League Cup - 1st Round

[BarraMatt]

Was expecting a 2 or 3 nil defeat so happy with that overall. Poor penalties from us but hard to be annoyed.

 

[masi51]

lost on pens - but put up a good display. had 3 good chances to score, but didn't quite manage it.
James Jones and Platt is a very young but promising partnership at the back Brough who was one of 3 we were missing will be the LCB when fit. Missed the suspended Quigley up front and still need to get a striker in as back up but otherwise looking good.

No shame on today......well done

 

[kieran_vale]

Mills, Fitzpatrick and Rodney all making debuts today. The first two are no surprise given Montano and Gibbons being out injured. Rodney is an interesting call on the wing, see how that goes as looked a lot sharper down the middle in the couple of friendlies have seen.

 

[masi51]

Evatt ditched his three tall central defenders and gone 3,4.i.2 for todays visit of Bradford.....interestingly the team is all his......Crawford and Delaney drop to the bench and Darcy does not even make the bench.
So its a complete full 11 that make there senior Debuts

 

[valefan16]

Mills, Fitzpatrick and Rodney all making debuts today. The first two are no surprise given Montano and Gibbons being out injured. Rodney is an interesting call on the wing, see how that goes as looked a lot sharper down the middle in the couple of friendlies have seen.

It’s very injury hit that side with few bench options, stunned Cullen has started he hasn’t featured at all in pre season! Guess we using it as a glorified friendly maybe.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Only thing to be downhearted about today is the injuries - Platt and Kay could be out for a while if they're pulled hamstrings, Mike Jones looked like he was subbed because he was struggling, and two more holding hamstrings at the end!
Second-half was hard watching, and Nthle looked a bit suspect, but overall we were solid.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Surprise appearance for McCoulsky on our bench, he looked to have been frozen out cooper style.

 

[kieran_vale]

The game is being played at a very quick pace at the moment. Good to watch from both teams so far.

 

[Boz]

Stronger Rovers line-up with O’Connor not on international duty. Harrogate edging the early stages, but neither keeper really tested yet.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Supporters spotted in the sheep field above TNL trying to get a glimpse, such is the fervour for the new season around Nailsworth.

 

[shoddycollins]

We've been pretty diabolical in this first half. Just look very slow and unfit and too many players having bad days. Oldham have been direct and dominated possession yet both goals were defensive clangers. An Oldham player left totally unmarked level with the far post from a set piece for the first, and then the second from a loose ball to an Oldham player who was then through on goal.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

We're ahead through an own goal I missed as commentary stream too flaky. Sounds like both sides are not really at full pace yet, we've had good moments though and Orient seemed to have just started getting going.

 

[kieran_vale]

1-0 Vale Zak Mills with the goal.

Both teams will take a lot from this first half. Conlon been our best player. All the debutants have done well. Rodney you can see has all the raw materials to be really good once he adds a bit of nous to his game.

Eisa has been a real threat from Scunthorpe so will need to keep an eye on him.

 

[valefan16]

Played well, although Scunthorpe have been decent too so a good game, cracking finish from Mills.

We started very well then swung to Scunthorpe a bit, had a spell of scrappiness and then popped up in the 6th minute of injury time.

Conlon excellent again, Mills done well against their best player Eisa, fairly solid at the back.

Rodney is raw as anything got a right bollocking when he tried to let a ball roll out and walked whilst their lad managed to retrieve it but has shown promise so can see the work to be done... and he’s not a winger of course.

Black Kit looks the business!

 

[Boz]

0-0 h/t. Harrogate 60% possession, the visitors have had more of the attacking play but neither keeper tested. Hamstring injury to Blackett-Taylor a concern.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Newport 2-0 up against a seemingly full-strength Swansea side!

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Had to go off and do something and come back to us behind and nearly conceding again just. Orient obviously had a decent half time talk.

 

[kieran_vale]

Had to weather some very sustained pressure from Scunthorpe at the start of the second half. Really need to think about doubling up on Eisa. Every time he gets the ball it feels like something is about to happen.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Bah, sounded well beat in the end by a good Orient second half, despite the old keeper up at the death routine nearly producing a barely deserved equaliser.

 

[Boz]

Penalties. Harrogate had the better of things in the 90 minutes

 

[kieran_vale]

What a cross by Worrall to set up the winner by Theo.

Been a very tough game this regardless. Terrible defending for the Scunthorpe equaliser. Should never have allowed him to put the cross in (though granted Scunthorpe will say the same for our winner it must be said). Can see Askey doing his nut over that.

Either way good start to the season.

 

[Chris FGR]

Well played Orient.

Still waiting for our first home win of 2020.

 

[shoddycollins]

Very poor performance from us. Improvement in the second half at least though after a woeful first half, if there hadn't been improvement then I'd be worried for us.

We laboured a lot over simple things and just seemed very workmanlike and tired. Gime Toure was the one one making things happen for us and we probably struggled with the injuries we've got given that they're all to the more creative players. Oldham beat us comfortably without getting out of first gear and Kewell seems to have learned his lesson about playing out from the back because Oldham went direct when they needed to.

 

[Kauto Star]

Pleasantly surprised with our winning start at Bolton. Two very well worked goals. Good performances from two of our youngsters French and Staunton especially Tyler French at right wing back.
Good performance from new signing Elliot Watt in midfield

 

[hellogregory]

I’m actually disgusted by our performance today. I expected defeat due to the injury list, but to lose in that manner is a concern, a big concern.

I’m already starting to question my optimism of a mid table finish. Just about zero positives today, wouldn’t have scored if we’d played till next Saturday and defensively, I don’t even know where to start. Oh and the goalkeeper Farman is absolutely woeful based on the 2 games so far.

Very poor.

 

[valefan16]

Good win; was frustrated Scunny equalised as we’d weathered the storm and were comfortable at the time they scored but we were strong as the game came to the last few minutes and got a good winner. Pleasing.

 

[SuperaMoras]

Well there we are, Evatt’s first competitive game. Evidence, if any were needed, that this is a long-term project. Bradford settled easily with little challenge posed by ourselves, and took their chances when it mattered. Executed their plan perfectly and deserved their win.

As for us? We'll get beat like this more often than some fans may like, but some positives to be taken in how we acquitted ourselves. Promotion may not be this year, but I’m still hopeful of playoffs. Early days.

Well done Bradford.

 

[SVH]

A good win away to Birmingham. We didn’t have much of the ball but looked threatening at times and from set pieces.

They through everything at us second half but we look so well drilled and will be difficult to beat this season.

Digby, Cundy and Ironside all look like improvements on last season.

 

[Boz]

Lost on penalties to Harrogate. We took the lead against the run of play and weren't able to keep it, with some casual defending contributing towards the equaliser and thereafter the visitors had the better chances, with only a decent save from Scott Davies taking it to a penalty shoot-out. Picked up injuries to two attacking players in Blackett-Taylor and Ferrier.

Harrogate looked a little lightweight up front but played a good pressing game and were composed on the ball. They'll stay up comfortably and if they can bolster their attack are realistic play-off contenders.

 

[Vanni]

A good win away to Birmingham. We didn’t have much of the ball but looked threatening at times and from set pieces.

They through everything at us second half but we look so well drilled and will be difficult to beat this season.

Digby, Cundy and Ironside all look like improvements on last season.

Aye. We do look a better drilled side than last year, but I'm not going to read too much into today's showing. We thought the same thing last season after those couple of goalless draws against Bradford and Newport in the first two league matches and the cup win over Brentford.