Thetownend.com

No thread for this yet. We're off to the Exercise Stadium, where all the fans will be doing star jumps for 90 minutes I'm sure.

Nice place Harrogate, went there in the Ben Garner season when we won 4-1. The target has to be a third successive away win. Never dreamt I'd be typing those words any time soon just a few weeks ago...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q22xAdJduyw&ab_channel=SwindonTownFootballClub

Ian Holloway on tomorrow's test against Harrogate

Hopefully not Bycroft doing them at crosses.

Taking the wife on a romantic 2 night stay in the beautiful northern spa town of Harrogate this weekend. Will be squeezing in a bit of exercise tomorrow afternoon mind.

 comfortable 0-4 away win on the cards . onwards and upwards .

Then off to the footy?  ;)

First game for me this season, short journey from the Toon, weather looks absolutely grim so some extra layers required I should think! I think we will score 3 with no reply!

Indeed. Going to be freezing on the terraces tomorrow!

Will be a tough game tomorrow.  Harrogate are one of those teams that stick 11 players behind the ball when defending make it hard to break them own. They will look to nick a goal from a set piece then park the bus but hopefully Holloway will have something in place to counter that

Having never been before I thought Harrogate was bloody lovely when we went early December. Only spent a night there to break up the journey to Durham but had great food and beverage options, and was pumping even on a Tuesday night :pint: If you haven't been before BO you're in for a treat.

Stayed at the Crown, Victorian pile right in the centre, very nice and very cheap, even if they tried to charge us for a crib for the wean (but the receptionist knocked it off when we left saying they thought it was stupid).

Anyway, 2-1 Swindon. Fingers crossed!

We’re here already, travelled up on Thursday.
Have spent today visiting a couple of NT properties & out for dinner tonight.
Will be nice to be able to walk to/from Football tomorrow.

As for the game, hoping for a win but a draw wouldn’t be a disaster

They park the bus with their manager too. Safest job in the EFL!

Set to be very cold tonight and all day tomorrow just above freezing. Do they cover to he pitch or are we looking at a pitch inspection in the morning?
Setting off at 6 don't want to waste fuel or time if it's likely to be called off.

2-0 Swindon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q22xAdJduyw

It’s pretty cold here at the moment, was sleeting a bit earlier and the gritting lorry’s were out so hopefully the pitch is covered

Delaney unavailable per the presser. Hall or Freckleton?

Should have let me know BO. We could have met up for a lovely steak supper

 Everyone on here is far more positive about the team and getting results.
Hopefully it can continue.

I'm going for a 2-1 win. COYR

Arrived at 7:45 last night and enjoyed some Indian Tapas followed by a couple of stouts at Cold Bath brewing, which is a 1 minute walk from the hotel, handy!


Fairly easy journey north from you I'm guessing?

I'm not going to take away Wobbly Bob's thunder, but about to put on my best Frank Spencer voice and head towards the tea house that Harrogate is famous for. May inadvertently bump into one or more of you at one of the excellent pubs that are close to the ground. As Posh Red stated, it will be nice to walk to the ground, weather looks iffy at best. Time to Don the layers! COYR

Pretty much straight up the A1, takes about the same amount of time as a home game.

We went to the Thai Tapas on Thursday night, that was really good

Pre match owt's better than nowt in The Winter Gardens.
Regardless of result hoping for a good day in the company of London & Crewe reds.

Have previously stayed over in York & Leeds for this one.
Making a nice 17hr day of it this time.

Having said that, a midweek slot next season would be good to allow for a more in depth exploration of the local medicinal waters & dare I say it even Betty’s Tea Rooms. Not today though.

Will stop off at the very good Harrogate Tap after this.

Will then have to overcome the naturally repelling force field for anything associated with exercise in order to make it to the terribly named stadium.
Exorcising exercise if you like.

Speaking of which, looking at the ticket I was reminded that the ground is a bit of a low rent Manor Ground with 7 or 8 different standlets.
A characterful & bijou garden shed for sure, but at least we'll be under cover.

Bit of a must win game if we are to look up the table for what remains of the season.
A bit of explosive hydrogen peroxide in the performance should be enough to see off the Sulphurites with luck.

There should be no congratulatory back slapping within the club or the fanbase if a mid table finish is achieved.

Regardless of circumstances it would still be completely unacceptable and should warrant an inquest in the murky corridors of power, if they are even interested in that.

Next season will equal our longest stay in the bottom tier.

Holloway has generated a little hope that would increase slightly if he were to remain at the helm.
His first task in the summer would be to light a fire under the only Aussie in the universe seemingly not driven by a desire for sporting excellence in a business that's ultimately all about competition & finding a way to win.

Gutted for Drinan.
Yes, there is ample forward cover but none of them can do what he does for 90 mins.
The nearest to a like for like replacement would be Botan Ameen I guess but can't see him being thrown in just yet.
Hopefully the team won't lose some of that energy that's been vital in the revival.

So, time for a not so tricky quiz question for those who know their STFC onions.
Of the 6 players to have represented both clubs this one joined Harrogate just over 3 years after leaving Swindon having played for 9 clubs in between, 6 of them in non-league and he wasn't finished after Harrogate, managing to fit another 5 or 6 clubs in before retiring.

Anyway, it's game on and wouldn't swap a cold & grim Saturday afternoon in Harrogate for a warm and cosy living room for all the tea in Yorkshire.

I do enjoy your pre match musings Wobbly. Long may they continue.

#sentFromMyWarmLivingRoom

I see Ameen and Chard not playing this morning vs Pompey for the academy.

Always a difficult place to go and get a result at, but, no wins in the last 5 games for them and we are on a no losses in the last 6 games including a 2 away game winning run (1 loss in the last 5 away games) currently.

Drinan was just hitting some consistant form but maybe this is the time for Tshimanga or Glatzel to shine.

Will he go for a debut for Ripley? I hope so as Bycroft isn't quite up to the job as 1st team keeper yet IMO.

Maybe a return for Freckleton on th ebench at least, which will be interesting too.

We have only been beaten by 'Gate once in 7 meetings but have only won 2 of them, 1 away and 1 at home.

Town will be backed by a sell out away attendance as always of 600 fans, a great turn out again for a lengthy trip from Swindon.

Is Delaney injured or suspended?

Injured

Having stitches taken out of his knee he's been playing with for the last few weeks according to the presser. Sounded like it should just be this game absent.

We looked surprisingly alright last week without our two best mids, so we'll see how we look without our first choice centre half partnership.

We very nearly went there. Have to say there are loads of really good food/drink places here, reminds me a bit of old town in Swindon.

Have to say, Betty's breakfast, whilst on the more pricy side, was very very nice. Donning an extra pair of socks and a jumper before making the hunt for fellow reds for a couple of pre-game pints.

Living in Luxembourg has fucking softened you!

Hmm I didn’t see this in the presser summary, thought it was just Drianan out

Just for the sheer number of clubs - is has to be Trevor Benjamin…

Yeah, good stuff.
You are correct.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gj1KK4IWQAAkRtK?format=jpg&name=large)

Hall in for the injured Delaney and Ripley starts.

 good to see Cain (I think he was my tip for top scorer) doing well and making a real contribution to our great form .

So is that a narrower 4-3-2-1 with Cotterill deep or 4-2-3-1 again & Nichols pushed wide?

Interesting bit in the presser (I think Joe and Joe rather than Holloway) where they were talking about his attributes maybe suiting full back more than midfield at league two level. Might be something in that. Cox, Kirkman and him is one too many though really, especially if Chard is getting a pro deal which you'd think he might.

Really wish they'd do graphic in position order. It hurts my head.

Agree.

1-11 back in the day was straight forward.

It’s over kill for one LWB slot but with those three players you obviously have depth at LWB but can also cover LCB & CM.

I even preferred the list of names to the picture slabs. Just put it on a pitch graphic with in formation. So easy.

Keeper off his line quickly.

100 miles an hour end to end stuff so far.

To be fair the guy compiling the graphics often won't know the formation, the team gets named at 2pm but managers don't have to declare what the positions are!

Fog seems to be coming down slowly, hopefully it doesnt get too bad today.

They seem to be double marking Smith so far, time to exploit the loose striker who currently seems to be Nichols who is left unmarked more so.

Cotterill wins the first corner. Some nice interplay leading up to it.

Deep corner, Cain hits it on the volley and is blocked for another corner.

Good delivery from Wright but the keeper just gets to it to punch clear.

Cotterill tries a long shot thats blocked.

Smith header finds Butterworth and his shot is deflected over the bar for a corner.

SeanDycheUtterWokeNonsense.jpg

Smith being held by the waist there and the ref ignores it, blatant foul in the box.

Great chance for Town as Nichols finds Ofoborh bt he handballs it before the shot. We are currently controlling possession totally, Harrogate making lots of mistakes.

Harrogate look awful

Not a classic so far is it?

Town with 75% possession so far, not normal for us.

Butterworth with a wild pass from a good position.

Instead of 75% possession you could replace that with 75% confidence by Town and 25% Harrogate confidence.

With that Ripley makes a solid save at the near point, their first chance of the game.

Not too much working for Smith so far unfortunately.

Smith with a wild shot from 20 yards out of the ground.

Smiths body language doesnt look good so far today, hes so much better than this.

Keeper catches the ball from a cross - novel idea

Great turn by Nichols who then has a shot from 30 yards saved by the keeper.

Over rated.

Cotterill shot just over the bar from 20 yards.

We either gone score soon….or…..get hit with a sucker punch!

Kilkenny shot deflected off the post the keeper well beaten. Corner.

Freckleton warming up with his face covered to try and disguise himself from Town fans :)

Walsall losing again. Absolutely remarkable form recently.

2 chances for Town there but Cain ends it with a shot well wide from the edge of the box.

Almost the opposite of our form.

Butterworth finds Cain in the box but his cross is blocked for a corner.

Another good corner which the keeper fumble punches clear.

Playing well but not working the keeper enough. Nearly but not quite.

Harrogate look very timid. Not bad exactly, just trying nothing.

Rippers first error in kicking to Cain thats nowhere near him.

Ripleys distribution is awful

Ripper kicks it clear and takes a knock.

His first 5 or 6 long passes found their target but his last 3 have been wayward.

Really? Can only count two poor kicks from him. Thought he’s been decent and a very smart throw out to Cotterill

Much better than Bycrofts.

Agree on this.

FFS never a pen.

FFS that's so unlucky

How is that a pen? He's got the ball clean

Fuck sake Bycroft

 :toocool:

Good no way was that ever a fucking penalty.

*Ripley

Justice

Well you don't see a ref change their decision often.

Not convinced it wasn’t.

Looked a penalty to me.

No I dont remember seeing that before in a long long time at this level.

Give that lino a raise. Superb.

Never a pen.

Never a pen. Fair play to the ref for changing his decision

Sucker punch dodged.

My first instinct was he dived, watching the replay I still think he was looking for the penalty and dived.

HT 0-0

Town totally dominating with possession and passing and chances but notenough testing of the (very weak looking) keeper, keep the pressure on and it will come.

We were the much better side but we didn’t really create too much. Smith has had a poor game so far I think, but if he can liven up in the second half, I can’t see Harrogate being able to deal with him

Town having only a light workout at the Exercise Stadium, but we haven't actually scored a goal. It's a bit like watching a boxing match where one team is well ahead on points but not that arsed about chasing the knockout.

I’m a little worried after that first half. Lots of possession, lots of passing and movement, but, not done anything with it! Could easily have conceded 2 against the run of play. Assume Harrogate’s game plan is to keep it tight, tire us out and then score on the break.

Definately Smiths poorest game in a long long time, but he has the quality to punish them 2nd half, get one goal early and we could get 3 I think.

Need to step it up 2nd half, not get drawn into how they want to play.

Shooting in front of our fans this half. Could be a good celebration that end.

Only 3 goals in the 9 games that had 3pm KO's so far.

If the game continues as it has done - crying out for Westley to sniff something out in the box.

Ripley’s made strong contact with the ball. Well done lino.

Can someone tell us the second half has started?

Wakey wakey.

Corner to Harrogate, their 1st of the game, they have come out of the starting blocks much faster this half than we have.

Ofoborh and Kilkenny mess up to give them another corner.

We starred the first 5/6 mins of the first half lole this hardly getting it out of our half and then we took over.

Hopefully the same happens here.

Gate shot deflected just over our bar with Ripper beaten.

0-1

Weak defending there by all the team.

That was awful defending

Cock.

Sobo fouled in the build up didnt help us.

God, that was a shit goal to give away

What happened with sobowale there?

Just looked like he ran into someone to me.

That’s what happens if you don’t turn dominance into scores!

Going to be difficult to come back from that. We have looked awful this half.

Nor did him lying on the floor…

We’ve completely lost control

Got pushed to the floor by the Gate defender as he ran out.

They were never going to be as bad as they were in the first half. Really needed to make that pressure count but we’ve absolutely folded this second half

Didn’t break his leg though did he.
Perfectly capable of getting back up again.

Hall with a great saving tackle there.

We look a shadow of the 1st half team we were.

We have gone back to Kennedy, posession over penetration.  Time for Olly to make the change, in tactics if not personel

I would like to see Tshimange and Glatzel on for Nichols and Butterworth, try and get some pace up front.

Clarke on for Ofoborh.
Tshimanga on for Butterworth.
Glatzel on for Cotterill.

I’d get Smith off tbf. Offered nothing today

Suddenly forgotten how to string passes together. What o. Earth is going on.

Hopefully changes help.

Have we come out for the 2nd half?

We also need to start matching in the nigglyness and shithousery, that is the only aspect of the game that they are better than us at the moment, except for the score.  Harrogate are a pub team that will enjoy their pints and chip butties after the game unless we switch things up

Shocking miss by Harrogate unmarked header 5 yards out.

Should be 2-0. Let off.

Goodness me how’s he missed? They absolutely have us on the ropes

We came out with no energy at all.

Good save by Ripper.

Shite defending. Good save. Who was that in defense who fucked that?

Freckleton on for Hall.

The return of the Freck

Flipping Freck.

My god we look so damn poor this half after totally dominating the 1st half.

Not sure if this is the game for Glatzel, I think Westley would have been the better option tbh

All been scoffing chicken nuggets with double barbeque sauce at half time.

Westley on for Nichols.

This drop off between first and second half has been wild.

Your wish...

We are losing the ball in midfield - So we remove the midfield and play 4 strikers.

Dont think it will work against 11

It was pretty clear Harrogate wouldn’t be that bad again in the second half but I didn’t think we’d absolutely fold as we have

Clarke shot from 30 yards thats saved and cleared for a corner.

Why have we not peppered the flapping keepers goal? he looks so poor but we have barely tested him.

Terrible long pass by Freckles that set them up for a counter.

Tshimanga has a shot that the keeper fumbles but gets to the rebound.

Break by Clarke but his pass is poor to Tshimanga.

I'm sure this lot will try till the end, but this doesn't seem to be our day at all.

We can stop looking at play offs if we lose or even realistically all don't win this.

Bye play off hopes, we hardly knew ya.

I think even the most optimistic Town fan didnt genuinely think we would make it, its the hope that kills you.

This type of game is exactly why any talk of play offs is ridiculous

Att: 2,909 (600 Swindon I think he said)

Clarke shot just over the bar from 25 yards.

Really? Some Swindon fans think Clem is a good owner. I think you're giving our fan base too much credit.

True, I should have added "moderately intelligent" Swindon fans.

Still v. limited but Harrogate wanting it more this half.  Very disappointed to see that.

Harrogate fighting for their football league status us in the comfort zone.

Freckleton still looks like a beaten puppy who is more scared to do anything wrong than anything else

Lots do unfortunately

I hope we're not just settling for lower mid table mediocrity.
It's almost like the club don't want promotion? Costs more.

 The rising tide seems to be subsiding

Probably doesn’t hurt to have this game as a bit of a reality check.

Play offs were never really on. Relegation is out of sight now.

A shitty 1-0 defeat to an out of form Harrogate might just be the little reminder the plays need that despite the good form we can’t just turn up & expect to win

Why not? TBH thats been the aim of the owners all season. Survival.

and

Prob best can hope for under form and co

Exactly

Knackered after a strenuous Valentines night with Kennedys' imaginary daughter

So far this half we have looked exactly what we are, which is about 17th in the bottom tier.

That should have been a booking for the Harrogate player for kicking the extra ball into the box rather than kicking it out of play, as we were attacking.

Probably not settling for it but realistically it’s where we are going to end up this season. Based on the points we have (obviously) & how far we are into the season.

…and let’s be honest. 3 months back we’d have prayed for lower mid table mediocrity

Tshimanga returned to previous form then..

More costs in league one, so I guess you are right.

Three stands not a good look in league one🤣

Freckleton still cant pass a long pass.

Yep, just be nice to have some momentum to take into next season

4 mins added.

Should have scored

Smith shot saved for a corner, too straight at the keeper.

Yeah, definitely not our day this.

2nd game in a row where I’m not sure the subs have made it any better.

True.

There is still the opportunity for that though.

One loss in February doesn’t put that to bed.

Shit result to take into four tough games coming up.

Second half performance felt like a return to the Kennedy era

FT 0-1

A game of 2 halves.

Not good enough to be much better than our current league position.

Shame as I had just got used to not being beat every week.

Are they chucking a second ball on the pitch on purpose or are they just stupid?

Imagine being a Harrogate fan watching that every week

Poor poor second half that.

Normal away stuff

 a reality check

We did poretty much under Kennedy.

Tiny club punching miles above their weight.

Disappointing result but still plenty of games left.

If we're looking up then Donny and Salford lost, Crewe picked up a point - 11 points off PO.
If we're looking below then the bottom 3 all picked up points - 12 point gap to bottom 2.

Complete collapse of any composure in the second half. Probably the worst half performance since the Col U game.

Very much so.

Or a blip in a good run?

Shades of some of the worst bits of our recent years in each half there.

First half all the control with little penetration. Second half completely outmuscled and outfought.

Get to points needed for safety as quick as possible then start looking onto next season. A lot of players have improved under Holloway, the ones worth keeping around are the ones who have improved consistently.

Think we do better in the chaotic moments and transition. When we’re in control of a match or playing with lots of the ball against a team camped in then we struggle a bit. The midfield first half played some great stuff and had control but felt we looked less dangerous than the games where it’s a pinball match.

Not very good. Should have killed game in first half.

Second half was awful.

You can’t play 4 up to with only 1 or 2 in midfield to win it and find a pass!

Nope absolute reality check. Hopefully we can stop the nonsense of playoff talk now.

Exactly. Watched this down under on a feed that kept buffering badly and wished I had not bothered. Where was the attitude second half that was shown against Port Vale? Trust we are not going to get dragged back into the mire.

I thought we were going to make the play offs?

We can have a reality check en route

Nah, they won doing it

Well, we'll see. You're saying the good run was a blip then?

I don’t think anyone is saying the good run was a blip

…but…I think the point is - we haven’t gone from being a poor team to a brilliant team over night. This isn’t a top 7 team. Probably not even a top half team.

Realistically this isn’t a team that was going to motor on winning games from now until the end of the season making a late play off surge.

We have an ok team. One that until mid December had been poorly managed. We’ve moved on from that, deservedly so but I don’t think we should get carried away with how far we’ve moved on because games like today’s will still happen to us.

The point is you do not have to be brilliant to get in the top 7 of this league. I'm not saying,or never have said that it will happen but it's very short sighted to say it can't happen and certainly this single result today does not signify anything one way or another,which was my point

It's one less game against a weaker team with which to claw back a probable 11 point gap to the playoffs once the games even out.

Of course it reduces the odds.

We need 34 points from 42 available on current averages to reach the required minimum 72 points.

Should have been in front in the first half, but didn’t make the most of being on top.
Second half started slowly & conceded a bit of a soft goal & probably could have conceded another from a free header.
We had opportunities, especially the late chance for Harry but just couldn’t force one in.
Probably should have got a point, but not sure we did enough to win.

Just having Indian Tapas in Town before heading back to the hotel

This squad reminds me very much of the one under Flitcroft and before Wellens - built to compete in this league, rudimentary and do OK results wise, while often being less than pretty on the eye.  Effective without being able to really push into the top seven.  Holloway has done a decent job, simplifying the game for them, but they are still lacking enough quality.  It's sad that we now see that as a positive.  Finishing lower than third should feel like under performance for STFC.  Still, it could be a lot worse, so we can take the positives.

Indeed. Holloway has done a great job under the circumstances

Need to offer him a longer contract

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W6BU4MSHP-8

In control first half without testing Harrogate.
Second half poor although Smith could have rescued a point.

Highlight of the day meeting Wobbly Bob.
What a legend. Now I can put a name to a face.

Highlight of the game was the chant 'Swindon's a shithole, we want to stay here'.

Smith could have salvaged a late point, good save by Belshaw but we were pretty poor second half. First half we shaded it without creating a lot.

Didn't meet Wobbly Bob, mores the pity.

So, Hall felt his hamstring. Thought he played well today, but, you can’t have someone who plays so infrequently taking a wage.

Teams tend to improve somewhat in January and then tail off in Feb and even March. This probably will happen with Town. League safety secured, some players likely have unannounced contracts secured {here and elsewhere}. Welcome to bottom third of the bottom division bottomocrity

Match was a bit of a foggy squib and somewhat an afterthought. At least I don't have to worry about train strikes preventing me from getting to Wembley in May now

Had a lovely Heritage Fillet steak supper at Tannin Level post-match. Few beers and stopped off at the York Tap for a couple on the way home. Had tried to contact several TEF folk who were at the match, to no avail

Didn't meet WB unfortunately. BO didn't reply to my text {or romantic offer of dinner on here} :girlgiggle:
I'll have to join one of the prestigious and notorious WhatsApp groups next time

I do hope LL managed to find somewhere to watch the match with his DNA. He's on the Cape don't you know? Nothing False about that

One would imagine its a very high wage too!

Was a mad signing was injury prone before he signed and a blatant waste of a wage!

Can’t see him getting another pro club next season

He was one of the players i was convinced we'd try and offload in January.

When we signed him i was a bit worried about his injury record but i thought if we could keep him fit he'd be levels above. Oddly enough though, when he has been fit, he's been rubbish, considering he's played his whole career in the Championship. He's got to be the highest paid payer at the club too, hasn't he?

It's very difficult to perform well without a run of games.

I thought he'd be injury prone, but this has exceeded what I thought would be worse case.

Can only one imagine how frustrating this is for everyone. But we can't afford passengers, no matter how good they are to have around the squad.

Makes you wonder doesnt it, then IH says they got rid of Longelo because he wasnt providing the value for money he was on and he was even less injury prone!

Who would want him with his injury record.

Longelo went on a free because he had someone willing to take up his contract.

Much like Uwakwe I would never expect Hall to agree to leave & become unemployed. Especially whilst injured.

It's a real shame he's pulled up again because I was impressed with him yesterday & felt he covered Wright, who had a bit of a stinker defensively, really well.
Hopefully it's a precautionary measure on his part & we can get another 5+ games from him before saying thanks for the effort & releasing him in the summer.

Us!

Competitive

:D

Maybe he’s on a pay per play deal :D

Yes but someone wanted to buy him.

They didnt pay for him though did they, we cancelled his registration and he went for fuck all

Hall has been gash all season. Complete waste of a wage.

…but 6-8 weeks ago I’d have said the same about Delaney.

Hall deserves the chance to play a run of games under Holloway - to see if he can show the same improvement others have

…but he’s not going to do that if he can’t stay fit.

The wages to minutes ratio must be horrendous. Never overly rated Hall & genuinely a bit surprised he’s had a steady career in the 2nd tier…

…someone was willing to take on his wages then - same difference really.

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YevsBfeVS8A

True. We were desperate to unload for sure

Havent read back.

Watched the first half and quite impressed although very concerned that the dominance would it us on the arse.

One of those games...if we got one...wed get 3....we didnt.

checked the final score and ffs....disaster. Seen the goal this morning...salt into the wounds.

Never mind...it was good whilst it lasted.