Post by Keithsson on Nov 14, 2019 13:10:13 GMT
Back to league action on Saturday and a trip round the M25 to face the blues of Wingate & Finchley. We bounced straight back with a win after a disappointing home defeat in the FA Cup so let's hope we can do the same after our highly disappointing exit from the FA Trophy.
We did the double over our opponents last season with a pair of 2-1 wins. Firstly, in the season's opener with a brace from Callum and then in February with a brace from David Ajiboye. In 2017/18 we again did them 2-1 at home (Newton & Pamment) but lost 0-1 away during the horrific 'exiled' start to that campaign.
While we were being taught a lesson in application and desire by AFC Sudbury we dropped out of the play-offs into 6th (25 points from 14 games). Wingate are just above the relegation places in 19th with 10 points from 14 games.
IPD table - Link
Form wise although we've only lost once in the last six league games the successive draws are hitting us. We've quickly dropped from a recent best placing of 2nd in the overall form rankings to now sit 10th with 9 points from the last available 18. Over the same period Wingate are 17th with just four points from 18.
Those four points all came on the road, a 2-1 win at Lewes and a 1-1 draw at Brightlingsea. Consequently it isn't surprising to see when you look at their home form that it's poor. A solitary home win against Haringey Borough back in August and a point from the visit of Folkestone in September are all the points they have on their own patch. Aside from that they've lost to Cray and Bishops Stortford by one goal margins and were royally humped by Merstham (0-4) and Bognor (0-5).
For us the season opener is still our only defeat on the road. Add in our cup games and (fag packet maths here) I have that eight games unbeaten on the road.
IPD overall form (last 6) - Link (toggle through for respective home/away form tables).
Other Saturday matches... (teams within 3 points of being caught in green, within three points of catching us in red)
Bognor Regis Town v Merstham
Bowers & Pitsea v Margate
Brightlingsea Regent v Cray Wanderers
Cheshunt v Carshalton Athletic
East Thurrock United v Leatherhead
Enfield Town v Folkestone Invicta
Haringey Borough v Bishop's Stortford
Hornchurch v Corinthian-Casuals
Kingstonian v Lewes
Potters Bar Town v Horsham
Squad wise having unwisely IMHO rested/rotated some of our better/experienced players for the Trophy game I would hope the bulk will be brought back by Hinch for what is now a vital 'getting back on the horse' fixture. That said with Bowers & Pitsea away on Tuesday and their form being even worse than W&F we could perhaps forgive some small degree of rotation to manage those fixtures as a pair.
Jessie will have served his suspension from the late booking at Cray (as ever, I think!) and boy did we miss him on Saturday as well as the benched Callum and Marvin. It was great to hear that Buddy got some pitch time in the friendly against the Armed Forces team in the week but I would imagine he will be eased back gently, maybe even a bench spot for Saturday/Tuesday might even be too soon.
What will be will be, but all form considered and the fact the squad need to show a reaction to the weak capitulation last out it is not unreasonable to expect a decent points haulage this week. Do that and i'd like to feel we could come back to Woodside Road on Saturday week with the Sudbury monkey properly off our shoulders.
Come on you Rebels!
We did the double over our opponents last season with a pair of 2-1 wins. Firstly, in the season's opener with a brace from Callum and then in February with a brace from David Ajiboye. In 2017/18 we again did them 2-1 at home (Newton & Pamment) but lost 0-1 away during the horrific 'exiled' start to that campaign.
While we were being taught a lesson in application and desire by AFC Sudbury we dropped out of the play-offs into 6th (25 points from 14 games). Wingate are just above the relegation places in 19th with 10 points from 14 games.
IPD table - Link
Form wise although we've only lost once in the last six league games the successive draws are hitting us. We've quickly dropped from a recent best placing of 2nd in the overall form rankings to now sit 10th with 9 points from the last available 18. Over the same period Wingate are 17th with just four points from 18.
Those four points all came on the road, a 2-1 win at Lewes and a 1-1 draw at Brightlingsea. Consequently it isn't surprising to see when you look at their home form that it's poor. A solitary home win against Haringey Borough back in August and a point from the visit of Folkestone in September are all the points they have on their own patch. Aside from that they've lost to Cray and Bishops Stortford by one goal margins and were royally humped by Merstham (0-4) and Bognor (0-5).
For us the season opener is still our only defeat on the road. Add in our cup games and (fag packet maths here) I have that eight games unbeaten on the road.
IPD overall form (last 6) - Link (toggle through for respective home/away form tables).
Other Saturday matches... (teams within 3 points of being caught in green, within three points of catching us in red)
Bognor Regis Town v Merstham
Bowers & Pitsea v Margate
Brightlingsea Regent v Cray Wanderers
Cheshunt v Carshalton Athletic
East Thurrock United v Leatherhead
Enfield Town v Folkestone Invicta
Haringey Borough v Bishop's Stortford
Hornchurch v Corinthian-Casuals
Kingstonian v Lewes
Potters Bar Town v Horsham
Squad wise having unwisely IMHO rested/rotated some of our better/experienced players for the Trophy game I would hope the bulk will be brought back by Hinch for what is now a vital 'getting back on the horse' fixture. That said with Bowers & Pitsea away on Tuesday and their form being even worse than W&F we could perhaps forgive some small degree of rotation to manage those fixtures as a pair.
Jessie will have served his suspension from the late booking at Cray (as ever, I think!) and boy did we miss him on Saturday as well as the benched Callum and Marvin. It was great to hear that Buddy got some pitch time in the friendly against the Armed Forces team in the week but I would imagine he will be eased back gently, maybe even a bench spot for Saturday/Tuesday might even be too soon.
What will be will be, but all form considered and the fact the squad need to show a reaction to the weak capitulation last out it is not unreasonable to expect a decent points haulage this week. Do that and i'd like to feel we could come back to Woodside Road on Saturday week with the Sudbury monkey properly off our shoulders.
Come on you Rebels!