It's A God-awful Small Affair... (H) MK Dons 23/01/16

[bedwetter2]

Thanks for the commentary Tango. I can't get to many games so it's very helpful that you provide the important info.

Delighted that we performed much better. I wonder if it had anything to do with Muamba's critical remarks about several players not really trying when he knows they can perform to a much higher level?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Said there's hope yet. We're now edging back toward being in a five-team group, and the pother four are just as hopeless away as us. Today we were at home to one of them, two of the others were away – and I'm beginning to think the exceptions Charlton, who've already played the change-the-gaffer card twice this season, are hopeless home and away.

There were protests outside the Valley earlier - video at https://twitter.com/NewsShopperSprt/sta ... 18/video/1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As has been noted, try to keep this going. FA Cup game is a free go; next league game is a week on Tuesday at Wolves, day after deadline, so we'll know how many players we've lost (or not). And four days after that, we host Rotherham...

[malcd1]

Bolton were excellent today. The best they've played for a very long time. Every player contributed even Trotter and Dervite had good games.

Holding reminded me of a young Gudni today. Won every tackle and came galloping up the pitch on 3 or 4 occasions. Mark Davies was back to his busy best, Pratley was all over the place including up front, Silva proved me wrong and was creative and entertaining, Moxey bombed up and down the wing hardly putting a foot wrong, Feeney put in a number of excellent crosses in addition to the usual hard work and Madine won almost every header and made himself a nuisance all game.

So many positives and no negatives. Credit to Lennon as well. Played for the full 90 minutes rather than just one half.

[twilight]

I'm chuffed to bits tonight!! Seen 2 wins on the trot, all the players getting a thumbs up from me....and Trotter, what the hell???? He is fantastic, the man has replaced his castors for a hoverboard, he covers every blade of grass! And best of all I got my hot chocolate off Bijou, Thanks mate

[thebish]

now trotter's back the season is turning!

[BWFC_Insane]

The funny thing is we look a better side since Trotter has been back in it.

There is a chink of light here, a glimmer of hope. It is the hope that kills you but in these circumstances even hope looked unlikely. Squad is starting to show some character and I hope it continues.

[Worthy4England]

now trotter's back the season is turning!

Sometimes you can be a bad bastard yer holiness.

[Burnden Paddock]

Bolton were excellent today. The best they've played for a very long time. Every player contributed even Trotter and Dervite had good games.

Holding reminded me of a young Gudni today. Won every tackle and came galloping up the pitch on 3 or 4 occasions. Mark Davies was back to his busy best, Pratley was all over the place including up front, Silva proved me wrong and was creative and entertaining, Moxey bombed up and down the wing hardly putting a foot wrong, Feeney put in a number of excellent crosses in addition to the usual hard work and Madine won almost every header and made himself a nuisance all game.

So many positives and no negatives. Credit to Lennon as well. Played for the full 90 minutes rather than just one half.

Pretty much this, but wanted to add Madine's bloody woeful finishing. If we had a striker who could finish, we wouldn't be anywhere near as badly off as we currently are imo.

[Nicko58]

Trotter made a real difference in midfield. He's actually one of our better passers but the main thing is he plays the simple ball forward rather than looking to turn inside and risk losing possession. Danns should take note of that. His and Pratley's physical presence in the middle also made us more solid.

Holding had a good game and is getting better and better each week. He looks as though he could be a real find. Feeney gave us his best performance for some time and Wellington Silva caused them so much trouble that they resorted to hacking him down after he started to take the piss late on.

There is one caveat, and I don't want to put on downer on things, but we won't play another team as poor as them for the rest of the season.

For those in the UK, the highlights (and there are many) can be found here.

[TANGODANCER]

^ Thanks Nicko58

[bobo the clown]

A few people have said Trotter was good. However hard it is for me to take that in if it was the case then bravo to him.

He has a lot of ground to make up though.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

For those in the UK, the highlights (and there are many) can be found here.

It might just be that the moment 21 seconds into this video is when our season turns.

Trotter completely neglects to run with his man Joe Walsh – who seems younger than he did in his days playing with the Eagles* - but for reasons unknown, six yards out with the goal gaping and closest defender Doreen doing a great Marcel Marceau imitation of a tramp having a shit, the McDoner gets under the header and hits the bar. We'll never know but I get the feeling that had that gone in, it would have been an awful kick in the balls and might swiftly have gone south.

Thank God that didn't happen. And nicely before half-time, D-Pratz scores his third in five games with what looks suspiciously like a pleasingly deflected hit-and-hope. I hope it is a turning point.

* Old muso joke. If you don't get it, ask your dad

[jonnycooper]

I'm chuffed to bits tonight!! Seen 2 wins on the trot, all the players getting a thumbs up from me....and Trotter, what the hell???? He is fantastic, the man has replaced his castors for a hoverboard, he covers every blade of grass! And best of all I got my hot chocolate off Bijou, Thanks mate

See what the Freedman has done? Returned us another Gift!

[Prufrock]

Whilst never one to knock Darren, is this not the first of his three in five to come against a team whose actual jobs are being footballers?

[Il Pirate]

Super win today..
For all you panic fannies, although you don't need to pull yer knickers right up to the top to cover up yet, at least have 'em around yer knees, 'cos there is now light at the end of the tunnel.
Is it a coincidence that not only Pratley, but also Mavies has been playing better since YaYa Trotter was reintroduced to the starting eleven?
Superb finish by Shola today. I just hope if he does go to pastures new, it won't be a case of 'if only'?........

COYWM!!!!

[TKIZ!]

Not been back from the game long, 5 points from the game:

1/ Atmosphere was cracking throughout
2/ Holding has some skills on him and a couple of times he went on mazy runs
3/ Ref looked for any excuse to give them a free kick and his treatment of Wellybob was disgraceful
4/ I'm filled with a tiny bit of hope
5/ Madine shouldn't have played, I think he's playing with an injury

[DJBlu]

Went today, in fact first game this season.

Was queuing for tickets when a generous man offered the use of some season tickets.

Again thanks to that man!

Big shout out to Holding. It's like he's been in the side for ages. Did the simple stuff well and didn't stray from it. Had he finished the shot after his mazy run then we'd have witnessed one of the goals of the season.

Trotter! What a transformation. Really did work hard, shame he couldn't finish his chance.

Only point to note was Spearing's contribution when he came on. Poor passing, his 1st three passes went to an MK Dons player. His pass led to the goal for MK Dons. He just struggles to get in to the game from the off.

Thanks to Ameobi for making the 4 minutes the ref added on a lot easier.

Such a good feeling walking away from the ground with 3 points in the bag.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Whilst never one to knock Darren, is this not the first of his three in five to come against a team whose actual jobs are being footballers?

Eastleigh are full-time pros, but point taken.

[Nicko58]

For those in the UK, the highlights (and there are many) can be found here.

It might just be that the moment 21 seconds into this video is when our season turns.

Trotter completely neglects to run with his man Joe Walsh – who seems younger than he did in his days playing with the Eagles* - but for reasons unknown, six yards out with the goal gaping and closest defender Doreen doing a great Marcel Marceau imitation of a tramp having a shit, the McDoner gets under the header and hits the bar. We'll never know but I get the feeling that had that gone in, it would have been an awful kick in the balls and might swiftly have gone south.

Thank God that didn't happen. And nicely before half-time, D-Pratz scores his third in five games with what looks suspiciously like a pleasingly deflected hit-and-hope. I hope it is a turning point.

* Old muso joke. If you don't get it, ask your dad

So do I, but I was certain that our season would turn when we scored that last minute equaliser at home to Brighton and look how that turned out. Let's hope that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a train coming from the opposite direction for once.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

So do I, but I was certain that our season would turn when we scored that last minute equaliser at home to Brighton and look how that turned out. Let's hope that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a train coming from the opposite direction for once.