Red cards and Red Kits, Bolton v Charlton - 17th Feb 2024 3pm

[Mar]

Just a note on the games happening tomorrow...

Portsmouth (1) - Reading (16)
Derby (2) - Stevenage (7)
Bolton (3) - Charlton (20)
Fleetwood (23) - Barnsley (4)
Peterborough (5) - Blackpool (9)
Wycombe (15) - Oxford (6)

The Portsmouth vs Reading fixture may on paper seem an easy one given their league positions but you should take into account that Reading are the third in form team in the league at the minute without a defeat in the last 6, P3W3D3L0.

Derby's form is not too dissimilar to Stevenage's so we may see some points dropped there. Meanwhile Peterborough vs. Blackpool are in similar form, but Peterborough have been affected massively by their keeper being out and their backup being less than exceptionally shocking. Oxford's form is similarly has a dip, but they may be boosted by their win last matchday.


All in all, there's plenty of room for upsets this weekend.

Spare a thought for Carlisle. Propping up the league table and had recently come out of playing plenty of tough games, six successive games against the top 10 (Oxford, Barnsley, Bolton, Leyton Orient and Portsmouth). Up next is Cambridge, so things may look nicer on the horizon.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Prediction: Pompey to win with the help of a penalty....

Derby-Stevenage is interesting because Steve Evans' side are better equipped than most to physically stand up to Paul Warne's, although the not-in-any-way-unsafely big spenders will hope their extra quality will count

Blackpool need to buck up - they're 8pts off the playoffs - so this weekend would be nice. That said, we're now 6pts clear of Posh from a game less, so to me it's really about reeling in those two above us.

[Mar]

Prediction: Pompey to win with the help of a penalty....

Derby-Stevenage is interesting because Steve Evans' side are better equipped than most to physically stand up to Paul Warne's, although the not-in-any-way-unsafely big spenders will hope their extra quality will count

Blackpool need to buck up - they're 8pts off the playoffs - so this weekend would be nice. That said, we're now 6pts clear of Posh from a game less, so to me it's really about reeling in those two above us.

The Blackpool one is especially interesting as they play each other midweek in the semi to get to Wembley. Ramifications of tough tackling make it especially interesting to gauge how it's going to play out.

[TANGODANCER]

"Awake, for morning in the bowl of night, has cast the stone that puts the stars to flight"...

Just to set the mood of awakeness for today. Time to think of goals and good cheer. Wake up now and urge on The Whites...Get in there.. ............................

[TANGODANCER]

"Awake, for morning in the bowl of night, has cast the stone that puts the stars to flight"...

Just to set the mood of awakeness for today. Time to think of goals and good cheer. Wake up now and urge on The Whites...Get in there.. ............................

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

So what XI would you pick today folks?

I'd go Coleman; Geth-Toal-Iredale; JDC-Demps-Sheehan-Maghoma-Ashworth; Collins-Vic – but I'd be looking to bring on Bod, Ramsay and Ogbeta somewhere shortly after the hour, and maybe CMG as an 8 not long after. Other subs - Jerome, Morley, Taylor. (I'm assuming Forrester isn't quite fit yet, let alone Rico, Bax, Williams).

[sonicthewhite]

So what XI would you pick today folks?

I'd go Coleman; Geth-Toal-Iredale; JDC-Demps-Sheehan-Maghoma-Ashworth; Collins-Vic – but I'd be looking to bring on Bod, Ramsay and Ogbeta somewhere shortly after the hour, and maybe CMG as an 8 not long after. Other subs - Jerome, Morley, Taylor. (I'm assuming Forrester isn't quite fit yet, let alone Rico, Bax, Williams).

Exactly what I was thinking.

[truewhite15]

Assuming the injuries are the same, plus Dion, then it should be, for me...

Colema

Geth-Toal-Iredale

JDC-Dempsey-Sheehan-Maghoma-Ogbeta

Vic-AC

Though you could make an argument, in a home game we really should be winning, to have CMG starting instead of Maghoma.

[truewhite15]

Ogbeta likely won't be starting. He's out on the pitch already doing the exercises that Forrester has been doing the last couple of games...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Ogbeta likely won't be starting. He's out on the pitch already doing the exercises that Forrester has been doing the last couple of games...

Aye - TBF it's not his turn and Ashworth has been growing well. Find out in a minute!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

XI seems fair enough. Ogbeta the only fit player left out of the 18, which is a shame but they can't all play.

I will of course accept a narrow win but I'd like us to play well and deserve it. Just been looking at our xG and we've been frankly slightly lucky to get 4pts this last week - lower xG than oppos in both games. Course, you can say that good teams find a way and neither CMG's equaliser nor Bod's winner were high-probability chances - but since New Year's Day, Carlisle is the only game we've properly "deserved" to win per the xG stats. Time we started to show again that we're top-two stuff.

[Worthy4England]

since New Year's Day, Carlisle is the only game we've properly "deserved" to win per the xG stats. Time we started to show again that we're top-two stuff.

Good job you win on G, not xG, innit?

[sonicthewhite]

I'm under orders to crack on with the decorating today so in between coats of gloss paint I'll be brewing up and checking in on our performance. It wants to be a good one. COYWM!

[BorsdaneWhite]

No May for them. Interesting. A little concerned about Ladapo vs. Toal, but pre-game jitters.

Sheehan back. Collins looks, so far, dangerous off the shoulder. Hope Sheehan can find that ball over the top again today—akin to Carlisle.

Into ‘em.

[DJBlu]

Zee couch is plump and ready for backsides.

[sonicthewhite]

Zee couch is plump and ready for backsides.

Unfortunately I will have to forego its plumpiness. Hopefully someone else can make better use of your plumpy offer!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

since New Year's Day, Carlisle is the only game we've properly "deserved" to win per the xG stats. Time we started to show again that we're top-two stuff.

Good job you win on G, not xG, innit?

Sure is - at the moment, at least. But these things have a habit of reverting themselves, not unlike a brick on elastic.

[BWFC_Insane]

Funny feeling on this one. We might struggle. Hope not.

[sonicthewhite]

Well pre-match brew finished so back to the decorating.