On holiday at the moment so missed this. On the face of it looks like 2 points dropped against a Town side who havenôt won in 16. But, any impressions, views on the game would be appreciated. Did we deserve to win? How did the Rendell-Pittman combination fare? Did Donnelly do well? Should we have snatched all three points? Seems like it was a v poor first half and an improved second period? Attendance and away fans? Etc With Torquay away next, it looks like the biggest game of the season lies in wait. I think we are destined for the playoffs, as I saw it a few months ago. All thoughts are very welcome!
jp was poor today and didnt do enough yet again when starting.looked like they brought about 300 fans today.agree on this showing the play offs beckon
Don't panic too prematurely. Shrewsbury were awful second half and if they play like that against decent opposition in the next 4 games, they will win none of them.
Well, I wouldn't be so pessimistic. Their first goal was really strange, was taken aback by the fact it was a penalty. For the second goal, I said in the last thread Foster shouldn't play, and he was no-where when he really should have been marking their striker. However, we came back strong once again, Donnelly and Beavon in particular were both excellent and Rendell did well to set up the first goal. We could have won it right at the end with Sandell and granted we can kick on from the performance, we should be OK for the run in. Next match, I would play Westwood and Mccoy instead of Winfield and Foster to sure up the defence and play Bloomfield instead of Montrose or Lewis. Otherwise, I thought there were a lot of positives to take from the second half and we shouldn't get too disheartened.
Awful first half performance, we created next to nothing against a poor defence. It looked a very soft penalty, especially given the 2 or 3 we had turned down in the second half. Their second goal was a decent breakaway but it came from our sloppiness further upfield. Second half was entertaining but frustrating. We should have buried them but let them off the hook too many times. Betsy was particularly wasteful and Rendell and Pittman never really clicked together. Montrose was poor and gave the ball away too much, Sandell was (as usual) good going forward but suspect defending. The introduction of Beavan certainly swung the game back in our favour, he may not score many but he frightens defenders and does double the work of any other striker at the club. Donnelly had a good game with a well taken goal and Lewis was busy and tidy in the middle. Westwood coming on at half time worked well too as he's more composed and plays the ball out of defence well. We need to start the remaining games much better, today's game was far too stressfull and I don't think it's going to get any easier over the last four games!
Hi I'm new to all of this, after the last two games we've been poor. Oxford 2nd half played well and maybe again today. But with the games we have left and how we are playing I think play-offs will happern. Looking at the teams that could also be in there we have not done to well. I really hope I'm wrong one this one but could it be one more year of falling at the play-offs?!
the main point i would like to make is if we got promoted there is no way we will stay up with this squad,we are just not good enough
Welcome PJB. The play-offs are a real possibility with the 2 tough away games we have left plus Shrewsbury's relatively easier run-in. It looks like we will need to win at least one of them and make sure we win the 2 remaining home games to stay 3rd. It's a big ask. If we drop into the play-off places then it'll be a lottery from there and I don't fancy that at all. But it's still in our hands and the Shrews and other teams will be feeling the pressure too. There will be a few more twists yet.
so where are the wobblers next points coming from. come to that where are the shrews next points coming from. i watched our game and the second half was attrocious. like wobblers we may not have the squad to stay up let alone get up. wibble wobble a little bit more please. floreat salopia
Thanks for the replies everyone. I think we need 3 wins from 4 to be perfectly honest, and even that may not be enough. Itôs a tough task but we may need to stay unbeaten until the end of the season. A final day showdown beckons once again.
The first half was so attrocious my Dad (a shots fan) only coming to his 3rd game this season went home at half time and said he was disgusted with the performance! I being a true blue obviously stayed but couldnt see where a goal was coming from and was also worried about conceding another. I have preferred McCoy to Foster ever since he broke in to the team, Foster did a good job deputising at left back but now Sandell is back he should drop to the bench, I dont think he's awful but McCoy has more pace to keep up with wingers and is better going forward. Montrose will need to be dropped for Bloomers on Friday, he can ping a ball over 40 yards to a blue shirt but when it comes to a 4 yard pass he is attrocious. I agree we should take the positives from the second half however i dont think we can afford to drop any more points or the play offs beckon!
i think harris and mcclure should definately be on the bench at torquay we need their pace,and jp blew his chance on saturday for me,as soon as beever came on the game changed and he has to start
Totally forgot to mention, why on earth did betsy take so long to shoot!!! If he had hit it hard first time no one would have stopped it from that close range , but why oh why did he try and take it round 3 of their players on the line!
Only my third game this season and after Stevenage I thought I was becoming a jinx. Strange first half as we were playing much better than them until the penalty. Their second was a well worked goal that caught Foster flat footed but the Spanish fella was very dirty and after a couple of elbows on Winfield should not really have been on the pitch. The problem was the midfield, we gave the ball away too easily and that was directly responsible for the second goal. Montrose was poor today and Betsy was the worst I've seen him since he's been back. What is the problem with JPP when he starts...hardly had a decent touch, although Rendell's lay-off for Donnelly's first goal was excellent and he looked busy throughout. LJ and Westwood were tight at the back second half and calmed things down. As everyone has pointed out....once the Beaver was on things started happening. I must admit we looked dead and buried and I could not see a goal coming so all praise for the lads for fighting back... so much so it felt like a point gained rather than two dropped. Nikki Bull was outstanding yet again...if we get promoted it will be down to him...he's definately a keeper (Can you see what I did there?) Harrad looked a better prospect as a striker and if the Cobblers stay up it will be down to him! In a nutshell....Phew! (Got out of jail...just)
