Thetownend.com

Well lose.

0-3 att: 9,232 (756 away)

I'll make this one.

*We'll

At least a 2 goal defeat

More boring, slow, home dross served up

Still haven’t tested negative so going to miss this one as well.

Unfortunately I Think we will be well beaten, by 2 or 3 goals.

We'll lose well.

hope it sods off soon posh.

I still don't get how you can test negative if you've recently had Covid as the NHS told me not to do any PVR or Lateral flow test for 90 days unless my health deteriorated.

How many days have you been isolating

just dont think i can force myself to go to this one. all of these home games would be different with an early town goal but its not something we do

did this for the Walsall postponement. would have worked for Stevenage and will probably work for tomorrow. i feel like iv gone all Reg and after the start to the season it is sad to say it. lets hope some new players can turn us back in form and we can push on

I’ll be following via JJ on here only. It’s too painful watching it.

Today is day 7, and albeit a feint line there was still something


Me too


Son tested negative this morning on a LFT, so if negative again tomorrow could come down for the game

That's fair enough but things have definitely changed from when I tested positive 7 weeks ago.

Ordinarily I'd have this down as a simple Northampton win, probably 2-0. But given they haven't played since 11th December they are surely going to be as rusty as we were on Wednesday.

No idea how it's going to go really taking all the factors into consideration.

Like Wednesday, I can't muster the enthusiasm for Garnerball. Dreadful entertainment value. If we are going to lose, then please do it by taking the game to them.
Sadly 3 0 to the Cobblers and one big yawnfest.

Wellens back here in the summer then😀

Just went on the site to get a ticket and I've never seen so many unsold seats for a New Year's Day game. Garnerball really is starting to affect attendances. Hopefully one of his resolutions will be to be less boring.

I wonder if he will change his tactics against City next week

I think people could at least stomach the tediousness of Garnerball - if we were at least winning games. Which at home, we are not.

Not covid related then?

Last home league win 23.11.21 against Hartlepool who are bottom in away form. Our only other home league win was back in August against Mansfield. But at least we're in a play off place hey  ???
Away form now dipping, so I can only see us being mid table by the end of Jan.

I thought we had won 3 at home but having checked you are correct it's 2. Doesn't bide well for tomorrow

Yeah, we'll win this and Jonny Williams will score if he starts.I think/hope

Precisely

Yes I'm sure COVID will have knocked a few off the attendance, however it's been a steady decline since the start of the season. How many will be missing from the Man City game because of COVID I wonder?

I think people will book online tomorrow just in case of late covid cancellation etc. I am.

When do the new EFL guidelines kick in where players aren't requested to do a test on the day of a game.

Not forgetting the fair weather supporters.

Pretty sure it’s already in force,  sure I read about it in today’s paper.

Cheers

3 if you count the boycott cup.

I'm still unsure which way the season is headed.

we really could challenge for promotion, a couple of good squad additions and things suddenly click.

or we could go into freefall.

such a shame home and away form is the wrong way round in many respects.

I'm going 1-1

We definitely need more height and more physicality in the team that's the only advantage FGR have on us.

But we're not playing FGR !!.

I didn't say we were just using the team that are top of the table as a comparison.

I see you've exercised your option not to watch - not so much of a 'twatty reply' now eh?

Not going to be an easy one, play like we did Wednesday can't see past a defeat, however this is Swindon and we normally raise our game against the better clubs. Hoping we turn up and beat them 2-0.

it's currently pissing down. hope that stops, we aren't a soggy pitch kind of team

They’ve sold 750 with a further 272 available as POTD.

At least they may create an atmosphere.

A little precipitation here COYR

Can’t see us coping with Northamptons throw ins, corners and free kicks. Hoping their players are as knackered as ours were Wednesday (in a hope they’ll be ok in the future kind of way). Might be high scoring this one…

Odimayo was struggling at the end on Wednesday, imagine if he’s not fit! Northampton would be pretty much guaranteed a change from every high ball into the box!

Are the buses running today?

Trains been cancelled, hour wait at bath before the next train to Swindon arrives, weathers pretty grim, reckon it'll be 4-0 to Northampton to cap off a fine start to 2022

Home win.
I’ve added Northampton to my accumulator.
Hell, I’ve got the Detroit Lions their two wins this season, I swear…

Don’t think we’ll be going today. Mrs has gone back to bed and my son is feeling shit. Norbert no mates doesn’t feel like going on my own.

Unless of course Arsenal win and I’ve actually jinxed Man City rather than Northampton

They're winning 1-0 at h/t

That was what my post was based on

 :clap: :clap:

Good to see Lyden starting

And Williams

And Simpson

Very makeshift at the back again, I really do fear corners and set pieces. I hope Conroy got a decent fine for being such an idiot as he really has stitched us up, would probably strip the captaincy for a few games when he is back.

Which is why we should go all out attacking instead of the usual plodding

Bit surprised Crichlow not starting but I think it's a decent line up attacking-wise. Williams to score first 14/1. Having a pahnd on that!

Only just come back from Covid

..as had several the other night but,yeah, I get that

How on earth are we lining up?

Lyden and Reed together has the potential to control the game, especially with Williams in the team too. Let's hope it works out that way.

I'd guess 4-4-2 with Payne right and Williams left

Ali Koiki playing for them. Remember him?

It could be a Hassenhutl/Ragnick style 4-2-2-2 thingy that seems to be in fashion now?

I think this depends on how fit Northampton’s team are, if they are struggling physically as much as we are then anything is possible.

If they are match ready I can’t see us keeping a clean sheet and on the basis we couldn’t break Stevenage down think it’s unlikely that we will score today.

Wheres JJ

He's probably working on his biased bollocks post match write up

Simpson looking strong early on.

End to end stuff at the moment - we have already been much brighter in the first 5 than the entire match on Wednesday

You trying to pre-empt accusations of bias by giving Nton rather too much credit there?

Quite possibly - you never know how people are going to take stuff on here

Aint that the truth.

Lot's of early goals in Lge 2 - FACT

Much better ball movement today.

Probably over 70% possession so far, and already 3 chances in their area.

Bias reporting alert.

HNY Godd002

KKH still looking as hungover as Wednesday.

positive start

Those long throws could be a problem with the backline’s issues with balls in the air

Missed first 6 mins....real life stuff!

JJ back for 2nd half

Scrappy

Wollacott saves 25 yard shot

Cross referencing your factual quote I note only four goals so far. ‘Lots of early goals?’

 :beers:

🍻

Williams to Lyden and great pass through to Simpson who blasts right footed wide

Iandolo looks spritely today after looking like he was at deaths door on Weds, I did feel for the bloke at the end of the game - he looks a lot happier today

Isn't it amazing how one word can change how somebody views an opinion

Think you might be able to repost your previous comment now Berni. Looking much more even now.

Koiki burst down our right. Corner

Especially on here.

Wollacott flaps at it. Goal kick

I like it when Williams is in the line up.  Seems to get everyone working harder

Williams looks up for this

Being sloppy gives Northants a chance which they waste. Williams gets ball, bursts forward and draws a foul. Yellow card.

McKirdy to Williams. Corner

I hate the way town takes corners.   :(

Short to Williams. Cleared. Northampton lose ball on edge of our box. We get throw in in middle of their half and thrown it backwards to build.

Good effort from McKirdy from 25 yds

McKirdy shot from 25 yards goes wide

Williams fouled again

Williams "winning" a lot of fouls

“The dark arts of football “.   :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Freekick from middle left of their half. Payne whips in to far post. Hunt heads it back across. Cleared.

McKirdy cross. KKH slides in at back post but can't reach it.

Northampton playing a lot of 'up and unders' but we are defending them OK at the moment

They are putting some great crosses around the box. Just need a bit more touch to get them to land around the 6’

Good stuff so far

Couldn’t resist watching. Tons better than Stevenage game. Noticeable we are actually putting crosses in instead of fancying around the box.

Agreed - a lot more energy about our performance so far

Defended free kick with a high line. Goal kick.

Why wasn’t that offside from the fk? Three of them.

1 nil McKirdy - get in

Lovely flowing move!

1-0 McKirdy

GREAT BALL MOVEMENT!!!

Great build up play by Hunt and Simpson

Happy new year!

A first half goal.

Early energy paid off. Nton looking a bit rusty like us midweek.

Bit fortunate that defender slide knocked ball to McKirdys feet. He buried it well mind!

Still 0-0 in the unbiased commentary ;)

Ooooh I wanna dance with McKirdy
Has magic feet has McKirdy

The lovely play was....Hunt won ball. Passed it into Simpson, who turned and sprayed it out wide to Payne. Payne ran and drilled the ball in low, which ricocheted to McKirdy on 6 yard box.

Simpson is a BEAST!

Simpson is very quick for a big man.

Williams definitely instils a sense of urgency

I’m not sure you all appreciate the adjectives the announcers use in the UK.   They are just funny  :D

Reed 30 yard dipper over and wide

Not been too well so not doing my biased match commentary today, missed first 15 mins but here now.

:D

Lyden fouled. Yellow for Northampton

Why does Williams always wear gloves???  Is he just read to box someone if needed?

Simpson chasing everything today

Don't worry, we find the US "Soccer" commentary just as funny - it comes out in your posts sometimes as well - a little bit Brad Bobbley, which I don't expect you to understand :D

Stay well pv

You are correct I don’t understand.   The US commentary is funny because they are generally morons

Urgh

too fucking simple

1-1 poor defending.

Knackers.

1-1 0n the break

Lovely back heel flick from Williams - deserved more

1-1 Long diagonal ball. Rubbish!

We were so comfortable, Iandolo hopeless defending, he just can’t defend any kind of ball in behind him.

Fuck.   That was some lazy defending   Did t even try to close on that ball

Cheers mate got a couple of skin abcesses so not feeling great at the moment.

Sorry to hear that mate

Kaine is a proper menace to us in defence.

Fanied around with it for a couple of mins with Odimayo looking increasingly nervous. He gives it away. Northampton shot blocked by Hunt

Switch off, they score

Town just needs to calm down and get their form back

Was an Iandolo block.  We have gone to shit in the last 5

They are all over us now.

We seem to have totally lost confidence

Long through, shot over the bar from them

Both our full backs are abysmal defensively at the minute

Sorry

Foul throw - I like this ref

Wasn't a criticism, just tidying it up :)

I hope at half time the coach figures out a way to target the ball to Williams.    He just makes great decisions let him quarterback this team.

played pretty well up to their goal but they
yet are lucky not to be 2-1 down in a way

Williams on the floor after dribbling through middle of defence. Looked to be trying to draw a foul that wasn't given.

Was a genuine sorry for making a mistake

tbf looked a clear push.

think he's just taken revenge

What an effort from 40 yards from their freekick - saw Jojo off his line and somehow managed to get back to push it over the bar - brilliant recovery from Jojo

Hopkins gets his own back on Williams by drawing a foul from him.

Wollacott nearly caught off his line. Shot from freekick near 1/2 way line. Wollacott tips over at last second for a corner

Crikey that was an audacious effort. Great recovery from Jojo.

HT - that was very enjoyable

Not sure that high of a line is a good idea when your backs are slow

1-1 HT

Never express such a biased opinion about Iandolo, you will get the wrath.

actually thought iandolo was having one of his better games going forward. one slight lapse and bang. going to get ripped if we give City that much room

very enjoyable half.

If we had turned up like that on Weds (and I know the reason why we didn't) we would have been 3 up at HT.  Cobblers are so much better than Stevenage

I can never reach the cursor fast enough to turn off Jimmy feckin Bullard.  :crash:

Tempo much higher than usual. That does seem to be something Williams brings to the game, part of the reason I think he's been used as a second half sub so often.

Good ol Ellis Iandolo at left back. Fucking hopeless. How many goals we gonna concede on that side?

Haven't  read back.  :)

Miles better than the other night.
Three points up for grabs for both teams here.

Quite liking the approach taken by the ref.
The bar for minimal contact is set quite high so it's up to the players to adjust their cheating strategies accordingly.

Sammy Allison is as bad a ref now as he was when he used to ref me playing Sunday league 5 years ago.

Good & comfortable first 30 minutes then bang all the good work including a decent goal undone. Too much time for their player in the middle then Iandolo completely switched off and didn’t even try to close their man down, a full back on either side that can actually defend without consistently switching off would be useful, as KHH is exactly the same.

We do look much better with a proper second centre mid in there.

I am confused by him being back there. He is listed as a forward.  Why would he be put in the defense???  

Scrappy start to the first half. We then started to look more threatening. Thought it was a bit end to end punctuated by a couple of moments of class. One resulted in a ricochet to McKirdy who finished well.

After that, we looked to consolidate and were in no trouble until a big hoof forward from which they scored. After that, we looked nervous and likely to concede a second.

Williams looks full of energy.
McKirdy looks tricky but wasteful.
Simpson running everywhere.
Odimayo looked immense for 35 mins, then crumbled
Hunt carried on where he left off against Stevenage
KKH flatters to deceive
Wollacott one great recovery. Not as dominant from crosses as we e seen.
Reed and Lyden solid.
Payne with a good cross but not getting into the game much.
Iandolo okay apart from being caught out for their goal

He's not a forward - what he is though is hotly disputed

 :D

Out longest serving player and no one knows his position.

It’s certainly not a left sided defender in a back 4…

But as a left sided centre back he did ok last season, he is not a left back though, he just isn't.

Would this be a bad time to admit I prefer Bauhaus to XTC?

:eek:

Is it windy? Wollacott kicks it out for a GK at Stratton Bank end

Sometimes it's better not to say everything that comes into your head :D

fuck. good ball in

Shit

Good delivery poor defending.

Hmm. True.

Fuckssake

A set piece is like the land of giants for our defenders - good finish by Guthrie

Williams and Odimayo lost their markers for that cross.

Old loaner Kioki beats new loaner KKH.

Hunt obvious pull back. Yellow.
Freekick whipped in. Three Northampton players run into it and one puts it in the back of the net.

1-2

get in

Ooooh I wanna dance with McKirdy

Get in McKirdy.

Garner seems to be blaming the officials for something, which makes a change.

2-2 Harry Mac!

Great hit by McKirdy - pick that fucker out

YAAA

2-2 McKirdy

Good finish by McK hitting a shot from behind him.

Great answer!!!

We look very poor defending crosses.

He's a 21st century Dave Bamber for me.

Makes me really enjoy watching football!

They do t seem to believe in what we call touch right marking.   The other teams attackers have 2 yards around them of free space.  Mind boggling

Wollacott punches CF who head corner wide

Hattrick!

Oooh I wanna dance with McKirdy
Has magical feet has McKirdy
Oooh I wanna dance with McKirdy
Harry, Harry McKirdy

This is so much more fun than our games usually are.

Hatrick - go on son

3-2 McKirdy

Hat trick Harry!  :beers:

Once again Williams makes things happen.  He made a great pass into the box to get that started

Williams created that with a fantastic shimmy and pass to Simpson. The ball fell to McKirdy who was clinical.

Seems like the loudest the crowd has been in a long time

well well well!

3 holes in the ground?

Payne injured.

Looks like he has a knee problem.

He explained it to Williams who sprinted to the bench.

Crichlow coming on to replace him

Hope Payne’s ok for Friday.

This is ace

Town hit the bar, good chance.

Header from Hunt onto the bar

what a goal simpson

We hit the bar from an Iandolo header from a corner

We’re alright at these second halves aren’t we

4-2!

4-2 Simpson!

What a fucking finish from Simpson.

Ruddy Nora this is a turn up for the books. I thought we might win today, but I wouldn't have guessed six goals and counting...

He is so strong.

Reed to Simpson. Beats 2 players and blasts it into top right corner!

4-2

His best of the season so far easily for me.

Dizzy!! Get up there

Bloody fucking hell what a game

Better summary than mine!

Lyden battling with Koiki. Yellow card for Koiki

Att: 9,071 with 746 Cobbs.

PV. Perfect remedy!

Rename him Samson?  It could catch on…

We want 5!

And Williams Delilah?

I agree.  Seems to be working hard.  Not just watching.  Hope it continues

it's 5!!!!!!!!!

5-2! McKirdy!

Pep absolutely shitting himself at home.

Using up too many of our goals in this game!

5-2 McKirdy

Blimey - who would have thunk it after Wednesday

There’s a distinct change of style here - and, by fuck, what a delicious change. Much less fanny football, much more direct and much more speed.

Whether it’s by design or just the players available - who the fuck cares.

Reed free kick. Keeper palms it away to McKirdy who blasts it back past him!

6?

Agreed!

Remember we warned up beating Bury 8-0 before we beat Arsenal in 79 :wotjump:

McKirdy scores 3 goals in 15 minutes in the 2nd half - 51, 55, 66

It would be a joy!

Deliliah goes off for Gladders.

The joy of six!

Holy shit I’ma cream my jeans. When was the last time we had a player score 4? James Collins?

Manchester City we're coming 4u  :D

Williams off. Didn't see who came on.

Gladders

Time to get JML on for McKirdy surely

Simmo hits the post unmarked!

Simpson slams the post

Gave away a corner. Back line seemed 1/2 asleep. Corner punched away by Wollacott.

We break. Simpson hits the post!

When Harry went silly

 :clap:

At work so listening to 5 live and Terry Butcher is co commentator at the Spurs match. Apparently he thumped the air when Simpson scored and explained he was on loan from Ipswich and what a lot they thought of him and how well he’s doing at town

Cracking save from Jojo.

Jojo good save for the cameras

Wollacott diving save.

Free kick from right angling across the box. Back line watched 4 Northampton players run onto the ball. CF heads back to the right corner. Wollacott with his best salmon impression leaps to claim it.

Ball over the top mucked up by CF who chops it into Wollacotts hands

He did make a bit of a meal of it but held it really well after his shot dropping on Weds night.

Lyden should have scored there.

Lyden shot over the bar

Our defence looks shit!

KKH should have released the ball sooner there.

McKirdy is having a King Midas game, even his miss passes hit their target.

He had at least 3 opportunities to!

East for Reed

East on for Reed.

That is a weird sub - I get protecting Reed, but a great opportunity to give JML a scoring opportunity

Yeah against one of the slowest defences we have played up against all season.

McKirdy hits the post!

McKirdy hits the post!

McKirdy hits the post to miss his chance of 5

Can we play this lot every week?

They've just given McKirdy MotM

Passing and moving better now.

KKH yellow for fouling Koiki

We have played a much better mix of passing today, some quick short and some long and direct, its been way better to watch.

I felt so shit I wasn't sure if I could even be arsed to watch today after the shit on Weds, but I am so glad I did.

McKirdy MotM obviously by a country mile.

I think it was nice to have a consistent referee as well.  Made it clear how he was going to call this game and stayed with it

Big shout out for Lyden today.

It's a weird one - Williams was a shoe in for the MOTM up until early 1st half - and then Harry Goals turned up..

Yes, I was thinking the same. Williams was heading the list with Simpson second at 1/2 time

I’m glad mckirdy got back to his squirrel on cocaine form again. Lots of energy

Perfect remedy!

FT 5-2 great result and good performance.

Hope Garner takes note of today.

Aint it mate!

FT 5-2 Ref ends it 3 mins early to spare Northampton

Be honest who saw that coming??  I sure didn’t but glad to see it!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR  :beers: :beers:

Second half after their goal is the best we’ve played for a long time. Same team Friday please, Conroy should be nowhere near the starting XI on Friday even if we play a back 5.

What a delightful result and performance. Must have been a Clem influenced inquest after what happened Wednesday

Well that was lovely.

Well.  Sometimes a football game is beyond analysis.  I am sure today was a mix of both teams being a bit tired, a bit good and a bit just willing to go for it.  It was like two heavyweights dropping their guard after the third round and just swinging at each other.  We could have had three more and so could they.  Great game to watch, defensively all over the place, but it just encouraged Northampton to come at us as well.

Lovely job.

Hope the relentless, sour-faces miseries enjoyed that as much as I did.

I did!

Fantastic result after a worrying game the other night. Get McKirdy a new contract!

Conroy is still our best CB - irrelevant of whether he had 2 dodgey displays ahead of his idiotic sending off - he will be playing

Man City, Spurs, FGR & Northampton

Always one that’s let’s you down.

You’re welcome Garner

Good work DV, somebody had to take one for the team :D

Couldn’t make it today (bloody typical) but a friend who was there messaged me to say we were playing well in the second half, but that they looked very leggy (a bit like us on Weds) so really good that we played well enough to take advantage of them.

Hopefully a week of training, and we will have a fully fit squad for the citeh game

A little worried about Payne's knee - he took a swipe at a ball in their box and obviously over extended his knee - I think that is where the injury has come from.  Fingers crossed it is not that serious

That’s 42p I’ll never get back.

Stick a quid on Man City, Chelsea, Newcastle treble next week - you will get your 42p back..

Well no, because one of them will let me down (hopefully City!!)

So that's a yes then - go on, take another for the team

No football on Quest tonight. Whaaaat?

Garner:
- Fantastic! Wonderful way to start 2022
- Credit to players for this week
- Puts Stevenbage point into perspective
- Turn around: Blown the cobwebs off
- Wednesday was hard work. Allowed us to be sharper today
- Mentality shift with and without the ball
- McKirdy: Fantastic. Threatened it across the season
- We could have had 8 or 9.
- Difference today was that we were clinical and ruthless
- McKirdy has great instinct. He gives you everything.
- Second was a fantastic finish
- McKirdy and Simpson: As good as they have played as a pair
- Delighted with both
- Front 2 gave so much energy and intensity
- Makes such a difference to the whole team
- Outstanding from the whole team
- Second goal was offside
- They were offside before the whistle until they scored
- Luckily it didnt cost us
- High line: They were all off side. Only 1 was given
- We knew they were the best set piece team in the division
- On the whole we restricted them and stood up well
- Northampton will feature at the top at the end of the year
- Lyden was excellent. Has been rushed back previously. We wanted to make him totally fit before bringing him in
- Big help today. We can look forward to the best team in England and one of the best 3 in the world
- Fantastic challenge. We want to win it.
- Just another game. They play differently to what we normally see in Div 2
- Great occasion for everyone
- Staff stick to a process, how they prepare and review. One game at a time
- Hopefully we can get 1 or 2 players in early in the window.

(Sorry for delay - Accidentally deleted instead of posting! Had to listen to it again!!!!)

Best game of the season for me. Those that chose not to go after Wednesday,  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Someone got McKirdy some media training!

Well that was much better.

Fantastic second half performance and atmosphere was the best I’ve known it for ages

Now onto City

Some cobblers fans living up to their name, saying the result was embarrassing. Who the fuck do they think they are? A poxy rugby town.

well that was odd. we played well for 30, they equalise then we look like falling apart.

when we went 2-1 down it looked like one of those days, but then the mckirdy show started. They massively feel apart and we really should have scored more!

all in all a great day

McKirdy:
- Didn't actually know where the press box was
- Been sulking recently because he hasn't had enough shots
- Felt a bit more lively than in previous games.
- Started really well.
- Players have played more games than they were used to. 10 days probably helped
- Nice to get 90 mins today. Tired now
- Haven't dont it much because of getting yellow cards
- Been playing like a fan. Need to use emotion but not overstep the line
- Works on playing with Simpson in training. Doesnt really think about a partnership
- Pleased to beat a top side and be up there
- Emotional when you lose. Two bad decisions by ref against Barrow. Oreint, we just didnt take the lead
- We need to be more clinical and not give as many chances away
- Group is confident
- Mum and Dad watched from home today
- Man City: Didnt think about it until Christmas
- Group just see it game by game. Go and enjoy ourselves in training. Group gets on well
- Tough to play well at Port Vale as I didn't play!
- Certain people haven't let me be myself. Garner and staff let me be who I am.
- Fans have been brilliant week in week out. I know they have been getting frustrated at home and when we go sideways. I get it, I'm a fan, but its the waay we play and when it works it works
- Massive win today
- Hope fans come in massive numbers
- When we do it well, teams cant live with us.

I mean, we’d say the same if we capitulated in such a manner, wouldn’t we? Hardly an outrageous statement.

No.

Tomorrow I think

It turns out Garnerball can be effective - we just had to pass the ball forward instead of sideways! A shame it's taken this long to work it out but we really looked dangerous against a tired bunch of Cobblers. By far the best game I've seen since the Vegans game.

Yep, rotate 90 degrees and it works.

Well, it was embarrassing - they were shit. Here’s something to cheer them up.

Nice touch from McKirdy after the game, looks like he gave his shirt to someone in the Town End.

I thought that earlier ironically.

You just never know😀

One of them on their forum asked if they should put in a cheeky bid for McKirdy (come back when you are top in the Championship you deluded fool)!

More fans than the Pox again...embarrassing

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/fixtures/_/date/202102201

I still think he was bordering on needing to be dropped prior to his suspension, I think he should have to wait his turn to get back in now, especially with the reason for his red card. If we play 3 at the back Friday then Crichlow, Hunt & Odimayo should be the starters as they’ve done nothing wrong and all 3 are more mobile which is going to be important on Friday.

Today there much less messing about at the back, the only times we did were when Northampton caused us problems. The whole set up of the team with the extra midfielder in Lyden made us a completely different team. Hopefully this is something Garner will persist with now.

Best I've seen Simpson play too and I can only think it's us playing more direct. He used his strength and speed so well today, as showcased by the 4th goal! Hopefully more of the same

First time he has consistently played on the shoulder of the last defender down the middle in a game, made him a much more dangerous proposition.

Trust the process. It comes good eventually.

“If you can keep your head, when all about you are losing theirs...”
etc.

Good win for Town.

Anyone know if he's on a season long loan or do Ipswhich have a call back?

Both.

Cheers. We could have another Doyle situation then!

Less than 7850 home fans in a local Derby and 5th in league one. Tinpot. As usual. Poxy tiny teeny college town.

you say that. but he can't play against City now because the club shop has run out of replacements

He could borrow yours Batch, may need a belt for it though  :D

Highlights....

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/swindon-town/12507319/swindon-5-2-northampton

Enjoy :pint:

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12507319/swindon-5-2-northampton

Conroy will and should start Friday.
Big difference today was not playing two defensive midfielders, our shape was so much more offensive.
The first 10 mins we were far more positive.
Lyden replacing East on my opinion made a massive difference.
Iandolo is not a left back and we could do with strengthening here. Hunt has been terrific and would swap him for Iandolo until a new signing (if we can make one).
Great to see Critchlow getting game time.

buzzing for the win. obviously annoyed i decided not to go...but i still paid a tenner to watch it instead and for a home game it was worth it!

We showed more purpose and intent in the first 5 minutes than all of the 90 on wednesday. completely different team and was very exciting to watch. I'm not sure if it was northampton that bought that out of us- they certainly weren't planning on sitting back, but really good win.

Nostalgia aside i dont really want to see gladwin start a match at home for us in the near future. he's not that bad a player but we would never have played the same hour of blow away attacking football with him in the team. just a different fit and lyden was superb alongside reed.

are our problems solved? probably not. garner ball seems to work against the better teams at home who want a match and away teams in the majority. lets enjoy tonight and get ready for citeh.

coyr    

On what basis? He was playing poorly before his suspension and we haven’t lost in 2 games without him?

I wouldn't start Conroy either. Harsh but he's not played for ages

Easy tiger. I read it as Conroy will be fit and should play, in Dukes opinion.

Funny reading the opposition forum....
Blaming covid recovery - obviously unaware how much we were hit by it.
Suggesting luck was on our side - for all 5 goals?  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

They even reckon they had more fans in the Arkells than the official number given out😀

Read one of their fans saying they should have beaten us at Northampton :hmmm: :clap:

They’ve sold 750 with a further 272 available as POTD.  Audreys post earlier, if correct .maybe  covid got a few.

I think they were trying to say that there looked more than the total announced.

Still nowhere near the 962 we took away to theirs in front of a paltry 5,863 crowd.

Have to chuckle that no credit given from their support to our side in thar emphatic win, all excuses.

To be fair, one of them acknowledges that their crowds aren't great...

....Attendance = 9,071.

That's a lot more revenue than we can get from a home game - probably in the order of £40k net of VAT."

It would have been more than 962 if that hadn't restricted us.

Because we are not organised at the back.
Could have been 4 down by halftime against Stevenage and today needed organising.

I thought their support was poor.

Egg chasing bastards :)
Seriously know a few die hards that travel with them.
One missing today who goes every game.

That's true.  But the Northampton vs Gloucester game at Franklin's Gardens that day was on at the same time.  The crowd was more than double that at Sixfields.  In that context, the NTFC crowd is quite impressive, in my view.  Northampton's a similar sized town to Swindon.  Would STFC have attracted a 9,000 crowd today if there was another (bigger) show in town as well?

Thought we looked lethal going forward today but have to wonder if how much of a shambles Northampton were was down to the break and covid issues. We've all faced them but seems like they have had it worse than most.

As for the goals conceded if we defend like we did for their second then Man City will be in double figures buy half time. The first was a peach from them though. Great ball, first touch and finish.

Also, when did we start playing Glad All Over again? It's a Crystal Palace song, It's shit, a lot of people have expressed that it is shit and have voted twice on twitter to use something else.

It's tomorrow

Ah twitter- hardly representative of the entire fan base. Doesn’t bother me what the music is tbh though those around me in block 4 of Nationwide all clapping along in unison to it.

Thoroughly enjoyable that.

To me, that looked like a team that had been told that they need to be busting a bollock to be considered for the City game. Garner said as much on the pre match radio interview. Some extra covid recovery also likely a factor in that to be fair.

Also heard Garner in the same interview conceding that we needed to be more positive than we were on Wednesday. So I went into the ground with a bit of optimism that we’d at least be turning up compared to the Stevenage match…wasn’t quite expecting that though. Fair fucks to the team and Garner.

Huge difference for me that pissed me off so much about Wednesday, was actually firing balls into the box and across the 6 yd box, we barely did that at all Wednesday, but were doing it from the off today. mcKirdy snaffled the share of the goals but it was mostly Simpson being the agent of chaos in the box that often lead to the ball pinging about in the box for McKirdy to jump on. Both of them were superb. Everyone played well.

Edit: only downer on the day might be Payne’s injury he picked up from getting clattered in the scramble leading up to the 2nd goal. Would be gutted if he wasn’t fit for the City match. If anyone deserves to be starting that match, it’s him.

That was so much better than Wednesday.

We played with so much more of a tempo- right from the start. The atmosphere was probably the best it has been for a good couple of years.

Let’s hope we can push on from here.

It should be the theme tune from the magic roundabout and nothing else.

Yes, yes we would.

Have another look at Simpson’s goal. Just as he attempts to control the ball he gives a Cobblers defender what looks like a small nudge that stops him in his tracks - and he’s no lightweight either.

He’s one strong mother.

Well I never thought Garnerball could be entertaining. Seeing as I never went to the game, I remain unconvinced, one summer and all that.
I'll pop along to the next home league game and see what occurs.

He took all 4 brilliantly but to be fair they were all a bit "pinball". Not complaining though!

looked like the defender bounced off him from my seat!

was such a good goal. perfect.

then he missed that sitter to make it 6 :)

Good shout!

I have always wanted them to play the Moonraker theme as the players come out. Add a much needed bit of class to proceedings :)

Make sure you're there for 1'o'clock !!

I’ve just remembered the Northampton player giving it large to us in the DRS at 2-1 hahahahahaha fuck off

Marley is back if you like that kind of thing...which I do...

https://twitter.com/marleystfc/status/1477653619583426565

I find his videos absolutely hilarious

It's behind you then?

The Electric Squirrel did likewise to balance thinks up when he scored his fourth, nice touch.

Just watched the highlights again on Quest. Absolutely exquisite control and pass from Jonny Williams to Tyreece who laid it on for McKirdy for the third.

(for NMH. :) ) I've not read back (yet) so will give my thoughts.

Firstly I am going to be 'that guy' and start off with a bit of a moan, which does seem churlish given we won 5-2 against the team that started the day in second place. Our defence, particularly from set pieces continues to give me kittens. Northampton are a fairly direct team that play to their strengths, mainly corners, long throws, free kicks into the box. Their delivery from Pinnock was generally on point and we struggled time after time to defend it. I thought Guthrie was offside for their second goal but ignoring that Horsfall headed wide when easier to score, out jumping Jojo from a corner and from a free kick they managed to mess one up when 4 players had the chance to score, luckily they didn't. That high defensive line from free kicks really really needs work, we seem to get caught out badly every time from it. Aside from that Northampton's equalising goal was so disappointing. I couldn't believe that Iandolo was firstly caught too far out of position, and then seemed to be jogging back allowing their striker a free strike on goal - that he hit very well to be fair. I personally think that we caught Northampton on a good day, they were running on empty long before the end and their defence couldn't cope with our superior pace and fitness. I think their manager said they only trained the day before the game, and after 60 minutes, you could tell.

All that being said. We were much more on it. I thought we played well first half and after a good move, started by the excellent Tyrese Simpson, Payne's ball into the box pinballed off 2 Cobblers and McKirdy put away nicely. Hugely lucky, but one of those days McKirdy just seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Northampton's equaliser was a poor one to concede from our point of view and we ended the half on the ropes, lucky not to go in behind. It might just be me, but at times after we concede we do tend to go to pieces and lose all our composure sometimes. (I think this happened against Port Vale?) Second half was barn storming. Guthrie scored what looked like an offside goal, from a free kick but the key goal was our equaliser straight away, more pinball in the box and McKirdy swivelled for 2-2. Moments later class from Williams, bit of a lucky deflection off Simpson which again fell for McKirdy for 3-2. The goal of the game was next, Simpson taking a ball into his patch expertly, driving forward and smashing the ball home with his wrong foot. Clearly the defenders showed him onto that weaker foot, but he showed it's not just for swinging with. (don't get too excited Jimmy!! :) ) Finally a good save from a Reed free kick which again fell favourably for McKirdy who finished very well from a tricky(ish) angle. Had to laugh at the fella in the motorised wheelchair that moved towards the advertising hoardings, I believe that might have gone viral now, seemingly he was famously involved in a pitch invasion at Northampton before!!

So overall a much needed win and performance at home, in the end we should have won 8-2 but on another day we could have lost that had Northampton not totally run out of gas. McKirdy's 4 goals by definition makes him man of the match, but I thought Simpson and Williams were also excellent. I know it's part of his game to win free kicks but I wish Williams wouldn't spend so much time on the floor, personally i'd like him to get on with it, keep the momentum going. Still not perfect, but definitely so much better than previous home games. Long may it last!!

Seems quite prevalent. Jog towards the player with your hands behind your back just in case.

gone are the psycho, Dix and Sold Davis defending days. Mores the pity

Most tackles seem to end up with the ref blowing for a foul these days, even clean ones.

Most penalties are contentious these days with forwards exagerating any contact.

I think this was mentioned in the thread, but I - usually a massive hater of refs, thought this guy was all right.

The point where he gave a foul throw as their player moved about 10 yards up the pitch when the fourth official clearly told him where to take it from was probably the first time Ive seen that particular bugbear of mine addressed.

The fact the Northampton Manager lost his shit with it was enjoyable too.

It's a little bit odd that a referee from Wiltshire (Sam Allison) gets to ref Swindon games. He's an ex-(semi?)pro footballer as well having turned out for Chippenham and Frome Town.

I don't know how accurate these 2 things are, but he went to watch us play Chesterfield in the JPT trophy as a fan. Sam is also Fitzroy Simpsons' cousin.

Hes also a firefighter in Trowbridge

Ah, I did not know that.  I remember Sam Allison playing for 'Nam when my folks were directors there.  I have to say good on him then as he certainly didn't show any bias towards us as far as I was concerned.

Fireman Sam?