Academy v Stoke City

[datura]

First league match of 2010 kicks off at 11am, team news to follow.

1. Sam Johnstone
2. Reece Brown (apparently had a similar injury to O'Shea)
4. Scott Wootton
5. Sean McGinty
3. Zeki Fryers
7. Nicky Ajose
6. Ryan Tunnicliffe
8. Larnell Cole
11. Etzaz Hussain
9. John Cofie
10. Davide Petrucci


Bench
12. Will Keane
14. Paul Pogba
15. Alberto Massacci
Luke Giverin

A few rested for the Youth Cup match on Thursday, King and Fornasier have knocks. Good to see Fryers and Brown back, and Hussain in his first start since injury.

 

[PS18]

1. Johnstone
2. Brown
3. Fryers
4. Wootton
5. McGinty
6. Tunnicliffe
7. Ajose
8. Cole
9. Cofie
10. Petrucci
11. Hussain

12. Keane
13.
14. Pogba
15. Massacci
16. Giverin

Good to see Brown, Fryers and Hussain back and Johnstone getting a game. Always a bit baffled when our other keeper is clearly present (as Devlin is, he's been shown warming up) and yet isn't named on the bench but hey ho.

 

[datura]

Always a bit baffled when our other keeper is clearly present (as Devlin is, he's been shown warming up) and yet isn't named on the bench but hey ho.

Especially when your keeper does a face plant onto the turf in the 2nd minute!

 

[PS18]

Hah, psychic me. Really baffling now, Devlin's there, seemingly fit, why not name him in case of emergencies? Weird one. Practically ninety minutes with an outfield player in goal now...

Or not, seemingly.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Obviously hope he's ok but, let's be honest, who doesn't enjoy watching an outfield player stuck in nets?!?

 

[PS18]

Obviously hope he's ok but, let's be honest, who doesn't enjoy watching an outfield player stuck in nets?!?

Prefer it when we're 4-0 up

 

[datura]

We've got into a good positions wide early on, the final ball just lacking. Good start from Petrucci, seems to be finding his form.

 

[Tumbling-Dice]

So are we playing an outfield player in nets then or has a different scenario transpired ?

(I have no means of watching this game.)

 

[datura]

1-0 Stoke, good glancing header into the far post against the run of play, Johnstone no chance but looks a bit groggy and reacted a bit late.

 

[datura]

Stoke have had the better of it since the goal, we are struggling to impose our passing game against a well organised, hard working side.

 

[datura]

Brady is 2/3 weeks away from a return from a back injury.

 

[Decotron]

Brady is 2/3 weeks away from a return from a back injury.

You scary bastard! I was literally about to ask that. We miss him alot at this level.

 

[PS18]

That was one ugly half of football.

Very poor so far, exactly the sort of scrappy, attritional game that probably plays into Stoke's hands.

 

[Striker10]

watching paint dry would have been more entertaining to be honest We've players returning which is the only excuse. Johnson had no chance with the goal. Glad he recovered as that was a real nasty landing.

We can't be any worse in the second half.

 

[datura]

Pogba on for Petrucci (I assume to keep him fresh for the youth cup game).

 

[Decotron]

Pogba making a difference already

 

[Decotron]

Hopefully only a matter of time here United looking alot more like themselves. Pace of our passing has improved. Cofie isnt having a great game though

 

[datura]

We've made a far better start to the 2nd half, the speed of the game is better, Ajose moved further forward alongside Cofie and Cole to the right and we are breaking with pace and a lot of runners/movement.

Shite - 2-0 Reece Brown og, a cracking header!!

 

[Decotron]

FFS 0-2 og by brown. Me and my predictions eh

 

[PS18]

awful goal to concede at any time but especially just as we looking like getting back into it.

 

[datura]

It was almost as good an og as the Tunnicliffe one against Leeds was it?

 

[datura]

Penalty to United, their keeper bringing down Ajose, looked a bit harsh.

 

[Decotron]

Good to see Kiko there.

Penalty!!! cmon Nicky.....

 

[datura]

1-2 Ajose tucks it tidily into the bottom corner. Game on (cheers ref!)

 

[Decotron]

Ha ha ha little muppet

 

[PS18]

Very lucky to stay on the field, total overreaction.

 

[datura]

Pogba has made a big difference with his passing.

 

[datura]

Cole very unlucky with a controlled volley from the edge of the area which goes just past the post with the keeper beaten.

Good save from Johnstone to keep us in it.

 

[datura]

Massacci on for Fryers

Brown goes to centre half, McGinty to left back.

 

[datura]

Moult is still trying to get himself sent off, but fails again.

 

[datura]

2-2 Cofie equalises from a rebound after their keeper saves well from Tunnicliffe, 10 mins to go..

 

[Decotron]

2-2 Cofie.

Tunnicliffes attitude is a joy to watch.

 

[datura]

Cofie hits the post with an excellent header, Ajose buries the rebound but is adjudged offside, looked questionable but difficult to see.

 

[Decotron]

Ajose goal disallowed after Cofie hits the post. Terrific cross from Pogba

 

[PS18]

No chance Ajose's offside there. Officials have been really poor today.

 

[datura]

3-2 Hussain after an excellent move involving Ajose and Tunnicliffe. Hussain took it very well.

 

[Decotron]

Hussain makes it 3-2.

 

[PS18]

What a comeback, says a hell of a lot about this group of players. Tunnicliffe in particular has been immense.

 

[datura]

Tunnicliffe has been great all season, he seems to have been released a bit 2nd half and his driving runs from midfield have made a huge difference.

 

[Top]

Great updates as always lads.