The next 5 games all passed me by pretty quick! Our Carling Cup game finished 2-0, with Humey (as I call him) bagging himself a goal quickly followed by a generous Jim Bentley putting through his own net. Interestingly, both scorers were forced off injured, Humey for about a month, so I went in search of a replacement. The win put us into the next round of the cup, which made me a bit frustrated, because I hate the competition, but obviously I can't play to lose, so I hoped we would get a decent team at home.
A game at QPR was the next challenge awaiting my team, and we travelled to London full of expectation. Short lived expectation, after they took the lead in the first 10 minutes after a dubious penalty was awarded. I kept schtum after the game, so as not to anger the FA. 2-0 the final score, and I was still without a league win.
The first time I faced Ipswich as a manager was our next game, and yet again we gifted them a start, with youngster Billy Clarke netting more or less straight from the kick-off. Matty Fryatt equalised for us and in fairness, we probably should have gone on to win the game, but for some poor finishing from DJ Campbell.
The 2nd Round Carling Cup draw pitted us against Aston Villa, at home. This was likely going to be our last game in the competition, and given the opposition, I put out a fairly strong team. We were missing a few of the loanees we couldn't get clearance to play, but our newest addition, Kevin Monnet-Paquet (Claude), would start his first competitive game at age 18. It was a baptism of fire for him, as Zat Knight kept niggling away at him. In fairness, the lad did well, and he kept his place for the game against Sheffield United. The game itself finished 1-2aet, and it took 2 superb finishes from Gaby Agbonlahor to finish us off. We certainly weren't helped by a red card to David Edgar in the 90th minute, and DJ's goal was our only real chance over 120 minutes.
Our final game of a hectic couple of weeks was at Brammal Lane, where I was hoping we could steal a result. We had to watch out for Billy Sharpe, who banged 4 in against Ipswich on the opening day. However, the dangerman turned out to be a certain Alan Quinn, who I have always admired, who changed the game with neat touches and the like. New signing Joel Porter came off the bench to net his first for the club, and it would be brilliant if he could keep doing that.
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Still without a league win after 4 games and we were languishing in 20th place. Hopefully our fortunes would change.
Transfer News:
Matthew Hartmann-Loan-Nottm Forest (In)
Kevin Monnet-Paquet-Loan-RC Lens (In)
Matt Jansen-Free-Free Agent (In)
Joel Porter-?100k-Hartlepool (In)
Eric Odhiambo-Loan-Barnet (Out)
Levi Porter-Loan-Crewe (Out)
Darren Kenton-?100k-Doncaster (Out)
A game at QPR was the next challenge awaiting my team, and we travelled to London full of expectation. Short lived expectation, after they took the lead in the first 10 minutes after a dubious penalty was awarded. I kept schtum after the game, so as not to anger the FA. 2-0 the final score, and I was still without a league win.
The first time I faced Ipswich as a manager was our next game, and yet again we gifted them a start, with youngster Billy Clarke netting more or less straight from the kick-off. Matty Fryatt equalised for us and in fairness, we probably should have gone on to win the game, but for some poor finishing from DJ Campbell.
The 2nd Round Carling Cup draw pitted us against Aston Villa, at home. This was likely going to be our last game in the competition, and given the opposition, I put out a fairly strong team. We were missing a few of the loanees we couldn't get clearance to play, but our newest addition, Kevin Monnet-Paquet (Claude), would start his first competitive game at age 18. It was a baptism of fire for him, as Zat Knight kept niggling away at him. In fairness, the lad did well, and he kept his place for the game against Sheffield United. The game itself finished 1-2aet, and it took 2 superb finishes from Gaby Agbonlahor to finish us off. We certainly weren't helped by a red card to David Edgar in the 90th minute, and DJ's goal was our only real chance over 120 minutes.
Our final game of a hectic couple of weeks was at Brammal Lane, where I was hoping we could steal a result. We had to watch out for Billy Sharpe, who banged 4 in against Ipswich on the opening day. However, the dangerman turned out to be a certain Alan Quinn, who I have always admired, who changed the game with neat touches and the like. New signing Joel Porter came off the bench to net his first for the club, and it would be brilliant if he could keep doing that.
------------------
Still without a league win after 4 games and we were languishing in 20th place. Hopefully our fortunes would change.
Transfer News:
Matthew Hartmann-Loan-Nottm Forest (In)
Kevin Monnet-Paquet-Loan-RC Lens (In)
Matt Jansen-Free-Free Agent (In)
Joel Porter-?100k-Hartlepool (In)
Eric Odhiambo-Loan-Barnet (Out)
Levi Porter-Loan-Crewe (Out)
Darren Kenton-?100k-Doncaster (Out)
