Our second trip to New Cross in four days and another big game. This was clearly more low key for the home side as the crowd was about half of the Tuesday night fixture and substantially quieter.
This time we didn’t play at all well but we managed to take the spoils. Colin Cramb opened his Saddlers account, finding the net when no -one expected him to (a penalty), and doubling his and our tally following a woeful pass-back from the Millwall full back. We managed to donate another goal to the pissy defending association following a poor attempt to clear our lines after a corner bang on half time.
In the second half we rode our luck and escaped with the points as our new star defender Joey Woodwork came to the rescue with three or four last ditch clearances.
Captain for the day, in the absence of Neil Pointon, was Ian Roper. In twelve months the development of this lad is astonishing. At exactly this weekend a year ago he produced possibly the poorest performance of his career in an all round desperate 0 - 3 reverse at Grimsby. Twelve short months later he led his side onto the field. Well done Ropes.
Wed 10th March
Uncle Ray says he still fancies us to get through but he’s more concerned with the fitness of Andy Rammell. Not only is he doubtful for the next two parts of the Millwall trilogy but possibly a few weeks to come. Ouch.
Tue 9th March - Millwall
We lost. Not irreversibly, as has been the general rule up until now, but we still lost.
Hell we even managed to lose a goal off a poxy fucking corner inside the first five minutes. Now if there’s anything we have managed to learn under Uncle Ray’s guidance then it’s the ability to defend set pieces and to keep the first fifteen minutes of away games as tight as the proverbial duck’s arse.
Inevitably we had to change all that tonight. Fewer than 200 seconds had elapsed when a Millwall corner was headed in unchallenged from around the penalty spot. The home crowd were up for it well before this went in but after it they were baying for more. Visions of a wet Sunday afternoon in Cheshire appeared in my mind but to their credit the Saddlers weathered the oncoming storm. I’m not overly sure that the players knew how they did it but they did.
As the first half passes the crowd became less involved and the boys began to get the ball on the ground as pass it around as they can. Half time came and the deficit was still only one goal. A clean sheet in the second half would do but if we got a chance we needed to take it.
The chance was soon to come. A wonderful mazy run by Wrack, beating four or five Millwall players on the way through was crudely interrupted by Roberts in the home goal. Wrack had taken the ball around him and was about to prod the ball into an unguarded net when the goalkeeper recovered enough balance to remove his feet from underneath him.
A penalty, a red card for the offender no Millwall reserve keeper on the bench and thirty minutes still to play. The tie had it’s first defining moment. Well all these statements are correct with one exception. No red card. Not even a yellow card as the referee decided that a spot kick was punishment enough. Quite when the official received clearance to ignore the basic laws of football I’m not sure but ignore them he did. Yeah, rules are meant to be broken but there are no rules in football. There are only laws and the law is the law.
I can honestly say I've never felt more cheated by a referee’s decision. This was like violation. He had no right to interpret the law as he saw fit. A professional foul is a red card offence. No arguments, no grey areas, no second chance and no doubt about it. Now either he bottled it under pressure from the home crowd or he made what he though was the correct decision. If it was the first one he was wrong and he shouldn’t be allowed to officiate at this level again. If it was the second reason then he was wrong and he shouldn’t be allowed to officiate at this level again.
As if to rub salt into a fairly open wound Pointon’s subsequent penalty was saved by the legs of a very fortunate goalkeeper. We also hit the bar, had a goal ruled out and were generally the better side after the 20 minute mark but we got nil. 0 - 1 means we’re still alive but should we concede first next Tuesday then in all probability it’ll be game over.
Hell we even managed to lose a goal off a poxy fucking corner inside the first five minutes. Now if there’s anything we have managed to learn under Uncle Ray’s guidance then it’s the ability to defend set pieces and to keep the first fifteen minutes of away games as tight as the proverbial duck’s arse.
Inevitably we had to change all that tonight. Fewer than 200 seconds had elapsed when a Millwall corner was headed in unchallenged from around the penalty spot. The home crowd were up for it well before this went in but after it they were baying for more. Visions of a wet Sunday afternoon in Cheshire appeared in my mind but to their credit the Saddlers weathered the oncoming storm. I’m not overly sure that the players knew how they did it but they did.
As the first half passes the crowd became less involved and the boys began to get the ball on the ground as pass it around as they can. Half time came and the deficit was still only one goal. A clean sheet in the second half would do but if we got a chance we needed to take it.
The chance was soon to come. A wonderful mazy run by Wrack, beating four or five Millwall players on the way through was crudely interrupted by Roberts in the home goal. Wrack had taken the ball around him and was about to prod the ball into an unguarded net when the goalkeeper recovered enough balance to remove his feet from underneath him.
A penalty, a red card for the offender no Millwall reserve keeper on the bench and thirty minutes still to play. The tie had it’s first defining moment. Well all these statements are correct with one exception. No red card. Not even a yellow card as the referee decided that a spot kick was punishment enough. Quite when the official received clearance to ignore the basic laws of football I’m not sure but ignore them he did. Yeah, rules are meant to be broken but there are no rules in football. There are only laws and the law is the law.
I can honestly say I've never felt more cheated by a referee’s decision. This was like violation. He had no right to interpret the law as he saw fit. A professional foul is a red card offence. No arguments, no grey areas, no second chance and no doubt about it. Now either he bottled it under pressure from the home crowd or he made what he though was the correct decision. If it was the first one he was wrong and he shouldn’t be allowed to officiate at this level again. If it was the second reason then he was wrong and he shouldn’t be allowed to officiate at this level again.
As if to rub salt into a fairly open wound Pointon’s subsequent penalty was saved by the legs of a very fortunate goalkeeper. We also hit the bar, had a goal ruled out and were generally the better side after the 20 minute mark but we got nil. 0 - 1 means we’re still alive but should we concede first next Tuesday then in all probability it’ll be game over.
Mon 8th March
The injury to Bjarne isn’t as serious as expected and it even looks as if he could be available for tomorrow night’s game.
Talking of which it’s prayer mats at the ready as the mighty Saddlers attempt for the fourth time to allow me to achieve my personal ambition and see the finest team the world has ever seen appear from the tunnel, cross the dirt track, dodge the advertisement boards and set foot on the green, green grass of Wembley Stadium.
Nine days from now I’ll either be queuing for either a Auto Windscreen Final ticket or a Cyanide pill. Which will it be ?
Talking of which it’s prayer mats at the ready as the mighty Saddlers attempt for the fourth time to allow me to achieve my personal ambition and see the finest team the world has ever seen appear from the tunnel, cross the dirt track, dodge the advertisement boards and set foot on the green, green grass of Wembley Stadium.
Nine days from now I’ll either be queuing for either a Auto Windscreen Final ticket or a Cyanide pill. Which will it be ?
Sat 6th March - Luton Town
This could have been called off at any time before 2pm this afternoon. Snow and rain combined to turn our already bare pitch into a muddy field. it was kind of like time travelling back to the Baseball Ground in the mid 70’s.
For Frannie Lee and Charlie George cue Dean Keates and Andy Rammell. Darren Wrack could have been wearing a pair of white boots but it was so muddy we couldn’t tell. To both sides credit both teams attempted to play the ball on the floor and neither side reverted to just hoofing it upfield and bypassing the mud.
A point that Ray Graydon made after the game when he said that “today, the way we tried to play football, made all I have done here worthwhile”. High praise and to be fair the referee made it possible by accounting for the conditions and allowing fouls to be punished by free kick alone. Had he started with an early booking we could have finished with two or three red cards. Sensible refereeing, FIFA should put a stop to it.
The game itself was hardly a classic, conditions saw to that, but we won. The winning goal coming from the outside of Darren Wrack’s right foot following a through ball from an improved Colin Cramb and a short mazy run by Dazzer. He feigned to shoot two or three times and confused the hell out of the goalkeeper who was frozen on the spot when the ball crossed the line.
It was again one of those days when we had three or four chances and needed to take one of them. Rarely will we create 15 or 20 chances in a game so it is critical that when they come we take them. Rammell and Cramb appear to be linking up well and today offered signs of an understanding between them. Let’s hope so.
Luton plodded along but we were relatively safe after we had weathered an early storm and we were well worth the win. The only negative thing to come out of the game was a worrying injury to Pingu who limped out of the action at half time. With the possibility of a long lay off for Bjarne, the ongoing problems of Kiester and the transfer of Gary Porter we’re suddenly very short in midfield -neither Thomas or Keates is over 5’ 6”. Seriously though we haven’t got another recognised central midfielder and this could be a problem.
For Frannie Lee and Charlie George cue Dean Keates and Andy Rammell. Darren Wrack could have been wearing a pair of white boots but it was so muddy we couldn’t tell. To both sides credit both teams attempted to play the ball on the floor and neither side reverted to just hoofing it upfield and bypassing the mud.
A point that Ray Graydon made after the game when he said that “today, the way we tried to play football, made all I have done here worthwhile”. High praise and to be fair the referee made it possible by accounting for the conditions and allowing fouls to be punished by free kick alone. Had he started with an early booking we could have finished with two or three red cards. Sensible refereeing, FIFA should put a stop to it.
The game itself was hardly a classic, conditions saw to that, but we won. The winning goal coming from the outside of Darren Wrack’s right foot following a through ball from an improved Colin Cramb and a short mazy run by Dazzer. He feigned to shoot two or three times and confused the hell out of the goalkeeper who was frozen on the spot when the ball crossed the line.
It was again one of those days when we had three or four chances and needed to take one of them. Rarely will we create 15 or 20 chances in a game so it is critical that when they come we take them. Rammell and Cramb appear to be linking up well and today offered signs of an understanding between them. Let’s hope so.
Luton plodded along but we were relatively safe after we had weathered an early storm and we were well worth the win. The only negative thing to come out of the game was a worrying injury to Pingu who limped out of the action at half time. With the possibility of a long lay off for Bjarne, the ongoing problems of Kiester and the transfer of Gary Porter we’re suddenly very short in midfield -neither Thomas or Keates is over 5’ 6”. Seriously though we haven’t got another recognised central midfielder and this could be a problem.
Fri 5th March
The visitors to Bescot tomorrow are Luton Town. It wasn’t all that long ago that the Hatters would regularly find league football taking a back seat on FA Cup Quarter Final weekend. How time can change things. Like us they were embroiled in a relegation battle last season but unlike us their season is going nowhere this time.
We on the other hand could do with three points tomorrow for more than one reason. The scars from last weekend would heal and we could do with a launch pad for the next eleven days. With two top half teams in league fixtures and a double header vs Millwall in a Wembley or bust situation these are without doubt the most important eleven days so far this season. To be truthful I don’t really care too much about tomorrow or next Saturday.
The two midweek games are far more important on a personal level. I’ve been this close to Wembley three times before and each time we’ve blown it. Bournemouth last season and the Milk Cup Semi of 1984 were lost at home but the most disappointing one was the play off game at Crewe. Losing 5 - 1on a Sunday afternoon after we had done the double over them in April was a hard pill to swallow.
They say the season lasts for 46 games and we took it a little too literally. I was convinced that we would do them but it wasn’t to be. I only hope we don’t mess it up again. This time I don’t fancy us though.
We on the other hand could do with three points tomorrow for more than one reason. The scars from last weekend would heal and we could do with a launch pad for the next eleven days. With two top half teams in league fixtures and a double header vs Millwall in a Wembley or bust situation these are without doubt the most important eleven days so far this season. To be truthful I don’t really care too much about tomorrow or next Saturday.
The two midweek games are far more important on a personal level. I’ve been this close to Wembley three times before and each time we’ve blown it. Bournemouth last season and the Milk Cup Semi of 1984 were lost at home but the most disappointing one was the play off game at Crewe. Losing 5 - 1on a Sunday afternoon after we had done the double over them in April was a hard pill to swallow.
They say the season lasts for 46 games and we took it a little too literally. I was convinced that we would do them but it wasn’t to be. I only hope we don’t mess it up again. This time I don’t fancy us though.
Tue 2nd March
The youth team failed to overcome a strong West Ham side in last night’s FA Youth Cup. No shame in this though as the Hammers are currently leading the way in youth football and have won their respective Academy League by 19 points.
Mon 1st March
Now I’ve heard some rubbish in my time but this is a cracker. Jesus Gil that famous, if not, notorious sacker of football managers is reportedly on the verge of approaching Villa for the services of no other than Mr Gregory. He’s sacked a coach of international standing and quality and is probably looking for a short term joker.
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