Coca Cola League 1 - 1st Oct

[Swooperman]

Games tonight & tomorrow, so these could change. All Bet365

1 Oct-15:00 Barnsley v Oldham 2.10 3.20 3.20
1 Oct-15:00 Brentford v Rotherham 1.83 3.20 4.00
1 Oct-15:00 Bristol City v Hartlepool 1.72 3.40 4.33
1 Oct-15:00 Colchester v Chesterfield 2.10 3.20 3.20
1 Oct-15:00 Doncaster v Bradford 2.10 3.20 3.20
1 Oct-15:00 Gillingham v Southend 2.37 3.20 2.70
1 Oct-15:00 Huddersfield v Bournemouth 1.61 3.50 5.00
1 Oct-15:00 Milton Keynes Dons v Swindon 2.00 3.25 3.40
1 Oct-15:00 Nottm Forest v Tranmere 1.83 3.20 4.00
1 Oct-15:00 Port Vale v Walsall 2.25 3.20 2.87
1 Oct-15:00 Scunthorpe v Yeovil 1.90 3.25 3.60
1 Oct-15:00 Swansea v Blackpool 1.66 3.50 4.50

[rcgills]

Byfield went off injured at H-T tonight for Gills. Commentators said it looked like he got a dead leg. If he's out for Saturday, it'll be a huge loss for us, he's been in excellent form the past week or so. Plus we lost Paul Shields at the weekend. If we're without those two (Shields should definitely be out), it'll mean we'll be playing Harris and Hislop up front. Will post more on Byfield's injury when it's known.

[Kop66]

Gillingham v Southend a derby match Rc?

After tonights games that's 6 straight wins for Southend, you've only won one in the same amount, with the injuries you mention why have the bookies made Gills Fav's

[rcgills]

It's as close as we get to a local derby these days, but no-one actually considers it a derby, there's no rivalry of any kind between the two teams.

As for why we're favourites, not really sure. We're certainly not as bad as our recent results have made us seem, our problem during that time was scoring goals. A 3-2 win over close to full strength Portsmouth, a 2-2 draw at Tranmere and a 1-0 win tonight suggest we're on the way to sorting that out now, with Byfield finding his form, but our defence is still shaky. Hope and Cox will almost certainly still be out at the weekend. However, they were missing tonight and we kept a clean sheet, and Sancho, one of the replacement centre backs, scored the winner. I'd agree with you that Southend probably should be favourites, but I certainly wouldn't rule out the Gills if Byfield plays.

[Swooperman]

Tranny look big @ 4.00 to me, theyre not in the best of form...but neither are forest.

MK Dons beat Scunny last night although I havent read anything yet, but you'd have to expect them to put Swindon away @ evs with increased confidence

Depending on Port Vale tonight, I'd have to have a look at my beloved Walsall

[A.M.P]

I've just taken Bristol to beat Hartlepool at 1.8 (Corals / ladbrokes). The majority go 1.66 and whilst this would be on the skinny side the 1.8 IMO is just about right.

Both Hartlepool and City have made starts that have belied their high league finishes in previous seasons.

It appears that both teams suffered the lose of their respective managers. Hartlepool haven't been helped by injury to ace striker Boyd and City appointed a managerial inept Tinman. Thankfull Gary Johnson was appointed before the Brentford game and the 3-2 scoreline flattered the bees. Last night in front of a decent crowd of 10,000 the robins ran rampant over Barnsley to be 3-0 up at half time, making several substitutions in the second half with Saturday in mind.

Influentual midfielder Skuse had this to say about the weekend:

The lads are really buzzing after two wins and six goals. If it was Manchester United coming here on Saturday we would be right up for it and fancy our chances.

Understandably. Meanwhile Hartlepool were being held at home to Rotherham.
This was the injury situation before the game:

[I]Scott will be without long-term absentees Joel Porter, Adam Boyd and Matty Robson, while he is sweating on the fitness of Jon Daly who missed the weekend game after suffering a knock at Charlton.

Eifion Willams and Micky Barron have both returned to training but will not be back in First Team contention just yet.[/i]

And a couple more took knocks during the game:

Lee Bullock was the latest player in the Pools squad to be taken off through injury and Scott also revealed that Antony Sweeney was struggling with an arm problem.

"It's like Casualty in there at the moment - Lee fell heavily on his ribs and will need an X-ray and Sweens took a nasty knock to the arm but wanted to continue because that is the kind of character we have in the squad."

1.8 might still be a bit on the low side for people - considering that the monkey hangers two wins thus far have been away from home. Also I may be looking through rose tinted spectatcles to back my team but I believe the revolution has begun.

Power to the punters!

AMP

[Swooperman]

Havent been on the Walsall forums yet, I was saving that delight until later in the week but just going on local reports, Merson was stretchered off after 30 mins last night with a groin injury. He himself thinks its ruptured & he has said today that if he is right & it is as bad as it feels then he will not pull on boots again

I've said that the boards have been saying hes been struggling but hes still a good player @ this level in splitting defences open, even if hes not fit enough to run the midfield anymore, & Walsall will miss a player of his creativity, if not his workrate

[kompressaur]

again from the top without reading this thread..........

Barnsley failed at home last week which suprised me so i aint interested. Think Brenford could have an easier game thn the ooine v Bristol City last week. Im sure AMP will have covered the Brisol city hartlepool so i'll wait and read. I'd be interested in the h2h's between Colchester and Chesterfield as these 2 must have been in the same division for 4 or 5 seasons now.

Bradford will have their supporters no doubt.

not much more for me in this one. Div 2 looks fun though but this is a div one thread. I'll go read up the thread and shut up. Feel free to share your views folks as we like sharing and surely you know something about this league. Maybe your just shy.

[Swooperman]

MK Dons v Swindon

Obviously team news permitting but I do like the look of Mk Dons for this @ Evs. They were ok against Scunny midweek in a game which many expected Scunny to walk. Danny Wilson gave Platt & McLeod a roasting before the game, comparing them to 'pub footballers', match report here:

Clive Platt responded to criticism from his manager to hand MK Dons their first win of the season.

The towering striker, who along with Izale McLeod was compared to a pub striker by Danny Wilson on Saturday, headed the winner to give Dons their first victory in 12 matches.

Wilson made two changes to the team that lost 3-2 at Blackpool, with Gareth Edds and Malvin Kamara coming in on the right for hamstring victims Trent McClenahan and Wade Small.

Milton Keynes had the better of the early exchanges and Platt forced visiting goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite into a fifth minute save with a header from Edds' deep cross.

McLeod nipped in on the end of Platt's flick in the 10th minute but was denied by a reflex stop from Musselwhite, before on-loan Sheffield
United youngster Stephen Quinn curled a 35-yard effort inches wide.

At the other end, Wayne Corden skinned Edds but his fierce 20-yard strike was tipped around the post by Matt Baker.

And as Scunthorpe battled their way into the match, Billy Sharp capitalised on some poor positioning by Dean Lewington to burst away and beat last man Pablo Mills only to strike it straight at Baker.

But Dons regained control and after Quinn again went close with a drive from the edge of the box that Musselwhite tipped round the post, Platt broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute with a near post header from Nicky Rizzo's corner.

Moments later Kamara slotted McLeod away but was he was prevented from doubling the lead by a superb last-ditch tackle by full-back
Nathan Stanton.

Dons had the better of a scrappy second half and went close to doubling the lead through Quinn's stretching strike from long range which almost caught out Musselwhite.

The Iron offered very little in a strangely subdued second-half performance against the rock-bottom Dons.

And the only time they tested home keeper Baker after the break was through Ian Baraclough's fizzing 25-yard free-kick that was easily saved as the Dons climbed off the foot of the table at the expense of Swindon.

....so bottom 2 play each other but Swindon look adrift to me, & suddenly MK are lifted

[christianu]

Apologies that I wont be involved in this thread much this week as nothing takes my fancy.

I will look into Tranmere away to the consistently over rated Forest and Bradford away to Donny. Although I dont think ill be on either of them.

[christianu]

Doncaster vs Bradford

I have said on many occasions how good Bradford are away from home and how disappointing they are at home so I wont bore you with that (Although I just have)

There squad is one of the best in the division and anytime I find them at above 2/1 I will snap it up. Last season they were the most profitable side in Britain backing them at 2/1+.

Bradford are 5 games unbeaten but Doncaster have won 3 on the bounce but do 3 swallows make a summer?

Id expect there bubble to be burst here as having see them play they havnt got much to offer where as Bradford have always impressed me. This will be a close game and 11/5 is shades of value for me.

Doncaster vs Bradford 1pt@11/5

[Bigkegman]

Agree with Swoops on Milton Keynes.

Looking at the stats Swindon look in a mess and with MK's at 6/5 with lads that look a bet for moi !

[Swooperman]

MK DONS v SWINDON (again....)

Team news in from the BBC & confirmed elsewhere:

MK Dons manager Danny Wilson is likely to stick with a winning side for the first time this season.
Wade Small and Trent McClenahan are both still out with hamstring injuries and Ben Chorley is unavailable (thigh).

Swindon are without midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi (medial ligament) and goalkeeper Rhys Evans (knee).

Defender Alan Reeves (broken leg) is also out, while Jerel Ifil and Andy Gurney are suspended and Gareth Whalley and Steve Jenkins face fitness tests.

.......as I said before really, I think MK Dons look decent here @ Evs. It could be said to be backing shite v shite, but I think theres something in it.

Last season this game ended 1-1, with Swindon winning the return 2-1. theres been no other games since the early 90's in the Prem.

The Dons have only lost to Swansea @ home this season, with a home record of won 1, drawn 3, lost 2 in their last 6. Goals in that time were 3-5.
....not great accepted, but their last 3 games have shown fight & improvement IMO. A 0-0 draw @ home to Barnsley was followed by a close 3-2 defeat @ Blackpool followed by the midweek 1-0 home win over much fancied Scunny.

Compare this to Swindon & at least The Dons are having a go:
Swindon have lost the last 4 away, the last 6 overall, theyve not won in 13 away games & have only scored once in the last 6 away games whilst conceding 7.
Andy Kings left on monday & Iffi Onoura is in charge & the one doubt for me is that he only had 1 day before tuesdays match, whereas hes had a further 3 for this

MK Dons for me

[Swooperman]

BARNSLEY v OLDHAM

I did fancy Oldham & I think I mentioned it somewhere, but it doesnt look decent tbh

Barnsley duo Antony Kay and Neil Austin will be missing - both are serving the second game of a three-match ban.
Meanwhile, manager Andy Ritchie has doubts over Matt Carbon (stomach) and Stephen McPhail (calf).

Oldham defender Stefan Stam will be sidelined after undergoing a cartilage operation and midfielder Mark Bonner is also out after breaking his arm.

But manager Ronnie Moore will welcome back striker Paul Warne after he completed a three-match suspension.

...this game finished 2-2 last season, & the return 3-2. Both games were 1-1 in 2003-4.
Barnsley have lost the last 3, whereas Oldham are unbeaten in 4, but let a 2-1 lead go in injury time midweek, & have been really blasted for it tbh.

Barnsleys last 6 @ home: won 3, drawn 2, lost 1. 7-4
Oldhams last 6 away: won 1, drawn 2, lost 3. 4-10

....too inconsistent I think, & not worth the risk although Oldham are a nice price, but the late goal wednesday will have deflated them IMO

[Swooperman]

GILLINGHAMv SOUTHEND

....not much to add from whats been said before really, but this is the team news from the BBc, & I've read the same elsewhere:

Gillingham striker Darren Byfield is a major doubt after twisting his ankle against Chesterfield in midweek.
Boss Neale Cooper is already without defenders Chris Hope and Ian Cox, midfielder Danny Spiller and striker Paul Shields through injury.

Southend manager Steve Tilson faces a selection dilemma, with four strikers in sparkling form.

Shaun Goater and Wayne Gray started the win over Yeovil, but James Lawson and Freddy Eastwood are pushing for places.

.......looks good to me