Cheltenham Town (A) match thread

[blue nige]

Finally we have a manager who can organise a defence with every player knowing his job and getting into position. Second half was much better particularly after Devitt and James came on when we started to pass the ball better as well as defending properly. Whatever Jolley's faults, he did us a favour bringing in Davies, Thomas and Banks and with Davies, Thomas, Platt, Jones and Nthle we have almost certainly the best set of central defenders in this league which should see us safe. Davies had a superb match again as did Jason Taylor.

I`m almost certain Sam Hird is coaching the defence and Kelly is doing the overall team strategy !

[xerxes]

Kay will be a cracking player when he grows up...I’d give him another contract with a pay rise but with penalty clauses for Yellows for decent

We want him to be decent! I think you mean dissent, and I'm totally with you on that one.

[bigmac95]

Just watching the highlights and a couple of things:

- Banks has really started to show his class. Calm, composed, and likes to spread the ball. Do we have him under contract for next year as I think he could be a big player for us?

- Eardley's clearance off the line is heroic. The commentary (who was the best I've heard all season away from home) 'Whilst mere mortals would have given up on that, Eardley saw a different picture'. Does anything say more about this team's performance than that!

- Up until his yellow card, Kay and Quigs looked so dangerous. I think that may be our most threatening front pairing.

- What the [SwearFilter] is Tom Davies? One of the best centre backs I have ever seen at Barrow (albeit with small sample size).

- Jones really has been a find at the back.

[Adam29]

Sam Hirds post match interview with myself can be heard here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p099yfvb

[Jim]

Hird comes over very well in interviews. A manager in the making I think!

[pjdaly]

Some goal that from James Jones! About three-quarters of the way along its flight-path his shot (?) cross (?) looked to be drifting wide of the far post. No wonder the defender and keeper were leaving it. Then the side Jones had imparted on the ball kicked in, allowing it to change direction and turn just inside the post. Some might say it was lucky, some might say it took a strange bounce. Nah, that would be unfair! Jones has obviously been getting lessons from Trump on how to deliver that much late action!

[Suffolk Blue]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but there are some possible clues to last nights result.

Firstly its been mentioned that Barrow seem to match up to Cheltenham quite well in terms of relative strengths. They are a pretty direct attacking team and I think our defence is now robust enough to repel a majority of such attacks and has learned not to commit any major errors in the last few games. First half was a barrage but second half was less threatening from the Robins who seemed find it increasingly difficult to modify their formation. I'm not suggesting that the Robins are a one trick pony, but as mentioned before, the gap in terms of capability in this Division between Best and Worst is not very great.

Secondly they have history this season in terms of performance dropping off especially after a previously excellent result. That last gasp winner at Exeter at the weekend was a high they clearly could not sustain. Also in that respect the opening goal howler did their mood no favours. In fact, they were battling fate for most of the game and the method and timing of the second goal must have gone a long way to convincing them it wasn't going to be their night.

None of that makes our performance any less heroic. You can only get results like this if you stay in the contest and not give an inch. This we did brilliantly last night and we earned everything we got. Not just a great win but in that style of wins that we as supporters have come to love over the years. Not really much Barracelona in that performance but I for one thought it was bluddy luvleh.

Just hope we don't now do what Cheltenham did and simply expect to dominate Crawley on Saturday because we wont. That will be a difficult game. They are probably a level above us in terms of this division and anything we do get we'll have to fight for....again. As long as that message is heard and understood however, I think we should be OK.

[Mark Johnson]

The half time whistle got us that result. They were battering us at the end of the 1st half and was only a matter of time before they got a breakthrough. Second half they looked devoid of ideas. I was expecting more of the same from the first half and really thought even at 1-0 up at the break that a point would be good for us.

Our second half defensive performance was brilliant and our work rate off the ball has improved. We are picking up a fairer share of second balls and winning possession back through a high press. So vital in that second half. Credit to the whole team

[Adam29]

We’re looking fitter as well as a team
First half of the season there were games where we looked like we were blowing out of our backsides and running through treacle very early in games

[mickmike wilson]

Kay will be a cracking player when he grows up...I’d give him another contract with a pay rise but with penalty clauses for Yellows for decent

We want him to be decent! I think you mean dissent, and I'm totally with you on that one.

Haha, It was very late evening & I was tired & emotional & yes decent he is & can get much better, cut out the dissent Josh.

[mickmike wilson]

Hird comes over very well in interviews. A manager in the making I think!

The Folly of Jolley comes over very very well in interviews so that’s not really a good indication Jim

[Jim]

Just hope we don't now do what Cheltenham did and simply expect to dominate Crawley on Saturday because we wont. That will be a difficult game. They are probably a level above us in terms of this division and anything we do get we'll have to fight for....again. As long as that message is heard and understood however, I think we should be OK.

I tend to be a pessimistic, so forgive me for saying that we as fans must not get complacent or expect too much. How often has a Barrow team (though not this team) followed up good away results with a flop at home. Five wins on the trot would be an incredible - and also very unlikely - achievement. And we will be expected to win against Grimsby in particular, but how often in past seasons have sides at the bottom come to barrow, parked the bus and frustrated us like we frustrated Cheltenham.

All the above reasons to dilute euphoria with a bit of realism. In particular, if things don't go our way in one of these two home matches, let's not revert to the doom and gloom, such and such player is useless, where was Sea.....etc, syndrome!

[McMark]

Confidence and self belief is everything when your burdened with a great load of pressure and facing an uphill battle.
We now have both instilled within the team along with growing momentum and hopefully that momentum will continue now the handbrake is off and we continue to be steered in the right direction!

[JohnnyK]

Still buzzing from the result last night

[Pedro]

Think when you hear Rob Kelly he says take it one game at a time.
Let's hope we have ensured we are safe by April before he gets the dreaded Manager of the Month award.