Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on August 23, 2025, 08:34:15 pm
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On to the next game on Tuesday v Accrington Stanley in a cup game that to the winner could well be a big money spinner, something that both clubs will be interested in and the players would want to play in if they drew an attractive tie in the next round.
I expect more changes, and the use of our big squad although I don't expect an easy game against a team that drew 1-1 v Grimsby today and beat Peterborough in the first round in front of a meagre crowd of just over 800 spectators with over 200 away fans, and beat Oldham in a preliminary round 3-1 so their
third game in the competition.
Lawlor absolutely deserves another game after his heroics in the last round, and one or two players who have not been great in the last couple of games will hope they get a game to show their real worth.
And with the transfer window closing soon one or two fringe players would like to play well in the shop window to attract clubs to get regular game time.
The team could well be on the lines of the team that played so well at Middlesbrough and if they are allowed to play as well will not let anyone down and will enhance their standing.
Tyler Walton with 3 goals and Kelsey Mooney with 2 goals are the main danger and at home have a good record their away record letting them down somewhat and was a place we always struggled to get a result intil the last few games and they will be keen once again to put one over us and hopefully draw a big name out of the hat.
So how important is the fixture, very in my opinion as good money could well be at strake, are we good enough to make changes, the last round result says we are, and players will want to play well to put pressure on a starting place on a regular basis.
Interest is high and we could take a decent following who will back the team to the hilt for what should be a good open game.
What do you think? can we do well there again? Close, Ironside, Lawlor, Pearson, Grehan, Crew if fit, Sbarra, Westbrooke, Hanlan, Ajayi would all want game time given the opportunity and throw in a couple of full backs and you have a decent team on your hands.
What do you think? Will we go for it? can we again make a lot of changes and surprise ourselves like we did at the Bora.
Will Accrington once again be a banana skin and dump us out of the cup? then pull a big one out to make things worse?
Lots to talk about, lots to discuss, please have your say.
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I also,expect us to make lots of changes, possibly a whole team again.
But I also expect Accy to make plenty of changes too.
Whatever team we put out I think we will win the game.
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Terrible home form in the league. Haven't won a home league game in 8 attempts going back to last season. Have though managed to win their two League Cup games this season at home. Weird form.
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Be interesting to see who plays. Would expect a full 11 change but we might have some outgoings working their way through so this could be a good insight into who maybe on the move
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Making too many changes could be a recipe for disaster, especially with a team like Accrington.
But, I agree, we definitely need to give a few a rest night - no risk of injury, no need to travel and no late night getting back. We could potentially get the banana skin treatment, but it’s got to be worth it, if we beat Rotherham on Saturday.
Lawlor deserves a start, as does Grehan and (maybe) Maxwell. As for who partners Grehan, I would think maybe McGrath. Nixon will have to fill the RB slot.
A midfield of Close, Crew and Gotts (if he’s over his injury), with Gibson and Ajayi out wide and Hanlan up top. On the bench would be TLT, Senior, O’R, Westbrook, Ironside, S’Barra.
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Allowed 9 subs for this game
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If we’re keeping Ironside & as it appears Hanlan isn’t showing GM what he wants from him yet (in games & one assumes in training either) then I’d start Joe with Ajayi & Gibbo out wide as support.
Lawlor should be ‘a given’ with Nixon & Maxwell either side of Grehan & Pearson. Let’s rest O’Riordan & Jay for Saturday. I don’t think Jay is quite there yet fitness wise so don’t want to risk him in a game we should win whichever XI we field.
GM might give Sterry some minutes if we’re winning & in ‘cruise control’ & Maxwell is 50/50 with Senior in my opinion when it comes to that left side berth, so needs to show ‘he’s the man’.
I’d have Crew & Close in midfield (like Joe, if we’re keeping Ben let’s see if he can replicate that performance he put in against Boro) with S’barra in there with them. We don’t want to risk Gotts if he’s carrying an injury & Owen needs a breather before the derby game.
With nine subs allowed Grant can use whichever nine he feels can affect the game whether we’re winning, drawing or losing. All bar Westbrooke who in my opinion has nothing to ‘offer’ the squad going forward. He’s been at the club along time now & has never impressed me in any game at any level. Same can be said for one or two or three others of course but you catch my drift.
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Making too many changes could be a recipe for disaster, especially with a team like Accrington.
But, I agree, we definitely need to give a few a rest night - no risk of injury, no need to travel and no late night getting back. We could potentially get the banana skin treatment, but it’s got to be worth it, if we beat Rotherham on Saturday.
Lawlor deserves a start, as does Grehan and (maybe) Maxwell. As for who partners Grehan, I would think maybe McGrath. Nixon will have to fill the RB slot.
A midfield of Close, Crew and Gotts (if he’s over his injury), with Gibson and Ajayi out wide and Hanlan up top. On the bench would be TLT, Senior, O’R, Westbrook, Ironside, S’Barra.
Too many changes a recipe for disaster.?
I can’t understand that comment after what happened at Boro.?
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Not sure why grant wouldn’t just start the same team as he did against Boro injuries permitting.
Edit, with the exception of Sharp. Need him fully charged for the Rotherham game.
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Not sure why grant wouldn’t just start the same team as he did against Boro injuries permitting.
Edit, with the exception of Sharp. Need him fully charged for the Rotherham game.
Sharp has to be rested considering hes just played 4 games in a row at his age, would put Hanlan in as i think this will be a chance for to show McCann that we dont need another striker. Ironside on the bench, can see Crew, Sbarra and Gotts (assuming hes recovered) coming back in with Pearson and Grehan in defence.
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I think Pearson will play v Rotherham Usher Wide
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I am sure that GM will be giving others a chance in this game, so he can "rest" some who have played 3 games in a week. Hopefully it is enough to get past Accrington and bring a "big" team to the Eco-Power.
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I loved the comment when the team was announced v Boro summat like "Grant not taking the cup seriously then" Now with XI changes it could have been easy to think we could have put out a better team, but the events that followed highlights Grant knows best
Whatever team he puts out is fine by me and should be one capable of winning the game, eventhough Accrington are there on the same merit as we are.
I hope Close does play again. It would only take a couple of midfield injuries and/or suspensions, he'd be back in the frame. Only then would it be up to him to show he should keep hold of the shirt. Same for Joe too ofcourse.
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DBR, McGrath needs the game Tuesday unless injured. Port Vale had done their home work and like last season in the first half made a point of attacking our left side of defence where Ben Wayne especially got at McGrath when he was collecting a moving ball ball which he struggles with and left him standing on more than one occasion.
To be honest he didn't look match fit and didn't get back at him.
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McGarth and Senior start on Tuesday imo. Then the rest should be changed. Maxwell and Pearson should start Saturday.
Not sure what I’d do upfront as I’d love Joe to get a game and score but Hanlan needs games too.
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Surely both Hanlan and Ironside will play some part in the game, if only to put them in the shop window to impress other sides if we are signing another striker.
If not we want one to stand up at least and pressurise for a start.
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Play Joe up top and Hanlan coming in off the wing. BH can show us this pace. If he has it Joe needs someone like that.
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Making too many changes could be a recipe for disaster, especially with a team like Accrington.
But, I agree, we definitely need to give a few a rest night - no risk of injury, no need to travel and no late night getting back. We could potentially get the banana skin treatment, but it’s got to be worth it, if we beat Rotherham on Saturday.
Lawlor deserves a start, as does Grehan and (maybe) Maxwell. As for who partners Grehan, I would think maybe McGrath. Nixon will have to fill the RB slot.
A midfield of Close, Crew and Gotts (if he’s over his injury), with Gibson and Ajayi out wide and Hanlan up top. On the bench would be TLT, Senior, O’R, Westbrook, Ironside, S’Barra.
Too many changes a recipe for disaster.?
I can’t understand that comment after what happened at Boro.?
If you think Accrington are going to play like Boro did in the first round, you’ve got a surprise coming.
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That’s not the point. It’s how our team performs that matters. A fully changed 11 with our squad should, I say should carefully, be good enough to beat Stanley.
You would expect GM to have done his homework and pick a side he thinks best for this game, regardless of how many changes.
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It’s the point I was making in my initial post - that you quiried.
Should and could are words I’m not a fan of, in the football context. Let’s see what happens.
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We have to be careful here & have to be on it from the off whatever team Grant selects. They will be up for this game & we have to match their effort, don't think it's a game for Close, he struggles in a battle. Would expect maybe 5 or 6 changes maximum from Saturday.
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Really important game, Terry has put in a small fortune to give Grant a big squad. Not sure of the prize money, but I would say Terry would demand a win to boost additional income to supplement paying for this Luxury.
Can’t see McGrath and Senior playing, they looked tired v Vale, I’d love to see Close on a Tuesday night in Accrington, which may tell us something about how he is at the moment. Lawlor, Maxwell, Grehan, Ajayi, Gotts and Gibson probably nailed on.
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Ref is Zac Kennard-Kettle, son of Trevor Kettle.
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Poor bugger.
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Nixon with the quickest pre match interview ever...
https://youtu.be/OpD4x_1vi9Y?si=_dhluYHgfrUM0-En
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I would suggest the team would be something like this
Lawlor
Nixon. Grehan. McGrath. Maxwell
Close. Crew
Gotts
Ajayi. Hanlan. Gibson
Subs TLT. Sterry?? ORiordon Pearson
Bailey. Sbarra Molyneux Ironside Middleton
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Gotts has a thigh injury - out for an unspecified amount of weeks
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Gotts has a thigh injury - out for an unspecified amount of weeks
Yes I’ve just seen that
So it could be Clifton or Sbarra
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Nixon with the quickest pre match interview ever...
https://youtu.be/OpD4x_1vi9Y?si=_dhluYHgfrUM0-En
Ha ha, yes. Heavily edited. I see it's that David doing the interview instead of Liam, refining his questioning techniques.
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Just realised it’s 20 years (season 2005/6) that we reached the quarter finals of this competition, losing at Belle Vue on penalties to Arsene Wengers Arsenal side.
If only Heffs had kept that ball in the corner in the dying minute of added on time at the end of extra time.
What a great ‘ride’ that was though.
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Just realised it’s 20 years (season 2005/6) that we reached the quarter finals of this competition, losing at Belle Vue on penalties to Arsene Wengers Arsenal side.
If only Heffs had kept that ball in the corner in the dying minute of added on time at the end of extra time.
What a great ‘ride’ that was though.
Heffs was trying to win a corner by playing the ball off an Arsenal defender.
If only that had come off we would probably have all been praising him.
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Just realised it’s 20 years (season 2005/6) that we reached the quarter finals of this competition, losing at Belle Vue on penalties to Arsene Wengers Arsenal side.
If only Heffs had kept that ball in the corner in the dying minute of added on time at the end of extra time.
What a great ‘ride’ that was though.
Heffs was trying to win a corner by playing the ball off an Arsenal defender.
If only that had come off we would probably have all been praising him.
Oh don’t! Get a horrible feeling remembering that sweep up the field and a Brazilian World Cup winner dashing our hopes! I could see all the Rovers subs/Manager pretty much celebrating as Heffs went to the corner flag.
Back to Tom Nixon, he has to be our super Caveman or is he more Trevor Hockey?
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I already had a “we won.!!” text ready to send to my other half..
Hoof the f**ker out of the ground.!!
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I already had a “we won.!!” text ready to send to my other half..
Hoof the f**ker out of the ground.!!
Ah, so it was your fault! ;)
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I pranged my car on a lamp post after that Arsenal game. Fuming.
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I already had a “we won.!!” text ready to send to my other half..
Hoof the f**ker out of the ground.!!
Ah, so it was your fault! ;)
Ha ha.. I wrote it after the one added minute was up. The ref played more than two minutes..
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Perhaps there’s something in a season that ends in 5/6
Quarters in 75/76
30 years later…
Quarters in 05/06 (as mentioned)
20 years later
??? ….25/26
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When he brought on our second half subs we soon settled it .Man of the match for me was Nixon .Ironside looked much more dangerous than Hanson though he did not replace him till 70 mins and scored a good goal but judged offside .Bailey again took full control as soon as he came on .What a player A red card tackle on Moly saw him hobble off .
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Poor game to watch first half.
First goal was always going to win the tie imo, although they hardly threatened.
Nice lay off by Owen with his back to goal from a good ball into the box (yet again) by Middleton, for Close to settle matters with the second.
Job done.
Let’s hope we’re all travelling to Old Trafford for the next round.
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Poor game to watch first half.
First goal was always going to win the tie imo, although they hardly threatened.
Nice lay off by Owen with his back to goal from a good ball into the box (yet again) by Middleton, for Close to settle matters with the second.
Job done.
Let’s hope we’re all travelling to Old Trafford for the next round.
They’ve got to beat Grimsby yet and this Man Utd lot aren’t really very good.
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When he brought on our second half subs we soon settled it .Man of the match for me was Nixon .Ironside looked much more dangerous than Hanson though he did not replace him till 70 mins and scored a good goal but judged offside .Bailey again took full control as soon as he came on .What a player A red card tackle on Moly saw him hobble off .
Agree Bri, Nixon was by far my MOM tonight.
Not a pretty game but we got the job done and we roll on.
I don’t like to criticise players but I was disappointed with Hanlan tonight. Crew also had a poor game.
But, as well as Nixon, the other positives were Pearson, Gibson (I’m perplexed by those who criticise his performance tonight) Maxwell and Lawlor. A special mention also for Ben Close. It’s a long time since I saw him play and he was excellent. Calm, composed …. a really good footballer and Crew looked poor next to him.
So sorry for Joe that his goal was ruled out because he took it so well and had a real impact when he came on.
On we go to Round 3!
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Two games two goals and two great performances from Close. When does he become part of the “first” team?
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When he brought on our second half subs we soon settled it .Man of the match for me was Nixon .Ironside looked much more dangerous than Hanson though he did not replace him till 70 mins and scored a good goal but judged offside .Bailey again took full control as soon as he came on .What a player A red card tackle on Moly saw him hobble off .
Agree Bri, Nixon was by far my MOM tonight.
Not a pretty game but we got the job done and we roll on.
I don’t like to criticise players but I was disappointed with Hanlan tonight. Crew also had a poor game.
But, as well as Nixon, the other positives were Pearson, Gibson (I’m perplexed by those who criticise his performance tonight) Maxwell and Lawlor. A special mention also for Ben Close. It’s a long time since I saw him play and he was excellent. Calm, composed …. a really good footballer and Crew looked poor next to him.
So sorry for Joe that his goal was ruled out because he took it so well and had a real impact when he came on.
On we go to Round 3!
Agree on all that. Gibson was the best attacking player of the starting lineup. I’d mention Grehan as well. He looks a superb player to me. His covering and positioning is excellent.
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I just checked up. We only get £5K for winning Round 1 and another £7K for winning tonight. £10K if we win the third round. And £15K if we win the fourth. So that's only £37K for getting to the quarter finals.
Best thi g then is draw a big club, keep 40% of the gate money, get knocked out and avoid injuries in later rounds.
BobG
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When he brought on our second half subs we soon settled it .Man of the match for me was Nixon .Ironside looked much more dangerous than Hanson though he did not replace him till 70 mins and scored a good goal but judged offside .Bailey again took full control as soon as he came on .What a player A red card tackle on Moly saw him hobble off .
Agree Bri, Nixon was by far my MOM tonight.
Not a pretty game but we got the job done and we roll on.
I don’t like to criticise players but I was disappointed with Hanlan tonight. Crew also had a poor game.
But, as well as Nixon, the other positives were Pearson, Gibson (I’m perplexed by those who criticise his performance tonight) Maxwell and Lawlor. A special mention also for Ben Close. It’s a long time since I saw him play and he was excellent. Calm, composed …. a really good footballer and Crew looked poor next to him.
So sorry for Joe that his goal was ruled out because he took it so well and had a real impact when he came on.
On we go to Round 3!
Agree on all that. Gibson was the best attacking player of the starting lineup. I’d mention Grehan as well. He looks a superb player to me. His covering and positioning is excellent.
Agreed about Grehan. As I said on the Lucky Pint he will be better than McGrath!
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Agree with most of posts, some really good performances last night.
Nixon - another solid performance, defended very well and was good going forward.
Close - Really good game against, worked his socks off getting all over the pitch and a good goal too. He gave Charlie a real lesson, the lad seem a bit off it last night.
Ben surely after last night and his performance at Middlesbrough, must be in the squad for Saturday.
Ironside - Just unlucky with the goal, it looked a tight offside to me, he was clearly in front of his marker, but looked very close with the other defender.
What was noticeable is that after he came on he first challenged and won a throw in and then shortly after a corner, something which Hanlan failed to do in the game.
Bailey - what can you say! It was a terrific header, looked like he just ran into the middle of the two defenders to get to the ball. Guess we could add the striker position to his cv!
Mols - hope he his ok, it was a terrible challenge, thought that could easily been a straight red, not only for the challenge but mols would have been clear.
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Agree with most of posts, some really good performances last night.
Nixon - another solid performance, defended very well and was good going forward.
Close - Really good game against, worked his socks off getting all over the pitch and a good goal too. He gave Charlie a real lesson, the lad seem a bit off it last night.
Ben surely after last night and his performance at Middlesbrough, must be in the squad for Saturday.
Ironside - Just unlucky with the goal, it looked a tight offside to me, he was clearly in front of his marker, but looked very close with the other defender.
What was noticeable is that after he came on he first challenged and won a throw in and then shortly after a corner, something which Hanlan failed to do in the game.
Bailey - what can you say! It was a terrific header, looked like he just ran into the middle of the two defenders to get to the ball. Guess we could add the striker position to his cv!
Mols - hope he his ok, it was a terrible challenge, thought that could easily been a straight red, not only for the challenge but mols would have been clear.
Yes, hope Moly is OK. Much as I have enjoyed seeing Accrington defy the odds for so long I could help but remember it was a game v Stanley that pretty much did for Sean McDaid’s career. Haven’t seen any updates yet.
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When he brought on our second half subs we soon settled it .Man of the match for me was Nixon .Ironside looked much more dangerous than Hanson though he did not replace him till 70 mins and scored a good goal but judged offside .Bailey again took full control as soon as he came on .What a player A red card tackle on Moly saw him hobble off .
Agree Bri, Nixon was by far my MOM tonight.
Not a pretty game but we got the job done and we roll on.
I don’t like to criticise players but I was disappointed with Hanlan tonight. Crew also had a poor game.
But, as well as Nixon, the other positives were Pearson, Gibson (I’m perplexed by those who criticise his performance tonight) Maxwell and Lawlor. A special mention also for Ben Close. It’s a long time since I saw him play and he was excellent. Calm, composed …. a really good footballer and Crew looked poor next to him.
So sorry for Joe that his goal was ruled out because he took it so well and had a real impact when he came on.
On we go to Round 3!
Agree on all that. Gibson was the best attacking player of the starting lineup. I’d mention Grehan as well. He looks a superb player to me. His covering and positioning is excellent.
Agreed about Grehan. As I said on the Lucky Pint he will be better than McGrath!
Quite right, I should have mentioned Grehan as well.
A quality performance from him.
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I just checked up. We only get £5K for winning Round 1 and another £7K for winning tonight. £10K if we win the third round. And £15K if we win the fourth. So that's only £37K for getting to the quarter finals.
Best thi g then is draw a big club, keep 40% of the gate money, get knocked out and avoid injuries in later rounds.
BobG
Cheers BobG
That is pretty miserly prize money, didn’t realise how poor that is.
40% of the 12,000 Boro gate helps, but 40%of the pathetic crowd of 1.270 last night ain’t much help.
I hope Sky make a decent separate payment, seeing as it was only viewable on Sky.
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We were dominant last night throughout the game, in every area of the field.
People have rightly praised our wing backs for their form, and it was because we were so on top for the vast majority of the game, with our back four not having to break sweat to overpower Accrington's attack, and consequently very hard to assess as a defensive unit.
The game reminded me of the preseason game Harrogate v Barnsley when Barnsley also dominated completely and demonstrated the difference in class between an average division2 side and a division 1 side, it's massive and getting wider.
A defeat would have been a big surprise, and we provided the regulation win we required to have a chance of actually making a bit of brass out of the competition, which to us is the important side of the game in a competition where the European qualifiers don't even enter until the later, and people wonder why the same sides mostly get to the final.
So well done, we backed up the surprise result in the first round, now we need the luck of a great draw against a massive club for a decent pay day the team last night played well for, that is what it was a good team performance.
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Agree with most of posts, some really good performances last night.
Nixon - another solid performance, defended very well and was good going forward.
Close - Really good game against, worked his socks off getting all over the pitch and a good goal too. He gave Charlie a real lesson, the lad seem a bit off it last night.
Ben surely after last night and his performance at Middlesbrough, must be in the squad for Saturday.
Ironside - Just unlucky with the goal, it looked a tight offside to me, he was clearly in front of his marker, but looked very close with the other defender.
What was noticeable is that after he came on he first challenged and won a throw in and then shortly after a corner, something which Hanlan failed to do in the game.
Bailey - what can you say! It was a terrific header, looked like he just ran into the middle of the two defenders to get to the ball. Guess we could add the striker position to his cv!
Mols - hope he his ok, it was a terrible challenge, thought that could easily been a straight red, not only for the challenge but mols would have been clear.
Ironside is energetic and enthusiastic. Surely this is fundamental in the leader of the line who should always be active and ready to run and chase. With Hanlan in the team the position that Ironside and players like Marquis occupied is vacant. Hanlan is just another man up front who performs no obvious role. He does not even seem to be a provider to others.
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I thought it was great to see Maxwell getting forward with purpose- suggests his fitness and confidence are coming back after a difficult time last season, and adds another dimension to our attack.
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I get the feeling they didnt ask about Moly last night to keep Rotherham guessing as to whether he will be available for Saturday. Guarentee McCann will say hes touch and go in the pre match interview.
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We will meet much tougher opposition during the season especially going forward at our defence which was only troubled a couple of times the whole match, and then Lawlor proved equal to the situation with once again a couple of good saves.
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I think he will be doubtful because they wont know extent of damage until the swelling go down, which guess will be tomorrow at earliest.
Also guessing it may be more sensible to rest him against rotherham and try to get him back for the bradford game.
Hopefully its not more serious than that.