| Super U's to clip Magpie's wings in gripping Meadow Lane encounter 16:52 - Mar 31 with 958 views | durham_exile |
This weekend JM takes his rejuvenated charges to Meadow Lane Nottingham to play Kevin Nolan’s Magpies. After a vital three points against the Hatters (and a notable double) this will offer a test to see whether the Super U’s are capable of improving upon their otherwise poor Away form.
This season the record stands at 4 wins, 7 draws and 9 defeats. The victories have come at Wycombe, Cheltenham, Luton and Stevenage, whilst we still have, after Saturdays game at Notts Co, Morecambe and Orient to play away from the WHCS. Frankly nothing short of three victories will be good enough, but can the U’s do it.
Despite JM’s protestations, he is too defensive and negative minded away from home. Invariably in such games the damage has been done before the team are given the opportunity to play freely and without the fear which they seem to have instilled in them in the early stages of Away games.
This has been very much the case at all the Away games that I have been to this season, which have largely resulted in defeats (10 games, 7 defeats and 3 draws).
Carlisle, where they were on their record breaking unbeaten run at the start of the season and where we conceded and were chasing the game when former Super U Jabo Ibehre came off the bench to condemn the U’s to defeat with a headed second goal.
Doncaster Rovers, where we lost narrowly, conceding just before halftime and then battled hard for an equaliser, falling just short in the second half.
Plymouth Argyle, where we looked odds on for at least a deserved point until the Referee was knocked unconscious and was replaced only for the resultant throw in ball to be taken from the wrong position and not given back to the U’s (as it should have been) and a casual back pass to Walker from Luke Prosser led to a bizarre deflection which bounced over Walker and into the back of the net.
Exeter, where despite the scoreline, we were the better team and having once again conceded an early goal we took the game to the Grecians and then paid the price second half with two late break away goals to condemn us to another defeat.
Accrington Stanley, where frankly we were woeful first half, conceded a smartly taken first goal (Billy Kee looks a good potential signing next season) then went two down and Stanley then had a defender sent off, which led to an Alamo siege second half and despite a penalty won by Wright and converted by Porter we failed to equalise.
Grimsby, where we conceded early, Fosu hit the post and we huffed and puffed in the second half we failed to muster a vital equaliser.
Finally, Crewe where the game was in doubt until 30 minutes from kick off and then Dagnall scored early after the U’s lost Sammy Szmodics with a broken leg, second half we worked hard but Dagnall managed a very late second after the referee incorrectly allowed play to continue when it should have been brought back for a U’s free kick.
The pattern here is clear, away from home we start poorly, concede and then if we don’t equalise quickly have to chase the game and leave gaps at the back which often leaves to a second or match clinching goal.
On Saturday, we play at Meadow Lane against a County team who are now safe from relegation and who under Kevin Nolan have started to put together a decent series of results. Leading the line are veteran strikers Shola Ameobi (35 years old) and evergreen Jon Stead (33). They also have former U’s favourite Elliott Hewitt in defence.
Now I have seen the warning signs this week (with some negative views) but before we begin to believe that the Magpies are invincible, let us consider that their home record is only 5 wins, 7 draws and 8 defeats with 20 goals scored and 26 conceded. This is hardly setting the league alight and should not prevent the U’s from securing the points at the weekend.
Not even the distraction of VIP Magpie fan Vicky McClure (star of the Replacement, Line of Duty and This is England) should interfere with the U’s march to victory.
As I have stated before, there is no point in bemoaning our luck about the injuries because we simply must wait for players to recover. In the meantime, we have welcomed Tom Eastman back from injury at a key time to aid the U’s promotion push. Owen Garvan is sadly not yet fit to return, but will be needed for the crucial last few games of the season.
Jermaine Grandison has left the club, having never kicked a ball for the first team and we should wish him well during the close season as he secures employment at another club.
JM may well decide on an unchanged squad this weekend. I trust that he however will not revert to a lone striker and instead play positively with impressive youngster Rekeil Pyke lining up alongside Chris Porter to lead the line.
Regarding substitutes, I would like to see Tommy O’Sullivan get some match minutes, clearly one for the future but he has been knocking on the door for first team football.
Sam Walker will record his 150th appearance for the U’s this weekend and would dearly love to manage another clean sheet to add to his 10 this season and to record his 40th league appearance of the season.
Therefore, the Super U’s could line up thus 3,4,1,2:
Walker
James Eastman Elokobi
Brindley Wright Lapslie Murray
Dickenson
Pyke Porter
Subs:
Brill Wynter Kinsella Briggs O’Sullivan Fosu Bonne
Now the big talking point amongst the U’s fans (of which there could be 300+ at Meadow Lane) will be how many minutes’ game time Macca Bonne will manage. Normally he gets a cameo role and Away from home JM will not play three up front, but I do hope that he receives the nod with at least 30 minutes to play. 5-10 minutes is woefully insufficient to influence a game and JM must be fair to the U’s youngster by giving him sufficient time.
Of course, if we take the game to County and score early (in the first half) then when he does appear, it should be to help secure the points rather than to desperately try and claw something back from a losing position.
Nottingham is 133 miles from my Durham home, whilst the faithful from Colchester will be travelling 145 miles. Will be meeting up with Gerry and hopefully also Wessex for lunch prior to the game.
Weather in Nottingham will be partly sunny and 13 degrees C, the pitch should be decent and the faithful will be in good voice.
I have a good feeling about this one, safe journeys and enjoy the game.
Up the Super U’s
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| Super U's to clip Magpie's wings in gripping Meadow Lane encounter on 13:18 - Apr 1 with 882 views | bwildered |
Let's hope the U's travelled by coach and not by the proverbial bus, which if used to often will inevitably break down . |  |
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| Super U's to clip Magpie's wings in gripping Meadow Lane encounter on 18:10 - Apr 1 with 852 views | Leadbelly |
Parked badly today |  |
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| Super U's to clip Magpie's wings in gripping Meadow Lane encounter on 19:45 - Apr 1 with 811 views | gerry_us |
| Super U's to clip Magpie's wings in gripping Meadow Lane encounter on 18:10 - Apr 1 by Leadbelly |
Parked badly today |
The wheels fell off the bus today and it's terminal unfortunately. |  | | |
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