Giving Cobblers the boot? Home to Northampton Tues, 28th Jan 19-45

[Prufrock]

Second half of yesterday only reiterated for me that the interview should have an initial one question stage.

Exactly how many is the right number of defenders?

5 - thank you for your time.

3 - sure sure, but really you mean.. 5? Yeah thought so, thank you for coming in.

4 - bingo, let's move on to the next stage. What's your name and have you ever managed a football team before?

[Worthy4England]

We had a spine back in the team last night that has been missing for 12 months.

Forrester and Johnston at the back, headed everything and threw their bodies on the line. They hardly gave Northampton a shot on goal.

Thomason and Morley ran their socks whenever we lost the ball and used it wisely when they had the chance.

Victor and Collins worked so hard up front to close down their defenders. I have never seen Collins run as much as he did and use the ball so wisely. Came deep to collect the ball and ran the channels well. Collins was my man of the match and probably the best game I have seen him play. Another fantastic goal to his collection and a great pass from Randall.

Not the game for the purist. Passed it around when we could but took no chances at the back. Lots of determination and spirit that has been missing recently.

I think one of the things the last two games have shown me, is how far away from the notion of a functioning "spine" we've been, probably for more than a year, doubling down on Plan A. I mean, at one point yesterday, I also saw a head height cross heading towards Szabi!

What was a notable difference was we did not have much width. Tutu had a bit of joy during the game with his pace and trickery but not much after taking the lead. Schon has probably been one of our most consistent players recently but he seemed to have mainly defensive duties last night. Hardly got forward.

The two subs also played as full backs and barely passed the half way line (hardly surprising when we were leading).

Made a change that we seemed capable of defending a lead.

Yeah, I mean I wouldn't advocate that as the blueprint, but it was pretty clear and has been since last season, you won't be successful if only one end of the pitch is looked at. Probably the most logical thing for Jules to do, was to give us some solidity and hope we nicked a couple at the other end. I have no doubt that you can be solid and use wingers, but he's managed in a week, to do something we've been told would need signings, changes of some philosophy, a bit of an overhaul involving players who could play CD, LCD, LWB and maybe tea lady, so on that basis, I'm good with it, knowing full well that to add width would probably take some of next week too!.

[dave the minion]

Second half of yesterday only reiterated for me that the interview should have an initial one question stage.

Exactly how many is the right number of defenders?

5 - thank you for your time.

3 - sure sure, but really you mean.. 5? Yeah thought so, thank you for coming in.

4 - bingo, let's move on to the next stage. What's your name and have you ever managed a football team before?

Looked like we reverted to a 4 when Murphy came on - he seemed to drop to left back and Jones moved across to right back, with Forrester & Johnston in the middle. Looked good and fairly natural - although don't know if it was deliberate as when JDC came on I think we went back to the 3/5 at the back (albeit much deeper than usual as already noted).

Credit to JDC too - his end product is oft-criticised, but it was a lovely touch to setup Collins for the winner on Saturday, and a similarly lovely pass last night for Collins' header that somehow managed not to go in

[Bertie Wooster]

He looked a decent player Murphy, I was impressed with him when he came on - he was strong & solid and decent on the ball. Forrester was excellent.

[dave the minion]

Agree. Think Murphy won every aerial duel and looked OK on the ball. Forrester was again very solid and a couple of (risky!) incidents where nifty footwork got him out of trouble. Johnston showing what he's capable of too - I think he flung himself of 2 or 3 shots to block on the edge of the box.....

[MattySlug]

Whoa i checked the BWFC app looking at a not yet updated game page what a surprise when it connected back to internet; what a cool win for Bolton Wanderers !
1-1 after 10 minutes
2-1 halftime score from late Own Goal
What a lovely game attended by over 18,000 !