Vauxhall Motors Story: February 2014

Hello folks, it’s finally time for an update to my Vauxhall Motors Football Manager 2011 story! We were top of the League 1 table at the end of January 2014, qualified for the fourth round of the FA Cup and also in a good position to reach the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Things were going well for us but we still had work to do in February, another busy month ahead of us. Let’s see how it went.

Vauxhall vs Burnley (FA Cup 4th round)

Venue: Rivacre Park

Attendance: 2,500 (capacity crowd)

Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Carlos Bogado, Matthew Ball, Peter Leven, Keith Higgs — Mark Cullen, Dale Hills

Team Talk: You can win today!

A big event to kick off the month, the FA Cup clash with Championship side Burnley. The odds were obviously against us but I was quietly optimistic since we knocked out Southampton in the previous round. We got off to a good start and that resulted in a goal on 11 minutes, Dale Hills converted a penalty kick that he produced himself after being held back inside the area. Unfortunately Burnley canceled that effort 12 minutes later with a corner kick goal and despite our best efforts the score remained level at half time.

Half time score: 1-1

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Jacob Hronec for Harris, Jason Banton for Higgs, Darryl Duffy for Cullen

There were several fitness problems in my team so I had to make three substitutions at half time. That didn’t seem to have a big impact on our performance though, we were piling on the pressure but Burnley were holding out with tremendous determination. We could have clinched it five minutes from time, Jason Banton was clean through on goal but he was stopped by a late tackle. The referee did show the red card but I would have preferred the goal under the circumstances… Burnley held out and earned the right to have the match replayed at Turf Moor, we missed a good chance to cause another upset.

Full time team talk: Good result!

Man of the match: Grant Baddeley

Flop of the match: Matthew Ball

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the highlights.

Hartlepool vs Vauxhall (League 1)

Venue: Victoria Park

Attendance: 2,022

Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Daniel Pappoe, Mervin Simon, Alex Billington — Jacob Hronec, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Mark Cullen, Dale Hills

Team Talk: You can win today!

The first league game of the month was supposed to be an easy one as we were traveling to meet bottom club Hartlepool. It didn’t seem to be that easy though, my team was rather unconvincing and the home side took the lead with a fantastic goal from 25 yards. That goal was a wake-up call for my lads, they took control of the game but I was quite shocked to see them wasting no less than four clear cut chances before half time!

Half time score: 1-0

Half time team talk: Sympathise.

Half time substitutions: Derrick Williams for Billington, Jacob Walcott for Banton, Omar Koroma for Hills

The second half was a total nightmare, one of those times when everything that can go wrong does go wrong… First we netted the equalizer through Mark Cullen on 52 minutes but Hartlepool took the lead again just two minutes later. The game went totally wild from that point on, there were chances on both ends but we managed to make it all square again 13 minutes from time through Jacob Hronec. It wasn’t over yet though, Hartlepool took the lead again on 89 minutes, then we leveled it again during injury time when Daniel Pappoe netted a corner kick header but we lost the game due to a last-gasp goal! It was a harsh result, the team played a pretty good game but our defense should have done a bit better.

Full time team talk: Good effort!

Man of the match: Jacob Hronec

Flop of the match: Dale Hills

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the highlights.

Derby vs Vauxhall (League 1)

Venue: Pride Park

Attendance: 17,376

Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Jacob Hronec, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Carlos Bogado, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Keith Higgs — Darryl Duffy, Mark Cullen

Team Talk: You can win today!

Derby were having a rather disappointing season, they were in 12th place before the game. We got off to a flying start as Mervin Simon headed in a corner kick cross inside the first minute of play but a mix-up in our defense canceled that effort just three minutes later. We controlled the game until half time but we were unable to get back in the lead. Derrick Williams had to come in around the half hour mark for injured Baddeley, I was hoping that the injury wouldn’t prove to be a serious one.

Half time score: 1-1

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Peter Leven for Howson, Dale Hills for Cullen

We resumed our attacks after the interval and Darryl Duffy finally slotted home on 66 minutes and the three points seemed to be secured. The match was under our control but things could have gone wrong during injury time when Derby were denied by the post! I was happy to get the three points but unfortunately Grant Baddeley‘s injury was quite serious, he was going to be out for three months so his season was as good as over. It was quite a blow to lose one of our best players but it was a lucky break for young left back Lucky Sibiya, I gave up the prospect of loaning him out and promoted him to the first team.

Full time team talk: Disappointing!

Man of the match: Mervin Simon

Flop of the match: Dale Hills

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the highlights.

Vauxhall vs Notts County (Johnstone’s Paint Trophy North Final — second leg)

Venue: Rivacre Park

Attendance: 2,500 (capacity crowd)

Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Daniel Pappoe, Mervin Simon, Lucky Sibiya — Darren King, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Mark Cullen, Ibrahima M’Bow

Team Talk: Encourage.

The second leg of the JPT North final was expected to be a comfortable one of us since we had won the away leg 1-0. I decided to give both Sibiya and M’Bow a chance to make their debuts and they played pretty well as the game was put beyond doubt inside the opening 20 minutes thanks to goals from Mervin Simon and Jason Banton.

Half time score: 2-0

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Derrick Williams for Simon, Nathan Rooney for Howson, Dale Hills for Cullen

The players were quite relaxed and Mark Brown finally managed to score his first goal for the club before Derrick Williams made it 4-0 with a free kick header. Notts County pulled one back with a spectacular lob from 30 yards out but it was too late, we were going to Wembley! The final is going to be played in April and we are going to face fellow League 1 side Brighton.

Full time team talk: Congratulations!

Man of the match: Mark Brown

Flop of the match: Mark Cullen

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the highlights.

Vauxhall vs Plymouth (League 1)

Venue: Rivacre Park

Attendance: 2,403

Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Alex Billington — Jacob Hronec, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Mark Cullen, Dale Hills

Team Talk: You can win today!

Plymouth were in 19th place before the game but I was quite cautious after the mishap we had at Hartlepool. This time we didn’t leave any room for doubt though, Mark Cullen powered in his 20th goal of the season four minutes into the game and then Jason Banton and Dale Hills made it 3-0 before the break. We had some bad news as well, Sashi Chalwe left the field on a stretcher and was replaced by Daniel Pappoe.

Half time score: 3-0

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Peter Leven for Brown, Jacob Walcott for Banton

The second half was all quiet, my lads took the foot off the gas but kept things safely under control. It was a refreshing win but we couldn’t really celebrate it since Chalwe was going to be out for three weeks.

Full time team talk: Well done!

Man of the match: Graham Howson

Flop of the match: Jacob Hronec

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the highlights.

The FA Cup relay against Burnley was coming up, go to the next page to see how that went.

Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.

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!