Vauxhall vs Bolton (FA Cup 4th rnd replay)
Venue: Rivacre Park
Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Kaka, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Ray Davis — Alex Chamberlain, Connor Newton, Mark Brown, Daniel Toribio — Andrés, Dale Hills
Team Talk: You can win today!
Given the recent performances in the league I have to say that I was quite afraid of the FA Cup replay against Premier League side Bolton, we had to play a lot better than we had done recently if we wanted to avoid an embarrassing defeat. Luckily the lads managed to ease my concerns right away as we took the lead after just three minutes: a fine move saw Daniel Toribio crossing into the box and striker Dale Hills fired in a beautiful volley. The we had to endure some pressure in our own box but we defended well before witnessing another gem from Dale Hills, a superb effort from the edge of the area gave us a two-goal lead after 23 minutes. That goal unleashed my players and we managed to get another one in after just five minutes, Alex Chamberlain spotted a good run off the ball from midfielder Connor Newton, passed through the gap and Newton coolly finished it off from inside the penalty area. Then we kept Bolton at bay quite easily until half time, we were dominating the game to the delight of our roaring fans.
Half time score: 3-0
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Suso for Chamberlain, Ibrahima MBow for Andrés
Things didn’t change after the break, we were still in control and even had the chance to make it 4-0 seven minutes after the re-start when the referee awarded us a dubious penalty kick. No worries though, we didn’t take advantage of it as Ibrahima MBow missed the chance to end his goal drought. He did that five minutes later from an easier position, Dale Hills set him up and he couldn’t really have missed from there. Strangely enough, MBow seems to be playing rather badly after signing the new contract with us, I wonder why… Anyway, it was a great performance from my team against a superior opponent, I was proud of the lads!
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Dale Hills
Flop of the match: Suso
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Norwich vs Vauxhall (FA Cup 5th rnd)
Venue: Carrow Road
Attendance: 20,185
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Jason Banton — Lenny Nangis, Andrés
Team Talk: You can win today!
We advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup and we were quite lucky with the draw as we avoided the Premier League teams. We were drawn against fellow Championship side Norwich but I was expecting a tough game since they had beaten us 2-1 at Rivacre Park in November. In fact, the opening minutes showed that we were facing a much more difficult game than we had against Bolton as Norwich were denied by the post on 10 minutes. My lads were playing pretty well too and Andrés missed a good chance before Mervin Simon brought joy to our fans yet again with a corner kick header. Our joy lasted just four minutes though, Jason Banton made a needless challenge inside our box and the referee pointed to the spot. Norwich didn’t refuse the gift and made it all square after 31 minutes. That was just a temporary setback, we were all smiles again after just five minutes when central midfielder Mark Brown coolly finished off a blitz counter attack move. The game was fierce though, Norwich were not showing signs of giving up and they managed to restore parity two minutes before the break courtesy of some clumsy defending from my lads. The home side could have even taken the lead before half time but they were denied by the post again.
Half time score: 2-2
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Kaka for Baddeley, Connor Newton for Brown, Daniel Toribio for Suso
We ran out of luck after the break though, totally… Norwich took the lead after just two minutes with a fabulous strike and then we were denied by the crossbar three minutes later. The lads kept pushing forward, we were trying hard to make it all square again but Lenny Nangis wasted the best chance as he missed the empty net from eight yards. The players did their best but Norwich also played very well, it was one of those games that neither of the two sides would have deserved to lose.
Full time team talk: Sympathise.
Man of the match: Mark Brown
Flop of the match: Jason Banton
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Vauxhall vs Southampton (Championship)
Venue: Rivacre Park
Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Kaka, Bryan Purdrue, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Carlos Chavez, Mark Brown, Suso, Ibrahima MBow — Andrés, Dale Hills
Team Talk: You can win today!
Back to the league for a tough match, we were facing 7th placed Southampton with a severely reduced squad due to fatigue accumulated in the two exciting cup games. I had to send in Ibrahima MBow as a left winger this time and also gave starting spots to centre back Bryan Purdrue and right winger Carlos Chavez who had just recovered from a nasty injury. Luckily we got off to the best possible start as Dale Hills rounded off a spectacular team move inside the opening minute of the game! We continued to push forward after the goal but unfortunately we were denied by the woodwork twice before Southampton leveled the game against the run of play with a free kick header. It was quite a blow for the team, we were no longer able to create chances and even allowed our opponents to come close to taking the lead twice before half time.
Half time score: 1-1
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Ken Harris for Kaka, Connor Newton for Chavez
Things set out nicely for us immediately after the break as the referee finally decided to send off Southampton‘s left central midfielder after he had committed several fouls in the first half. We had the numerical advantage and we started to take the game to our opponents, we were pushing forward with the centre backs inside the midfield circle but we had no luck at all… Several good moves went to waste and the very last one saw Andrés‘ injury time effort thundering off the post. Bad luck hits hard some time and we dropped another two points that we really deserved to get.
Full time team talk: Disappointing!
Man of the match: Andrés
Flop of the match: Mervin Simon
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Huddersfield vs Vauxhall (Championship)
Venue: The Galpharm Stadium
Attendance: 11,071
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Kaka, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Ray Davis — Alex Chamberlain, Connor Newton, Mark Brown, Jason Banton — Lenny Nangis, Dale Hills
Team Talk: Pressure is off!
Last game of the month, away at 16th placed Huddersfield. Confidence was at an all-time low, I just couldn’t imagine my players scoring anymore! This time we got lucky though, the home side looked better than us during the opening minutes but it was us who took the lead three minutes before the half hour mark courtesy of a huge blunder in the opposition defense. The goal gave us a bit more courage and he lads started to play better. We could have doubled the lead on the stroke of half time but the woodwork denied us once again.
Half time score: 0-1
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Ken Harris for Davis, Matthias Gohlert for Brown, Daniel Toribio for Banton
The game quiet and boring after the break, neither of the two teams was looking capable of playing some real football out there. The match suddenly came to life on 69 minutes, Huddersfield scored on a counter kick and we were contemplating another setback. That was not the case though as Lenny Nangis ended a counter attack with a perfect finish to give us the lead 10 minutes from time. I was afraid of Huddersfield‘s reaction and decided to pull back and defend, I don’t do that very often, but this time I was fearful… The move paid off in the end, we held out with ease and grabbed the much needed three points.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Lenny Nangis
Flop of the match: Jason Banton
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
It was a good month overall, we were beaten just once in seven games but that defeat stopped our encouraging FA Cup run. In the league we managed to win three out of five but we dropped four points that we really should have taken.
The situation at the top of the table is unchanged despite all the ups and downs: Burnley are still five points ahead of us, we are still second, tied on points with Middlesbrough but this time we have a game in hand on Boro.
We’ll have just five games to play in March, that’s quite a relief. This month will be decisive though as we will meet leaders Burnley and 4th placed Bristol City, both away from home.
That’s about it for now folks, thanks for following the story through this rather difficult month. I hope that it was a pleasant read and I’m looking forward to your comments. Oh, and don’t forget to vote for the March Goal of the Month, we have quite a few gems in this month’s competition!
Laxeyman
9 марта, 2011 at 20:36
Pretty good month there Johnny, a lot of games, and some good results, especially the demolition of Bolton, what a performance! Your defence is still a little shaky, but hopefully that won’t matter too much as the title race is still pretty tight, the game against Burnley will be crucial. Good luck!
Johnny Karp
9 марта, 2011 at 20:53
Thanks Laxeyman. I guess our defense will not improve much until the end of the season so we’ll have to keep scoring a few if we want to hang in there.
Kevin
9 марта, 2011 at 20:46
Hi Johnny
What a disappointment against Norwich. I was convinced after te bolton game you were on your way to Wembley. Never mind, you are still in with a good shot at automatic promotion to the Premier League but a really crucial month awaits you….
Good luck!!!
Johnny Karp
9 марта, 2011 at 20:54
Hey Kevin, I was quite optimistic before the Norwich game too but… I guess Wembley will have to wait but we’ll get there sooner or later.
warren
9 марта, 2011 at 21:22
Well done Johnny
A great win against Bolton is the cup and altough it was dissapointing to be knocked out in the next round just thing of the money you’ve made. It will be a close run thing for the title but the exit in the FA Cup could be a blessing in disguise. Hope you at least get promoted.
Johnny Karp
10 марта, 2011 at 09:29
Thanks Warren. You are right about the FA Cup, the exit might help us in the league but it would have been so nice to advance to the next round, so nice…
Sears
9 марта, 2011 at 23:02
Hi Johnny,
yet again, a superb month.The level of consistency your team is showing is phenomenal, especially considering their young age. Shame you lost to Norwich in the cup,but that’s football.I’m sure you made a tidy profit anyway. Good-luck in the title run in, I’m positive you can secure another amazing promotion.
Johnny Karp
10 марта, 2011 at 09:30
Hey Sears, I didn’t check the finances but I guess the FA Cup run did bring some cash in. I hope you’re right about the promotion :)
Lye
10 марта, 2011 at 01:11
Hi Johnny,
Fatigue maybe the cause of that defeat against Norwich. I am equally surprised that the players let the game slip away after that convincing win against Bolton. You look good for the promotion as you have a game in hand over Middlesbrough. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
10 марта, 2011 at 09:32
Hey Lye, I guess fatigue was a factor but Norwich played a lot better than Bolton did. A game in hand is good to have but we’ll still have to win that match :)
Josh Allen
10 марта, 2011 at 06:48
Not bad Johnny, but you should be fine for automatic promotion, and I feel that you should win the title
Josh
everythingthatisfm.blogspot.com
Johnny Karp
10 марта, 2011 at 09:33
Thanks Josh. I guess the game at Burnley will be decisive for the title, we might have a chance if we win that one but it will be very tough.
Excessive
10 марта, 2011 at 08:28
Mostly reiterating what the lads above have said, great month for you in terms of results. Little unlucky that you weren’t able to capitalise on Burnleys position at the top because of the draws but you look nice and solid up there and I’ve got no doubts you can seal an automatic promotion spot.
Good luck!
Johnny Karp
10 марта, 2011 at 09:35
Thanks for the confidence Jake, next month will be decisive and I hope to remain second at the end of it.
Darren Smith
10 марта, 2011 at 11:56
Hey Johnny, I personally think that was a good month and has kept you well in the promotion race. With the FA Cup not around to distract you, the teams form and confidence could well get a boost from a much needed rest. Looking forward to a nail biting end mate. :)
Johnny Karp
10 марта, 2011 at 12:52
Hi Darren, I agree that the FA Cup exit might be a slight advantage as fitness will be a problem during the last months of the season. I hope that we’ll keep a clean bill of health and stay in the top two.
Vaibhav C.
10 марта, 2011 at 12:38
Hey Johnny,
Good month there. Mervin Simon seems to be scoring so many goals from corner kicks, he is very good in the air and he isn’t even that tall! If you hadn’t lost the lead so many times, you could have won those games. And you can’t seem to find a good penalty taker! M’Bow and Chamberlain missed, Howson was the best one even though he missed one so far in this season.
Johnny Karp
10 марта, 2011 at 12:54
Thanks mate. Simon is doing very well, both upfront on corners and at the back, his interventions saved us quite a few goals this season. About the penalty takers, Andrés is my first choice but when he’s not on the pitch M’Bow takes over. Unfortunately he seems to be low on confidence and that’s why he missed. There’s a different story with Chamberlain, I let him take that penalty because he had the chance to pull off a hat-trick but he was unlucky to hit the post.
hils
10 марта, 2011 at 15:58
Hi Johnny,good month there!!!!!!!!! Hopefully you will continue your form until the end of the season!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny Karp
10 марта, 2011 at 20:07
Thanks Hils!!!
Ana Garcia
11 марта, 2011 at 13:24
Your fans must enjoy watching your team play with 83 goals scored and 48 against! Am glad to see your a fan of attacking football!! :)
Its really close at the top and you have two really tricky away games at sides around you so I suppose that will help define your season and if you can keep in the automatic promotion places.
I have my fingers crossed for you!
Johnny Karp
11 марта, 2011 at 16:31
Football is about goals but I guess both me and the fans would be happier if we’d concede a bit less. We’ll need some luck, I’m sure of that, so thanks for the fingers crossing :)
Sayam Khan
11 марта, 2011 at 17:53
Unlucky about the defeat to Norwich. Good month overall, and I smell Vauxhall being in the premiership next season ;-)
Johnny Karp
11 марта, 2011 at 19:23
Thanks Sayam, I guess I’ll have to trust your smell :)