Scunthorpe v Port Vale

[leedsvaliant]

Huge game for Scunthorpe who seem to have gone from a pretty poor side to a real playoff contender - where have they come from? There's always a late charge from someone and it could just be them. It helps having a goalscorer who can get near to 20 goals in a season.

Vale still have a mathematical chance of the playoffs after 3 wins in a row but there are far too many results that would need to go our way. The trouble is that Barnsley are playing a very poor Colchester side on Saturday which could put pay to both teams chances.

We've switched to a 5-3-2 formation in the last couple of games which seems to have really fitted our personnel and should work well away from home. It's a shame we've only just caught on to this formation as with a slightly better away form, we'd probably be hunting an automatic spot by now having only lost 3 at home.

JJ Hooper has been a revelation since getting a bit of a chance in the team and has scored 5 in very few starts and a handful of sub appearances. He looks like he could be a real player with the right coaching. Purkiss has been outstanding in the last couple of games and is one of the best full backs in the division and Dicko has worked well at left wing back.

We're missing Anthony Grant which is a shame as he can control the midfield but Brown has shown that he's still got it at 39.

I find it highly unlikely that we'll win our 4th game in a row but I can see a draw 1-1.

 

[Bottega Don]

We're going to have a big crowd here by our standards, this usually means a massive fuck up and a loss. We need to win to keep our slim play off hopes alive so we better.

 

[valefan16]

We've gone from being decent but not able to score many to being actually very good in the past 3 games. A 9-1 aggregate and probably the toughest test of that run on Saturday against in form Scunny (who we never beat!)

I'd like us to get a win and hope other results go our away just to take it to the last day.

2-1 Theo and JJ

 

[MJA]

Would be good for us to maintain our form into the end of the season and even though our playoff chances are very slim it would still be nice to be in with a mathematical shout going into the final day.

Unfortunately, as much as I feel we can get something out of this, I think it will be a big ask to get a win against a side who have improved dramatically in the 2nd half of the season.

1-1 with JJ hitting the target

 

[darren gregory]

All credit to Scunny for being where they are, Alexander done a great job. Still fuming about last years 96th minute leveller and the tool of a goalkeeper gesturing at us, talking of tools i noticed Anyon played recently in goal so we might have hope of something. No reason we can,t go for it and if we get tonked so what, prefer a 5-3 defeat than a boring 1-0 dross. I,ll go for 1-1 though and realistically with Barnsley hosting Colchester then Scunny need to win, but Barnsley go to Wigan last day.

 

[Chris]

Looks like Graham Alexander is doing a great job.

 

[Bottega Don]

Looks like Graham Alexander is doing a great job.

Still in the honeymoon period so I am not getting carried away too quickly, he's doing a good job but he makes some weird subs which I fear are going to impact us in the future. I hope he can keep up how well he's doing so far, the man is a legend.

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

Mathematically we can still make the playoffs if we lose this one. Realistically we need to win. Plus we will need a result away in Sheffield on the final day to have any real hope. It's a big ask. It is not in our hands and we will need help from other teams.

The turn around for us came when Robins was sacked in January. The temporary managers (our coaches) did a good job in stopping the rot and stabilised us in mid-table. Alexander arrived with an obvious remit to have a look at the squad and prepare for next season. The players knew this and have responded superbly. Job security is always a good driver. We are very determined defensively and have a couple of wide players who can open things up. Madden is showing his all round game and has become chief provider. I am hoping he can find his scoring touch, because we are not going to win any game unless we can at least score. Madden often scores in spurts and he is due to start one. Here's hoping for it to start versus Vale. The Chairman is offering the game at a fiver for adults and free for U18s. Includes Vale fans. Here's hoping the majority of the crowd go home happy with result. The match has the makings of a cracker as there is something in it for both sides.

 

[darren gregory]

The match has the makings of a cracker as there is something in it for both sides.

? What exactly is in it for ourselves? we need an absolute miracle it isn,t remotely on the cards, over the next 2 games need about 8 results to go our way , simply not happening. Scunny have lost one of last 13 games, sneaked up out of the blue, as i have said on previous posts it is a p**s poor league this year. If a team who loses 7 in a row are now in the play-offs and Bradford then it shows the lack of quality. Rochdale Vale Scunny and Blades would all come in the average category, decent on their day, awful on another day , yet all are on the periphery. Gills look like they have bottled it so if Scunny beat us they are my favourites for 6th as Barnsley go to Wigan last day. I just hope we decide to turn up as we are consistent in our inconsistency.

 

[valefan16]

Darren, we have to go for it until its mathematically impossible, if Gills lose or draw (possible v Burton) and a stress free Colchester beat Barnsley then all of a sudden a win could put us back in the mix! Don't expect it too happen but until it's over then still got to try and do our bit and pressure teams above us (Scunny being one)

 

[Jamo]

We'll at best labour to a narrow win vs Colchester or, knowing Barnsley, fuck it up completely and Gills are playing a Burton side who could secure promotion with a win, so both Vale and Scunny have a lot to play for in this. Ideal scenario would be us and Vale both winning (putting both them and Scunny out of reach).

 

[darren gregory]

Yes VF16, i agree, bookies have us 250/ 1 to get promotion, mind you Leicester were 5000/1 . I wasn,t being negative just feel it is incredibly unrealistic. Cannot see Barnsley not getting at least one point, Colchester cannon fodder really, aren,t Crewe stress free it doesn,t seem to of helped them one iota. Basically the 5 points catastrophically chucked away at Shrews and Chesterfield have cost us. You are where you are though and every team has what ifs.

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

? What exactly is in it for ourselves?

Promotion via the playoffs. Unless there is something hidden where mathematics do not work for you. If Port Vale turn up with your attitude, then all the better. Or maybe you just give us a 3-0 walkover? We can then all go to the pub. I'll buy you a quick pint before your coach leaves.

Of course it's unrealistic and a long shot for you. It is unrealistic and a shorter shot for us. Bet both teams give it go on Saturday though. We have come from nowhere, nowhere being 13th not that long ago. Anything can happen. Since it is such a poor league according to you, that should increase your odds of making it, since more teams should be able to beat others. You are in form and so are we. We both have a chance of making it to 6th. That is what is in it for you.

 

[valefan16]

Yes VF16, i agree, bookies have us 250/ 1 to get promotion, mind you Leicester were 5000/1 . I wasn,t being negative just feel it is incredibly unrealistic. Cannot see Barnsley not getting at least one point, Colchester cannon fodder really, aren,t Crewe stress free it doesn,t seem to of helped them one iota. Basically the 5 points catastrophically chucked away at Shrews and Chesterfield have cost us. You are where you are though and every team has what ifs.

Colchester are care free and Barnsley under massive pressure now in the top 6, look at Daggers beating Plymouth the other day so we must keep going, Id have taken this scenario last August when everyone wrote us off as relegation fodder, will be a huge ask but you just never know.

Crewe are in awful form overall, whereas Colchester have at least had some on/off form in recent weeks (drew v Wigan, beat Bradford away, beat Coventry away)

Could be a good game and sounds like 3 official coaches are already going so hopefully a decent crowd for both sides.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Colchester are care free and Barnsley under massive pressure now in the top 6, look at Daggers beating Plymouth the other day so we must keep going, Id have taken this scenario last August when everyone wrote us off as relegation fodder, will be a huge ask but you just never know.

Crewe are in awful form overall, whereas Colchester have at least had some on/off form in recent weeks (drew v Wigan, beat Bradford away, beat Coventry away)

Could be a good game and sounds like 3 official coaches are already going so hopefully a decent crowd for both sides.

I see what you're saying but we need Barnsley to lose to stay in it as our goal difference is so poor and I just can't see that. Colchester have got no manager and nothing to play for. At Oakwell, Barnsley will be bang up for it and I can't even imagine that pressure will play a part. If Colchester concede, they'll give up.

 

[darren gregory]

Coming on train Hedonist, wouldn,t go on coach if it was free. My attitude as you call it is realism. Yes we can make it but i am coming for a good day out, hopefully an entertaining game with no aspirations of play-offs or checking for the Barnsley or Sheff Utd scores. Though granted it's a funny old game..

 

[leedsvaliant]

Promotion via the playoffs. Unless there is something hidden where mathematics do not work for you. If Port Vale turn up with your attitude, then all the better. Or maybe you just give us a 3-0 walkover? We can then all go to the pub. I'll buy you a quick pint before your coach leaves.

Of course it's unrealistic and a long shot for you. It is unrealistic and a shorter shot for us. Bet both teams give it go on Saturday though. We have come from nowhere, nowhere being 13th not that long ago. Anything can happen. Since it is such a poor league according to you, that should increase your odds of making it, since more teams should be able to beat others. You are in form and so are we. We both have a chance of making it to 6th. That is what is in it for you.

The thing is though that Barnsley only need a point over two games and that's not taking into account the other teams below us. We are playing for pride, as simple as that, whereas if Scunthorpe win, they're still right in there even if Barnsley win as it's more than fesable that Barnsley could lose at Wigan on the final day.Gillingham could also easily get a defeat or two in their final two games against Milwall and Burton and they're in pretty stinking form with no wins in their last 6.

I'd much rather be in Scunthorpe's position looking at the other team's fixtures - we've got no chance.

 

[Steven Simcock]

Its a pipe dream to think we have any chance, we lost our chance over the Easter period.

 

[MJA]

The point is though, that we do still have a chance whether you like that idea or not.

It would be interesting to see the reaction of these posters above if the Vale players turn up with similar attitudes and get beat easily

 

[leedsvaliant]

The point is though, that we do still have a chance whether you like that idea or not.

It would be interesting to see the reaction of these posters above if the Vale players turn up with similar attitudes and get beat easily

We have a long odds mathematical chance but in real terms we've got Bob all chance. I suspect we'll get beat as Scunthorpe have a much more realistic chance and some of our boys expect to be elsewhere next season.

 

[MJA]

We have a long odds mathematical chance but in real terms we've got Bob all chance. I suspect we'll get beat as Scunthorpe have a much more realistic chance and some of our boys expect to be elsewhere next season.

So we are out of the playoff race, we are going to get beat easily by Scunthorpe and our players are leaving in the summer? I hope you have other things in your life that counteract the negativity around Vale otherwise it must be a dark, dark world you live in

 

[kieran_vale]

I'm with Steven and leedsvaliant, for Vale this game may as well be a dead rubber. There is no way on earth we can make the playoffs. Doesn't mean I don't want us to go out and try to win but lets be realistic. And that's not even considering any time we do find ourselves within 3 points of the playoffs we always go and lose the next game. It's a complete non-starter.

 

[kieran_vale]

Seems like we've played very well in that half. Good to see the team giving it their all.

 

[valefan16]

Disappointing result that sounds like we were better first half but flat second half. Pretty much sounds like our average away performance this season.

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

Madden often scores in spurts and he is due to start one. Here's hoping for it to start versus Vale.

My earlier words above. Here's hoping Madden can now carry it on to next week.

 

[Steven Simcock]

Messy boring game as predicted. Scunthorpe just about edged it and deserved the win.


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[markpvfc]

We barely had a shot on target all match, fitting end to our away matches this season.

 

[darren gregory]

First chance had to post, truly horrific performance, did we have a shot? Scunny deserved to win but weren,t that much better themselves. The performance was identical to Bradford, Bury, Sarfend, Sheff Utd etc etc, .. 1-0 defeat with little to offer from Vale. Kieran not sure what you heard or were reading, the 1st half was equally as dire as the 2nd. Was hoping for a positive end to the season, snatched away also with Page looking increasingly likely to offer Yates another deal. Why oh Why ?