Back to the Premier League for another tough test, our next game was at home with 8th placed Liverpool. The game started well for us again, Iulian Marin played another perfect assist and this time it was Christian Stuani who fired it in from inside the penalty area. We continued to play well but wasted a couple of good chances before Torres put one past our keeper with a stunning long range strike. Liverpool pulled back after the goal and contained our attacks perfectly, we were unable to get anything past their defense and recorded yet another Premier League draw.
Next up, the FA Cup replay against Manchester United. It was the only cup competition that we were still in so I was quite keen on pushing through to the semi final. My plans seemed to be ruined by a terrible start, United took the lead five minutes into the game after a great counter attack that left my defense totally stranded. We managed to get back into the game before the break though, Rafael Coelho netted the equalizer with a great effort from an acute angle. The game was quite spectacular but even, there was nothing to separate the two teams as the match went into extra time. We needed something special to avoid the penalty shoot-out and that special moment was produced by Liam Parker, he bent in a fabulous shot from 25 yards that sent the ball straight in past a helpless keeper. United tried to react during the final moments of the game but we pulled back and defended our lead very well. We were through to the semi finals where we are going to meet a weaker opponent, Wolves.
But we had to keep things going in the league before that semi final, another tough game was ahead of us as we had to travel to Old Trafford again to meet Manchester United for the third time this month. We were on a 21 match unbeaten run in the Premier League but that great streak ended with a crushing defeat. We got off to a nightmare start again as United took the lead just three minutes into the game but then we wasted two huge chances before United doubled the lead on the breakaway. That second goal made my team crumble and we conceded the third goal a minute before the break. I was unable to change things around at half time, we had an even worse second half but we did manage to get in a consolation goal…
The final game of the month was away at 18th placed Hull, a team that was struggling to avoid relegation. They had shown good form before that game though, Hull were on a three match unbeaten run! We had to win the game though, we had no excuses! Things seemed to be right on track after winger Anderson gave us the lead on six minutes, we were in control until half time. I was hoping for a quiet second half but my plans changed two minutes after the break when Martins easily ran past my centre backs and fired in the equalizer. We got back in attack and celebrated taking the lead again on 67 minutes when Craig Carlisle did some great work to set up Rafael Coelho. Our joy was ruined by Obafemi Martins yet again though, my centre backs were unable to stop him and he leveled the game 11 minutes from time. The clock was ticking and we were pouring forward… The 90th minute went by, we entered stoppage time with slim hopes of grabbing the three points that we would have deserved. Crosses were flying into the Hull penalty area and one of those balls found its way into the net: Craig Carlisle headed on a cross to Coelho who headed it on again into the path of Anderson who stabbed it in! Phew, that was a nervy one…
We managed to hang on to that second spot and I think that we have a top four finish in the bag at this point. We still have an outside chance to claim the title, we are five points behind Tottenham with six games to play.
Our schedule is not very tough, we should be able to get at least four or five wins out of the last six Premier League games. We’ll also have the very important FA Cup semi final at Wembley, I really want to reach the final and grab that silverware!
That’s how it was folks, our unbeaten run ended, we crashed out of the Europa League, but we are still in with a chance to lift the FA Cup and maybe try to push the title chase down to the wire. I hope that Tottenham will drop some points in the first three league games in April, that could draw us closer and add more pressure on the Spurs. We have to do our job first though, we have to win our games and then check the other results. Thanks a lot for reading my friends, stay tuned to see the final post of the season!
Darren Smith
31 октября, 2010 at 11:02
Hey Johnny, you have enjoyed some great form recently. Its a shame about the Bayern game but brilliant to see your still in with a shot for the FA Cup. The remaining games look very promising and we must surely be looking forward to a top four finish! Well done mate
Johnny Karp
31 октября, 2010 at 17:58
Thanks Darren, I hope we’ll make it to the FA Cup final.
Kevin
31 октября, 2010 at 11:24
Hi Johnny
With the upcoming schedule you still have a chance at snatching the title if Spurs can drop some points. The injuries to your players are terribly unlucky at such an important stage and really bad luck against Bayern. Still, I see you with the FA Cup on the trophy shelf when it’s all over. Good luck!!
Johnny Karp
31 октября, 2010 at 17:59
Thanks Kevin, we’ll surely be fighting for our chance to win the title and for the FA Cup as well.
hils
31 октября, 2010 at 12:36
Hi Johnny,an okay month there!!!!!!! You still have a chance of winning the title!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny Karp
31 октября, 2010 at 17:59
Thanks for the confidence Hils.
Lye
31 октября, 2010 at 12:55
Hi Johnny,
Too bad about crashing out of the Europe. A top four finish is a guarantee now and i think you will beat Wolves and progress to the FA cup final. I believe you should win that. Your cup run is fantastic. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
31 октября, 2010 at 18:00
Thanks Lye, Bayern were just too strong for us. I hope we’ll do better in the FA Cup.
Mariano
1 ноября, 2010 at 07:59
If i were the Dorchester manager i would send Heitinga to feeze in the reserves until the end of his contract!
Did you take any diciplinary measures?
You are doing an amazing campaing, i don´t know how difficult the fixture of tottenham is, but i predict you will win all the next games.
Good luck!
Johnny Karp
1 ноября, 2010 at 08:22
Thanks for the good luck wish Mariano. I did give Heitinga a fine, I do that with all the players that get sent off. I just give warnings for professional fouls though.
Sears
1 ноября, 2010 at 17:17
Hey Johnny,
I have a tough disciplinary measures for players who misbehave on the pitch. I remember one time on my Shahktar game, I was in my first season and we had to beat Fiorentina to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League. I think we lost away but we were beating them in the return fixture until Sergy Krivets got sent off. We ended up losing the game and don’t think Krivets ever played for me again. I might had been a bit to harsh, but I could’t believe how stupid he was to get sent off in such an important game. Anyway, great to see Dorchester challenge for the title. Just wish I’d had continued my own Chelmsford City game when we got promoted to the Premier League. Hopefully you can prevail in the FA Cup and bring further glory to the Dorchester faithful.
Johnny Karp
1 ноября, 2010 at 20:02
Thanks for the good wishes Sears. I am not that harsh, I can understand why a player might lose his head on the pitch but I agree that such actions should not go unpunished.
Laxeyman
2 ноября, 2010 at 19:45
Hi Johnny, sorry for missing your last posts as I was away on holiday. It looks like you’ve done very well in recent months, and you have a chance of winning the league. Unlucky in the Champions League, but hopefully you can go and grab the FA Cup, and push Tottenham at the top. Good luck!
Johnny Karp
3 ноября, 2010 at 17:22
Thanks Laxeyman, the final post of the season will probably be online tomorrow.