So. Welcome to Edgar Street. The decrepit old stinkhole was a happy hunting ground last season, when goals from Collins and Bradshaw gave us a 2-0 victory in the blistering heat, maintaining our excellent away form and having two different strikers score in one game. How times have changed. Humph. Anyway, building on the back of an outstanding result, performance and atmosphere (allegedly, I wasn't there!), there is little to suggest that we can't win there this time. They are struggling, despite taking steps in the right direction by signing Town rejects. Relegation is a real threat, and I have to say it would be funny watching them sink below Wetscum. The momentum is with us, and I very much doubt Pitman's got enough up his sleeve to outfox our foxiest of wily old foxes, Turner. However, not an easy task - Morgan's suspended and they gave us a run for our money for approximately 7 minutes when they played us earlier in the season. Hairyfurd: Recent league form: LDWLWD Top Scorers: Tosser (8), Tosser (6), Massive Tosser (3) Last Meeting: Shrewsbury 3-1 Hairyfurd (Morgan [2], Wright; Tosser) League Position: 21st; 26 points from 27 games; GD -16 Home Record: W3, D2, L9, F13, A28 Shrewsbury's Away Record: W4, D3, L6, F17, A18 Lenny's SUPER Fact: Shrewsbury have won 13 games against Hairyfurd, drawn 8 and lost 7 Lenny's GRANDISON Fact: Jermaine Grandison is secretly an Oompa-Loompa, and is Johnny Depp in his spare time. Lenny's Prediction: Hairyfurd 0-8 Shrewsbury, Attendance 83 (82 away fans) Scorers: Grandison x7, Collins
Lenny, You are wasted on this site - you should be on the stand-up circuit. But seriously I would not get over-confident against Hereford. We need to get our away form back on track after some disappointing recent efforts. I suspect GT will make the minimum number of changes he can with Gornell coming in to replace Morgan and Regan at right back with Grandison at centre-half if Shane is not fit. If we can show the same fire we showed against Southend we should be too good for Hereford and I predict a narrow 2-1 win with Collins bagging a brace and Town fans making up at least 40% of the gate.
I agree we can't get over-confident, our away form is horrible and we seem to have a thing for playing poorly against weaker teams. Hopefully the atmosphere from the lads will be as good as it allegedly was against Southend, I think people don't realise quite how much of a morale boost it is for the players if their fans are really, really noisy. I will be there, temporary stand behind the goal, hoping for another day out like last year - and I seem to remember that they do an excellent cheeseburger at a reasonable price there, too!
Read elsewhere that Morgan might be suspended for four games due to previous suspension. Nice thread btw Lenny
Hmm. I have been keen to see Collins and Gornell play together and that, coupled with Marv's lack of goals, means I'm not quite as irked as I might have been by this. We'll also see more of Bradders (hopefully), but I do feel we may realise quite how much he brings to the team during his stint on the sideline (I know I'm contradicting myself a little!). Hopefully Tezzy can rediscover some of that goalscoring form he showed for a couple of months and continue to hold the ball up and link he play like he usually does, and obviously it's imperative Collins maintains top form. I really like the guy, I have backed him ever since we signed him despite many of my mates criticising him, and I'm delighted that he is beginning to show his ability (although sadly I wasn't there yesterday to milk it!)
whilst not wishing to heap further odure on morgan, he may benefit from 4 games away from the scene. we have yet to find out if shrews will benefit from his absence i suspect they will. hereford had a useful 2-2 draw at oxon , but i take shrews to add to their away form with a 2-0 win. wright and wroe. warning if any high winds about, be prepared to shore up the stand, it is hanging. floreat salopia
An interesting point, Matster, I am not sure Collins and Gornell complement each other too well and it would be very interesting to see the talented Ainsworth play in the hole behind Collins - Ainsworth has the ability to create and score goals and I have been dismayed to see him reduced to a bit part player recently. On another point nobody has mentioned appealing against Morgan's red card - but I suppose if Kompany did not get his ludicrous red card rescinded there is not much hope.
I think the present crackdown on tackling renders any appeal superfluous, potentially another match being missed is not what we want really. I think Collins and Gornell could well form a good partnership, and there's always Bradders to start if necessary (probably with Gornell - Bradders and Collins doesn't seem to work like it did last season - but maybe try it in away games; that was when it was effective last season!).
i would like to see bradshaw given a chance to start or sub, it must be lonely in the deep freeze waiting your turn to be a sub, super sub or better still get on the hallowed turf at edgar st. come on gt give the lad a go
He is only 19 AJ and will need to wait his turn, I think we will see him subbed on a few times whilst MM is on duty in the bar.
can you lot start losing because we are coming down and looking forward to the banter next season so we dont want to pass each other do we ..............a hereford win would do me