still too many dodgy moments at the back for my liking.

I'm not going to get too excited, dont get me wrong we played well - but for a team 3rd in the league (which I suppose bodes well for us) Colchester were extremely poor. Can only beat whats in front of you though...

Just saw the highlights on the Football League Show. Why was everyone so convinced their guy on the wing was offside? Definitely looked on to me.

You can't tell from the highlights. Their player isn't in view when the ball is kicked.

Never noticed how 2 footed Prutton is up until the last 2 games. His dribbling yesterday was silky smooth! Hopefully he's settled down now and this is the David Prutton we will see for the rest of the season.

Rose was better yesterday. He just needs to do the simple things right, because he's the best free kick taker weve had for many years. So unlucky not to score, another great free kick.

Austin, brilliant. So great to have a player who will really celebrate goals properly with the fans. Yes it got him a yellow card, but so what? Fair play to Dossevi, showed a lot more confidence, really put his foot through the ball for the goal.

Douglas, brilliant. Ritchie, exciting. Timlin, decent (although the whole team should practice 1 on 1s because Charlie is the only player who seems to be able to put them away).

The problem is the defence. Last season we only needed a 1 goal lead to win games, but this season we need 2. If they had got the equaliser it would have been a travesty, but it nearly happened.

A real relief. 

In fairness, we had exactly that same problem last year Spencer..

Oldham (A) 2-2 went 2-1 up in the 90th minute but could not hold on
Wycombe (H) 1-1 they equalised in the 89th minute
Exeter (A) 1-1 they equalised in the 87th minute
Charlton (A) 2-2 they equalised in the 95th minute
Charlton (H) 1-1 they equalised in the 90th minute
Southend (A) 2-2 2-0 up with 5 minutes to go

I agree....I was expecting it to be obvious after all the comments on here, but he definitely looked onside to me.

For me Cuthbert isn't a rightback. Got 'sucked' over way too much for my liking.

Agreed, but on balance it looks like LJF is covering him. I'd be making more of a fuss about Sean's lack of a challenge on Vincent, but it's not going to spoil my weekend.

5 points worse off than this time last season...only one win less and scored 6 goals more...and 8 points away from second place, the same as we were this time last season :hmmm:


09-10                         P     W      D      L        F      A    GD    PTS
09    Swindon Town    16    6    7    3    19    19    0    25

10-11
13    Swindon Town   16   5   5   6   25   28   -3    20

It looks like maybe things are finally coming together and maybe, just maybe this can be the start of another run like last season.

Apparently we shouldn't keep comparing last season to this season but fuck it, who cares..it's all still to play for.
Happy days 8)

I would like to know Flash's view on Prutton now  ;)

Dossevi's finish for his goal was brilliant, I've never doubted his skill but his finishing has been woeful. Hopefully yesterdays goal will be just what he needed, looked very composed.

Why is it though that if we lose it's because we're shit, yet when we win it's because the opposition's shit?

Team played well yesterday.

Excellent win and a good committed performance yesterday.

The midfield was my highlight yesterday, we looked much more solid with the inclusion of Timlin who I have been impressed with since his return and Douglas who showed yesterday why he is a key player for Town.  I was also very impressed with Prutton yesterday who in my opinion played his best ever game in a Town shirt and hopefully this performance can kick start his Town career.

Delighted that Dossevi played and scored as I think that with the games he can only get better.  Our 2nd goal was a cracking team goal and I will not tire of watching that back again and again on the highlights.

The only slight bit of concern for me yesterday was that of Phil Smith who I thought had a few dodgy spells and didnt seem like he was communicating with Morrison or Jean-Francois yesterday but that is only a minor concern after 3 points.

Can someone please tell me what that horrible drone sound of Agado was in the Town End please?

Agree 100%.

Colchester aren't shite, thats why they are in the play-off places & with a win yesterday would have been second.

They were made to look second best because we played WELL.

The only real concern from yesterday, and it does seem to be a bit of a trend, is that we too often try to hang on to a one goal lead especially in the last 10 mins (or 15 and half after the Ref decides he's having so much fun he wants to carry on a bit longer).

I guess if you can shut the game down & see it out, it's a professional job. But with our defence as shaky as it has been I'd rather be more than one up if we're going to do that

Agreed herthab.

He looked a couple of feet from my angle which was practically directly in line :) But yes, we went to sleep after that point anyway.

Alls well that ends well.  Talking of which, Smith's unorthodox save had my heart in my mouth. Which goes back to the issue of putting games to bed.

But make no mistake, this was a great match to watch and we played well. I enjoyed our performance in as much as I hated our performance against Charlton. 4-4-2 rules*!

*until it doesn't

Can't believe how poor our defence was yesterday. The full backs were all over the place and consistently out of position, whilst the centre backs played like a couple of girls getting pushed around and hardly winning a header all game. All four of them need to get their shit together and step up, or we're going to keep conceding and losing.

Thought the midfield looked good, more balanced and organised but they could have all done better with the exception of Prutton who was our motm by some distance for me. His runs from midfield were causing problems all afternoon and he seems to be playing better and better with every game.

Austin was a bit quiet for me. Obviously he did his job (a goal and an assist) but he didn't put in the all round performance he normally does. Good to see Dossevi scoring, looks like there is something good there if we can get it out of him - not convinced playing him up front as part of a two man attack is his best position.

a country mile off! BBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

or something.

thought rose was good, other three a bit ropey but hey, we won.

Prutton and douglas both mustard. thought we had good shape and looked really committed. actually really enjoyed it. who knew!

Douglas had a good game but he's capable of playing a lot better and didn't dominate the midfield like he can. Same for Timlin who seemed to be making a lot of simple mistakes especially with simple passes and controlling the ball. Ritchie has shown he can play a lot better than that as well, though he didn't do much wrong either.

The big thing though was the shape of the midfield looked right, balanced and it worked. Hopefully we can avoid injuries and suspensions and keep the same four playing together and they'll get better and better.

Yep, we absolutely dominated them until the last 15 minutes when we did our usual sit back on a one goal lead thing.

I noticed a few saying Austin was a bit quiet yesterday. (Highlighted again by jonny.)

I'm not sure exactly what that means because as usual he was fucking everywhere. I loved his performance yesterday. He scored one and set up one. He was back defending at the end and put in a great tackle in the final few minutes. He also won fucking shit loads in the air and laid off the ball superbly on countless occasions. There's very few in the team that work as hard as Austin and he does it all game every game.

He was well offside. The useless lino on the Arkells was never in line, and was around 10 yards behind the play.

Sounds like the lino on the DRS was just as bad.

He's normally involved a lot more upfront, yesterday he wasn't winning many headers and didn't see as much of the ball.

It's not that he had a bad game, just that he usually has an exceptional one and he didn't yesterday.

He won shit loads of headers. Most notably one where he headed it on for himself from the touchline. Genius.

But our game plan seemed to be to play to Dossevi's feet, which I thought worked extremely well, rather than the normal hoof it up and play for the scraps.

Austin was up against a beast of centre back - I'd say he won enough headers. Probably about 60-40 in the centre backs favour though.

That was absolutely brilliant, to control such a difficult ball like that, giving himself a run on goal.

Agree with this, him getting sucked over was extremely evident towards the end of the second half. He's solid defensively but doesn't offer us anything going forward, much like Stephen Darby last season.

I don't think we have much choice other than to keep playing him there, as Amankwaah has been off form this season and I don't think Thompson is ready yet.

Great performance, creaky defence at times.

We need this song for Dossevi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YKSkvGM61Y&feature=player_embedded

We used to do that chant for Sofiene Zaaboub

Dossevi's true chant got a little outing in the TE yesterday from John's lot, took a while to come but I think it's a keeper:

Part of the reason Cuthbert got pulled into the centre was that they put on a sub on that wide left position and playing diagonal balls to his head. Cuthbert had to deal with him as the centre backs were already on a man each and this guy was a striker looking to go behind and shoot not a winger aiming outside and for the byline. In that situation, the only thing to do is to let the rightback tuck in and bring the wide midfielder back to cover the space outside. I would 't have fancied Manky to be in the right position again and again.

Pah, it's not as good as the Coffee and TV one that has never been sung.

Was Ball even on the pitch by then ?

Trouble is, Austin's now on 4 yellows.  I blame the Town End, who should have turned their backs and not encouraged Austin to dive in

Cant remember - one of him or the doss was there.

Doss was still on

Ha I did wonder about that. Although all I could see of Dougie was him digging everyone out from underneath all the fans!

How any one can criticise Austin's performance is beyond me. Scored one, made another and his all round play was immense, as was his work rate. He'll be playing Championship football next season, with or without us.

Only downer was the 2cbs and keeper first half, and if Odejayi had scored when it seemed easier than miss the game could have been very different. We are a good CB away from being a good side, because going forward and particularly acorss the middle we looked really good yesterday, with a lot of depth too. When you think of the players missing through injury we have a very good squad in two thirds of the pitch.

There is not one outstanding team in this league, now we need to put a run together, but I fear that with the inconsistent and mistake-ridden nature of the GK and CBs currently in the team we'll struggle to do just that.

Here's hoping.

And Doss's song (to volare)

Dossevi (woah woah woah woah)
Dossevi (woah woah woah woah)
He's mates with Adebayor,
He fucking loves to score.

Fair point. However I think both LJF and Morrison are getting better and better, they compliment each other well, LJFs pace with Morrison's strength and height.

Hi Panda...cannot totally agree with your views.....2 goals conceded in the last three matches tells me the defence are on the right lines......fact is unlike Plymouth the matches v Brentford and Colchester were tight affairs because of the happenings at the other end.....lots of matches this season we have not killed teams off while well on top.....even v Charlton we couldve/shouldve been two up before we conceded a soft opener.
You mention Odajayi's miss as pivotal.............well i see what your saying but Yeovil away we had at least three clear cut chances to gain the three points...not the rather fortuanate point we gained....

yeah the defensive record looks alright over the last 3 games. Sadly we've played about 15+ games this season.

Last time our defence started to look a bit better we let in 5.

I think we were lucky Colchester only Odapericard upfront.

So what about the sitter Timlin missed when clean through........always keen to highlight there one and only chance but not remembering the chances we didnt take.....always quick to blame the defence...............thaught the defence was outstanding yesterday against a very dangerous team.

Just seen the highlights on STFC player. That second goal was liquid football wasn't it?

what? I didnt mention respective chances at all. Just the fact that their strikers were bloody awful and thats part of the reason we werent troubled. Odajayei made Pericard look mobile and good.

If you thought the defence was outstanding yesterday then you have a really poor standard for outstanding.
They werent.

If Colchester were a 'very dangerous team' then this league really is shite.

Ok, Timlin missed a sitter, but I think it was brilliant he got into that position his run was awesome.

You said it.......we made a team who were third in the lge look very ordinary.
A job well done...........stop highlighting every little mistake the defence makes when in the main they did a great job.

jb...........Timlin played well......lets see if he can keep it up...that seems to be his problem along with the Balls and Ritchies...and even JPM...

As previously stated, Colchester didn't look good, but I think that's because we were good. We won the ball back and held possession very well. We created more chances than them, almost twice as much.

Pure class in a glass

If it had been Arsenal you'd be hearing about it for fucking weeks

The first goal wasn't too shabby either. Great work from Charlie in bringing the ball down and under control then good timing of the pass to Dossevi who produced a bllody good finish. I was a very happy bunny after yesterday.

Just watched the highlights too. That second goal was pure sex. Great skill from Ritchie, deft flick from Timlin, great finish from Austin and Douglas stitched it all together. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Douglas' effort was a lot better than I remember it being too. I'm positive that he will never score for us.

I thought Douglas' shot was going in as soon as it left his foot from my view on the Town End. Couldn't believe it when it came back off the post.

Haha me too, Rich. In my head I was going: at last JD!!! AT LONG LAST!!!

Didn't we hit the post 3 times today yesterday?

2 off the post, one off the bar.

Post twice and Dougie's shot hit the bar, I believe.

jd will score this season.i'm not sure of that....

Next time we are coasting we should let him have a penalty

Well at last we beat the fuckers.

Ref decided to grow a pair for the second half and Colchester folded.

Shame the other chances came off the woodwork but then......Smiths fuck up off the bar came back out...so....in the end.

Lets hope the season starts here.

Dossevi is considerably better/more athletic/harder working than Pericard.

Austin looks an even better player this season. If he had pace he'd be in the premiership...

But Pericard has taken more of his chances than Dossevi.

What did you think of Prutton's performance?

Prutton for me is like Tudor Jones....Ok.....that is all.

Defo improved from his 'chop players down for no reason, give the ball away easy' style of play.

However, you predicted we would all be raving about him by Xmas.......its not going to happen.

Jesus. Don't even mention the two in the same sentence. Prutton was one of our best players on saturday

He's going about it the right way at the moment

I am more conerned when Douglas goes missing.

I just think prutton's looking sharper. there's no doubt douglas makes this team click, but if prutton is one fire I think he could be invaluable.

Dave has turned me around too. I quite literally hated the sight of the Jesus-looking cunt less than six weeks ago, now he's the love of my life, I'd let him shag my wife and I want gypo hair too.

thank mate, I knew you'd grow to love me!!

No.

If anyone has too much time on their hands and fancies reading my thoughts on the game (and the season so far) you can all read my first blog on some BT website that asked me for some reason. Apologies for the occasional lame gag:

http://www.lifesapitch.co.uk/?fanzoneposts=the-robins-2

Not a bad synopsis there.

Pretty good. One little thing...shouldn't it be 'a centre back playing at right back' and not the other way round.

It should, but I have no capacity to edit it now so you'll have to live with that irritation I'm afraid! Thanks anyhow.