And so another defeat, another league game without a goal and a cup replay coming up next Tuesday to distract us from the looming relegation scrap that we’re being dragged into! This week’s review takes a rather gloomy turn as a winter of discontent sets in.
We’re in a pretty similar situation at the moment as we were in this time last year. We’re not playing anything near exciting football, the team is poised just above the bottom four and fans are beginning to worry that the manager may not be up to the job after all.
First with the only bright(ish) point of the week. It’s a sad state of affairs when getting a replay in the F.A. Cup Second Round is the highlight of the week but the draw with Walsall seemed to be a slight step up from the league defeat the week before. I heard that we had “improved from having one shot on target to having two in the second game!” Andy Kirk got the goal again and, say what you like about the striker, but if it hadn’t been for his goals we would have certainly been in the bottom four and out of the cup.
As it is, we face a third meeting in five games with Walsall who must be sick and tired of facing the Cobblers. Maybe it’s our turn to win the game but fair to say that a home tie with Millwall in Round Three isn’t exactly a huge incentive for the winners of the game on Tuesday night!
Some sort of reward should be given to the 125 souls who took to Swansea on Tuesday night to support the Cobblers and see a dismal display rewarded with what sounded exactly like what we deserved, a 3-0 hammering and yet again we go 90 minutes without really putting the opposition’s goal under real pressure. Yes, Swansea are top of the table and yes, we maybe didn’t expect anything from the game but we do expect the team to at least fight for the manager and every single one of those loyal fans in the away end at the Liberty Stadium.
From what I’ve heard, Stuart Gray looked a forlorn figure on the sidelines on Tuesday night and his disposition was one of a beaten man, both on the pitch and in his own mind. Gray apparently stood, arms folded, on the touchline and looked out of ideas as his players slumped to defeat. For Gray, this is a huge month and a few weeks ago we would never have even contemplated talking about his future as we were within one win from the playoff places. Gray has a massive task ahead to turn this form around and I can see the game at home to Bournemouth on the 21st December as a pivotal point in the season and Gray’s reign.
Nobody expects a massive return in the next two or three games, particularly at Forest on Saturday week but all we’re asking for is commitment, effort and a will to win football games that we’re not getting at the moment. If we’re let down any more, it could unfortunately raise questions over Gray, less than a year after his appointment but let’s all stay behind the team and pray that they can give us three points at home to Carlisle. If we play to our ability we all know we can be a match for the Cumbrians. If not, we’ll be in deep trouble by the time we reacquaint ourselves with Mr Calderwood.
Up the Cobblers!
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