Hey everyone! Welcome back to Scunthorpe where I will be taking you through the month of November with the Patriots.
Last time out, we started well with a couple of solid wins at Midlands clubs Wolves and Villa while we struggled to create anything in the latter two matches! Hopefully our lads could pull it out of the bag this month, although they would have to be strong as we faced three of the top six clubs in the country. Did we make it? Read on to find out…
Our months adventure started with a home game against Chelsea, a team that are really out of our league in terms of class. The game isn’t played on paper though so our lads had nothing to loose! This must have taken the Chelsea team back as the Patriots were rampant in the early stages in front of the home crowd, with a few early chances skimming the post. It was little surprise who opened the scoring then, that man Pepper giving the Patriots a well deserved lead after a Crosby cross found him smash it home in the area. The opposition were starting to get back into it in the later stages of the half though, lead by their front two of Torres and Drogba. It was the former who got their side back level though as he managed to find some space and sneak one in under Vaibhav. Second half was much the same as Chelsea dominated for large periods although failing to produce anything other than wasted chances. We could have snatched it as Dezmo put the ball into the net, but it was deemed offside by the linesman. As the final whistle blew, is was a good day all round for the lads as they gained a point that they didn’t really have a right to.. (Click here to see the highlights)
A trip down to riot haven Tottenham next then (well, it was pretty much everywhere..) as we hoped to snatch some points that agian, we didn’t really have any right to. Spurs really created the better of the opportunities in the opening half an hour and we were carved out numerous times due to that maestro Modric in the centre of midfield. Luckily, it was us who took the lead as a heavy deflection took Johnson‘s shot into the net from 20 yards. I was really feeling good after we scored as we went into the break 1-0 up, but unfortunately Spurs managed to take their chances in the second half as they flew into a 2-1 lead after a headed corner and a flowing counter attacking move. I was dispondant, but not down as Dami managed to pull one back for the Patriots after a beautiful freekick from around the 30 yard area. Just magic. However, at the death we just didn’t have the legs to hold on and it was from another corner that Spurs got their equaliser. Probably deserved on the day, but I was gutted all the same.. (Click here to see the highlights)
Again another tough one as we host Manchester City at Patriots Park. Although the run of results hasn’t been bad, we haven’t won in a while so I was hoping that even against a Manchester City side, we would force points out of somewhere. It might have just got to the players too as we took the lead on the 7th minute as Dully rose to head home a Crosby corner. Pandemonium in the stands, could this be our day? Well it could have been, until we fell apart in the last 10 minutes of the half, conceding after a rocket freekick and a mistake by Jagginman that gifted Tevez a one on one opportunity that he wasn’t exactly going to pass up. After the break it was pretty even, but the clinical finishing had faded somewhat and it felt like the two sides were going through the motions a little. It approached the 90th minute mark and luckily we won a corner. Karp swinging the ball in which was met by the head of Sears.. Crashing the ball home to send the fans into raptures!
All hail half injured Captain Sears! ;) (Click here to see the highlights)
Last game of the month then, and I was hoping that we would get our first win in six games against Stoke as we travelled down to the Britannia. Things started brightly as the sides were pretty hungry in the opening half an hour, which made for good viewing. Nothing substantial came of it though and I was thinking that the game would turn out a bore draw.. How wrong was I. Hazza getting the first goal of the game after some fine work from Crosby on the right hand side lead us into the break with a 1-0 advantage. It snowballed from there really as Alex popped up to hit home after exchanges with Smith on the left hand side to double our lead. A G own goal was a minor setback (although I’m doubting it was as the ball was going in anyway..) as we went to score another just a couple of minutes after, Pepper getting the all important touch as he hit home after a Smith shot ricocheted off the keeper. The Patriots saw the match out with minor scares as we capped the month off with a vital win. Woo! (Click here to see the highlights)
That win left us in a very healthy 7th position in the league after a very tough fixture list. I’m happy, but we are sliding down the league one place at a time.. Just hope by the end of the season we aren’t fighting for our lives ;)
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story…
Laxeyman
11 августа, 2011 at 14:22
Still going well Jake, well done, and if you can keep this form up then you can certainly challenge for a European place come the end of the season. Keep it going and good luck!
Excessive
13 августа, 2011 at 19:55
Thanks Laxey!
plobdork
11 августа, 2011 at 14:58
Prove myself?? Ive been great in international form recently pfft great to see fms there in the table shame about tottenham game.
how many stars does my report say i have?? ca/pa
Excessive
13 августа, 2011 at 19:58
Haha, I was a bit baffled myself..
CA — 3 Stars
PA — 4 and a half stars
Sammy
11 августа, 2011 at 15:00
Nice to see that i am doing well in league 1 with the runner up prize :)
and of course nice to see how well the first team are doing
Excessive
13 августа, 2011 at 19:59
You’re doing really well on loan mate!
vaibhavc
11 августа, 2011 at 16:30
I am doing pretty well this month against big teams. Have I made an appearance for England yet?
Excessive
13 августа, 2011 at 19:59
No first team caps for England as yet mate..
nielsneutron
11 августа, 2011 at 17:04
Dear Excessive
I wonder how my chances are for a shot in the first team after my injury is over. I know I have the quality to perform in the premier league.
I do feel that a reserve squad status after my loan in Bolton is counterproductive. What can we do about that?
Excessive
13 августа, 2011 at 20:02
I will give you a shot, but as it stands you just aren’t up to the standard that the other players are..
Srujun Gupta
11 августа, 2011 at 18:36
Great! My loan at Colchester is really working out well. Young player of the month in the Championship already! :D Thank you manager!
And the Patriots are doing superb in the League. If we win the easier games, we should do really well in our first season.
Excessive
13 августа, 2011 at 20:03
No probs mate, well done :D
Darren Smith
11 августа, 2011 at 19:01
Next month has got to be my month, this goal drought is worrying :( The team are still doing well though and those opponents next month should see us rise up the table.
Excessive
13 августа, 2011 at 20:03
Very.. I’m even starting to replace you ;)
Birdy
11 августа, 2011 at 23:09
Nice work Jake
Keep it up and the squad is looking great. Hope you can make it to Europe by the end of the season with the talent in the squad. Darren might have to be dropped with no goals in a long time….
Excessive
13 августа, 2011 at 20:04
Thanks Bird!
Haha, I’m already considering it!
Ben Hodgson
13 августа, 2011 at 11:34
hey, this story has kept me entertained for the past few hours. some nice touches, and some great players! hopefully you can keep up the good work. and i was wondering is it possible to join now? or is it to late?
Excessive
13 августа, 2011 at 20:05
Thanks Ben, glad you have enjoyed reading it ;)
Unfortunately it’s way too late to add you or I would have done. Sorry pal.
Johnny Karp
15 августа, 2011 at 13:41
Still doing very well boss, I bet you will be Manager of the Season! :)