 | Forum
Thread | Salford to be chopped down to size by the mighty Super U's at Moor Lane
at 21:03 25 Apr 2025
As a welcome relief from the excitement of the League Two promotion race I thought that boarders might be interested to see the final fixtures in the National League South this weekend.
The top six sides are all in with a chance of securing the title:
Truro 45 86 +30
Torquay 45 86 +28
Eastbourne 45 85 +24
Worthing 45 85 +16
Boreham Wood 45 83 +36
Dorking 45 83 +33
Fixtures:
Dorking v Chesham
Hemel Hempstead v Torquay
Tonbridge v Boreham Wood
Truro v St Albans
Eastbourne v Weston Super Mare
Enfield v Worthing
Remarkably none of the protagonists play one another which adds to the frisson of excitement in the National League South. I wonder if Pinot will be venturing to the Truro game. Of course, Torquay has skin in the game with Matt Jay helping them in their promotion quest.
Anyway, back to the main event. Colchester travel to the Dirty Old Town of Salford (formerly in Lancashire) and made famous by the Pogues in their ballad of the same name. Karl Robinson has the dangerous Cole Stockton at his disposal along with former U’s favourites in Luke Garbutt and Ossama Ashley.
Easter Bank Holiday Monday at the Eco Power Stadium turned into a horror show after a dreadful journey down the A66, A1(M) and A19 with frequent detours via Satnav which meant that my sons and I were late arriving at the ground and we heard the home supporters cheering after the first two goals went in.
After that we controlled large portions of the game and put Donny Rovers on the back foot only to concede a third goal after Owura Edwards was dismissed for two yellow cards. Our weakness was in the final third where the strikers were ineffectual and frustratingly so. There can be no repeat this Saturday.
The crowd was 8,936 and the faithful numbered 633 (which reminded me of the 1964 fictional wartime film about a squadron that destroys a German heavy water factory flying Mosquitos).
DC lined up:
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Iandolo
McDonnell Bishop
Lisbie Read Edwards
Simpson
Subs:
McDonnell – Tucker 38
Kells – Scully 56
Simpson – Tovide 56
Bishop - Vincent-Young 77
Lisbie – Gordon 77
Now I want to keep this very positive so no moaning about Simpson or Scully (well not much).
DC will not have too many problems in naming a team because we are largely down to the bare bones. Owura Edwards will miss the final two league games after his second sending off this season.
McDonnell is injured too and Taylor but there is a rumour that Jack Payne will be back at the Peninsula Stadium.
26 April Saturday
Salford v Colchester
Wimbledon v PV
Doncaster v Bradford
Harrogate v Notts Co
MK Dons v Grimsby
Tranmere v Crewe
Walsall v Accrington
3 May Saturday
Bradford v Fleetwood
Colchester v Barrow
Carlisle v Salford
Notts Co v Doncaster
PV v Gillingham
Crewe v Walsall
Grimsby v Wimbledon
Table Top 10:
Doncaster 44 78
PV 44 77
Bradford 44 75
Walsall 44 74
Wimbledon 44 70
Notts Co 44 69
Grimsby 44 67
COL U 44 66
Salford 44 65
Chesterfield 44 64
So, I’m going for the following starting XI notwithstanding the injuries and suspensions;
MACEY
EGBO KELLS FLANAGAN IANDOLO
READ BISHOP
THORN PAYNE GORDON
TOVIDE
Subs
Smith, Scully, KVY, Tucker, Lisbie, Aboh, Simpson
Weather will be 15 degrees Celsius at Salford, mostly cloudy, gentle breeze.
Already planning for next season, the U’s are in the frame for prolific striker Daniel Ogunleye who plays for Brentwood Town and has netted 43 goals this season.
We are travelling in the morning to Salford and looking forward to getting back on the winning trail. Prediction 3-1 to the U’s with Samson Tovide amongst the goals. Big shout out to Samson who makes his 100th appearance for the U’s tomorrow.
Safe journey to the travelling faithful.
Enjoy the game.
Up the U’s
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Thread | Electric U's are fully charged at the Eco Power Stadium on Easter Monday
at 21:31 20 Apr 2025
So was it a Good Friday with a point gained or a bad Friday with two lost. Frankly when did we last play well against ten men. We never play well against ten men.
Is it some psychological mind set that we have but rarely do we win against ten men.
Forget about the penalty, which was awful, but we had sufficient other chances to have won the game.
At the start of the season if someone had told you that we would be seventh with three games to play, I think everyone would have taken that.
So, we move onto arguably our toughest game of the season at Donny Rovers tomorrow Easter Monday. Others have tough games too but let’s focus on our three games. If we win them all then we are in the top seven regardless of what others do.
Who wants promotion more and who is prepared to fight to the last minute of the last league game.
Table:
PV 43 76
Doncaster 43 75
Bradford 43 74
Walsall 43 73
Wimbledon 43 70
Notts Co 43 69
COL U 43 66
-----------------
Grimsby 43 66
Chesterfield 43 63
Salford 43 62
Crewe 43 62
Swindon 43 60
Key remaining fixtures:
21 April Easter Monday
Newport v Walsall
Chesterfield v Bradford
Crewe v MK Dons
Gillingham v Wimbledon
Morecambe v Salford
Notts Co v Cheltenham
PV v Grimsby
26 April Saturday
Wimbledon v PV
Doncaster v Bradford
Harrogate v Notts Co
MK Dons v Grimsby
Tranmere v Crewe
Walsall v Accrington
3 May Saturday
Bradford v Fleetwood
Carlisle v Salford
Notts Co v Doncaster
PV v Gillingham
Crewe v Walsall
Grimsby v Wimbledon
Grant McCann has assembled a strong team at Doncaster and they have three very fine players in Jamie Sterry, Luke Molyneux and Joe Ironside. Billy Sharp is serving his final game suspension and will have to be content with receiving copious amounts of red meat in the stand tomorrow afternoon.
Doncaster weather on Easter Monday will be 10 degrees Celsius with light rain and a light breeze. No need to water the pitch.
DC will hopefully have both Jack Payne and Teddy Bishop available to start but let’s consider more realistically Bishop to start and Payne getting some minutes in the second half. DC’s other issue is the striking department. Samson Tovide is number one and with no Lyle Taylor let Kyreece Lisbie be the first change striker. Tyreece Simpson should be on the bench at best.
I am still not convinced with Anthony Scully. Notwithstanding his goal at Newport Doncaster Rovers are a much stronger team and Lisbie will pose more of a goal threat.
So, let’s play the following tomorrow:
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Iandolo
McDonnell Bishop
Thorn Read Edwards
Tovide
Subs:
Smith Tucker Gordon Payne Simpson Lisbie Scully
Now tomorrow is all about the performance in front of a packed house at Donny Rovers. We need to get something from the game and Doncaster have Bradford and Notts Co in their last two games so they will be desperate to also achieve a result.
I think a season defining scoreline of 3-1 to Colchester with Samson Tovide on the scoresheet, Iandolo and Bishop also netting.
A large partisan crowd with good support from the faithful on a greasy but otherwise an excellent quality surface will help Edwards with his pace and skill.
Safe journey to the travelling faithful.
Enjoy the game.
Up the U’s
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Doncaster Rovers v Colchester United prediction logged |
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Thread | DC's Super U's on track for play offs after Home victory over the Railwaymen
at 11:53 18 Apr 2025
If a week is a long time in politics then 24 hours is an eternity in League Two football.
Bradford City proved last night against Notts County how difficult it is to get over the line in a 1-1 draw.
Table as at this morning:
PV 42 76
Bradford 43 74
Walsall 42 72
Doncaster 42 72
Wimbledon 42 69
Notts Co 43 69
Grimsby 42 66
COL U 42 65
Chesterfield 42 62
Salford 42 62
Crewe 42 61
In what is proving to be one of the closest promotion contests in years there are so many twists and turns and there will be more to come. After all, if Man Utd can come back from the dead to resurrect their Europa League hopes then anything is surely possible.
Our four remaining cup finals (plus three further Play Off fixtures as yet unspecified):
Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+
Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away
Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
Key remaining fixtures in League Two:
18 April Good Friday
Wimbledon v Chesterfield
Carlisle v PV
Grimsby v Swindon
Salford v Accrington
Tranmere v Doncaster
Walsall v Harrogate
21 April Easter Monday
Newport v Walsall
Chesterfield v Bradford
Crewe v MK Dons
Gillingham v Wimbledon
Morecambe v Salford
Notts Co v Cheltenham
PV v Grimsby
26 April
Wimbledon v PV
Doncaster v Bradford
Harrogate v Notts Co
MK Dons v Grimsby
Tranmere v Crewe
Walsall v Accrington
3 May
Bradford v Fleetwood
Carlisle v Salford
Notts Co v Doncaster
PV v Gillingham
Crewe v Walsall
Grimsby v Wimbledon
Today DC’s resurgent U’s entertain Crewe Alexandra in front of a near 8,000 crowd at the JCS. Lee Bell has kept Crewe on the fringes of the promotion hunt though they are fading and today will hit the buffers after a heavy defeat by the Super U’s who are steaming to League One after an inspired set of results since Christmas.
The Railwaymen will be derailed in a 4-0 mauling at the hands of DC and his express team. I hesitate to refer to HS2 but the analogy has to be Stephenson’s Rocket verses the Shinkansen of DC at the JCS.
Now DC’s only problem continues to be injuries to key players. Teddy Bishop and Jack Payne are both still out and Lyle Taylor is out for the season.
The train is about to leave the Station and frankly there is no more room for passengers.
Looking for another clean sheet and a handsome victory against Crewe is likely to fall to the following today:
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Iandolo
McDonnell Read
Thorn Lisbie Edwards
Tovide
Subs:
Smith Gordon Hunt Scully Simpson Tucker Jolliffe
Weather today will be 14 degrees Celsius in Colchester sunny and dry.
The large crowd will be basking in the glow of the sunshine and the glory of a season defining home victory.
Enjoy the game.
Get those seats in E1 and E2 replaced ready for next season.
Up the U’s
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Colchester United v Crewe Alexandra prediction logged |
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Thread | Tonight
at 21:37 17 Apr 2025
Notts Co making a fight of it at Valley Parade.
Now 1-1
Up the U's |
| Forum
Thread | Exiles to be exiled at Rodney Parade by superb Super U's
at 23:36 11 Apr 2025
First some great news, DC has deservedly scooped the league Two Manager of the Month award for March.
Salford City moved closer to the U’s after winning 3-1 at lacklustre Notts County this evening (Friday). County could implode and miss out they looked poor and disjointed tonight.
League Table:
Bradford 41 73
PV 41 73
Walsall 41 72
Doncaster 40 70
Wimbledon 41 68
Notts Co 42 68
Grimsby 41 65
COL U 41 62
Crewe 42 61
Salford 41 61
Our five Cup Finals:
Saturday 12 April 3pm Newport Away
Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+
Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away
Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
The remaining key League two fixtures:
12 April
Doncaster v Wimbledon
Swindon v Bradford
Barrow v Walsall
Harrogate v Grimsby
PV v Bromley
15 April
Salford v Doncaster
17 April
Bradford v Notts Co
18 April Good Friday
Wimbledon v Chesterfield
Carlisle v PV
Grimsby v Swindon
Salford v Accrington
Tranmere v Doncaster
Walsall v Harrogate
21 April Easter Monday
Newport v Walsall
Chesterfield v Bradford
Crewe v MK Dons
Gillingham v Wimbledon
Morecambe v Salford
Notts Co v Cheltenham
PV v Grimsby
26 April
Wimbledon v PV
Doncaster v Bradford
Harrogate v Notts Co
MK Dons v Grimsby
Tranmere v Crewe
Walsall v Accrington
3 May
Bradford v Fleetwood
Carlisle v Salford
Notts Co v Doncaster
PV v Gillingham
Crewe v Walsall
Grimsby v Wimbledon
Tomorrow sees the U’s travel to Rodney Parade to do battle with the Exiles led by Nelson Jardim. It goes without saying that this is a must win. Our recent record at Rodney parade is not brilliant but our win against Notts Co has given the team momentum and so win we will by 3-0 with Samson Tovide a brace and Owura Edwards on the scoresheet.
Newport weather will be 16 degrees Celsius sunny with little or no breeze.
DC will also have a couple of key decisions to make regarding his starting XI.
The first nine places seem fairly standard (injuries to Bishop, Anderson and Payne notwithstanding). It is the strikers where he needs to consider who starts. Tovide is a certain starter and Simpson may get the nod over Taylor.
I would like to see Aboh and Lisbie travel with the squad and one at least of them to get some minutes.
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Iandolo
McDonnell
Thorn Read Edwards
Simpson Tovide
Subs
Smith Aboh Taylor Lisbie Tucker Scully Hunt
What a pleasure it is to be challenging at the right end of the table and to be there on merit.
The faithful should be travelling in good numbers and we hope to have closed the gap on Grimsby at 5pm who face a difficult game at Harrogate.
Enjoy the game.
Up the U’s
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Thread | Magpies to have wings clipped by the Super U's at the JCS
at 05:13 5 Apr 2025
After that second magnificent unbeaten run which came to an unceremonious ending at Valley Parade, the game which really hurt us was that 2-1 home defeat to Grimsby. Even a draw that evening would have done. Still, we move on and that point at the Priestfield on Tuesday night could be vital in the final reckoning.
Now you could be forgiven for thinking that the Cowleys have walked under more ladders than Fred Dibnah climbed in his illustrious lifetime or they have run over more black cats than there are Sunderland supporters given the recent horrendous list of injuries and that nagging virus which has plagued the JCS.
The Virus has been particularly virulent with a gastro element and fever, headache and flu-like symptoms. I am wondering whether we shouldn’t have approached the EFL for some latitude given the ferocity of the virus and the number of key players who were affected. Still, we didn’t and that’s that.
Most recent victims of the virus have been Lyle Taylor, Jamie McDonnell, Ellis Iandolo and Kane Vincent-Young. Hopefully all four will be back in the reckoning for today’s match.
The injury list includes Harry Anderson, Samson Tovide, Teddy Bishop, Jack Payne and Owura Edwards, none of whom are likely to be back for the Magpies game.
Frankly those who are left have been simply incredible to keep us in with a shout of the Play Offs after all these trials and tribulations.
Current Table:
Walsall 40 72
Bradford 40 70
PV 40 70
Notts Co 40 68
Doncaster 39 67
Wimbledon 40 65
Grimsby 40 62
Crewe 40 61
COL U 40 59
Chesterfield 39 58
The games don’t come much bigger than today’s game against Notts County. I’m afraid to say that this is a must win for the U’s in order to close the gap on Grimsby and Crewe and to keep Chesterfield at bay.
At the start of the season, we would have taken a top seven place (I did predict it in August) but after the two recent defeats it has become a more difficult task and one which shows that despite the brilliance of our form since January we cannot let up and must keep recording those all-important victories.
The old maxim couldn’t be more apposite, we have six cup finals to play. We probably need to win four and to draw the other two. It can be done, however.
Saturday 5 April 3pm Notts Co Home
Saturday 12 April 3pm Newport Away
Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+
Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away
Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
Stuart Maynard brings his Notts County side to the JCS boosted by a victory over MK Dons (however doesn’t everyone beat the Franchise). Our old friend Sam Slocombe will be number two to Alex Bass whilst the evergreen David McGoldrick and Alassana Jatta will offer a big threat up front.
Now last season we won a pulsating game 5-4 at the JCS but both teams have been transformed since then. Notts County have stopped the Kevin Keegan approach to football, (we will score one more than you) whilst the Cowleys have stiffened the U’s resolve and have created a team capable of beating anyone in the League.
The weather in Colchester today will be 15 degrees Celsius, warm and sunny with a gentle breeze. Hopefully the ground staff have been working wonders on the pitch. At least they might have put down some green coloured sand so that it does at least look a little more ascetically pleasing on the eye.
Now here comes the difficult bit, who will DC start at 3pm.
I’m going for the following:
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Iandolo
McDonnell KVY
Thorn Read Gordon
Taylor
Subs:
Smith Aboh Scully Connolly Tucker Jolliffe (Simpson under sufferance)
I’m trying to keep this preview as positive as possible but neither Rob Hunt nor Tyreece Simpson should be anywhere near the pitch tomorrow or for the rest of the season. Prove me wrong both of you!!!!!
However, with no Samson Tovide or Owura Edwards or Jack Payne – Simpson might have to be on the bench.
Now the all important scoreline. 2-1 to the Super U’s. A difficult but enthralling game will see us just coming out on top. Lyle Taylor and a spectacular free kick from Arthur Read.
Attendance, possibly nudging 8,000 given that the Magpies will bring 800.
Enjoy the game.
Get behind the team and Up the U’s
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Colchester United v Notts County prediction logged |
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Thread | Gillingham
at 18:52 1 Apr 2025
Sorry no preview
Team
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Tucker
Read Iandolo
Thorn Payne Edwards
Simpson
Smith Hunt Aboh Jolliffe Taylor Scully Connolly
Score 3-1 to the U's
Enjoy the game |
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Thread | Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's
at 20:24 21 Mar 2025
Now one look at the fixture tomorrow and we would see a league Two clash between two sides vying to get promotion to League One. Nothing spectacular in that, the game is only worth three points and defeat either way doesn’t signify the end of the road for one of these teams in that aim.
Or does it?
Football has this amazing knack of throwing up a game at the optimum possible time.
An International break so Sky Sports + have the rights to screen it at 3pm (steady Ed), the opportunity for the Bantams to offer a fiver a ticket including the hordes of Colchester fans (1000) who will travel to Valley Parade. A crowd of 22,000 plus in the University of Bradford Stadium AKA Valley Parade, the largest since the stadium was rebuilt, bigger even than our game there in March 2023 when I sat amongst the 20,383 to witness a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Bantams.
Earlier in the season a 99th minute equaliser from Jamie McDonnell gave us a deserved point against Bradford at the JCS.
But tomorrow it will be something special. Bradford have just lost to Gillingham and Tranmere both 1-0 and lost their 10 successive home victories on the trot record. We are unbeaten in 13 games and looking for our 6th successive victory (we last won 10 in a row between December 2005 and February 2006 and we know what happened in May 2006).
But forget about everything prior to this Saturday because it means nothing, we have won nothing yet. The important thing that matters is that we have 9 cup finals to play and only then can we look at the league table for the final reckoning.
Saturday 22 March 3pm Bradford Away – Sky Sports+
Friday 28 March 7:45pm Grimsby Home - Sky Sports+
Tuesday 1 April 7:45pm Gillingham Away - Sky Sports+
Saturday 5 April 3pm Notts Co Home
Saturday 12 April 3pm Newport Away
Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+
Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away
Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
They can be the most important games since 2006 and DC and NC know that we are on the margins of achieving something special this season but it will not be defined by Valley Parade (although a victory will continue to shorten our promotion odds at the bookies).
Now DC is right to play down the game and to heap praise on the Bantams (but not too much). A big crowd can be intimidating for the Away contingent, but equally it can become a pressure cooker for the Home team. For long periods of that game in 2023 the stadium fell silent as Colchester threatened the Bantams goal and the tension was palpable. As I wrote earlier big crowds can also be a hindrance to the home side.
When we won at Sheffield Wednesday some years ago, the crowd became hostile to their home side as we demolished them 3-0.
One man who must stand strong tomorrow is the referee Mr Will Finnie from Luton. No homers please.
League Two table top seven:
Walsall 37 69
Bradford 36 66
Wimbledon 37 63
Doncaster Rovers 37 63
Notts Co 37 61
PV 36 61
COL U 37 58
The truth is that over the past three months we have crept under the radar and have not only closed the gap on those above us, but also have indicated that we have the right to be there amongst them.
Psychologically three points at Valley Parade gives us 61 points and places further pressure on those in the automatic positions. Graham Alexander knows all about pressure, he has seen it all in the game but so have the Cowleys. George Lapslie will also be a leading light for the Bantams tomorrow as will Sam Walker who might put his back out picking the ball out of the net!
The Bradford weather will be 14 degrees Celsius with light showers and light winds and some sunshine. The pitch will be challenging but we know all about that!!!!
It is unlikely that DC will make any changes to his starting XI:
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Hunt
Read Iandolo
Anderson Payne Edwards
Taylor
Subs:
Smith Gordon Simpson Tucker Aboh Thorn Jolliffe
Much has been made of Bradford’s injury woes, but do not forget we are without Teddy Bishop, Samson Tovide and KVY and Jamie McDonnell is away on International duty.
It is possible that we might have Anthony Scully on the bench tomorrow, but we will see.
Now I have a ticket for the game, but it is unlikely that I will be able to make it. Sadly, I am unwell at present (and have been for some little time) and neither of my sons are available to drive me to the game. It is likely therefore that I will have to content myself with watching on Sky Sports +.
The faithful might be happy with that, I have been to 7 games this season and everyone has been a drawn encounter. I am very disappointed though not to be at VP.
The U’s can win tomorrow and will win tomorrow. 2-1 with Lyle Taylor on the mark with an Edwards classy long-range effort.
We do not need to fear the Bantams. A degree of respect yes of course, but we are there to show that we are not making up the numbers but deserve to be there on merit.
For those travelling, safe journey, enjoy the game and I will be cheering on the U’s from darkest Durham.
Don't forget your blue and white scarves.
Up the U’s
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Bradford City v Colchester United prediction logged |
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Colchester United v Fleetwood Town prediction logged |
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Thread | Valiant Super U's to overcome PV at the JCS tonight
at 10:40 11 Mar 2025
Another Away win, another resounding performance, this time against one of our bogey teams results wise in Cheltenham. Michael Flynn didn’t disappoint in his vitriolic post-match rant. Some of the most outrageous comments I have ever read from a Manager.
All I would say Michael is keep away from the Cheltenham festival. Should you venture along then “Honest Durham” could offer you the following nags.
The Ryanair Chase has “Hitman” on the card, whilst the Champion Hurdle has “Brighterdaysahead” but definitely save your money Michael for the Gold Cup and “Gentlemansgame”.
So, the Super U’s forge ahead and are now unbeaten for 11 games for the second time this season. The first set of 11 was ended with three straight defeats but this time the second set looks more decisive; the U’s are stronger and the support from the bench is far more effective.
The table also makes for pleasant reading:
Walsall 36 68
Bradford 36 66*
Doncaster 36 62*
Wimbledon 35 60
Notts Co 35 58*
PV 34 58*
Crewe 36 56*
Grimsby 35 56*
COL U 35 52
The teams with asterisks denotes those rivals that we still have to play. In fact, the Bantams game is boiling up to be an absolute cracker prior to Easter.
In fact, you have to consider that it is now any 7 from these 9 teams for promotion. We have 11 games to play with the possibility of three more games after these.
To put these statistics into context if we go back through some of the Col U records, we last reached the play offs in the truncated season 2019/20 when we finished 6th with 58 points from 37 games and lost to Exeter in the play-off semi-final.
Prior to that 2018/19 saw us achieve 70 points from 46 games.
2009/10 whilst in League 1 and we achieved 72 points from 46 games.
2005/06 was that halcyon season under Parky when 79 points from 46 games saw us finish runners up and gain promotion to the championship.
1997/98 and we achieved 74 points from 46 games in the old Third Division.
1995/96 and it was 72 points from 46 games and prior to that in 1991/92 92 points from 46 games in the Conference and promotion.
The prospect of more than 70 points from 46 games this season is an appealing one but we can do much better than that both points and position wise.
Tuesday 11 March 7:45pm PV Home - Sky Sports+
Saturday 15 March 3pm Fleetwood Home
Saturday 22 March 3pm Bradford Away
Friday 28 March 7:45pm Grimsby Home - Sky Sports+
Tuesday 1 April 7:45pm Gillingham Away - Sky Sports+
Saturday 5 April 3pm Notts Co Home
Saturday 12 April 3pm Newport Away
Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+
Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away
Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
Of course, a 12th game unbeaten is the ultimate aim this evening. Port Vale will be difficult. We drew 1-1 at Vale Park earlier in the season. They are an uninspiring but forthright side and certainly hard to beat having only lost 6 games this season whilst winning 15 and drawing 13. Darren Moore can count upon former U’s defender in the shape of Connor Hall.
Now the JCS is at last becoming a fortress and tonight’s televised game is followed by another tight game on paper against Fleetwood, again at the JCS. Six more points ahead of the Bantams game and we could already be in the Play Off positions before we go to Valley Parade.
Of course, before I continue to way lyrical things are not all rosy sadly. Teddy Bishop is side-lined for several matches unfortunately. Jamie McDonnell will miss the next three games after picking up sufficient bookings (which accounts for 2 games) and being selected for the U21’s for Northern Ireland which means he also misses the Bradford game.
However, DC has options with Tucker available in defence and Manny Egbo able to play in midfield and of course Arthur Read is an old stalwart (written with affection) in midfield.
I don’t know whether Kells is available tonight but hope that all has gone well with the birth of his new baby.
Kyreece Lisbie has been loaned to Braintree which seems an excellent move for his development. For the first time in some seasons, we have an abundance of striking talent.
Samson Tovide, Lyle Taylor, Tyreece Simpson, Ken Aboh and Anthony Scully who might finally be available for the Fleetwood game.
DC could bring Hunt into defence and move Egbo into midfield with Read. Some of Egbo’s best play comes when he is running with the ball from midfield to attack.
Then we have Thorn, Gordon, Anderson and the brilliant Edwards in attacking midfield/winger positions.
Jack Payne, a contender for player of the season, is simply outstanding this season.
Weather tonight is likely to be 4 degrees Celsius, mostly cloudy with an 8% chance of rain.
So, what does DC do?
Something along these lines:
Macey
Hunt Tucker Flanagan Iandolo
Egbo Read
Gordon Payne Edwards
Tovide
Subs:
Smith, Anderson, KVY, Thorn, Taylor, Simpson, Aboh
Of course, Kells plays in defence instead of Hunt if available for selection.
A decent crowd can be expected (4,500) after more superb support from the faithful at Whaddon Road. Scoreline, a gritty hard fought 2-0 victory with Tovide and Edwards on the scoresheet.
The U’s are going up!
Enjoy the game.
Up the U’s
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