Burnley vs Vauxhall (FA Cup 4th round replay)
Venue: Turf Moor
Attendance: 9,053
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Daniel Pappoe, Mervin Simon, Lucky Sibiya — Carlos Bogado, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Darryl Duffy, Ibrahima M’Bow
Team Talk: You can win today!
I was expecting a fierce game at Burnley but the first half was awfully quiet, the two teams didn’t manage to get more than one shot apiece during the whole 45 minutes!
Half time score: 0-0
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Nathan Rooney for Brown, Keith Higgs for Banton
Burnley began the second half in full throttle, the quiet first half was becoming a pleasant memory! Martin Hansen kept us alive with a pair of great saves but we were under more and more pressure. I made the final substitution on the hour mark, Omar Koroma for M’Bow, and our luck changed just two minutes later when we were awarded a penalty kick for some pushing that took place on a corner kick! Graham Howson stepped up and converted it, he always does, and we were in the lead! The storm was coming our way though, we were under tremendous pressure but my lads were showing great determination and that made me quite optimistic. Unfortunately we conceded the stupidest goal I’ve ever seen, they scored on a throw-in! I can’t really explain what happened there, maybe you can after watching the highlights. My lads were already tired but they defended heroically to earn the right to another 30 minutes. I was pleased with their effort but I felt that we were doomed, most of my players were exhausted at the end of the 90 minutes. I was hoping to reach the penalty shootout somehow but those hopes were broken by an unfortunate own goal from Daniel Pappoe, it was all over. Burnley scored another one later on, Darryl Duffy pulled one back for us four minutes from time but I knew that it was over. My players displayed great determination out there though, they fought right until the last second even if they were extremely low on energy.
Full time team talk: Good effort!
Man of the match: Graham Howson
Flop of the match: Daniel Pappoe
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
Brighton vs Vauxhall (League 1)
Venue: American Express Community Stadium
Attendance: 8,365
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Jacob Hronec, Mervin Simon, Derrick Williams, Alex Billington — Darren King, Matthew Ball, Mark Brown, Jason Banton — Mark Cullen, Ibrahima M’Bow
Team Talk: You can win today!
We were traveling to meet 7th placed Brighton just three days after the Turf Moor battle and that was not enough time to recover. Most players were still tired so my expectations were not too high. Brighton took the lead thanks to a fabulous goal but my players did pretty well considering the poor fitness, we had two clear chances before the break.
Half time score: 1-0
Half time team talk: Sympathise.
Half time substitutions: Daniel Pappoe for Simon, Peter Leven for Brown, Jacob Walcott for Banton
The home side doubled the lead on 54 minutes with a free kick header, we clawed one back through Mark Cullen four minutes later but were unable to push for an equalizer. I was satisfied with the display though, I was expecting far worse before the game.
Full time team talk: Good effort!
Man of the match: Mark Cullen
Flop of the match: Ibrahima M’Bow
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
Vauxhall vs Shrewsbury (League 1)
Venue: Rivacre Park
Attendance: 2,500 (capacity crowd)
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Jacob Hronec, Daniel Pappoe, Mervin Simon, Lucky Sibiya — Carlos Bogado, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Dale Hills, Ibrahima M’Bow
Team Talk: You can win today!
The last game of the month was against another promotion contender, 6th placed Shrewsbury. The players had recovered from the fatigue of the FA Cup battle and that surely showed on the pitch, we dominated the game and went close a few times before Dale Hills finally broke the deadlock with a superb shot from 25 yards out.
Half time score: 1-0
Half time team talk: Encourage.
Half time substitutions: Nathan Rooney for Brown, Jacob Walcott for Howson
Our spell of dominance continued for a while after the break but we were wasting too many chances, especially youngster Ibrahima M’Bow. He was doing everything right except the finish but he also was unlucky to be denied by the post at some point. Shrewsbury upped the pace in the final 20 minutes but my defense was looking capable of coping with that. Things went wrong 5 minutes from time, Lucky Sibiya lost the ball inside our penalty area and then goalkeeper Martin Hansen literally ran away from the goal line and left the opponent with an easy finish! I can’t explain his gesture, I was shocked to see that! Anyway, we could still have won the game as we had two good chances to score during the closing moments of the game but my lads wasted them.
Full time team talk: Sympathise.
Man of the match: Dale Hills
Flop of the match: Ibrahima M’Bow
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
So, we are out of the FA Cup after a fierce battle against Burnley but we’re through to the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final. The league form was not too good though, we dropped three points at Hartlepool and then were unable to recover from the grueling FA Cup replay and dropped another five points.
We were still top of the table but our lead was cut in half, Preston and Brentford are just five points behind us now!
Next month will be crucial especially since we will meet Preston away from home in the last game. We will have to get as many points as we can before that game and then give the best we can in the top of the table derby…
That’s about it for now, February was quite tiresome for the players and for me as well. I do hope that you didn’t get tired while reading this post though :) Thanks a lot for taking the time to read it and please don’t forget to submit your goals for the February Goal Of The Month Competition!
Laxeyman
1 февраля, 2011 at 20:14
Hi Johnny, not a great month, but you’re still top and looking good for promotion, which is the important thing. Shame about the FA Cup but hopefully you can keep going in the JPT. Good luck!
Johnny Karp
2 февраля, 2011 at 08:16
Hi Laxeyman and thanks for the comment. The JPT final will be the biggest event in the club’s history but we’ll have to take care of the league before that.
Darren Smith
1 февраля, 2011 at 20:40
Hi Johnny, that was a tough month but you’re still top and in the Cup. If you can pick up pace next month then I can see you stretching your lead again. The Preston game will be vital, but lets hope your players can perform above all expectations. Good luck Johnny, I’m hoping for promotion but it could go down to the wire.
Johnny Karp
2 февраля, 2011 at 08:17
Thanks Darren, I would be happy to keep this five-point cushion at the end of next month. It will be tough, I’m quite sure of that.
Vinners
1 февраля, 2011 at 20:53
Ah a brave effort Johnny but i suppose morale wasn’t good. It’s a vicious circle. But your still in the JPT which is good :) Btw I finished my season in league 1, I topped the table and won the JPT. On aggregate I won the semi final 9-2! But I’ve just finished preseason and got my squad sorted for the championship! But your gonna do the same anyway but I’m just pleased I got this far! Well done and good luck for next month
Johnny Karp
2 февраля, 2011 at 08:17
Congrats on your success Vinners, I hope I’ll be able to replicate that!
Vinners
2 февраля, 2011 at 13:48
Ah I’m sure you will! I’ve started hesistantly, 1-0 away :/ And that was hard fought! Plus my stadium’s only 2500 and my a new stadium being built was never started so once again I’m gonna be hemoraghing money. And if I get into the premiership then all the money from that will have to go on facilities and I may just try and buy a stadium as that’s gonna be the only way I’ll have a chance…
Mariano
2 февраля, 2011 at 07:46
Well done Johnny!
I find it interesting how you manage to do so good with players I gave free transfer, send on loan or are back ups of my main team at my Havant game on league 2 like Papoe, Derrick Williams and N Rooney.
Though I have Gombala as a regular striker doing very good!
I don´t have a youtube account, but I think I will need one since one of my players scored a «G Hagi 94 world cup goal» so I would like to share it.
For this 12-13 season I signed for free a Belgian central midfielder with amazing attributes for this stage named Rocky Peeters, a bit slow though.
I like you are giving the details of the team talks and more. I never use the «pleased» talk in the half time unless my team is winning for more than 3 goals, I want them focus!:)
Cheers and thanks for the post
Johnny Karp
2 февраля, 2011 at 08:20
Hi Mariano, I would surely love to see that goal since Hagi’s goal in 94 is my all-time favorite goal! About the team talks, I like to be kind with the players and encourage them, I rarely use harsh words with them. I guess that’s my personality :) I’ll have a look at that Belgian CM if I can find him in my game.
Kevin
2 февраля, 2011 at 12:47
Hello Johnny
You had a great spell in the middle of the month followed by some unlucky losses but at least you are still top of the table which is encouraging. I’m going to have to check into Graham Howsen in my game as he seems terrific. Anyway congrats on reaching the JPT Final which I’m sure you can bag that trophy!
Johnny Karp
2 февраля, 2011 at 13:42
Thanks Kevin, I hope we’ll remain top of the table at the end of March. Unfortunately you won’t find Howson in your game, he’s a regen.
Sears
2 февраля, 2011 at 14:49
Good month Johnny, ur still top which is great. Hopefully u can hold on in there, good luck!
Johnny Karp
2 февраля, 2011 at 17:43
Thanks Sears.
Vaibhav C.
2 февраля, 2011 at 16:18
Hey Johnny,
Its good to see Dale Hills finally find his form and goalscoring touch, now he scores some great goals! I think your team should win «The Stupid Goals Conceded Award» after that throw-in goal and when Hansen just ran away from the ball.
Johnny Karp
2 февраля, 2011 at 17:44
Hi mate. We did concede some stupid goals indeed, I hope that will stop in the coming months. Dale Hills is doing a bit better but I hope there’s more to come from him.
Nick
2 февраля, 2011 at 18:27
You had some very unlucky results in this month and should still win promotion, if not the league! :-). Also good to see Dale Hill finally come into form! About the goal of the month competition, does it have to be on youtube to submit it?
Johnny Karp
2 февраля, 2011 at 20:11
Thanks for the comment Nick. We were a bit unlucky but we also were a bit naive on some occasions. About the competition, the goal doesn’t necessarily have to be on YouTube but it must be available to be seen somewhere, maybe on another video sharing service if you have a problem with YouTube.
hils
2 февраля, 2011 at 19:07
Hi Johnny,good month there!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully you will get promoted!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny Karp
2 февраля, 2011 at 20:12
Thanks Hils!!! :)
warren
3 февраля, 2011 at 16:50
Hi Johnny
Unlucky with the FA Cup but the run to get there will certainly bring in some money. The run in the JPT will also bring in money and you still have a chance of winning. Not the best of months in the league but I just think thats down to having quite a busy month
good luck for the rest of the season.
Johnny Karp
3 февраля, 2011 at 17:00
Thanks Warren, I do regret the FA Cup exit but reaching the 4th round was pretty good. We’ll have to focus on the league now, promotion might slip through our fingers…
Sayam Khan
3 февраля, 2011 at 19:21
Well it was bound to happen after your great start! I’m sure you will pick up next month! But i don’t think the month was that bad! Your still top and 5 point lead is still very good if you think about it! :-) Good Luck!