Vauxhall Motors Story: February and March 2013

Hello dear friends and thanks for coming back to read another episode of my Football Manager 2011 story! I hope you all had a nice Christmas and that you’ll have a much better new year. Back to the story then: we were still top of the table at the end of January 2013, four points clear of second placed Southend but our rivals had a game in hand. We haven’t been very consistent in the last months but I was hoping to see the team going back to the form that took us to the top of the league table earlier in the season.

We were having a pretty good FA Cup run though and after causing a few upsets we reached the 4th round where we were going to meet League One side MK Dons. We were going to play away from home, a slight disadvantage that seemed to be very important after the first half as our opponents took the lead 15 minutes into the game and then kept pushing for a second goal. Fortunately goalkeeper Martin Hansen kept us alive until the break and then the team started to play a bit better. We managed to find the equalizer just before the hour mark thanks to an Omar Koroma header but we couldn’t do more than that. Anyway, we earned the right to a replay and probably a sell-out at Rivacre Park.

Our first league game of the month was a very important one, away at third placed Darlington. We had a nightmare start as goalie Martin Hansen fumbled one in just six minutes into the game but the team reacted well and created a few chances before half time. We netted the equalizer on 59 minutes when loanee Luke Williams fired one in off the post but Darlington struck again 17 minutes from time. We played pretty well but we wasted far too many chances for such an important game. I guess we would have deserved at least a draw but that’s football, you have to get the ball in! By the way, it was Luke Williams’ last game with us, his loan deal expired and he didn’t want to extend it although his club was more than willing to let him stay with us until the end of the season.

Next up, a home game against 10th placed Accrington. We had to get a win here and things set out nicely as Fraser Kerr powered in a corner kick header before Darryl Duffy doubled the lead from the penalty spot. We appeared to be in full control of the game but it wasn’t the case, our opponents pegged us back and made the score level 11 minutes from time. You can imagine how frustrated I was but fortunately Omar Koroma finally slotted home four minutes from time after both Duffy and Michael Ball were denied by a double save from the keeper. I was relieved to see the three points in our bag but I had more than one reason to be worried for the matches ahead.

It was time for the much anticipated FA Cup replay against MK Dons, all the tickets were sold and our tiny stadium was packed! Unfortunately our fans didn’t have much to cheer about during the first half, we played rather poorly but our opponents took the lead only after the break by taking advantage of an error in our defense. All seemed to be lost but we got back into the game on 65 minutes when a pinpoint free kick cross from Michael Duckworth was headed home by Omar Koroma! The game was wide open again, both teams were trying to score the knockout blow but it was us who did it 5 minutes from time: midfielder Michael Ball played a perfect ball in for substitute right winger Pietro Palladino and the tiny man fired it straight into the roof of the net! Get in! The game wasn’t over yet though, our opponents threw themselves forward but we held out to go through to the last sixteen!

We were going to meet a much better opponent in the fifth round: Aston Villa! That was our next game and I was pleased to see another capacity crowd at Rivacre Park! The odds were firmly against us but the lads put on a courageous display. I felt that we wouldn’t have survived with a defensive approach so I went for our usual possession football. It didn’t work great but we managed to survive and grab a creditable draw. It was mostly thanks to our goalkeeper though, Martin Hansen probably played the best game of his career and deservedly earned the man of the match award. We even came close on one occasion but we hit the woodwork. It would have been unfair to win the game though, Aston Villa had loads of chances and tested our carpentry no less than three times! We were going to Villa Park for a replay, not bad!

Back to the league for the last game of the month, at home with 9th placed Gillingham. We started the game pretty well, the match seemed to be in our hands but our opponents took the lead against the run of play three minutes before half time. We continued to push forward after the break but there wasn’t much inspiration in our attacking moves. We finally netted the equalizer 14 minutes from time when right back Jacob Hronec nodded home a free kick cross but I felt that we had dropped two points.

We were still top of the table at the end of the month but Southend were just a point behind us, too close for comfort!

We had to do better in March but I wasn’t too optimistic, the players were appearing to be lacking the cold blood that one needs in such moments of pressure. Anyway, head over to the next page to see what happened in March!

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

The first game in March was away at 17th placed Torquay and I was quietly hoping to get back on track. My hopes went up when Shane Williams slotted home to put us ahead four minutes after the break but then my team crumbled and Torquay went on to win the game. They deserved it too!

Next up, the mission impossible match at Aston Villa, the FA Cup fifth round replay. We didn’t play too well this time, we couldn’t manage to get any shots towards their net but we held out until 13 minutes from time when substitute Dindane fired home the decisive goal. I wasn’t hoping to win this game but I would have wanted to see something more in attack from my team. Anyway, it was a fine FA Cup run and I congratulated the lads for it.

Back to the league, we had to get back on track since our next game was away at bottom club Cheltenham. They had three straight defeats before that game and we made sure to add another one after Darryl Duffy scored the opener on 25 minutes and then one of their players got sent off for a professional foul. Centre back Daniel Pappoe doubled our lead after the break with a corner kick header but we had a nervy finale as Cheltenham pulled one back with a great shot from 25 yards out. We grabbed the win though, a bit scrappy but the three points were extremely important.

Back at Rivacre Park for the next game, 15th placed Wycombe were visiting. We struggled to find a breakthrough during the opening 45 minutes but experienced midfielder Peter Leven put us in front a few minutes after the break with a fine shot from 25 yards out. Unfortunately our opponents found the back of the net with their first shot on target and we found ourselves right back where we started. We had a huge chance to get back in the lead but it went to waste so we had to count yet another two dropped points…

The next game was away at struggling 23rd placed Dag & Red but I wasn’t too optimistic. Darryl Duffy broke the deadlock on 16 minutes by rounding off a fine team move but bad luck struck again and the home side made it all square four minutes before the interval. I was preparing for another frustrating match but it wasn’t the case: Oliver Nicholas and Fraser Kerr found the net from corner kicks, then Omar Koroma netted a fine goal and Duffy wrapped it up with a perfectly taken penalty kick. Finally, a convincing win!

The last game of the month was at home with 19th placed Barnet, I was counting on a second consecutive win. We got off to a great start as Duffy set up Koroma for an easy finish six minutes into the game but we really should have scored at least one more before half time. We were still pretty much in control after the interval but we were caught napping on a counter attack and Barnet made it all square just before the hour mark! It was a huge psychological blow for the team, we were unable to get it together and went on to miss another big chance before the full time whistle. Another frustrating match, another two points dropped…

As you can imagine we dropped into second spot, Southend are now top of the table and we are no less than four points behind them! I guess winning the league is not a realistic target anymore but we still have a good chance to get promoted since we’re eight points clear of 4th placed Tranmere (the top three teams get promoted).

The bad thing is that our next game is away at Tranmere so if we lose that one they would move just five points behind us! We’ll also have to meet new leaders Southend away from home, quite a tough schedule…

That’s about it folks, there are seven games left to play and we’ll have to do much better than we did in these last two months. I guess the FA Cup was an unnecessary distraction but now we have no excuses left, we just have to bring in the points one way or the other! Thanks a lot for reading and since this probably is my last post in 2010 I wish all of you and your families a fantastic 2011!