Thetownend.com

Another big game, under the lights, looking forward to it.

Swindon 3-0 Tranmere att: 6,805 (323 away)

Tranmere haven't won an away game since October, and have had a men sent off in 3 of their last 4 fixtures away from Prenton Park. Meanwhile, we've won 4 of our last 5 at home.

Football's a funny game and we all know that anything can happen, but you'd like to think the run will continue. I'll go for a 2-1 win. Att 6,540 (201 away)

A win here would pretty much ease any realistic fears of relegation.

You have to assume Morecambe are gone, but there's too much other dross down the bottom.

Accrington, Tranmere, Newport and Harrogate are not currently better sides than us. Carlisle have gone heavy but who knows if they can gel in time.

Morecambe look cooked, but be under no illusions that we are part of the dross down there. We've got two pretty scrappy wins against two really bad sides, but we're not out of the woods. We could easily lose the next 2 games, and suddenly the outlook is bleak again.

Keep maintaining the level of fight and utilising Harry Smith and we'll probably be okay, but I'm not sure we'll be out of it for a while yet.

I think that’s right, but I feel reassured that there are at least 3 teams worse than us.

My only goals for this year (on the pitch) are to avoid relegation.

I’d like off the pitch change and to give Holloway (because I think he knows what he’s doing more than a number of other managers we have had in the last 10 years) the opportunity to build a team that will progress.

You may be under estimating the significance of what could be a 13 point gap if results go our way tomorrow.

The teams at the bottom aren't even operating at 1 PPG. That's going to take an absolute miracle to claw back.

It's also not just 2 teams that are chasing us now, it's 6.

And yes I know teams have games in hand around us, but as the PPG shows, they are unlikely to win many of them.

Agreed if we lose the next 2 it opens up again, but my prediction above was based on beating Tranmere.

Tranmere last 6           W1 d2 L3
Tranmere last 6 away   W0 d0 L6 F2 A16 (-15)

Swindon last 6           W3 D2 L1
Swindon last 6 home W4 D1 L1 F13 A7 (+6)

I make us the favourites here :)

Tranmere win confirmed

careful.

Not only that, but some of them will have to play each other in those games as well, they can't physically can't all win them all.

Equally some of them have to pick up some points.

My issue with Harry Smith is....hes a great talent at this level and will score goals with service but his
temperament still concerns me, when hes in control of it hes great but so often he gets wound up and looks on the verge of exploding, as he did at Newport on Friday.

Other teams know there could be an issue with his self control so constantly look to get him angry, if he can get that under control he is great but hes always likely to get a booking at any time in games.

On paper we should easily beat these, on recent form we should easily beat these, on historic form vs them we should easily beat them.

But we all know that football is never that straight forward and on the day anything can happen and often 1 or 2 individual errors can cost 3 points.

In fairness he's kept his temperament in check since the elbow red, though Friday got close.

He's so bloody key to everything we do, that's what worries me.

He has and it was his pettyness on Friday that reminded me that its still there bubbling away.

For me hes the best target man we have had since "the Chief" under Muckmoan in the 90s.

Is Saidou Khan elegible to play againt us tomorrow night?  You would hope they they put something in his loan clause about not being allowed to play against us...................oh wait, no it's us

Is he fit? He has injury issues

Edit: just saw he started Saturday, subbed on 79. Had been in the squad for at least 4 games. Must have dreamt it

He wont be eligible to play

Ah cheers

It can be agreed by both teams prior to the season starting that loan players can play against their parent teams, in reality I havent ever known any teams agree to it.

2-1 Swindon att: 6,790 (290 Trannies)

https://www.thefootballnetwork.net/boards/read/s383.htm?730,17586273

Agreed.  He's a physical player and will get into tangles, provoking and being provoked.  I was anxious at halftime.  

When he got into that 2nd half tangle that saw him almost having to step over the County player, I was cringing there might be a stamp or similar.  BUT.  He showed a degree of maturity to hold himself in check and step out of it (as he should).  Later, he cutely allowed himself to fall over after a push in the back, winning us a promising free kick into their box from our left hand side.

McKirdy was a liability too but more often than not they have both damaged the opposition more.

The trouble with tomorrow night is the feeling of a nailed on home banker.  I doubt that it will be easy but 2-1 for Town regardless.

https://youtu.be/N7ZnPrkw0no?si=8yUVwv19CATyWNS9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uW5n1mN8AE&ab_channel=SwindonTownFootballClub

.

Quite a big game, 3 points would be a massive leap to "relative" safety with opeing a 7 point gap between us and Tranmere themselves.

Also it would open up a 13 point gap between us and Carlisle if they get beaten tonight in the away game against high flying Notts County.

I do like the Holloway quote Tranmere fans picked out from the pre-match interview😁

Pre-match Holloway asked “what do you think about Tranmere our next opposition?” Reply after a pause - “I’m not too concerned about them”. Ouch.

Bravado, an attempt at humour or famous last words.

I think he possibly means we should concentrate on ourselves but its much better than the stock Scott Lindsey answer of "they're a good side" no matter if we're playing Tranmere or Tranmore.

I did see the Wimbledon fans having a good chuckle at the differences in his prematch inverviews concerning them.

One of Holloways strengths😁

1-0 Swindon att: 6,320 (140 Trannies)

Techincally hes right, don't worry about what the opposition can do to us just be concerned about what we can do to the opposition.

These sort of comments can backfire though, experience tells us that.

Agree, a bit nervous about this one. Hopefully complacency doesn't creep in and the two Ollie's keep us honest and focused.

What bravado? Or humour? Surely not "humour"?

Good. But there's three more possibilities of the "ex player" syndrome

Bravado

Holloways quote now in context

really like Holloway and would love to see him at Tranmere , just watched his pre-match based off the comment above , night and day from Adkins, not interested in the slightest in us, focused only on his side and there jobs, haven't achieved anything yet must win games, more than hard work and effort needed etc etc.

Swindon 2-0 Tranmere, 6,340 (212 Tranny)

Just looked it up - we last won three consecutive league games in September 2022 - didn't even do it in the boys of summer Flynn run!

We'll not get many better chances.

My only concern on the football side of things is the ease in which several fans seem to be happy to jump into bed with Hollowhead. I'm still not convinced - yes he may keep us up, which I'm sure that's a target some will be happy with.

And whilst it's no secret I can't warm to him, and probably never will. I can separate the fact that I {or anyone} don't need to like him, in order for him to do a good job. The same was often said with PdC, who had a polarising fanbase. I leant on the him-being-good-for-town side of things then. But he did famously state, when talking about his players ''you don't have to like me, but follow me {play how I want you to play} and together we will win.''

PdC was also just as much, if not more of a nutjob than Hollowhead. I think he was spoilt as a first time manager, due to being giving a fairly blank cheque. Had there been a bit more actual budgeting I think Town still would have succeeded with him in a more sustained way.

Back to IH, I'm still not convinced {yet}. It's my own opinion sure, and that may aggravate or grind differently with others but it's just an err on the side of caution that he could still be off end of season/during the summer. It might be that he does well, and fair play but let's not pretend he also isn't in the shop window too. Colour me negative {the irony} but whenever Town hit some kind of upward curve, it's seemingly followed by a very quick drop - a dead cat bounce, if we must.

Trying to be positive is tough when everything in the background is such a mess. I don't want people to get sucked into the whole ''well if we win matches then the club must be fine'', which is my fear. Town finish in the dizzy heights of 14th or something, the owner comes out and proclaims something ridiculous like ''see, I told you we could do it'' and equally IH comes out and fully backs his chairman ''Oy bleddy love im oy do, best charrman in the ole of the futball league. You fans *points finger at camera and grits teeth* don't know ow lukky you arrr to ave im''.

That kind of thing, gives me nightmares  ???

May require a pitch inspection. Heavy downfall. Not great. The new floor in the Legends is a marked improvement.

Inspection underway.

I am guessing it was all passed fit for the game?

It’s more the sides of pitch. Lino tracks. It’s pretty soaked. Needs a fork down.

And a roller

Put the long studs on him! :)

Hopefully it wont affect the game being on, at least wait until half time when we are losing and turn the floodlights off (one for the older fans).

Is the game on?

Yes

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

Start for Westley.

Ofobohr benched😓

Probably just rotation but I do like Clarke Kilkenny Ofoborh as our best midfield.

Also probably trying to convince Swansea not to recall!

Definately our best 3 in the middle.

Turnbull and Davison start against us, ex Town trialist Joe Murphy on the bench for Tranny.

Tranny fans seem perplexed that "that clown" Davison starts ahead of Omari Patrick toight.

Confident bunch!

What's happened to Luke Norris?

Perma-injured.

Tranmere sub ‘keeper Joe Murphy made his football league debut in 1999, at about the time that Phillipe Cuervo’s injuries kicked in, Bobby Howe’s sexy football was emerging and Michael Meaker was the jewell (for a few weeks) in a fairly sparse crown. Lovely stuff.

Decent keeper in his day, hes probably older (43) than half the posters on the TEF!

One of very few active players on the mighty CM 01/02 database.

Sparse crowd tonight.

Corner for Town.

Poor corner from Cox down in the muddy corner.

M4 shut so having to watch on my phone in the services with a coffee sadly. Saw a Tranmere fan here who also won’t make it.

Another poor delivery from Cox.

Good cross from Kilkenny but Delaneys header well wide.

0-1

Bycroft error.

Keeper again.

FFS!

It is possible that we do need that experienced goalkeeper.

Or just a different one, of any age

Can’t believe they are giving that to Davison.
100% Bycroft own goal

Don’t agree with Hockaday there (who doesn’t blame Bycroft). It’s another, and it’s a pattern.

Barden gives you a general sense of unease. Bycroft doesn’t stop the goals that he has to stop.

That. Was.
Unfortunate  :crash:

Yeah, that... wasn't going in.

Probably

Hockaday "you cant blame the keeper for that"

Fuck off Hockaday you can only blame the keeper for that error.

Fuck me we needed a new keeper ASAP from Jan 1st. This cannot go on.

Painful.

Yeah I think that we need a new keeper.  ::)

Glad I’m watching on Sky then!

Get that shit cunt out of the club ffs. No where near good enough between the sticks.

That instance summed 2 things that everyone ought to agree on:
1. Hockaday should never grace the air of BBC Wilts
2. Bycroft should not be anywhere near starting

I also don’t agree with Hockaday that the goal was a cross. Davison might say otherwise after the match, but I think he’s seen the gap - because he absolutely pumps it across the box in a way you wouldn’t with a cross.

We are not a free scoring team and these mistakes matter.

Westley chases the ball down and wins a cheap corner.

Reckon I could have done better than Bycroft there, and I'm 54 and 17st.

Another corner to Town.

100% that was a shot by Davison.

Cox corners have been woeful so far today.

Thank you Neville Cardus.

Yellow for the Tranny player for a foul on Cox in their half.

Always nice to hear it's the strikers first league goal of the season, in January.

You reckon?

I think he knows he’s running out of pitch and just boots it & hopes something happens.

Sobo down and hurt.

Smith yellow for something off the ball.

Feels like our fragile confidence is rocking.

Oh dear Smith.

Could be a red for Smith here

Yellow for Smith.

I think it was far more hit and hope shot than a badly hit cross.

Lucky. Silly retaliation. Old habits die hard.

It was quite nice to hear last Friday tbh

His game is all about aggression but sometimes he needs to hold back a bit.

I would happily take Lewis Ward back at this point.

Yeah, it's part of his game but he's supposedly a mature player now and doesn't seem to learn. When composed he's pretty good value. But teams will nibble at that aggression and wind him up. Play on it etc. I feared Smith would get sent off in this match, those odd have just got shorter. Unless he's subbed off , I imagine he'll be exiting the pitch early via a second yellow  ::)

Missed the Smith yellow! Must have dropped off to sleep!!

Handbags with the tranny CB.

Not sure Tramere’s goal was technically a shot on target…

On either count.

Yellow for Clarke for a foul on Davison.

Davison beats Clarke, who takes him out and is booked.

The 'useless fucking donkey' is looking like a good call so far.

Has to go down as a Bycroft own goal, because it wasn't destined to go in without his intervention

I'd take RC-C tbh. I'd take an injured Sol Brynn on loan as well  :D

This is all a bit shit at the moment.

Dreadful old shit, this.

It's very Kennedy.

I would get Ofoborh on for Drinan and put an extra body in midfield and push 2 up front giving Cox and Sobo more chance to push down the wings.

Westley's barely had a touch.

Not sure it as quite reached that level, yet.

Ofoborh would be one of the first on my team sheet every week, unless it’s fitness related I have no idea why he’s being rested/dropped.

Agree 100%. Cotterill is nowhere near as good.

What you on about. It's a League Two midweek classic. Definitely worth the c£30 price tag for a cup of tea and a ticket... :cry:

Ref not making a lot of friends.

Clarke down from not a foul. Hopefully he's okay, he's been out most prominent player. Not perfect but he's clearly trying to take the game by the throat (don't take that literally Harry).

2 mins of shit added.

Worst half I've seen

Decent effort from Cox there.

We have seen some shit this season and this is up there with them so far. Hardly any crosses and not really a shot so far.

HT 0-1

Changes are needed.

I guess that's not a prerequisite requirement for a referee but I get what you mean.

Certainly won't help matters if Clarke gets injured and 'Arry gets suspended.

HT 0 - 1 {Davison, that bloody donkey Davison}. That. Was. Pretty.















Poor.

Should have been 4 mins of shit added.

Is this your first game?

We've been worse. That doesn't mean it's good. Worst for a while for sure.

Mr Stevens Man of the Half for that comment and the Neville Cardus one.

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Would love to be proven wrong but to me, this is as good as done. Tranmere have set up so defensively and going 1-0 up, it’s just going to be another 45 minutes of us trying to break down a low block - something we haven’t looked likely to do. Change in midfield needed imo, Cotterill and Kilkenny not working well together

Holloway needs to sort this lot out at half time. Over to you Ian. Work your magic

Oh it has been shitter, probably the worst since Bradford or Colchester away though.

Streaming turd of a first half. Neither team had an actual chance and yet we are losing.

Expect Ollie to tweak it and/or put a rocket up them at HT.

It’s a pretty poor game only noticeable thing is a  Bycroft brainfart.

Please sign a new goalkeeper

Turgid dodshit half

A few faulty radars on display.
Plenty of room for improvement.

I think Town get themselves back in it. But based on that half, I can see them also conceding again at any point.

We all yearn for more or better but this is the very reality of two lower end bottom division cloggers trying to get some precious football league points. Reg was right, and I'm glad he never got to experience what fans are going through currently - the very existence of Town's Football League status diminishing each season.

Watching the first half highlights, Davison's shot was definitely on target. Yes the direction changed after Bycroft intercepted it but it was already on target. Tough to tell from the angle when looking initially but I reckon, around mid to bottom left of the goal if no keeper was there. In fact, I think no keeper might have had a better chance of saving it  ::)

Reg loved misery, he'd have been like a pig in shit this season and last...

Not enough right backs....

Not many positives in that half. In fact,none. We can't pass the ball or win tackles. Ofobohr is a must have, second half

Tranmere players out on the pitch way before Town come out.

On the bright side, I've made myself a plate of cheese at half time. Very civilised.

Cox off, Butterball on.

Butterworth on... for Cox. Interesting.

We need to get back in this game lads

*brings on Butterworth*

Maybe the foot injury is back

As much as he may have on here and possibly publicly. I think he often played on that. Reg was an expert in ruffling many a feather. But privately, I am more than certain he would have been upset to see this decline. As much as he oft spoke of the possibility - he never got the realisation fulfilled.

Wherever he is, whatever dimension he might be in - part of me hopes he is watching somewhere


Can never underestimate the importance for an experienced right back

So back three with Sobowale in it and er... Butterworth left side of midfield, Cotterill maybe on the far side? It's not totally clear.

It seems that Delaney is covering LB as well as CB and Sobo the same on the right, Ollie must think Tranmere are not a huge thread down the wings.

Bravo. Any grapes and biscuits? Definitely the HT sustenance fare of the incredibly privileged  ;)

Paprika biscuits. No fruity nonsense here.

Chance for Town, sliced over the bar by the defender for a corner.

Better bit of pressure. Need to make it count though

Butterworth hits the post.

Early play suggest Tranmere are going to sit on the lead for all they're worth.

Butterball hits the post with a heavy deflection.

This disappoints  I. Grapes have to be present.

Back to footeh. Off the post. Was nearly absolute butters from Buttersby

Butterball shot saved for a corner.

Butterworth clearly been told to shoot early and often.

Butterball is like a man possessed!

Smith really aint doing himself any favours in trying to last the full match, without ending in a suspension. Get it together man.

But more intent since Butterworth came on.

Cotterill with a wasteful long shot well over from a good attacking position.

Nichols on for Westley.

Cotterill doing early season Cotterill things.

Westley off Nichols on

Time for Glatzel to come on for Drinan to impress his prospective new club ;)

Not quite sure why Davison is getting dogs abuse.

Probably because before today he had 1 goal in 19 games.

What a fucking dumb thing to do on a yellow.

Red for Tranny

Red for the Tranny player Norman.

Wtaf is Hockaday on about ''winding the clock down...''. It's fucking 59mins played. The dude is so infuriatingly shit. If he's not getting players names wrong, he's giving really poor judgement calls or just chatting absolute bollocks.

Not sure why Davison got some hefty booing, when being replaced. It's not like he was controversial when he played for Town also not his fault our keeper is a pile of wank. Poor form from our  fans.

Norman off. Second yellow.

Come on Town make it fucking count.

Oh dear Butterball...wild shot.

It was a very ''Smithesque'' thing to do. Ironically he dd it on Smith.

Buttersby blazes high and wide into row Z, over the Town End

Down to us to break them down now.

This is going to be a siege now. Not sure we have a Trebuchet on the bench.

Time wasting wankers.

Their keeper just having a sit down not even pretending to be injured. Hold something at least...

Nope but Town do have Cain. Are they able though...

This is going to be - ahem - frustrating

This is absolute dross. I didn't watch Colchester away but this is the worst I've seen under Holloway.

Holloway playing 2 at the back now

If nothing else, Nichols has very nice hair

1 too many based on their lineup.

Oh dear Nichols.

Corner to Town.

At least we're pouring forward, I still have nightmares about the Barrow 'continuing with five at the back against an outfield player in goal' fiasco.

Like early in the season, I'm surprised Cotterill is still on the pitch.

Need more quality.

Glatzel on for Drinan.

Corner to Town.

Its just not working for us at the moment.

How is that a foul on the keeper FFS.

How the fuck has he given that as a foul on the Keeper?!?

Almost took Glatzels head off ffs

Both keeper and Glatzel coming together there. No malice from either. Who do they chuck on if Glatzel is crocked?

Glatzel gets a foul against him for running his face into the keepers fist..

That keeper need booking for timewasting.

Ofoborh for Cotterill please Ollie.

Facing down the barrell of losing to Morecambe, Colchester and tranmere in the same season. No wonder we're in a relegation scrap.

There is absolutely no way on Gods earth that Swansea will recall Cotterill. They’re on a bad run but they’re not THAT bad.

Indeed their keeper should have been booked now for time wasting.

I don't agree with some Town fan bias regarding the collision. Just one of those football incidents. No one intently went in to hurt anyone in that moment.

FK just outside the box, shooting position.

Tshimanga on for Kilkenny.

Intent isn't the law though. If you make an honest attempt to tackle but are late anywhere else on the pitch, you will concede a foul. Never gets applied to keepers though.

They are going to recall Cotterill AND loan Town Vigouroux...in some other alternate reality.

Free kick to Town....aannd Wright blazes it into the wall

At the wall, giving them more timewasting opportunity.

Smith header just over the bar.

We have had more crosses, more possession, more shots, more headers and crucially more goalkeeping errors.

Yep, which is why I'm not making much fuss about it. Less said about the difficulty of defending at all in the game today though. Almost an impossible task to be a defensive player now. So many players waiting to ''feel contact''. Obviously not in this scenario - just generalising.

Corner to Town, number 9.

So why did he blow for a foul either way?

Sobo wild shot over the bar.

This is terrible.

Cant see us scoring in a month of Sundays!

We just can never break 10 men down

You'll have to take that up with the ref I'm afraid.

The way this is going I would be happy with a draw now.

Saw a graphic earlier we've hit the woodwork more than anyone in the 92 this season and we've increased that again today.

Unlucky number 13.

Fucking Nicholls

Nichols. Good hair, everything else needs some work.

Great chance for Nichols, wasted.

Snap your hand off. Fully expecting to lose.

Think I'll steer clear of Half Man Half Biscuit for a week or two.

The only thing of worth Hockaday has mentioned. Nichols has no use of his left foot at all.

1-1

Have it!

I was referring to your bias of the swindon fans, i didn't see anyone saying it was a penalty, but it wasn't a fould on the keeper either

1-1 Glatz

Get in Glatz. Chuffed for him.

Deserved.

Halb Herren, Halb Keks.

Finally,  delighted for him,  now grab a second

Happy fucking days!

Glatzel after receiving a John Merrick life-threatening injury, scores the leveller.

Hockaday almost jizzes his pants stating that ''it's been coming''. No Dave, I think you mean that you were cumming.

Get in. Happy for Glatzel.

Clarke shot deflected for a corner.

Another corner.

You've somewhat turned into me. Insufferable  :D Chill out, I'm  genuinely joking x

2-1

Brilliant take by Glatzel.



Come on push for this. Think we'll run out of time here.

2-1 Smith

Totally deserved.

GET IN

Come on Swindon

6 mins added.

Red card has changed the game. Abysmal before that. Fucking get in though.

Hahahaha, that's the type of goal that Swindon would concede lolzy.

Will take it. Hopefully Town can hold on for 6 or so additional mins

O…M….G !!!!

Superb.

Awful awful game but who cares if we hang on here.

Tranmeres attitude reminds me of us under many recent managers, kennedy and morris in particular. Might go a goal up but look like could implode at any minute.

Agree.

Their timewasting keeper evened up the goalkeeping errors :)

Corner to Town.

Chill out, for questioning what you said?  ok then..  and nobody else comes close..

Pen to Town.

Blimey, it’s all happening!

Things going somewhat wrong for Tranmere.

Oh dear, Tranmere are definitely us of last year, and what we could have been if Kennedy was still here

3-1

3-1 Tshimanga.

Absolutely hilarious capitulation

Omg Berni, get over yourself dude and fucking enjoy the win.

Penalty and Drysdale Red ;)

Tranmere have imploded since 80th min.

3 - 1. Jobby dunny

Lovely pen, take that timewasters!

This is unbelievable!

Football is the winner tonight. Fucking love it.

Another huge three points. Eventually. Good stuff.

Never in doubt.

What a fucking high it is.

FT 3-1

Fully deserved for that 2nd half after a shockingly shit 1st half.

Definitely this. These type of wins always feel better when your team has played wank for a large chunk of the match.

FT 3 - 1

Fantastic .....
last 10 minutes.....magic

Shitmanga comes on and changes the game... wouldn't have ever thought I would say that.

Well the shithousers got what they deserved in the end, tbf though I agree that this would have been us last season, wasting time, keeper going down and all that jazz..  did well to hold their nerve even if it was a pile of shit to watch, bar the last 10..

We’ve rarely had a manager to have used his subs as well as Holloway.

That was incredible. Lovely, lovely stuff.

Say it quietly, but we're now as many points from the autos as we are from the relegation spaces

See of orange hats in DRS. Hardly any in arkells.

Although to be fair arkells is virtually empty.

😂

Three in a row for the first time in two and a half years.

Still not buying playoff talk but we're safe now and at least entertaining at home, which the fans deserve.

Holloway talks a lot about finishers (as in those that finish the game) are as important as starters and Glatzel and Tshimanga showed just that there.

Lots of ground on others at the bottom. Might stop looking at those at the bottom now. Carlisle can buy another 10 players but we'll be well away from them by the time they turn in around, IF they do.

In a funny way our bench is so top heavy (necessarily) at the moment that it almost benefits us to go behind. Fuck knows who you'd bring on if we'd taken an early lead!

Probably Ofoborh to help protect it. Obviously, if he starts then it's somewhat moot.

Glatzel and Tshimanga,great subs but for me it was Butterworth who changed this game. Gave us the missing spark. Good changes Holloway

Agreed about Butterworth.

Fair play to them in that second half. Didn’t think we’d be able to break them down and whilst the red card certainly helped, the subs were outstanding and helped change the game. Crucial win that and quite satisfying considering the absolute state of the Tranmere side tonight

Tshimanga:
- Knew they would be organised
- Players coming on wanted to help the team get the 3 points
- Still a lot of work to do. Take 1 game at a time
- Delighted to put ball in the back of the neck

Ian Holloways Red and White army...
COYMRs

Overall, a pretty shit game, barring the last ten minutes which were unforgettable.  If Tranmere go down, I won't be too disappointed.  Patrick, their top scorer, on the bench until very late?  WTF?

I did not see that coming when we were 1-0 down with a few mins to go. Butterworth made a huge difference when he came on. Would much prefer see him in the lineup compared to Cotterill who is awful. Hopefully Barden starts the next game. Bycroft just not up to it at this level sadly.

Loved a comment from their forum

‘ Typical. A point is still a point gained on a few teams.’

If only he knew . . .

Glatzel:
- Holloway said 'There will be chances now' so delighted to come on and get a goal
- They sat back after early lead. Tough to break them down
- At the moment the next game is always the biggest. Carlisle away next week will be another tough one
- Holloway big on team mentality. We have all bought into it

EIEIEI...No not yet calm down.

Brilliant win though. Holloway deserves massive credit for turning this around.

80 minutes of dour football followed by 10 minutes of winning football.

Actually that's a bit unfair. We started the second half with a better pace and intensity but eventually started to revert to the first half play.

But a great win. 16/18 points at home better only by Walsall and Bradford. Fortress county ground

Sounds like you're easily pleased, we were woeful for 70 mins.

Holloway:
- Difficult evening for us. They changed shape which caught us on the hop a bit
- Unforgiveable that they scored from a throw.
- Knocked the stuffing out of us
- Didnt understand where our space was and luckily got to 1/2 time
- Talked about front 3 linking and put an extra midfielder wide
- Whoever came on knew how Holloway want them to play
- Thought they kicked us lots
- We managed to utilise the extra man
- Everyone played their part
- Thats why we need different skillsets to break teams down
- Delighted that we got the equaliser when we did as we had enough time to capitalise on the momentum
- We deserved that. Holloway didnt like some of the things out there
- The ref should have disciplined one of the first awful tackles that he didnt
- Some of that stuff up and around the edge of the box was excellent
- Nicholls will make goals for others
- What Tshimanga did around the edge of the box was excellent
- Gladzel: really pleased for him. He has got so much about him
- Fantastic come back. We absolutely deserved it
- Still loved to have more options
- And managed to rest Ofoborh and Nicholls
- Pleased with the togetherness. They have taken it on board and they are playing for the badge
- Really chuffed today
- If they can just stick to what the coaches are telling them. They were trying to play like Real ?Madrid in the first half, and we aint Real Madrid!
- The belief is growing in the dressing room
- Well done to everyone and thank you to the supporters for coming out on a night like that. Would love the 1500 who were there last year to come back. Holloway commented that he would pay to watch this team himself.
- We wouldn't have been strong enough or mentally tough enough to cope with that earlier in the year
- Wouldn't swop any of the Town players with any of theirs
- Butterworth was desperate to show what he can do
- Just have to keep going
- We didnt look like we were going to wobble. We just looked like we didn't know how to break them down. Once they had a man sent off, we murdered them.

We deserved to win on the 2nd half showing - although I thought it was going to be one of those games when we wouldn’t score. The first red was crucial - crazy tackle when on a yellow, but we made the advantage count.
Holloway’s changes weren’t subtle - put on attackers and get the ball in their box to force mistakes - ultimately paid off.

We got 3 points.

Goodnight

Totally irrelevant...

Batch said pretty much the same thing  :smugfu:
I ain't wrong.

It was poor. The sending off helped. Then the subs helped even more.

I don't care. We won. That's what matters

The atmosphere at points tonight was fantastic, I haven't seen goals celebrated in the TE like that for sometime.

Shit first 75 or so, but 3 points huge.

Tranmere bloody awful

Nice to see us actually improve vs 10 men.

Remember under kennedy when our oppo had an outfield player in goal and we decided to just not bother shooting.

It was that moment I was convinced we were down if he stayed.

Harry Smith. The gift that keeps on giving

Hats off to Holloway for instilling belief into the players.

That was like a Macari team just kept going and going until they cracked and then went for the jugular.

Josh Davison's sarcastic clap looking a bit silly now. Harry Smith showing him how to do shithousery after that early booking. Got the centre half sent off, a wave off and pokes in the winner.

Weird game I thought.

It’s hard to describe but yes - we were poor first half but it felt like a ‘we just couldn’t get into our rhythm’ poor as opposed to silly mistakes poor or not being competitive poor or wrong tactics poor.

Despite being poor Tranmere never looked threatening - unfortunately their most attack threat was Bycroft!

I always felt we would improve as the game went on. Whether it would have been enough to break down ultra defensive Tranmere (with 11 men) I don’t know but I always felt we’d come out second half and have a go.

Tranmere going down to 10 helped (obviously) just gave us that extra few yards of space & extra few seconds on the ball to compose ourselves.

I always thought we’d get 1. Once Tranmere went down to 10 I didn’t think we’d lose that game.

Getting a second (…and a third) was a nice bonus. Good for Glatz & Tshimanga to get on the score sheet for confidence reasons.

Important result. It keeps our run going & puts some more distance between us and the relegation zone.

Credit to Holloway - team was better second half. Subs all had a positive impact & the desire & work ethic was there right to end. Going behind didn’t phase us, we didn’t get frustrated.

Some of you miserable cunts need to understand 3 pts is 3 pts.

Its 3 points and we won the possession as well.  Don't we get extra points for that?

I am being sarcastic before someone takes it literally.

What was this, after his goal?

https://youtu.be/yLpVmX5M3f4?si=AUTpJpqB5lKVL_34


https://youtu.be/24hWPr86TrA?si=Rbld7JlvbEHPMGYL

https://youtu.be/qTst3s3m9vI?si=sFNoP6SjBG3dyqTb
.

After he was subbed, whilst he was being serenaded with “Wanker” chants

So really, him giving a clap back to the fans whilst being ''serenaded'' in such a warm and loving way isn't really much to write home about.

If he'd lost his shit, fair enough. Still not sure why some of the Town fans booed and ''wanker'' chanted him off. Yeah, he ''scored'' - he hadn't really played much in a while but that is a predominant objective in his job role. Also, it wasn't like his time at Town was a tumultuous one. He was somewhat average but hardworking. Can't see any logical reason for booing him, other than tonight he was on the opposing side; which seems rather pathetic tbh.

He might even have been looking forward to returning and enjoying the moment - players are humans after all and do feel contentment as well as remember places with fondness. I'm not sure after that he'll be thinking too fondly of the Town now and his ''sarcastic'' clap wasn't silly and wasn't really a patch on how some of our fans behaved towards him. Ironic that they were calling him a wanker, yet the real wankers in this scenario were them.

I mean - perhaps some people are unhappy with him because he missed the penalty that would have sent us to Wembley?

Davison was subbed on 61 mins and on a yellow after some robust tackles. If you're gonna do the sarcastic clap then either wait until 90+7 or hope your team mates hold on to that 1-0 lead.

Maybe after playing in Garners team and some frustrating home defeats he thought the win was in the bag.

Totally agree. I didn't get the chanting at all and thought it was unnecessary. I also didn't see sarcasm in his applauding of all stands just a gesture of no beef towards a previous club.

A player clapping leaving the pitch is hardly something to get upset about, it's an entirely normal thing for a player to do

Bustards. I had a solid goal 1 pound piece on Swindon to win 4-1, Harry Smith and Josh Davison to score anytime. Should have gone for the kill that last minute of injury time!!

I like Davison. Honest player who always put in a shift for us. Didn't see him giving the home fans the "big 'un"when he scored.

Harry Smith unbelievably 11/4 to score at any time on bet 365. They're gonna cotton on soon,surely?

It was nice to see Bycroft celebrating the penalty with ball Boys & girls behind the goal thought it was nice of him to run to them

Felt sorry for the ball girl who slipped in the puddle, to a chant of she fell over, she did smile though so all taken in jest. It was followed by a chant of she pays for her drinks  :)

The funniest part of last night for me, was after all the shithousing and time wasting from Tranmere, then number 2 does his braindead late tackle when already on a yellow and pretty much just gets up and sprints off the pitch :D hilarious

Good stuff. I've only watched the highlights and it may just be the way that's been edited, but from that it did appear that a key tactic of theirs seemed to be to kick us off the pitch?

Turgid first half complete with Bycroft doing Bycroft things.  We need a new GK.

Butterworth was excellent when he came on, gave us some momentum and put us on the front foot.  I have not been sold on him but last night he won me round.  We kept our composure, our discipline and worked hard together.  We seem to be playing for each other and the manager.  Credit to Holloway for his subs.  Tshimanga was excellent when he came on and it was great to see Glatzel getting a goal.

Another 3 points and another win at Fortress CG!

Special mention to Tranmere's tactics and their GK.  Also, I think it is the first time I have ever seen a player sprint off laughing after being sent off.  Onwards to Carlisle.

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

To be fair to Adkins, that's one of the harshest pens and yellow card I've seen for a long time

I thought it harsh until I saw the replay a couple of times, he obviously puts his arm up to stop the shot. Definate pen.

I agree with that - the other thing is the players' reaction. There were no real protests either from the man who handled or his team mates which is usually a sign it was a correct decision.

Should we be preparing for the Manager of the Month curse? Just a random thought I had. Not too many teams had a better January than us I wouldn't have thought...

Bradford have 5 wins and a draw in the last 6, County have a similar record as us too.

Yep.

https://www.soccerstats.com/formtable.asp?league=england4

So the answer to my question is 'probably not' :hmmm:

Fine by me... been a damn good month though... would have jumped at that on the 31st December...

Fingers crossed :D

 :D

https://youtu.be/BbZeeRS5uQI?si=37YeQoKOKQZPepL8

Fair number of Youtubers covering our games lately.

Yes he covered our game at Newport on Friday too.

First half was forgettable, poor all over the pitch.
2nd half we bossed but struggled to break down a stubborn out of form side who were hell bent on preserving a fragile lead.
Butterworth changed the game and took us forward with purpose.
Tshimanga had probably his best (imho) game for us as he stayed on his feet and therefore kept momentum.
I think we fully deserved that result albeit left it late. The sending off affected them and we capitalised, shame it took almost 30 minutes from the red to the equaliser, however that may have worked in our favour and that knocked the remaining stuffing out of them.
Carlisle are on just as bad a run, if we can collect 3 points again that will be massive.

Is the video better on page 23 than it was twice on page 22?

Leaving it late was perfect. They were absolutely knackered and their heads dropped. As soon as we got the first I knew we'd win.