The Hotel End

Next up is Oxford in the EFL Trophy or Checkatrade on Tuesday night. IF we want to qualify we need to win in 90 minutes or on penalties to take it to the last game of the group stage against Fulham u21s.

How do we think KC will take this game? A chance to see some youngsters & squad players or will he play a strong team hoping still to qualify.

Looking forward to this!
Normally (for I hope obvious reasons!) despite our recent always win at the Kassam form, consumed by a fear of losing - as Derby (personal - yes) day does.
However, two teams who seem to shockingly be either goal shy, leaky at the back - or both, lacking a passion for the club (by some!) and dropping to the foot or near of the table following seemingly decent draws yesterday!
No pressure whatever the result on Tuesday night!

Play as many of the youth team as possible.

I would think KC would like to keep his unbeaten run going and given that he's been giving out of favour players their opportunities there's not to much worry about over exerting players.
The only Oxford fans looking forward to this one are those that want Robinson out and are hoping a loss will speed up the process. The other see it was what it is - a potential banana skin for an out of form club.

In that case, hopefully Oxford win 2-1, against a youthful Cobblers side, who don't pick up any injuries

This situation with Taylor and Barnett is a bit odd, both are said to be unavailable but no mention of any injuries - is the implication that their fitness levels are not deemed to be up to scratch?

Especially odd that Barnett has been playing well recently

barnett got injured at the end of the bury game - he was struggling to run towards the end

I believe Leon has an illness not injury.

And Curle has agreed that Taylor is shi*e.

Interesting about Taylor, still not been said he's actually injured, just unavailable....

He needed dropping, so nice to see KC acting swiftly, if he has just been dropped.

Taylor-I'd play him tonight- centre forward.

And tonights team is:

Cobblers: Ward; Facey, Turnbull, Pierre; Powell, Foley, O'Toole, Bowditch, Buchanan; van Veen, Waters.

Subs: Cornell, Odoffin, Hoskins, Williams, McWilliams, Bridge, Crooks.

Five changes from Saturday, but the same 18 selected. No room for youth....not sure whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing! At least we seem to be taking the game and competition seriously!

I reckon he's treating the game as an opportunity to see a few more first teamers in action.

Makes sense!

I suppose we could always get the result we need and then try out some of the youth in the Fulham game.

1-0 Oxford.

Pierre and O'Toole booked.

1-0 Poxford

Three of ours booked, one of theirs following handbags in the centre circle.

Pierre, O'Toole, Bowditch, Van Veen and Facey all booked in the first half!!

VV with a wonder strike. 1-1.

Yessss. 1-2 Pierre.

Good ol’ CJ

5th goal of the season for Van Veen, as I’ve mentioned before Williams & Hoskins have a combined 3 for this season and last season combined (66 total appearances) surely Van Veen must start

929 in attendance......thats the total crowd by the way! (117 Cobblers fans)

Timbo waxing lyrical about Waters performance on Noddy.

A bit of fun.......trivia question.....

Tonghits lowest crowd in the Checkatrade is at the Valley but Charlton are playing away at Stevenage...........

How has this come about?!

Bradford at home??

Nope...the Valley as in Charlton's ground!

Do red cards count the same as league games?

The Toole sent off for two yellows.
2-1 full time.
Not that anyone cares!!  ;)

No, he misses next LT game v Fulham

Well done Evers!!

Probably did it on purpose and who blames him

Gillingham played their home game against Tottenham U21's at The Valley as the pitch at Priestfield was being worked on.......308 watched the game.

308  :o

You do realize there are decent rewards for a win and also for progression in the competition. I for one was chuffed by the win by a combative Cobblers side who apparently outplayed OU second half. Always puts a spring in your step when you hear the commentators enthuse about the performance.Will vV come good now after his wonder goal? Maybe a few anxiuos moments for his more vitriolic detractors.

A win is a win and played well by all accounts.KC unbeaten in 3 suggests confidence is growing.

We've won a game ....we've won a game we've won a game we've won a game ....
Roll on Satdy.

What a performance!
Van Veen's worldy cancelling out Henry's worldy, Billy boy Waters brilliant, causing Oxford all kinds of problems - like Hoskins, needs to score now!

Assured Pierre and the team, though silly from JJOT to get sent off at the end.
The legendary Lee Geary and a few of us making some noise - which given the low attendance, carried around the ground!
Something like fifth consecutive win at the Kassam!

Well done Cooly - a genuine true fan along with LG!

ps I see a certain Mr Alcohol is back on the U's forum winding them up big time!

No!

Is it me or are we starting to come into a bit of form and are getting some momentum? I think this was a massive game for us tonight, if we’d have got stuffed and put on a poor show it could have been back to square one. As it is, 3 unbeaten, playing with a bit of confidence, came from behind (when did that last happen stat fans?). Can’t see Taylor getting back in at the minute. I know we’ve had some false dawns with this lot before, but. Anyway we’ll done lads and especially well done Curlio. As a side note judging by tonight’s performance Ward or Cornell, it’s what many have been crying out for?

If anyone is feeling a little chilly, just pop over to Yellows Forum...in a total meltdown!  ;D ;D ;D

There's a few of us in Oxford!  ;D

A win is a win, no matter what competition or opponent, so decent nights work...

Good post match interview with KC on youtube. He sounds so much like a "proper" manager...

Gonna fine JJ 50% of his wages due to sending off too!

Really feel we will end Forest Greens unbeaten league start on Saturday...

Finally feels like we're getting an identity under KC

Voice has gone a bit west, making up for the lack of numbers  ;D
Good win, two good goals and decent performances all over the park.
Shame JJOT spoilt it with his silly second caution.

Well done  Deepo  - one of the 117.

A win is a win, very positive all round.

Also good to see JJOT getting a rest in the U21 fixture coming up.

Did anyone else spot Van Veen running over to the linesman on our side chatting to him and pointing to himself just before he was subbed on the 88th minute. He obviously knew.

Ignore those that will point to it to being a pointless competition, it was a good win away against a team in a higher division. Both clubs played nearly all first team players and we were the better footballing side.

Just went on the Poxford forum for a gander, good job they're wearing yellow, hide all the vomit? The ungracious cnts didn't give us any credit, they don't like that dongs reject Karl Robinson do they?

Yes, an old boys trick. The ref jogging alongside him to speed him up all the way across the pitch as well...
To put it politely, the ref was also a bit 'inconsistent'.

For what it’s worth I was impressed with Pierre’s and Bowditch ‘s post match interviews. Curle effect?

I feel like Curling one out..
Now lets rattle the Rovers Satday..

Good insight into the manager during the interview after the game .
I don’t think he panders to players , put it that way .
I suspect he has already ruffled a few feathers from the way he was talking there .
He was definitely avoiding the Taylor injury question though .

Don't seem to get so many of those when we win!!  ;D

Anyway....permutations now for the group.....we have one game left, against Fulhams U21's who have lost both their games so far.

A 2 goal win guarantees us progress regardless of the Wycombe v Oxford result, and a draw is enough for us if Wycombe beat Oxford.

I think this game was more important in terms of momentum and confidence for the season than the actual tournament itself.

We'll keep our ticket stubs for the final...

https://youtu.be/OFINjWW4-VM

Great goal from KvV. Hopefully enough to convince Curle he absolutely has to start every week.

This. Still hope we get knocked out. But glad Van Veen got his goal, should keep Williams out of the team. Also glad that Ward played and won. Hopefully Curle gives him a run in goal now.

I hope not, he still wasn't very good.

So you would drop the player that is most on form in a struggling side ?
Drop your prejudices and start watching what actually goes on on the pitch .

I don't think it would hurt to try someone different when we only have one win in 12 league games.

Based on Deepcuts comment, you'll probably get what you want though.

I thought Turnbull played very well last night despite perhaps be accountable for their goal. Certainly provided me more reassurance than Ash Taylor.

Foley & JJOT provided a bit of bite in midfield and helped us control the game in the second half.

I think KC will give the back three of Foley, Turnbull and Pierre a decent run now. Personally I would like to see S.McWilliams at RWB and Bridge, who looked decent last night, at LWB. JJOT and Foley in centre midfield with Hoskins & Crooks centrally behind Van Veen up front.

terrible formation

strange comment.............i hope we win it

Daniel Sturridge clearly has nothing on KVV.
He's here to save us, you know.

Dan has been acting a bit strange for most of last season and all of this.

Anyone else notice that Ash Taylor has actually been at Disneyland Paris this week? Just browsing through Instagram and came across it.

And I thought I was where Mickey Mouse is at last night!  ;D

At least the veil of delusion has been well and truly blown away. They now all know they are shite.


It is now almost four years since we lost to Oxford.

Hmm. Coolcat chasing Mickey Mouse.   Some things never change!   ;)

There was no word 'Brexit' when Oxford Utd last beat us...and that's having played them for nine consecutive seasons since they came back into the FL!  :o

That's a bit harsh. It was the defection that accounted for that one. Turnbull had two men to mark.