…for my archived blog. I have uploaded it from the old website which will cease to be on the 15/12/15.
For some reason none of the punctuation marks came with the transfer – so either I can go through and change every post going back to 2009 or you’ll have to grin and bear it.
Take care all
DM
The mighty orange machine marches on after another home win, putting us back top of the league.
A cracking goal by Ricky Miller (hes on a roll now) was the difference between the two sides in terms of the scoreline at least. Whilst 1-0 suggests it was a close contest we dominated large chunks of the match. On a different day, with a few of the slick moves coming off we would have been two up at half time. Shots a couple of inches the other way would have been goals.
We started 3-5-2 again, with Fraser Franks returning as part of a back three instead of Alex Lacey. The three centre halves coped well with the front two of a largely-passing Tranmere side also playing the same formation. The industrious Mark Cullen up front with Paul Benson, who won more than his fair share in the air today despite being up against three tall goons at the back. Again, like the Northampton 1-0 win at home, much of the first half was gentle sparring each side sizing the other up and cancelling each other out.
Mark Tyler, as ever, when called upon brought off two excellent saves the second one at point blank was Banks-esque. How many games and points has he saved us down the years? Tyler was as solid as the Tranmere keeper, Brezovan, was wobbly if it wasnt for his kicking, throwing, catching and saving hed be an excellent keeper. Joking aside, he was called on to make a couple of good saves.
I thought the full home crowd was a bit subdued in parts this afternoon, not sure why. Perhaps folks just expected us to turn up and win and that Micky Adams team wouldnt make a fist of it just because they are down the bottom (clumsy English) but we were made to work hard for it. At no point did I think we wouldnt sneak a win but it was a little while coming. Once again it was an inspired substitution by John Still which brought the change which brough the goal. Miller, given confidence by his goal last week following his indecent rush back from Dover had the confidence to strike one from the edge of the box and Brezovan got a hand to it but it looped into the net. Cue huge sigh of relief and plenty of noise. As you were, Kenilworth Road.
There was a bit of handbags in an otherwise mostly aggro and foul-free game. The man mountain Gnanduillet (award for best name of the year) deliberated tripped over the sliding Franks leg. Franks could have done nothing about it as he had slipped. It would otherwise have been a comedy moment but it led to a tete-a-tete (keeping the French theme) between the Frenchman and Wilkinson. Both fortunate I suppose to escape with a telling off. Poorer refs would have needed little excuse to get their cards out.
Smudger Smith got the man of the match today and it could equally have gone to McNulty, Harriman or Luke Wilkinson too. Smith is a player who goes from strength to strength and has the work ethic which typifies a John Still team. It was his pass which played in Miller I think.
So whilst it wasnt a classic, it was another ground-out professional 1-0 win, the sort of win you think about when you say to your mates Id take a 1-0 this afternoon. The sort of win we used to dream of before Mr Still and his team came along.
And with that Im done. I think on Outlaws they call it a flounce, though Im not sure thats quite the right word. Ive been doing this blog now since August 2009 and Ive enjoyed doing it very much. When I started out I was the first Luton Town blogger, but now Im pleased to say there are plenty of sites out there, all of whom do a much better job than me. I did wonder if I should hold out until I reached the 1,000,000 page hits mark, but that would probably be another four years and millions more words. And after all theres only so many ways you can say Guttridge threaded a perfect ball for Howells, Tyler saved the day yet again or “John Still is a footballing genius who has transformed the club on and off the field”.
This blog opened writing doors for me which has meant that Ive been invited to write for publications and magazines that are sold all over the world, Ive been on Sky and the beeb, something that I could not have conceived of when I started out. Even when I dont post anything the blog gets a couple of hundred readers a day from readers across the globe, and each post gets over a thousand readers, statistics which never cease to amaze me. However, Ive noticed that the number of people commenting has just about dropped off to zero now. Comments are the only feedback I get and now Im not getting any – so I have concluded that Im no longer hitting the spot as it were. It actually takes hours to write and check each post and it takes quite a chunk out of my Saturday/Tuesday nights/Sunday mornings. I think my family will be relieved: they will no longer have me tapping away all through Strictly, Dr Who and all of the other telly!
Id Iike to thank two people for their help and support in the last five years. First of all erstwhile co-blogger and superb writer Rob Hadgraft who has been good enough to dignify my words by quoting me in a couple of his excellent books, something that has made me proud beyond words. Secondly Paul Wright, PDW, whose desert-dry humoured match reports have made him a Luton Legend and hopefully long may continue to do so. I just dont know how he does it. To think, I nearly bumped into him in the summer in the pavilion at Lords of all places, both there watching our other mutual sporting team Northamptonshire.
Id also like to thank: the excellent Hatters News who always put my blog up and were bold enough to put a direct link on their site years ago. The Luton Town America team who invited me to speak on their podcast, which I forgot to follow up. The now defunct Luton Town Fans website (other than the forum) who invited me to post and gave me the log in details and I only intermittently posted but periodically wiped out the whole website, being the computer-klutz that I am. Also, all of the other websites which link and tweet my posts. And how could I forget all my Luton wonderful followers on twitter? Including some strange religious types who must follow me because of my silly pseudonym.
Favourite bits? I lenjoyed doing my “Newell years” post which took the best part of a day when I didn’t have much work to do. It was great doing the post amid the celebrations when we finally went up last April, also I hope I’ve got the definitive “Famous Luton Fans” list. I loved it when Ronnie Irani ticked me off when I missed off dear Faye Carruthers.
Regrets? Only one I suppose and it is entirely self-indulgent. It is that in five years Ive never had the chance the write a piece for the match programme, not sure if that is because Im no bloody good, or because I write under a pseudonym or because I put Gary Sweets nose out of joint a bit early on with a couple of revelations which would not otherwise have made it outside of the club, but which came directly from one of the players in the then first team squad, who is/was a local lad and who I know quite well. The truth hurt the club, but those revelations were ultimately a means to an end I guess. I dont think Ive ever been forgiven, though I felt a bit better when David Wilkinson followed me on twitter.
Id like to thank everyone who has read the blog, even if you didnt like it or agree with what Ive said, and especially those who took the time to post a message and those who encouraged me with a few kind words. Even Sheffield Hatter who only seemed to comment when I incorrectly used the word schizophrenic to describe a match of two halves.
Its nice that we are now top of the league. When I decided to write this (and it took me a year before I got around to it, just think of the stuff I could have written when Pinkney was still in charge) we had been in free-fall for three seasons with the club previously being owned by crooks, thieves and idiots; we had been lurching from crisis to crisis the previous ten years. Five years on and we are in the most stable position we have been in for generations, with a really strong squad, top of the league and managed by a man for whom I have the utmost respect. But let us be in no doubt, without the investment and commitment of the 2020 board we wouldnt have a club to support. Im truly grateful to them for that and whatever happens in the future will always be grateful. It may have taken longer than we hoped but we are well on course now to reach the original objectives. Everything at the club is moving in the right direction from top to bottom, from the youth team to the first team. The ground is full at home games and all are pulling in the same direction. It is where Id always hoped we would be, if not quite in the right division yet! Ours is the most special of clubs, with a unique topsy-turvy history, destined for great things once again in the future. But I think you all know that already.
As an aside, this week my eldest son played for his school for the first time in two years after a couple of years off due to injury Im a very, very proud Luton fan, but an even more proud father.
Thanks for reading.
Come on you Hatters!
David.
A good win in a thumping FA Cup tie in the pouring rain. Just a short summary tonight as I have to be up early in the morning. At last I have the internet again, no thanks to BT whose shambolic performance in diagnosing and fixing the phone line was the technological equivalent to Newport’s defence this afternoon.
We started with the 3-5-2 system given outings earlier in the season, Howells and Harriman acting as the wing backs and playing well, though always vulnerable behind. Smith and Doyle patrolling the middle and Guttridge bossing things behind Benson and Cullen.
It seems that with the clocks going back the weather has changed, this was the first rainy and dark game for a long time. The football, or at least the goals were illuminating. I thought it was a good, old-fashioned cup tie with some physicality being permitted which added to the event.
Great to see Guttridge showing the form which set the season alight last year. Not sure how many other clubs would be as effective as we are with creative players such as Drury, Lawless and PRM out of the side. Quite amazing.
The first half was more sleepy, with the teams shadow boxing for the first 20 minutes, then we started to click with Guttridge and Benson going close. Then Newport had an effective spell including an overhead kick from Aaron O’Connor, which Tyler saved well. With about five minutes to go and against the run of play Doyle won the ball, fed in Gutts who had acres of space to run into in front of goal – and give this guy an inch he will take a mile and fired a fantastic left foot shot into the top left hand corner. If it was on match of the day, it would be in the goal of the month competition.
Nothing about the first half suggested that the second would have five more goals. But both sides attacked, neither seemingly fancying a replay. I should say fair play to Justin Edinburgh for doing that, but he hasn’t changed has he? Badgering the ref at half time and then bleating about him afterwards on the radio.
Klukowski’s equaliser was also a good goal, a deep cross headed out was fed back in and Klukowski knocked the ball up and volleyed it in. Not much we could have done about that other than getting the initial clearance further out.
Fortunately, Newport included the clodhopper Minshull in their ranks and it was thanks to him for the phase of play that led to our second goal. He headed poorly to Howells, who was excellent all afternoon and who shimmied turned and put a weakish right foot cross in, which fell poorly for Cullen, but he brought it down, put Guttridge in, who played it back to MC whose shot was parried by the keeper, looping up dangerously only for Paul Benson to bludgeon it across the line. It may have spun in without his intervention, but he made sure.
Newport’s second goal came from Obeng making a good run down the left skipped past Harriman who did his best to bring him down, the ref played advantage and he slipped a cross to O’Connor who stole in, in front of Tyler, played onside by Lacey. That is the casual danger of having wing backs of course, they are inherently vulnerable to a quick break down the wings and getting the ball behind them as they push up. Hey ho – so be it – it made for a six goal thriller though.
3-2 courtesy of a substitution Miller replaced the ever-hardworking Cullen. We won a corner Yakubu sticking the ball behind from a Wilkinson cross. Howells whipped in a low corner which fell to Miller who slotted it home for his first (official) goal for the Hatters. I hope it is one of very many. I like the look of him.
The icing on the cake was an individual goal from Jake Howells, excelling in his wing back role. Driving forward with the ball at his feet he picked up the ball just inside the half way line and ran and ran into the box and slotted it home level with the penalty spot a great individual goal and it just shows what he is capable of – he is a fine Luton player.
Bright pink ball today – eurgh. And because of the rain it appeared to me to bounce like the old leather things they had in my Dad’s day, or like a flat ball you find in the back of the shed.
Much has been spoken about O’Connor’s over the top celebration, I shan’t add anything here other than bigger men are able to shrug off a bit of what they call crowd ‘banter’ nowadays. I’d like to venture that one of the reasons he was let go was because he did let the then negative Luton crowd get to him. He played well enough today and it was a safe bet that he would get a goal. Silly boy, when we play them again just before Chrimbo he will get stick from thousands of fans, rather than a handful. The twit.
Let’s hope that we get a nice home draw in the second round – perhaps a game against one of the smaller clubs left in the competition such as MK Dongs – and then the chance for a third round draw against a top side, or failing that against that lot down the M1 who can show what a well-supported club they are by not selling out the away end again.
Nice that now the BBC have got the FA Cup back they go all out and show the highlights after match of the day in a special programme. What? They haven’t? They are only showing them online? Utter disgrace. They don’t deserve to have the coverage.
In other news, it looks as if we have signed that young lad from Sunderland Lewis Gibbons – John Still hopefully has sniffed out another gem. Let us hope that that is the only sniffing being done. I wish him well. Though I can’t help feeling a bit sorry for Alex Lacey and Fraser Franks, but if he was good enough to be at a premiership club before it will be interesting to see how good he is once he settles in and learns what we are about. It subscribes to the business plan – get good young players who will end up playing at a much higher level, improve them and reap the benefit of them for a couple of years before selling them on.
Finally, I loved the poppy shirts today – there’s not too many things more important than football but showing respect to those who gave their lives is indisputably one of them.
We’re missing Northampton & Exeter – I’m so sorry, but the nitwits at BT have deprived me of a phone line for the past week and a bit. Apparently the cable has corroded and they need to dig the street up.
They are the telecom equivalent of Staines Town.
Normal service to be resumed as soon as possible…..
A hard-fought and determined performance from the Hatters saw a well-deserved victory over the whelk-munching spoilers from Southend.
Ive given myself an hour and two beers to write this so that I can avoid watching Downton Abbey, so lets see how far I get.
I loved this game. It wasnt a footballing classic by any means, in fact, brief glimpses of brilliance aside; there wasnt enough play between the ref blowing his whistle for the game to really get going. It was a stop-start affair. Mainly stop.
How Southend got to fourth before the game God only knows, their shooting was woeful, and their defence alternated between comedy and criminal.
But we won, and won well. For the first goal, Griffiths played a ball down the channel outside the narrow midfield and full back into space for Lawless to run onto, he took a touch, turned, put it on his right foot and a put in a sublime curling shot into the top corner. Does Alex Lawless do simple tap ins? He has had more than his fair share of brilliant goals. You can see why John Still was so keen to get him back into the team. He is a constant, intelligent, creative thorn in any opponents side. And long may he remain in our side.
The second goal was straight out of the Keystone Kops handbook. A big hoof by Macca I think went all the way down to the keeper and there was a sigh of disappointment at giving possession away so easily. But hold your exasperation Hatters, because comedy keeper Bentley passed the ball to the shell-shocked and bandaged Bolger who in his infinite wisdom slipped it neatly to Drury, who despite slipping himself slid it neatly to Cullen who slotted it past the hapless Bentley. Like any goals against a fancied team these felt extra special as we have to work much harder for the opportunities.
Unlike the bad old days, we are efficiently taking the few chances we get, rather than in the dark years when we seemed to need ten clear cut chances to be able to eek out a goal.
In the second half Southend made two substitutions, played 3 up front and came out all guns blazing, until we snuffed their fire out, and then they had nothing left at all. After that point we merely soaked up their pressure, forced them to shoot (badly) from outside the box and play on the counter attack with the ball going forward to the pace of Pelly and the persistence of Mark Cullen. Each time the ball went to Pelly he was hacked down. Only a ref of such spectacular incompetence could allow such a team of one-dimensional thugs to get away with it for so long.
That Dave Penney (Southends assistant coach and JSs pal) was the only one to go was remarkable. Presumably and official with a pair of kahunas would have stamped out the rather clogging Southend tactics early on, but by turning a blind-eye he only sought to indulge them further. He was good at blowing his whistle. Very good at that. Very good at stopping play. But enforcing discipline isnt his strong point, against us anyway. He did get four cards out for Southend, but he spared them so many more. But a bit of googling reminded me that Mr Kavanagh was the appalling ref for the Woking game back in March (link here) and also the kindly soul who did manage to find a red card for Macca up at Southport at the start of last season. How he managed to get promoted to the football league Ill never know. Chances are that well only see him once more this season though.
It really isnt how football should be played. For the second week running we were playing against a team of spoilers, who prefer to clog and hoof than pass and move. Southend were like Braintree under Devonshire, or Leyton Orient under Ling. A nasty little outfit. There must be something in the water east of Greenwich. Lets hope that the next visitors at home are the exception to the rule.
But as the match disintegrated into a bad tempered affair it only served to tweak the volume on the Hatters fans dial and maintain the players resolve to keep their defensive and personal discipline. The only slip really, hardly surprising bearing in mind the provocation, was the altercation with Pelly and the aforementioned Penney on the touchline, after the ball went out. After all that, the ref **was** happy to send someone off, but just not anyone on the field of play.
Alas I didnt see the much discussed ball-boy incident. Cheeky lad.
Michael Harriman from QPR (but dont hold that against him) slotted in at right back as if he has been playing with the team all season. He had a sound game. Our back four does look good at the moment, and with the effervescent Smith and the strong you should see him when hes fit Doyle playing in front of them it is beginning to look like a very effective unit.
Pelly Ruddock got the official man of the match award, presumably as consolation for having chunks hacked out of his shins all afternoon. Though in fairness, it could have gone to Lawless for his performance, Cullen for his effort (not least at being offside all the time), Wilko and Macca, Doyle and Smith and ahem, a certain Mr Andy Drury might have won it on other days. Drury played just off Cullen, his old role, and was back to his best, having previously been on both wings and in central midfield. Has to be a good player to keep Guttridge out of the starting XI if you recall Guttridge was our beating heart last year. And just like last year JS is slowly identifying the best formation and the best players in that formation, whilst all the while experimenting and pushing and testing and bringing back players who were injured. Difficult to have a truly settled team I guess, when we have so many good players whose performances demand selection.
Well times nearly up where did an hour go? Off to Hartlepool next week. Or not as the case may be as I will be consuming beer, sausage und sauerkraut in Germany. Some guys hef all ze luck.
Really enjoyed the game and the spirited performance, the sort of resilient display that gets John Still purring like a Queen.
But for Chris Day (good shot stopper, poor kicker) we would have been three up in 15 mins. One of his saves was as good at Tylers last week. He could do nothing about our first goal, another towering header from Luke Wilkinson, from another free kick served up perfectly by Drury, as simple as you like (the pass, not Drury – though as an aside AD is looking increasingly like mad-Alan White see below) Drury played out on the left in a 442, and was effective in attack, mainly in the first half, but is less effective at tracking back, leaving Griff a little exposed on occasions. Griff got forward nicely yesterday, though wont be happy with a couple of his crosses another good couple of opportunities which on another day should have found a Luton player. Perhaps he reserves his best for the home games where he inevitably wins the man of the match award.
Andry Drury or is it Alan White?
The mighty Hatters swung back into action yesterday and comprehensively outplayed Oxford, despite half the squad being afflicted by the trots presumably in a show of support of the broken-legged right back.
Despite being down in numbers, the performance was professional from beginning to end, as ever our cause and our confidence being greatly aided by a good early goal from Luke Wilkinson.
And what a good game Wilkinson had. Even without his headed goal he was my man of the match. He was the archetypal rock at the back. Sure-footed and commanding he swept up Oxfords attacks – when they did occasionally venture into our half – and won header after header. We can now see why John Still was so keen to sign him in close season. Four games without conceding a goal suggests that we are doing something right at the back. Today we defended in such a way that only on two occasions in the whole 90 minutes did Oxford get around the back of us. The first one caused the heart to flutter as McNulty, suffering from nappy syndrome (his mind addled no doubt by sleepless nights and the thought of nipple pads) let the ball go over his head rather than to head it clear. It was like he was pushed forward by an imaginary Micky Quinn. As it happens that moment served to galvanise the defence and they hardly put a foot wrong after that, forcing Oxford to shoot from miles out they couldnt get close.
I think Oxford had only two decent shots on target and Tyler had to make a couple of reflex saves, the first was very nearly world class and to be added to his long list of brilliant point blank saves too numerous to tally, where he touched a shot from Barnett round the post I dont know how he got down in time. The second was a near point-blank header from Barnett where he got down to save in exactly the right place. A bit like a baseball catcher who knows where the pitch is going. Without those saves the result would have been very different. Earlier in the season I indicated that MT was beginning to show signs that he was starting to show his age. His recent form has dispelled this, in fact you could assert that he has improved. Mark Tyler is a fine wine, improving with age.
Alex Lacey started at right back today and had a pretty tidy game, he was up against their only attacking threat down the left in ODowd.
Scott Griffiths battled excellently on the left and had Ruffel in his pocket. He played well all game and largely neutralised Oxford down the right.
Nathan Doyle made his debut, sitting in front of the back four. He had a physical presence about him and was tidy enough I think. Survived the attempt to rearrange his kneecaps by Tyrone Barnett. Bearing in mind many of John Stills acquisitions often take time to bed in and get up to speed, I look forward to seeing what he is like after ten games…Drury replaced him later on when we changed to a 4-4-2.
In the middle too but in a more advanced role than I seem to recall was Smudger Smith, who as ever ran and worked hard in the middle, charging people down with impunity.
More or less the most advanced midfielder of a three but still back and forth in his box to box role was PRM who had a slightly strange game compared to his Trojan performances recently. He certainly posed an attacking threat but seemed to have a gear in reserve. Perhaps he didnt need his top gear such was the underwhelming threat of Oxford. We could have doubled the lead within a minute when Pelly was given a good chance after good play in the box from Cullen and Whalley but he popped it over the bar.
On the right of front three (or the right of a midfield 5 if you prefer) was Shaun Whalley, a slightly revitalised version of the walking shambles we saw at the start of last season. He was a direct threat, and tracked back well when needed. He does get bumped off the ball a bit easily. Didnt perhaps cut through their lines in the way he would have like but at least was felled for the free kick which led to the goal. His replacement by Layafette re-injected vigour into our performance, so he played a part in that way I guess he was the facilitator for the final push by being substituted. I wish Shaun well, hopefully by starting yesterday that will give him some of the confidence he was lacking.
On the left up was Jake Howells who had an outstanding game and his alertness was rewarded when he sprung to score from the rebound from his own penalty a la Cullen. He didnt just whack it back though, but got it under control, dribbled a bit, did a shimmy, checked his emails, before slotting it home. The penalty itself was for handball by Mullins on the edge of the box. The sort of penalty decision you get when things are going your way as the Mr Magoos of the lower leagues invariably fail to spot that sort of thing. For example later on in the second half one of our team (I cant recall who) played catch with himself and the ref missed that one. It was Howells inswinging freekick that gave Wilkinson such a perfect opportunity for the goal.
In the middle was the long suffering Mark Cullen, ploughing a lone furrow, until Lafayette came on. Too often though he was left isolated when, having received the ball, had no one to lay it off to. Such is the nature of the system I guess. Late on he went on a splendid run with a golden opportunity to make it three but stumbled and shot rather than passing it. Great when they go in and you cant blame a centre forward for having a go, especially when we were two up already. If it had been 0-0 then he might have been lynched for not passing it.
As I said earlier the introduction of Lafayette gave us the momentum to finish the job, it levered away the slow momentum Oxford had gained as our high tempo approach was difficult to maintain. When he came on he posed an immediate threat and gave us the edge and gave Oxford something to think about. He might not be the most refined front man yet, but yesterday he brimmed with confidence. Oxfords centre halves who had been barely coping with just Cullen, suddenly had a big strong bloke to try to manage and they struggled and thereafter were on the back foot. It was a masterstroke, as was shoring up the right hand side by changing to 442 and bringing on Drury.
It was a good game and one which I thoroughly enjoyed. A good competent, professional win. We played at high tempo and pressed Oxford hard, they were toothless up front and mainly had to rely on long shots. We did a job on Oxford, and their only decent chances fell to Tyrone Barnett, who surely nine times out of ten would have been dismissed for the brutal lunge on Doyle. Hats off to John Stills men for playing well and keeping them at bay. The only worrying note is that our goals are coming from set plays, but good to be still winning whilst that is the case.
Next week we renew our acquaintance with the strange Hertfordshire brand of anti-football when we play the cheats from Stevenage, I cant wait. Im interested to see if the Westley leopard has changed its spots, or mellowed over the years. Yesterday when Barnett went over the top on Doyle the whole team led by Macca were enraged and were ready to pile in. We all reacted and stood together a la Paul Colingwood for England against the Aussies in 2005. I suspect there might be more of that needed next week if Stevenage revert to type. Had we not got the early goal today, I suspect Mr Appletons team would have given us a dress-rehearsal for the tactics we can expect. Certainly the tackling and the constant whining to the ref were straight out of the Westley text-book.
Come on you Hatters.
A welcome return to winning ways after a hard-fought 1-0 win. Whilst the performance was better and the battling was excellent, we have Mark Tyler to thank for some excellent saves that kept us in the game.
At the final whistle there was tangible pulse of relief from the crowd a P-wave of appreciation and acknowledgement of the efforts undertaken.
The team lined up with four tactical changes. Interesting to say the least, especially as John Still had said how well the team performed in the last game. However, we matched Cheltenhams formation like-for-like with a 3-5-2. Curtley Williams made his debut, whilst Ross Lafayette made his full debut. Smudger Smith returned for his first game since his leg-break horror on Boxing Day and Luke Wilkinson returned in the heart of the defence. Missing out were Drury, Rooney, Howells and Connolly.
Williams and Griffiths pushed up against their opposing wing-backs. Lacey, McNulty and Wilkinson formed a back three. Smudger Smith was the holding man in front of the back three and Pelly and Gutts were further forward. Lafayette and Cullen were up front.
So what of the game? Well we clung on by the skin of our teeth as Cheltenham pressed and pressed in the second half. We had plenty of chances to go two up though, to be fair. The goal came from a throw on the left. Griffiths took the throw to Layette who held the ball up under pressure and forced the ball back to Griffiths, who crossed a lovely ball for an excellent glancing header by Mark Cullen. One up after 7 mins and that was it for the goals, but not the action. If Cheltenham had been able to finish better the outcome would have been different, but I suppose you could say that of us too. Other than the sustained pressure, there was nothing about them that suggested they were worthy of their starting position. Shrewsbury theyre not.
I thought Curtley Williams slotted in well at right wing back. He is a tidy player, good on the ball and seemed to have a good understanding of what was required. He tired in the second half, and went off after about 75 mins looking a bit sore, I hope he is okay. We transferred to a 442 shortly after the start of the second half as Cheltenham had swapped around too. It also helped us to defend and keep men behind the ball. I think dear Curtley forgot he was no longer a wing back though as he was stuck forward out of position with the Robins looking to get the ball behind him. Perhaps it was just as well that he went off!
Lacey was the first substitution when we changed formation, the tactical sacrificial lamb again. I recall he had a free header at the far post from a corner which truthfully he should have hit the target with. This left Wilkinson and McNulty in the heart of defence. Both had good games, apart from one tiny cock up by Nults. He put himself in the line of the ball time and time again, and hurled himself to block shots. What does Sir Ian say in that film? They shall not pass? McNulty should have that tattooed somewhere special. In fact I think Wilkinson had his best game for us and made a vital clearance off the line. Boy, they needed to be at their most dogged, we were stretched and pushed and pulled for all our worth and needed to be at our best to hang on.
Scott Griffiths had a good game, though more than once or twice he was caught betwixt and between as he had two players coming at him down the right. This stopped once Howells came on but in both of the last two games Scott has been badly exposed on occasion with too much to deal with on his own. Anyway we kept them out and Scott played pretty well, including the ‘assist’. But the clean sheet was really down to Mark Tyler who had a fantastic game. I think I counted four decisive, crucial saves without which we would have conceded a goal. I can see how Cheltenham came from two down last week they came at us hard but the last time of defence, M Tyler esq., stood firm. His kicking was really accurate too, in the first half he sent ball after ball out to Williams on the wing and otherwise accurately sought out the heads of Lafayette and Cullen like a heat seeking missile. Early season wobbles behind him, this was Tylers latest tour de force.
Pelly Ruddock is in fine form, he had another good game today, and in the first half was a constant threat. With half an hour to go he slotted into right back and took to it like an eager puppy. It didnt stop him marauding down the flank like a border reiver. He was kicked to death by Cheltenham and each time he was felled the miscreant was decorated with a yellow card but no more. Somehow it seems a bit wrong to see a team from Cheltenham filled with bruising thugs. The gnarled bully-boys they had at centre half would be better suited to somewhere like Grays, Millwall or Barnsley not the pleasant spa town with the ladies college.
~~intermission~~
Switching away from football for a second dear reader Ive got a little topical question for you. Its a bit of a moral-maze type question. Im not sure which I would do. I wonder if you can help me out…
If you are disturbed in the night and hear a noise in the bathroom do you:
a) turn over to see if the wife* has got up for a midnight pee
b) fart & go back to sleep
c) if you are really concerned, get up, put your legs on (if necessary) and walk over to the bathroom door and whisper Is that you in there my love? Has that curry brought on a touch of the collywobbles? I told you not to have them prawns.
Or d) immediately reach for the semi-automatic 9mm firearm in your bedside cabinet and loose off a few rounds through the bog door just in case?
~~~
Back to the football, Jonathan Smith played the full 90 minutes, which I was surprised at. And he played well, he was everywhere and faultless in his effort and spirit. He was tiring at the end, which meant that some of his passes went astray but he had a really good game like hed never been away. I wondered, what with the massed ranks of midfielders JS has recruited, if hed get many games this year. If he carries on like he does today, Robinson will have a job in getting his place back.
Luke Guttridge was a constant thorn in their side, but not quite as much of a threat as last week when we moved to 442 he moved out onto the left before Howells came on. He got a standing ovation, from my bit of the Kenny End at least. He came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, including a lovely 1-2, but also did a dodgy back pass too.
Lafayette, also tired towards the end but had a pretty good game I reckon, bearing in mind hes new to us. It was his strength which enabled Griffiths to cross the ball for the goal. He made some good touches some poor ones. Hes learning and hes keen- and furthermore, with Benson injured and Alex Wall in the maison du chien, hes our main man.
Speaking of goals, what a lovely header it was by Mark Cullen. He knows how to sniff a goal, and it was great that he got the winner and only goal. I think thats just desserts. Theres tons of pressure on him this year in the absence of Gray and to give him credit I dont think hes had two games the same with either striking partners or formations. I hope he goes from strength to strength.
Jim Stevenson nearly got a goal with his first touch when he came on to replace Lacey. From a corner and a melee he twisted and turned and slotted home his fourth goal in a week. However, after thinking about it, lighting up a fag, settling down with a good book and sending a couple of texts, the lino decided to raise his flag, allowing poor Jim in a few seconds of ecstasy only for it to be dashed. I like the look of Stevenson he seems to be growing with each game, with each touch almost. Not sure why the goal wasnt given though.
Andy Drury let us have a couple of glimpses of him at his best when he came on to replace Williams. A close shot followed by a lovely dink through for Pelly.
In other news, its nice to see Mr DUrso hasnt much improved with age. Im not going to say anything more.
Good to see their keeper Carson foolishly engaged in what I think the young-folk call banter with the Kenny End, which basically means he was daft enough to react to the abuse/friendly career advice/fatherhood-news he was receiving from the front row. Which meant that he got it in spades back. Silly boy.
Another comedy moment was when their excellent wing back Braham-Barrett got a kick amidships as Blowers would say on TMS. Jesus did he look in pain. He could barely walk let alone run, such was the state of his nether regions. He limped around on tiptoes. I liked the way that he was so concerned about his balls he wasnt bothered about dropping his shorts in front of us all for the physio to check that everything was still there, and that nothing was hanging off. His pained face gave us an idea of what a Scottish taxpayer would look like post-Independence.
Im pleased with the win it was no footballing spectacle, especially in the second half when we were largely under the cosh, but a gritty win which – from the looks of what weve seen from this division so far is what is needed for success whilst we acclimatise.
The next two games are against Cambridge and Blackbird Leys FC and Im looking forward to locking horns with Richard Money again next week. Theyve had a slightly better start and are 6th but only 3 points ahead. We let them have a bigger lead last season before we overhauled them…then, after Oxford come the footballing purists and fairplay specialists of Stevenage. Not.
Well done lads, a good win.
PS Just noticed that there are two Luton references in the MoTD title sequence. Sorry if everyone else spotted them first.
PPS I still think that Diego Costa looks like an evil Danny Crow, but without the love-handles.
*or hubby, partner, girlfriend, boyfriend, lover, neighbour, one night stand, window-cleaner, significant other etc etc delete as appropriate.
To lose to a side wearing Ebola-yellow was bad enough, but for the winner to be scored by an ex-Hornet was galling, especially when that ex-Hornet had earlier performed the very same tackle that Robinson was sent off for last week. He received a mild rebuke and a yellow card. Robbo got the book thrown at him. Refs. Dont ya just love em?
As it happens, I was thoroughly enjoying the game. I thought we outplayed Plymouth certainly in the first half, but the goal just wouldnt come.
Once again it was a loss of concentration that cost us a goal we switched off for the briefest of seconds, but it was enough to let them take their chance. Things werent helped terribly by Mr Magoo the ref who – when not slipping on his arse or getting in the way of the ball – was terribly good at not being terribly good. Countless pushes on Cullen were missed and Bray, their first substitute inflicted a leg-breaker on Lacey and got a yellow, where we have so often seen red. In a premiership game, Plymouth would have been playing with nine at the end.
After the surprising draw at Accrington and the disappointing performance against a resurgent Shrewsbury (who were a much better team) the game against Plymouth was a chance to right those wrongs and to pop the train back on the rails and inject some confidence and momentum into the team. No such joy. There is a difference between the conference and league two. The opposition are stronger, close you down quicker and break faster than in the conference; the managers are cannier and quicker to adjust their tactics. It is a big wake up call. But once weve made and completed the readjustment then we will be fine and able to push on. I think that is why sometimes we are too elaborate in front of goal: were not able to stretch their defences and penetrate in the way we did last year. The pace and pressure of dear Andre is being missed.
We started with a 4-5-1 formation. Guttridge sitting just behind Cullen who was on his own up top, with Howells on the left and Rooney on the right. Alex Lacey was at centre half partnering McNulty. Early on, Plymouth, having watched how a couple of our goals this year had been conceded, targeted our skipper. Their early intent being to play the ball over the top behind him to the pacier Reid. Fortunately, we adjusted to compensate for this and this tactic was largely snuffed out: we pushed up less one man went on Reid whilst the other covered. He was then toothless until the second half where he moved to the right to torment poor Scotty Griffiths instead.
Rooney is a funny player. At times he looks like a live-wire and our only direct threat, he can play quick balls which get us on the front foot, but occasionally he over-elaborates, takes too many touches and deflates, defuses and denudes our counter attacks. In one fell swoop this man can turn a snappy counter into a slow build up, whether he receives the ball in midfield or up front. He collapses our soufflé. He releases the pressure valve on the opposition. He lets our balloon down.
Pelly and Drury were in the middle. Pelly had an excellent game driving from box to box being first to the ball in defence and supporting up front. In little bursts Pelly oozes class.
Drury was certainly better than he had been but not playmaking as he was before he left. Hes still adjusting to how we play, and this division too. He has to do his fair share of breaking up play and chasing down, rather than having the luxury of standing in the centre circle and spraying it around. He did, however, play some creative and intelligent balls. Guttridge was really effective on the edge of the box and played a number of juicy one-twos with Cullen and others, but it never quite clicked. Griffiths had a hard time of it at left back he got better as the first half went on, but was caught out of position a number of times in the first half and given a good working over by Alessandro. In the second half, with the introduction of Bray he had Bray and Reid to contend with as Plymouth manager John Sheridan obviously targeted our left side as the chink in our defensive armour.
Mark Tyler didnt have too much to do. But when called on was back to his best getting down to shut down a couple of opportunities where Reid had stolen in. His kicking was very accurate to his great credit.
In patches we played really well. On a different day, we would have had the run of the ball and with a bit more confidence we would have slotted a few home, but it was not to be. What is good is that all of this will balance out at some point and we will get the rub of the green and start banging them in.
Plenty of chances came our way:
Guttridges direct free kick in the first minute or so which was parried over by McCormick. There was a corner from the right shortly after that, which the keeper had to beat clear.
After a nice build up Guttridge had another chance drawing a low save from McCormick. Good work from Jake on the left cut Rooney in to make a blistering half volley which was just over on other days that would have been a net-buster.
In the 20th minute Cullen dragged a good chance wide from the edge of the box, having been played in with an incisive ball by Guttridge.
Five minutes later Guttridge again played in Jake, who will be kicking himself for missing a guilt edged chance which was pure Luton.
After half an hour again, good play from Gutts gave Cullen a good chance, but this time dragged with wide with his left foot.
With two minutes to go in the first half a lovely combination of passes between Howells, Cullen and Pelly saw Jake get another fine chance to open the scoring. It would have been a lovely goal but it wasnt to be.
The first chance of the second half was a good through ball from Drury to Cullen but Cullen was just offside.
A couple of minutes later a deft interception from Jake on halfway let Gutts play a weighted ball in front of the on rushing Cullen. Alas the ball was a centimetre or two too long, otherwise he would have been played in perfectly. As it was McCormack snuffled it up for his umpteenth save.
After 10 minutes in the second half Paul Connolly mistimed his strike at the far post, after a good cross by Griffiths. From the following corner, Pelly picked up a loose ball at the far post and turned and struck it but it didnt find a way through and was blocked.
Lafayette, who was brought on to replace Cullen (I think many folk wanted Alex Wall) played a quick one two with Alex Lawless (who had replaced Howells) but Lafayette fluffed his golden opportunity and sliced it wide.
Lawless posed a further attacking threat when getting into the box he crossed it for the on-rushing Lafayette, but Nelson scrambled the ball away before the tall target man could make contact.
With a couple of minutes to go an unlikely chance came from an enormous kick by Tyler deep into the box Nelson mistimed his header and nearly looped it over McCormack.
The final chance came when Rooney played a deep cross from the half way line towards Lafayette whose cushioned header played in Guttridge who, given a second longer would have got a shot away, as it happens the ball was cleverly taken off his toe and he was flattened in the process.
So, we had plenty of opportunities. Though things smacked a little of desperation towards the end, this wasnt a hark back to the dark days under Mr Brabin where wed only make a couple of chances in a match, this was good stuff good attacking creative play, where we had done more than enough to win. But you have to stick it in the old onion bag, and, like the game against Wimbledon we could have played another 90 mins and I dont think it would have happened. It was in effect another game from the season before last: dominating, missing chances, not scoring, and being caught on the hop.
Lawless added a spark of momentum and decent crosses. Good to see him back. Last year his return galvanised us. It wasnt quite enough today. He pushed up as part of a front three when he was on and was an immediate thorn.
One thing to note is that I dont recall seeing so many players slip over in the game. Is the pitch greasy? Did they all need longer studs? It was peculiar. More people slipped over in this match than the televised bog-farce at the start of the year.
There were two early pointers to the Plymouth goal. Firstly, after about an hour Plymouth were focusing all of their moves down our left with Richard Reid and the sub Bray taking it in turns to power their way through. On this occasion Reid forced his way through the right and put in a good cross for Blizzard to take a snapshot in the middle, just turning the ball wide of the post: alarm bells should have been ringing. Secondly, a minute later, yet another attack down the right saw Bray on the ball spearing down the wing only to go over on his ankle, unchallenged, and he went down as if a sniper hid in box 10 had taken him out (seeking revenge for the dirty studding of Laceys shins?) We had the stretcher on and it took a couple of minutes out of the game, but Bray eventually got up and was fine. A couple of minutes later and yet another attack down the right saw Bray run towards our box again. He got as far as the edge of the box and then collapsed again in agony unchallenged. We froze for a second, Reid picked up the ball on the edge of the box, played Cox in, who slipped the ball to Blizzard who skipped around Connolly, a lunging McNulty and a stationary Lacey and slotted in a well-taken goal all with Bray dead on the edge of the box. Had we not gone sleepy-bo-bos when Bray went down Reid would not have collected the ball.
So, Plymouth werent anything special at all. Hard working, brutal in the tackle and opportunistic but not a great side. We had plenty of chances to put the game beyond doubt in the first half alone, but didnt and got caught napping.
Our fortunes will change at some point, we will get that rub of the green and that spark we need to get the season properly started. It might seem as if weve not yet settled on the right team, combination and formation but at least we know that John Still has the know-how, experience and common-sense to get us to where we need to be. Hes no liar or bullshitter, if there were problems then he would say. He is finding out about his players and his squad and what they can do in a match situation. Im not disheartened, just downcast about the latest defeat. A good chance to put things right next week against Cheltenham and I can start looking at the league table again.
By the way I think I was a bit harsh about Rooney – do you agree?
Hey its early days. You never know tonights game may have been a creditable draw against the side that finishes in the top two. Just like Cambridge last year a rather dour point at home to them at the start of the season turned out to be a good point against the team that went on to be the form side for the first half of the year. The 90th minute goal came as a huge relief and revitalised the crowd.
When we dropped down to the conference most of us, myself included thought it was going to be easier than it was, a walk in the park no less. This season perhaps weve been listening to the hype perhaps weve taken on board too much of the League Two is not that much stronger than the conference. So far it is by no means straightforward it is going to be a hell of a fight to make instant headway in this division by the looks of it.
As for the Wimbledon game on Saturday, I was so spitting mad (literally spitting mad, my apologies to the chap in front of me) that I couldnt bring myself to type something I might regret the morning after. I shall limit my comments on Saturdays game to the notes I made: the clash of Akinfenwa and McNulty was measured on the Richter scale. Is the ref making it too obvious that hes bent? Tubbs & tubbs up front for the Dons. What a nasty little team they are. Drury seems half asleep. When Akinfenwa fell over on his arse, the shockwaves spilt my coffee.
Bury were a different team altogether. If theres anything I can summarise the first two home league games it would be that we are getting much less time to play, that we are being over elaborate in front of goal and the lack of an out and out paceman up front has not allowed us to get the ball behind the opposing defence on the counter in the way we could last year.
Weve also had plenty of different formations in the two league games (and Swindon for that matter): 4-3-3, 4-4-2 for a spell on Saturday and it ended 3-5-2. Today it started the same formation that we ended the 2012/3 season with a flat back four, two in front of them, three in front of them and Benson as a lone man. This changed towards the end whereby we went to three at the back, Pelly and Howells on the wings as wing backs, three in the middle and Lafayette and Cullen up front.
And what of Andy Drury? The one we sold to Ipswich is not the one we got back via Crawley. Despite having less room to play in these last two matches he was barely adequate on Saturday, and largely anonymous today. Hes there to hopefully pass teams out of existence and open up the play hes not doing that yet despite plenty of huff and puff. Theres plenty of hard work going on but Im thinking that perhaps in tough games like these we either need a player who can definitely assert his skill or someone who can assert himself a bit more and win the ball and find an orange player. To be fair he did do one nice cross field ball today and was involved in some nice one touch stuff at the end. Perhaps it is time for him to get used to us and this division lets not cast him into the bin of disappointment just yet!
Paul Benson has had neither had the support nor the delivery he received last year, and has not yet struck up a golden understanding and thus partnership this year. He barely won a ball today and seemed a little off the pace. This is hardly surprising bearing in mind he has two people on him most of the time. There is no doubting his commitment and ability. Not an easy start for him when he is on his own against towering centre halves, getting virtually no room to play and hardly any service from out wide.
Controversially perhaps, I think perhaps we have seen the best of Mark Tyler? Still hugely experienced and a fantastic goalie, we are starting to see the odd aberration creep into his game where before there was none. It is only a matter of degrees but again, at a higher level it might get exposed a little more readily than the safe haven of non-league. We will see early days. He cant go on forever and he has been simply superb for us no more no less superb. I do wonder though, time will tell.
On the positive side of things I think Jake Howells had a great game on Saturday and was a breath of fresh air when introduced tonight. Not many sides in this division will have players now as technically gifted as Howells on the bench, his game is going from strength to strength as he combines his quality with nous and experience.
Scott Griffiths has been outstanding in the last two games, really working hard up the flank and doing the simple things well whilst being first to support in the attack. Shame some of the others havent been up to speed. Ironic really because Scott was a little slow out the blocks last year but is flying this year. Good for him.
Capn Steve was solid as ever at the back. I genuinely believe, that on ability alone he would be playing at a higher level it is his natural shape and appearance that makes him look a bit out of place, when in fact, pace apart, he is an absolutely first class centre-half. Lifes a bit like that. Hes not even tubby any more hes just wide. Broad. A human wall and I love him for it. When he started for us I thought wed signed a comedy defender. Looks are wholly deceptive. Long may you keep deceiving Stevo.
Fraser Franks is still learning, John Still rates him and thats good enough for me it is early days and there is much learning still to be done. I want him to become a legend, a great for us. Not sure if he is really a right back, hes done adequately without excelling in that position, whilst covering for Connelly. Having him there gives JS the flexibility of having someone who can switch to centre half if he moves to a 3-5-2. He needs more games, more experience and it is better for his development to be stretched and to be learning at this level than the one below. Once the players adjust and get used to it they can kick on. It is early days yet. Its a bit like Test Cricket in a funny old way better to have a promising youngster learn at the top level, playing on decent pitches against better players, than grow fat by playing against weak players at county level day in day out. If you are a developing player, better to test yourself against a better quality player than a weaker one.
Luke Rooney he makes space for himself and gets into good positions. Today, when he had chances to got outside and go to the byline he cut inside instead and got into trouble. I like him as a player and he seems to work hard, but if I had one criticism it is that he over-elaborates, he takes one touch too many does the complicated thing, when the simpler thing is the better choice. He certainly possessed our greatest threat today for most of the game.
Bury were a good side, if uninspiring. They worked hard and pressed hard and gave us little room defensively and in the middle of the park, they knew exactly how to play against us. I suspect they were much better organised than many of the teams we will play against this year. We largely dominated against Wimbledon but were denied by fate, the ref and some poor finishing. Bury was a different matter, where Wimbledon kicked hard Bury pressed and deprived us of space. Funny that they got more cards today than a much dirtier Wimbledon on Saturday. Todays ref at least tried to assert himself, the one on Saturday allowed the Dons to get away with whatever they wanted. The more they indulged the more he indulged them. He was like a poor parent refusing to say no or to admonish an errant child, and by doing so encouraged further abhorrent behaviour with the child keen to push the boundaries, only to find that there werent any. Weve gone up a division, its a shame that the refereeing hasnt.
The freekicks havent improved in League Two either. Who saw the comedy set-piece from Bury today? Keystone Kops eat your heart out they even smacked their heads in frustration as if trained at RADA.
Lovely to see that after three games our good friends** Newport and Oxford are presently on nul points and furthermore Saturdays opponents are presently bottom. No easy games John Still says, but hopefully, the injection of confidence and relief administered by Pelly Ruddocks late goal will give us a bit of oomph against the downcast Lancastrians. Not sure if that is how it will stay, they were unbeaten in 8 of their last 9 games last year and ended of somewhat of a high. Im not bothered where they end up, as long as they are quite happy to cede 6 points to us.
Right, so whilst this has come across as a bit whingey Im not unhappy about things really. Not at all. How wonderful to be back in the league and the normality of a home draw without the aching feeling of being in non-league in the pit of my stomach. John Still knows entirely what he is doing and knows where he wants to be and what we need. Id sooner we worked out how much harder we have to work in this division to get results and to build up a bit of momentum that way, than to get some cheap wins and then come crashing to earth when reality kicks in.
The joy of the M6 on Saturday! See you all again on the motorway. If you look out for me, Ill be the one dressed in orange. Heres to another away win and hurtling up the table courtesy of three Andy Drury assists and a hat trick from Benno. You never know .
**not
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