Tues 28 Feb/Sat 4 March

[K-Win]

All 4 goals in this game have been set pieces. Our marking has been pathetic. On the balance of play Pompey have probably deserved it. We definitely look tired and I didn’t fancy us before the game.

Chances of autos have almost definitely gone now. We just need to make sure we sustain enough momentum for the playoffs.

Yes, you definitely ran out of steam towards the end. It's been noticeable under Mousinho that we've generally finished games in the ascendancy.

We shaded the first half but it looked like you were pretty comfortable in the second half until our equaliser, which came out of the blue. Very pleased that we've finally beaten a good team.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

Could have really done with Cheltenham getting something against Derby tonight but was never really expected. Atleast Bolton lost and Peterborough failed to win so not too bad an evening results wise from our perspective.

Anyway… onto Saturday… Derby County away. Huge game for us this!

Remember going to Pride Park back in 2011 in the League Cup. We were 3-0 up at HT with a certain Derby striker James Collins scoring for us that night. Ended up winning 3-2 in the end, I’d take the same again here.

We simply HAVE to win to stay in touch of the top 6. Normally I’d be reasonably happy with a draw at Pride Park but not this time. I’m sure Cotterill will have us fired up for this one and I’m quietly confident we’ll upset the odds here.

Derby 1-2 Salop

 

[Don Tonberry]

Strange game, that. I'm glad we showed some character and took advantage of Bolton's sloppy marking late on. Towler is looking like a steal at 30k.

Just a shame our season died last month and we'd need a miracle to trouble the top 6.

 

[Si Robin]

The first half plan of keeping Derby to potshots and riding our luck whilst having absolutely nothing going forward nearly worked, but a lapse in concentration saw us go a goal down 2 mins before half-time.

Second half Derby just bid their time and waited to catch us on the break - once that opportunity came they took it and the game was over.

McGoldrick is far too good for this league!!

 

[leedsvaliant]

Could have really done with Cheltenham getting something against Derby tonight but was never really expected. Atleast Bolton lost and Peterborough failed to win so not too bad an evening results wise from our perspective.

Anyway… onto Saturday… Derby County away. Huge game for us this!

Remember going to Pride Park back in 2011 in the League Cup. We were 3-0 up at HT with a certain Derby striker James Collins scoring for us that night. Ended up winning 3-2 in the end, I’d take the same again here.

We simply HAVE to win to stay in touch of the top 6. Normally I’d be reasonably happy with a draw at Pride Park but not this time. I’m sure Cotterill will have us fired up for this one and I’m quietly confident we’ll upset the odds here.

Derby 1-2 Salop

Unfortunately I think you've got way too much to do at this point. You're likely to have to make up a 9 point swing, which just won't happen.

 

[Dan Phillips]

Could have really done with Cheltenham getting something against Derby tonight but was never really expected. Atleast Bolton lost and Peterborough failed to win so not too bad an evening results wise from our perspective.

Anyway… onto Saturday… Derby County away. Huge game for us this!

Remember going to Pride Park back in 2011 in the League Cup. We were 3-0 up at HT with a certain Derby striker James Collins scoring for us that night. Ended up winning 3-2 in the end, I’d take the same again here.

We simply HAVE to win to stay in touch of the top 6. Normally I’d be reasonably happy with a draw at Pride Park but not this time. I’m sure Cotterill will have us fired up for this one and I’m quietly confident we’ll upset the odds here.

Derby 1-2 Salop

Will you stop with this play off talk ffs, it's embarrassing now. You're absolutely nowhere near good enough for the top 6. You've literally beaten all the shit sides at the bottom and scraped an undeserved win against us. You're at your peak. Had a great season in regards to the table, but be realistic!

 

[TractorBoys]

The first half plan of keeping Derby to potshots and riding our luck whilst having absolutely nothing going forward nearly worked, but a lapse in concentration saw us go a goal down 2 mins before half-time.

Second half Derby just bid their time and waited to catch us on the break - once that opportunity came they took it and the game was over.

McGoldrick is far too good for this league!!

This is only true because somehow they have miraculously kept him fit all season. That's a feat he's failed to achieve in most seasons throughout his career. I'm really happy for him though; had a lot of time for him after his time with Ipswich.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

Will you stop with this play off talk ffs, it's embarrassing now. You're absolutely nowhere near good enough for the top 6. You've literally beaten all the shit sides at the bottom and scraped an undeserved win against us. You're at your peak. Had a great season in regards to the table, but be realistic!

You just concentrate on making sure you have that £20 in your bank account ready to go to charity. Unless you’re still adamant that your shitshow is still finishing above us come May?

Aaahhh it’s lovely to not be sat in a pub come 5pm pissed off and drowning my sorrows into a pint whilst muttering at how shit my clubs lack of attack options, referees, and fellow teams of League 1 are. Bliss!

 

[Si Robin]

This is only true because somehow they have miraculously kept him fit all season. That's a feat he's failed to achieve in most seasons throughout his career. I'm really happy for him though; had a lot of time for him after his time with Ipswich.

He completely controlled everything last night - without him Derby might well have still won, but he made it so much easier for them.

It's rare I notice an opposition player, so one-eyed am I on my own team, but you couldn't help but notice how in charge of things he was.

 

[Luke Imp]

We are so, so frustrating at home - FGR, Accrington, Fleetwood, MK are all games we should have been taking wins from but let leads slip. We should be solid mid-table by now and around the 50 point mark.

It's a season of extremes for us. One of the best defensive records in L1 but one of the worst attacking records. The best side at defending set pieces in L1 this season but one of the worst at attacking set pieces. One of only two sides in the EFL with an unbeaten home record yet only 3 (I think I read) have less wins at home.

17 draws this season is mental, we had a season under Keith Alexander where it was similar (20 or so). I can't work out whether the attacking players are being held back and could score more, or whether Kennedy doesn't trust them enough to go and kill teams off.

 

[valefan16]

We are so, so frustrating at home - FGR, Accrington, Fleetwood, MK are all games we should have been taking wins from but let leads slip. We should be solid mid-table by now and around the 50 point mark.

It's a season of extremes for us. One of the best defensive records in L1 but one of the worst attacking records. The best side at defending set pieces in L1 this season but one of the worst at attacking set pieces. One of only two sides in the EFL with an unbeaten home record yet only 3 (I think I read) have less wins at home.

17 draws this season is mental, we had a season under Keith Alexander where it was similar (20 or so). I can't work out whether the attacking players are being held back and could score more, or whether Kennedy doesn't trust them enough to go and kill teams off.

Nuts your home record! Decent if you play the pools I guess!

 

[valefan16]

You just concentrate on making sure you have that £20 in your bank account ready to go to charity. Unless you’re still adamant that your shitshow is still finishing above us come May?

Aaahhh it’s lovely to not be sat in a pub come 5pm pissed off and drowning my sorrows into a pint whilst muttering at how shit my clubs lack of attack options, referees, and fellow teams of League 1 are. Bliss!

To be fair to Dan, he is right, your not making up a 9 point gap in 13 games (likely more because Barnsley have 2 in hand and your low goal difference). You wont come close unfortunately.

Top 6 is all but done, especially with the form Barnsley are showing.

Add in that he is correct you've had an extremely favourable set of fixtures and that run in you have is horrific.

To put it into context statistically your currently rated at a 2% chance.

League One Predictions

FiveThirtyEight's League One predictions

projects.fivethirtyeight.com

 

[CTFCfan99]

To be fair to Dan, he is right, your not making up a 9 point gap in 13 games (likely more because Barnsley have 2 in hand and your low goal difference). You wont come close unfortunately.

Top 6 is all but done, especially with the form Barnsley are showing.

Add in that he is correct you've had an extremely favourable set of fixtures and that run in you have is horrific.

To put it into context statistically your currently rated at a 2% chance.

League One Predictions

FiveThirtyEight's League One predictions

projects.fivethirtyeight.com

And they lost to us twice, absolutely no chance they're making the playoffs lol

 

[Floreat Salopia]

To be fair to Dan, he is right, your not making up a 9 point gap in 13 games (likely more because Barnsley have 2 in hand and your low goal difference). You wont come close unfortunately.

Top 6 is all but done, especially with the form Barnsley are showing.

Add in that he is correct you've had an extremely favourable set of fixtures and that run in you have is horrific.

To put it into context statistically your currently rated at a 2% chance.

League One Predictions

FiveThirtyEight's League One predictions

projects.fivethirtyeight.com

Dan is most likely right on this, I agree. It was the manner in how he replied to my post. Can’t expect to have a bit thrown back at him, but it’s all in good fun from my end anyway.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

And they lost to us twice, absolutely no chance they're making the playoffs lol

We were deservedly beaten at Whaddon Road but at our place you were extremely lucky. Won’t go into that all again.

Think losing twice to Cheltenham and Accrington and that terrible defeat away at Cambridge over Christmas will bite us come the end. I’ve enjoyed this season so far though and it’s been nice to get to March with an outside chance of top 6. Definitely beats boring bottom half any day of the week.

 

[valefan16]

MK Dons at home for us, tricky encounter but one we need to certainly avoid defeat in to keep any worries at bay and ideally take three points from at home.

They were awful but beat us away in August when we missed a hatful and managed to concede from a free kick and long ranger (standard)! but seem to have a lot of new players in. Need to turn the performance at Bolton into a winning performance and build now with a more kinder run of fixtures on paper, especially at home.

They seem to be possession based looking at their stats from last night which may suit us on our sandpit.

We've now got striker options back with us finally able to start two and try and build that partnership with Harrison and Taylor (who are best mates from their fruitful partnership at Bristol Rovers), James Wilson may also be back being back in full training since being injured at Hillsborough in December.

Its a big game for us, we need to start picking up points and get over the line, a win here would open up a 13 point gap between us and MK Dons which with 11 to go after is probably them out the equation as a worry to us in terms of catching us up, along with FGR (defeat for Cambridge probably adds them in as well).

Essentially win this and we probably have one foot in League One next season and will make life a lot easier for ourselves.

 

[Andy Proctor]

MK Dons at home for us, tricky encounter but one we need to certainly avoid defeat in to keep any worries at bay and ideally take three points from at home.

They were awful but beat us away in August when we missed a hatful and managed to concede from a free kick and long ranger (standard)! but seem to have a lot of new players in. Need to turn the performance at Bolton into a winning performance and build now with a more kinder run of fixtures on paper, especially at home.

They seem to be possession based looking at their stats from last night which may suit us on our sandpit.

We've now got striker options back with us finally able to start two and try and build that partnership with Harrison and Taylor (who are best mates from their fruitful partnership at Bristol Rovers), James Wilson may also be back being back in full training since being injured at Hillsborough in December.

Its a big game for us, we need to start picking up points and get over the line, a win here would open up a 13 point gap between us and MK Dons which with 11 to go after is probably them out the equation as a worry to us in terms of catching us up, along with FGR (defeat for Cambridge probably adds them in as well).

Essentially win this and we probably have one foot in League One next season and will make life a lot easier for ourselves.

According to the stats last night mk Dons had 4 shots on target against Lincoln. If that happens against vale then there scoring 3 or 4 goals. We have basically got limit them to nothing and basically take 1 of our several chances that we will make and most likely miss.

 

[HutchECFC]

March is massive for us.
Wycombe (A)
Lincoln (H)
Cheltenham (A)
Accy (H)
Barnsley (H)

3 wins should be okay, maybe 2 plus a draw and we should be all but safe.

It's April I'm worried about!
Bolton (H)
Peterborough (A)
Argyle (H)
Derby (H)
Wednesday (A)
Ipswich (A)

 

[ProfessorGreen]

Making the long trip up north for this one - decent boozer recommendations Barnsley fans?

 

[Luke Imp]

March is massive for us.
Wycombe (A)
Lincoln (H)
Cheltenham (A)
Accy (H)
Barnsley (H)

3 wins should be okay, maybe 2 plus a draw and we should be all but safe.

It's April I'm worried about!
Bolton (H)
Peterborough (A)
Argyle (H)
Derby (H)
Wednesday (A)
Ipswich (A)

One win will be enough for you I think. That'll be 45 points and I can't see those below winning half of their remaining games just to catch you up.

It's currently looking at 43 for survival.

 

[BarrieOwl]

Making the long trip up north for this one - decent boozer recommendations Barnsley fans?

Yeah

Set off a week later...as the game isn't til the 11th

 

[CTFCfan99]

March is massive for us.
Wycombe (A)
Lincoln (H)
Cheltenham (A)
Accy (H)
Barnsley (H)

3 wins should be okay, maybe 2 plus a draw and we should be all but safe.

It's April I'm worried about!
Bolton (H)
Peterborough (A)
Argyle (H)
Derby (H)
Wednesday (A)
Ipswich (A)

Wow, that April run is insane. You'll be fine though, as Luke Imp says you probably only need one win or even just a few draws given how badly the bottom sides are doing.

 

[denzel ecfc]

March is massive for us.
Wycombe (A)
Lincoln (H)
Cheltenham (A)
Accy (H)
Barnsley (H)

3 wins should be okay, maybe 2 plus a draw and we should be all but safe.

It's April I'm worried about!
Bolton (H)
Peterborough (A)
Argyle (H)
Derby (H)
Wednesday (A)
Ipswich (A)

Don't forget Fleetwood!

I think one more win and a couple of draws will be enough, then we can concentrate on the mid table cup

 

[coronakopite]

Making the long trip up north for this one - decent boozer recommendations Barnsley fans?

Dove Inn highly recommended, including home made pie, chips & peas or chip barms/butties.

The Dove Inn | Barnsley

The Dove Inn, Barnsley. 1,804 likes · 10 talking about this · 2,729 were here. Welcome to the Dove Inn on Doncaster Road, Barnsley (S70 1TP) A warm welcome awaits you from your ho

www.facebook.com

As early arrivals, we were able to park nearby but the East Dene Working Men's Club is just down the road with parking for only £2.

EDIT: When I say EARLY, don't get there a week early.

 

[Laker]

One win will be enough for you I think. That'll be 45 points and I can't see those below winning half of their remaining games just to catch you up.

It's currently looking at 43 for survival.

We’re not getting to 43. I reckon 40 might be enough this year as we’re all dreadful.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I'll be happy with a point at Wycombe, as we are nailed on to get a point against Lincoln the week after!

 

[ProfessorGreen]

Haha thanks for the reminder all... got a bit carried away after discussing travel/overnight plans with the group earlier!

Will make sure I'm at Home Park on Saturday and not Oakwell....

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

I'll be happy with a point at Wycombe, as we are nailed on to get a point against Lincoln the week after!

We aren't at home, so you never know!

 

[Dan Phillips]

You just concentrate on making sure you have that £20 in your bank account ready to go to charity. Unless you’re still adamant that your shitshow is still finishing above us come May?

Aaahhh it’s lovely to not be sat in a pub come 5pm pissed off and drowning my sorrows into a pint whilst muttering at how shit my clubs lack of attack options, referees, and fellow teams of League 1 are. Bliss!

Don't worry, I'm a man of my word! Annoying that we've only fallen away so much due to our dire injuries but it is what it is!

I'm tee total fella, so that one's lost on me.

Dan is most likely right on this, I agree. It was the manner in how he replied to my post. Can’t expect to have a bit thrown back at him, but it’s all in good fun from my end anyway.

My apologies. Was a bit snappy and uncalled for. Was having a bad day. No bad feelings from me.

 

[valefan16]

Don't worry, I'm a man of my word! Annoying that we've only fallen away so much due to our dire injuries but it is what it is!

I'm tee total fella, so that one's lost on me.



My apologies. Was a bit snappy and uncalled for. Was having a bad day. No bad feelings from me.

Talking of injuries, Dan Jones injured after his injury away at Shrewsbury and will now miss the rest of the season.

Big blow that, didn't think he would step up after falling away from the picture second half of last season but has been very good, hopefully gets a new deal and it isn't the last we see of him.

Does leave the defence very thin on the ground now with only Agyakwa to cover who is yet to make an appearance after signing from Watford (think he's "one for the future" signing). and Cass still out, need Donnelly to really step up now.

Looks more positive at least on James Wilson, back in full training, maybe we will see him tomorrow on the bench.