With a couple of postponements and all that has been going on off the field, it makes a change to have some football to discuss and with a slightly milder forecast for the end of this week hopefully the game against Eastleigh is not in danger.
Because of the postponement of the Oldham and Maidenhead away games, this will be our third consecutive home game and the fixture computer and our progression in the FA Trophy means it will be followed by 4 more (York, York, Halifax, Gateshead) - I can't ever remember having seven consecutive home games before in my over 40 years of watching the blues. Goodness knows what state the Roots Hall pitch will be in by the Gateshead game!
Although the midweek results meant we slipped down to 8th place, if we can turn Roots Hall into a fortress during this period our place in the play-offs should be looking quite secure by the time of our next away game at Notts County in mid-February (unless any rearranged games are slotted into the calendar between now and then).
Like ourselves Eastleigh’s games last Saturday and midweek were both postponed because of their frozen pitch so they haven’t played since a 1-0 win at home to Braintree in the FA Trophy.
Managed by former Blues striker Lee Bradbury, the Spitfires’ form in the league over the last 6 games is a bit mixed and only marginally better than our own.
They currently sit 3 points and 3 places below us in the league so it could be a tight game, but after the way their players celebrated their smash and grab win against us at their place last August it certainly feels like we owe them one!
For ourselves, the selection issues remain the same as they were for the two postponed games - albeit with every day that passes by those players who have been out for a while will be getting a bit fitter. However their lack of match time may mean that the likes of Rhys Murphy, Gus Scott-Morriss and Jake Hyde will have to be content with places on the bench unless Kev wants to tinker with a winning side.
Let’s hope the off the field issues and planned protests on Saturday do not affect the players’ performances on the pitch.
So who would you select to start at Roots Hall on Saturday and what do you predict the result will be?
Because of the postponement of the Oldham and Maidenhead away games, this will be our third consecutive home game and the fixture computer and our progression in the FA Trophy means it will be followed by 4 more (York, York, Halifax, Gateshead) - I can't ever remember having seven consecutive home games before in my over 40 years of watching the blues. Goodness knows what state the Roots Hall pitch will be in by the Gateshead game!
Although the midweek results meant we slipped down to 8th place, if we can turn Roots Hall into a fortress during this period our place in the play-offs should be looking quite secure by the time of our next away game at Notts County in mid-February (unless any rearranged games are slotted into the calendar between now and then).
Like ourselves Eastleigh’s games last Saturday and midweek were both postponed because of their frozen pitch so they haven’t played since a 1-0 win at home to Braintree in the FA Trophy.
Managed by former Blues striker Lee Bradbury, the Spitfires’ form in the league over the last 6 games is a bit mixed and only marginally better than our own.
They currently sit 3 points and 3 places below us in the league so it could be a tight game, but after the way their players celebrated their smash and grab win against us at their place last August it certainly feels like we owe them one!
For ourselves, the selection issues remain the same as they were for the two postponed games - albeit with every day that passes by those players who have been out for a while will be getting a bit fitter. However their lack of match time may mean that the likes of Rhys Murphy, Gus Scott-Morriss and Jake Hyde will have to be content with places on the bench unless Kev wants to tinker with a winning side.
Let’s hope the off the field issues and planned protests on Saturday do not affect the players’ performances on the pitch.
So who would you select to start at Roots Hall on Saturday and what do you predict the result will be?
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