A much-shortened preview this week, as I’m away from home - that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it…
Let’s have your suggestions as to how we can recapture our performances which saw us establish a 12-point cushion at the top of the table - currently reduced to 7 points, and less if Notts County get anything from their game in hand.
Who should be rested, and who are the likely replacements who could bring the badly needed energy to this fixture? Chesterfield are currently 10th in the League 2 table, and only 6 points away from a play-off place - so they won’t be coming here to gift us anything…
Expect a win, possibly 2-1.
As they’re more likely to attack us which will suit our preferred style/game plan, back to 35% possession, 20 shots and the win. (hopefully)
Edit: Couldn’t be bothered with commenting much on the Colchester and Gillingham games, too oppressively miserable.
Score draw and the points stagnation continues.
Still think we’ll go up though, due to relative easy run-in of mid to lower table sides.
Possibly in 2nd or 3rd now though. Playoffs and we simply won’t go up.
I want to see Sadler be brave and make some changes. He has admirably stuck with basically the same players for the whole season but it’s not working at the moment. I would go with
All comes down to team selection for me so not going to make a prediction. I still have faith in this team, given the right players are played and in their correct positions. Hopefully another decent gate down the Bezzla. Not seen how many they’ve sold but would expect around 1500 from them.
I agree. I think the way they play will help us. Harrison up front for me with Matt. Asimwee on the right with Lakin, Stirk and Jellis in midfield with the young lads on the bench .
My hope is that MS will recognise changes are necessary, my fear is his stubborn refusal to do it and start with similar to Tuesday night.
The goalkeeper situation is a dilemma for me because although Hornby deserves a chance he certainly fluffed his lines at Peterborough the other week.
Barrett looks tired and needs resting for a short time. We’ve suddenly lost the habit of keeping clean sheets which needs to be addressed.
Josh Gordon may not start after possibly picking up an injury Tuesday night and that should pave the way for Harrison with a bit of luck.
I don’t want to see flash crocked but equally I don’t want to see him start.
It’s obvious and has been for a long time that DJ doesn’t fit in with what Sadler wants but when he’s on the pitch there’s a chance he will find the net but sending him on with just a few minutes left is a bit of an insult to him, especially after he was responsible for rescuing a point against Salford.
Finally as others have mentioned put players where they fit naturally JJ being a good example.
It would be lovely to see us return to winning ways but with our current form it seems unlikely.
So a couple of games between Morecambe and Carlisle who I assume you meant when you said the next two games are against the bottom 2 teams. In fact these are the fixtures irrespective of the result against Chesterfield.
Either way a very encouraging set of fixtures and id be surprised if we don’t get a minimum of 8 points from the next 5 games which is enough to get us to the cusp of the play off with 11 games to go.
Don’t look back after the match and think i wish I’d done this, i wish I’d done that.
I’ll be walking with my cousin Michael in Yorkshire from Hillsborough to Elland Road for the macmillan cancer trust on Saturday. Should be in Wakefield by kick off.
Understand that Chesterfield have sold all their tickets for the match so should provide for a good atmosphere, albeit hardly heard a peep from them at the away game.
Seeing a lot of suggestions around changes and find hard to disagree - I want to see Hornby given a chance ahead of Simkin for a start. Accept that Barrett created Matt’s goal on Tuesday night but for a few weeks now, he’s looked somewhat off it for me so either Uncle Albert or Asimwe on the right.
McEntee unbalances the team - Jellis looks far better on the right so put him back there and bring Lakin back in with one of the loan lads on bench. Liked Harrison on Tuesday night and want to see him from start instead of Josh Gordon and given that he is coming back from injury, would wonder how much Matt could last.
Corresponding Saturday last year, Mansfield brought a few and were sent packing after we turned around the previous Saturday’s poor performance against Newport - I believe we will win this Saturday.
