Vauxhall Story: April and May 2015

Hello folks, I am sorry that you had to wait so long for this update but I had a pretty rough week at work and although spring finally showed its beauty over here I felt extremely tired throughout the last few days. I did manage to squeeze in some FM time though and I’m happy to bring you another episode of the Vauxhall Motors story. As you remember we were 2nd in the Championship at the end of March 2015, four points behind leaders Burnley and two points clear of third placed Middlesbrough. The race was fiercely tight, I’m quite sure that you are curious to see what happened in the closing months of the season. Let’s see…

Vauxhall vs Cardiff (Championship)

Venue: Rivacre Park

Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)

Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Keith Higgs — Andrés, Dale Hills

Team Talk: I expect a win!

Cardiff were the weakest team in the league, they were in 24th place before the game and I made it clear to the players that we would have no excuses for not winning this match. We didn’t start the game too well though, the players were probably feeling the pressure, but we got a bit lucky as left winger Keith Higgs squeezed in his 10th goal of the season on 16 minutes. Our game didn’t improve much after the goal but we doubled the lead before the break thanks to a rather scrappy goal, a shot from Dale Hills took a deflection off Mervin Simon and went in. We didn’t really deserve to be leading 2-0 at half time, I have to admit that.

Half time score: 2-0

Half time team talk: Encourage.

Half time substitutions: Jason Banton for Higgs, Kaka for Harris

Mervin Simon could have scored his second of the game a couple of minutes after the re-start but his corner kick header hit the post and bounced clear. Cardiff were not giving up and they had a couple of decent chances around the hour mark but they were denied by goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis on a first occasion and then by the crossbar later on. Then we regained control in midfield, probably thanks to substitute Connor Newton who was sent in to replace tired Mark Brown, and Cardiff were no longer able to threaten our three points.

Full time team talk: Well done!

Man of the match: Mervin Simon

Flop of the match: Kaka

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the match highlights.

Norwich vs Vauxhall (Championship)

Venue: Carrow Road

Attendance: 24,824

Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Ray Davis — Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Keith Higgs — Andrés, Ibrahima MBow

Team Talk: You can win today!

This game was a lot more difficult, Norwich were in 5th place before the match and they were genuine promotion contenders. We didn’t have good memories of them either, they beat us 2-1 at home in the league and 3-2 in the FA Cup. The match was quite tense during the opening minutes, I was expecting that, and the home side came close on 19 minutes when a good effort skimmed off the post. We had our own chance a few minutes later, Ibrahima MBow broke through on a counter attack but the finish was disgusting to say the least. Norwich were the better side though and they finally opened the scoring on 28 minutes, moments after testing the woodwork for the second time. My lads started to play a bit better after that goal but it wasn’t nearly good enough. However, we managed to clinch the equalizer just before half time and it was Mervin Simon who came to the rescue again with a corner kick header.

Half time score: 1-1

Half time team talk: You can win today!

Half time substitutions: Connor Newton for Chamberlain, Daniel Toribio for Suso, Jason Banton for Higgs

I was quite worried at half time, most of my players were exhausted and I would have wanted to make around six or seven substitutions to be honest. That wasn’t possible unfortunately and my team was ripped apart after the break. Norwich dominated the last 45 minutes and they managed to score twice, both goals from corner kicks. We never showed signs of fighting back so I have to admit that it was a well-deserved victory for our opponents. The defeat saw us slipping into third place, one point behind Middlesbrough, so automatic promotion was not looking so possible anymore.

Full time team talk: Disappointing!

Man of the match: Mark Brown

Flop of the match: Ken Harris

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the match highlights.

Middlesbrough vs Vauxhall (Championship)

Venue: The Riverside Stadium

Attendance: 15,159

Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Kaka, Carlos Santos, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Alex Chamberlain, Connor Newton, Suso, Keith Higgs — Lenny Nangis, Dale Hills

Team Talk: You can win today!

This was the match of the season, that’s what I was thinking before the kick-off. Boro were just one point ahead of us in 2nd place so we had to avoid defeat if we wanted to get back that automatic promotion spot. We started the game pretty well this time, the home side was unable to create any chances at all, but we were not very incisive either. Overall it was a pretty boring first half with the only event being the injury to Connor Newton who had to be replaced with Daniel Toribio.

Half time score: 0-0

Half time team talk: You can win today!

Half time substitutions: Sashi Chalwe for Simon, Jason Banton for Higgs

Things got a lot better immediately after the interval, a great pass from Lenny Nangis found Dale Hills behind the defense and the young striker finished the move with a cool finish to give us the lead. We continued to take the game to our opponents after the goal, we were dominating the game completely but we wasted a pair of good chances to put the game to bed. We finally managed to seal the three points a few minutes before the final whistle when a corner kick header from Sashi Chalwe bounced off the crossbar but into the path of Alex Chamberlain who calmly pushed it in. It was a perfect game from my lads as you can see from the match stats, Middlesbrough didn’t show any signs of life in attack!

Full time team talk: Well done!

Man of the match: Alex Chamberlain

Flop of the match: Keith Higgs

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the match highlights.

The great result against a direct rival saw us bouncing back in second place, two points behind leaders Burnley and two points clear of third placed Middlesbrough. Our presence in the promotion playoffs was certain at that point but I was hoping for more, an automatic promotion and maybe even the title!

We had two back to back home games before the end of April, let’s see how those went.

Vauxhall vs Preston (Championship)

Venue: Rivacre Park

Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)

Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Ray Davis — Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Keith Higgs — Andrés, Ibrahima MBow

Team Talk: You can win today!

Preston were in the middle of a fierce fight to avoid relegation, they were 21st before the game and I was sure that they were going to give us a good run for our money. My lads were totally unleashed though, we created no less than three good chances inside the opening 10 minutes! Those opportunities were not converted unfortunately and that added even more pressure on my team. Ibrahima MBow finally fired one in from inside the penalty area two minutes before the break, I was quite relieved to see that ball finally going in…

Half time score: 1-0

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Graeme Owens for Chamberlain, Daniel Toribio for Suso, Jason Banton for Higgs

Preston reacted pretty well after half time and goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis pulled off a pair of good saves to keep us in front before the hour mark. Then the game cooled off a bit as we regained control and Jason Banton killed off the contest six minutes from time with a fine effort.

Full time team talk: Well done!

Man of the match: Andrés

Flop of the match: Alex Chamberlain

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the match highlights.

Vauxhall vs Hull (Championship)

Venue: Rivacre Park

Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)

Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Kaka, Carlos Santos, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Keith Higgs — Lenny Nangis, Andrés

Team Talk: You can win today!

Hull were in 12th place before the game, our last match of April and our last home game of the season as well. I was hoping to say goodbye to our fans with a win and Mervin Simon put us right on track on 25 minutes with yet another corner kick header. We could have doubled the lead before the break but I was pretty happy with the display, especially because Hull had no shots at all during the opening 45 minutes.

Half time score: 1-0

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Matthias Gohlert for Brown, Jason Banton for Higgs

We started to play even better after the break and it took us just three minutes to find the back of the net again, Andrés was presented with an easy finish and he slotted home. We continued to dominate and we came close to scoring another pair of goals but the ball hit the woodwork on two occasions. And then… Then the nightmare came… Hull pulled one back on a counter attack on 68 minutes but we were still pretty much in control of the game. That was until the 81st minute, some tragic and comic defending handed Hull the equalizer, I couldn’t believe it…

Full time team talk: Sympathise.

Man of the match: Mark Brown

Flop of the match: Suso

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the match highlights.

We dropped two immense points against Hull, we could have been top of the table if we would have won that game… We were still second, one point behind Burnley but tied on points with Middlesbrough…

We had two more games to play and both were away from home, not an ideal end of season schedule at all.

Let’s see how those two decisive games went, please go to the next page to find out…

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

Portsmouth vs Vauxhall (Championship)

Venue: Fratton Park

Attendance: 16,725

Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Keith Higgs — Andrés, Ibrahima MBow

Team Talk: You can win today!

Portsmouth were in 10th place before the match, they had nothing left to play for other than pride. That meant that they didn’t have any pressure either and that showed right away, they put together a superb team move eight minutes into the game and took the lead. We had to react at that point and we did but we didn’t have too much luck this time either. Right winger Alex Chamberlain was the man who was driving us forward but he was denied by the crossbar on the half hour mark and then by a stunning double save from the goalie during stoppage time.

Half time score: 1-0

Half time team talk: Sympathise.

Half time substitutions: Jason Banton for Higgs, Lenny Nangis for Andrés

We deserved an equalizer and we finally got it six minutes after the re-start, a long throw from left back Grant Baddeley found substitute Lenny Nangis inside the area, the striker displayed a brilliant first touch and then fired home from close range. He had a similar chance just three minutes later, he was unmarked inside the six yard box but his finish hit the post! We continued to push forward but Pompey were defending well and even caused some trouble on counter attacks. We had one last chance during injury time, Jason Banton unleashed a good-looking shot but the ball hit the post for the third time… We could and should have won this game and I guess we can blame bad luck for the result.

Full time team talk: Sympathise.

Man of the match: Grant Baddeley

Flop of the match: Andrés

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the match highlights.

We had one last game to play and the situation was not looking good: Middlesbrough were top of the table, two points clear of second placed Brunley who were just ahead of us on goal difference.

Our last game of the season was away at sixth placed Sheffield United, a team that was still fighting to snatch a playoff place, while both Middlesbrough and Burnley were playing at home against Leicester and Swansea respectively.

Sheffield United vs Vauxhall (Championship)

Venue: Bramall Lane

Attendance: 28,170

Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Keith Higgs — Andrés, Ibrahima MBow

Team Talk: For the fans!

Our chances of getting that automatic promotion were pretty slim, our fate was not entirely in our hands anymore. We had to do our part though and hope for a favorable result in the other games. The game didn’t start too well for us, right back Ken Harris hobbled off the pitch after just eleven minutes and was replaced by Kaka, but we got lucky on 23 minutes as a powerful shot from Suso was deflected by MBow and went straight into the top corner! That goal gave us wings, the lads were playing with real fire in their bellies and the reward came on the stroke of half time when a counter attack saw Ibrahima MBow drilling in a low cross and Andrés firing in with a splendid first time finish! We were leading 2-0 at half time Middlesbrough were also leading Leicester 1-0 but Burnley were being held to a goalless draw by Swansea! We were in 2nd place at half time, it looked like that infamous promotion was there for the taking after all!

Half time score: 0-2

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Jason Banton for Higgs

We continued to look fairly confident after the break but a great shot from distance suddenly brought Sheffield United back into the game on 56 minutes… I was fearing a fightback at that point but my lads were still looking pretty calm. I made another change on 70 minutes as I felt the need to add some fresh legs in midfield, Connor Newton for Alex Chamberlain. While I made the substitution I also checked the scores on the other stadiums and Burnley were still being held to a 0-0 draw by Swansea, our chance was still there… It was for just five more minutes though, Sheffield United surprised my defenders with a quick move and it was all square 15 minutes from time! We didn’t panic though, my boys started pouring forward and we had a huge chance eight minutes from time, Suso had all the time and the space in the world to score from inside the penalty area but he missed! The ball went behind, their keepers kicked it from the corner of the six yard box, a long and peculiar kick that somehow converted into a clear chance and our opponents didn’t miss, we were 3-2 down with 7 minutes left… I leaned back in my chair, all hope was gone… I got back up four minutes later, midfielder Mark Brown unleashed a swerving shot from the edge of the area an it went in, there still was a glimmer of hope… Come on lads, come on… We were pushing forward desperately, relentlessly… And we had one more chance before the final whistle, a Mervin Simon nodded a corner kick cross towards goal but it was cleared off the line by a defender, so close… Too close…

Full time team talk: Sympathise.

Man of the match: Mark Brown

Flop of the match: Sashi Chalwe

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the match highlights.

Burnley vs Swansea ended 0-0 but that was of no use to us anymore, Burnley were promoted on goal difference while we had to go through the playoff purgatory…

It’s quite ironical, we’re going to meet Sheffield United in the semi final and I admit that I’m not having a good feeling about that game. It’s 12:25 am while I’m writing this and I’ll probably play the game sometime tomorrow if I’ll have some quiet minutes but I feel that my players are as demoralized as I am, their confidence might not be too high at the start of that match. I hope I’ll find the right words to motivate them by then.

That’s how it was folks but I wouldn’t call it a disaster, that word has a completely different meaning to me after what happened in Japan. I guess heartbreak would be the right word but that doesn’t matter too much, we missed out on promotion but we’re still in with a chance. We’ll fight right till the finish, stay tuned for that!