A very comfortable win in which Amos could have been sat in a deckchair. They created absolutely nothing and credit must go to the back three who were all pretty good once again. Smith was my MOTM for the second game running - the predictability to which he won his aerial contests was very reassuring. Debrah has slotted straight back in without much fuss, and Connor Hall continues to be Mr Consistent on the left hand side.

We all know what Hackford can't do, but he's absolutely rapid and is getting better with his movement. He continues to get a number of reasonable chances, which is all I'm really bothered about him doing. His strength is miles off the standard but, fair play to him, he's developing nicely as a backup striker without much complaint or bother.

It's very pleasing that the home form is becoming consistent. With half of our outfield missing today, this was perhaps one of the toughest challenges in a while, but it was all done in a fairly low-key, controlled way - a classic Moore victory which hopefully becomes the norm.

Curtis getting sent off is really daft as he was beginning to really settle into that role - harrying around, linking things up, a real nuisance of a second striker. Umolu is incredibly green and I'm not sure the run-in is going to be the place for him to develop, with every mistake being crucified. He needs patience. Hopefully Tolaj is fit next week to partner Hackford as I worry about Umolu from the start - everything goes a bit quick for him at present, which is understandable for a lad chucked into the blood and thunder of a League 2 promotion push with no proper time to adjust.

You have to hand it to Moore. Things could have gone really south after Grimsby, but it seems to have clarified things in his mind and he's been pretty much spot on ever since. We've got an incredibly nice run of fixtures coming up before the Crewe-Bradford-Walsall week - we need to rattle of some routine wins against some absolutely putrid sides so have some breathing space for those fixtures.

Thought the ref was decent, though I'm getting sick and tired of every team (including us) going down holding their head, forcing the game to stop, and then refusing treatment as they have to go off for 30 seconds. Nice and easy way of stopping an attack. 'Owie, me head! Oh, the games stopped? I'm sound, up we get!'. Infuriating, including when we do it. If the ref stops the game for a head injury you should have to go off for 30 seconds to get a concussion check. The number of 'head injuries' would drastically reduce overnight.

2 minutes ago, VTID-New said:

Running in behind I agree with, I’ve not seen much to suggest he can take a ball into his feet. He seems to lose it most of the time. Running on the last man or playing him in behind the last defender or over the top he’s a great asset though 👍🏻 Plenty of pace & gives the opposition a lot to think about. Work in progress & still young so some is to be expected. Has a knack for scoring big important goals that’s for sure 

At L2 level you’ll do a a lot of damage just being able to do that alone mate. Defenders at the highest level hate playing against pace never mind this one. One thing you can’t teach.

5 minutes ago, Guppys left peg said:

On another note seeing on Facebook that the bloke who got kicked out first half jumped the barrier and tried starting on Boomer. I mean that’s a new one if that’s accurate.

Was 10 foot away from it, Utterly bizarre incident.  Looked like he'd had about 12 pints and 3 kebabs. Really odd set of events.  Took about 6 of them carry him out. 

6 minutes ago, Guppys left peg said:

On another note seeing on Facebook that the bloke who got kicked out first half jumped the barrier and tried starting on Boomer. I mean that’s a new one if that’s accurate.

He should be prosecuted by the RSPCA, surely....

1 minute ago, Guppys left peg said:

At L2 level you’ll do a a lot of damage just being able to do that alone mate. Defenders at the highest level hate playing against pace never mind this one. One thing you can’t teach.

I agree. He doesn’t half frustrate me but if he’s going to cause problems & bag a few goals which he’s done upto now I’m all for it. 

There must have been 6 'head injury stoppages' today, none of which wanted any physio attention. If your team is under the cosh, all you need to do is challenge for a header, go down holding your head, and lie there, safe in the knowledge the game is about to stop, before miraculously recovering as soon as the physios are about to enter.

If you're holding your head, you need a concussion check. The sport has started to, rightly, take concussion seriously but now players are taking advantage. If the ref needs to stop the game, such is the seriousness of the blow to your head, then off you trot for a 30 second check before re-entering. It's become a free hit to stop play, disrupt momentum, with absolutely no punishment for exploiting it.

54 minutes ago, kevin_struggles said:

Great to see chizzie back on the pitch I thought he was calm, kept the ball well and helped us to see it out.

I was shocked to see him considering someone on here(cant remember who) said he has refused to play for Moore again 🙂 

Eagerly awaiting the marks from VFIA, Divine intervention. 

Smith surely gets above 4.3776 out of 10 today ? 

16 minutes ago, Dangermouse3 said:

Smith again outstanding for me. Did not loose a challenge and never afraid to attack the ball.

Thought there were a few meaty challenges that reminded me of the Ansells league! 😃

Agree, my MOTM again.

Hall was excellent today. Especially second half.

Thought the ref was half decent today, but the other half he was awful. 
Why he didn’t give the push on Johns first half is a mystery because people in Tunstall saw it !!

Then second half the hand ball, which he might not have seen but he was keen enough to see their penalty, but went blind again for the tackle on Umolu straight after.

Then to top it all allowed their player to go two footed into Curtis and blew for time and when Curtis objects to the tackle sends him off.

Just now, darren1810 said:

Eagerly awaiting the marks from VFIA, Divine intervention. 

Smith surely gets above 4.3776 out of 10 today ? 

Lad had a good game a 7 .6 today 

Amos nowt do 6

John 7.4 brilliant player 

Debrah 7

Hall 7.6

Hart 7.5

Byers 7

Harper 7.4

Croasdale 7

Hackford 7

Curtis 8 .2

Overall a just run of the mill win nothing much get excited about after 2nd goal and hackfords withdrawal and Harpers.

Subs chizzy was OK shorrock OK Omilio struggled somewhat .

Be honest did we create anything after Harpers goal .

Really don't like attacking home end first half .

We won disappointed we haven't made more inroads into goal difference 

Subs helped them .

Thanks Colchester player won me 70 quid so Vale win I win off 3 quid so chuffed with that

UTV 

 

I am wondering where those who want Moore sacked have gone??

As that poor,shocking,boring,<ovf censored> manager of ours looks like he is now heading for his 3rd manager of the month of the season and very well deserved imo

You crack on big man and bring promotion home

I wanted to come on here (as usual!) full of praise for what I thought was by and large a decent showing, especially given the injury situation. But yet again it’s the stupid decisions we are taking which will ultimately (I believe) be our downfall this year and why we’ll be playing L2 football again next year.

The first was Byers challenge for the penalty. Just why? Absolutely daft, only ever going to end one way. Thankfully it didn’t cost us but obviously made life harder than it needed to be.

Having come away just after 90 mins, imagine my astonishment to see that we’d had another red, only this time it was a) our main fit striker b) the guy who was MOTM for the 2nd game running (by some distance) and 3) after the final whistle. I mean, WTAF?!

It is true that we got absolutely zilch from that referee all afternoon - I think we’re really p!ssed off some people because we had two cast iron penalties ourselves rejected, for a change. But getting a red AFTER the final whistle???? Again, the WTF?!

I honestly think I watch a different game to people sometimes. I heard Yates saying “we got the job done”. Really??? I’ve seen people slating Hackford. Again, really?? I’m normally the first to criticise but come on people! He will be battered & bruised tonight having had 2-3 Salford thugs kicking lumps out of him and got a really smart finish and could have had another 2-3 on another day.

I can’t really think of anyone who had a bad game if I’m being honest, they were a horrible side to play against and it was never going to be one for the purists.

Good performance, great win but overshadowed now by the red, unfortunately.

 

 

Defence were all majestic today. That's probably one of Hart's best games for us. Smudger was imperial, as was Hall. One of Amos's quietest games as they did almost diddly squat up front. Byers was superb again. Coasdale again commanded that position infront of the defence. I never felt there was any danger of anything but 3 points today. In fact I was so relaxed throughout knowing our patched up squad were gelling together and fighting for every ball. Frightening really because I thought we could have had maybe 3 or 4 more goals if more composure had been showed by the attackers. Onwards we march keeping in the hunt even though everything appears to be conspiring against us. VTID.