MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (a)

[Stranded]

Another little fact from last night - the clean sheet was our first in 462 days - since Luton 0 Reading 0 on 1st November 2022.

You mean, away from home?

Yep - 30 away games between clean sheets in the league.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Clean sheets are important. Earlier in our run, we were still conceding and relied upon Wing, Smith, Azeez and Knibbs to bail us out. We had a run of games of 3-2, 2-2, 2-2 which was never sustainable.

The last 4 games, we have 8 points and have conceded 2 goals, one of which was a penalty. We haven't been reliant upon the mentioned players. Now we just need a blend where our defence remains mean and the attacking players click again. We're on a good run, but there is potentially more to come.

[Stranded]

Clean sheets are important. Earlier in our run, we were still conceding and relied upon Wing, Smith, Azeez and Knibbs to bail us out. We had a run of games of 3-2, 2-2, 2-2 which was never sustainable.

The last 4 games, we have 8 points and have conceded 2 goals, one of which was a penalty. We haven't been reliant upon the mentioned players. Now we just need a blend where our defence remains mean and the attacking players click again. We're on a good run, but there is potentially more to come.

Clean sheets have been vital as we are on a run now of only scoring once in a game (and in 2 of those games the opposition scored for us) - the last 5 games have seen us only score 4 times - in comparison the 5 games before that we scored 10.

We aren't going to score an average of 2 every game so getting more clean sheets on the board will be and is vital as we do seem to score (or force an OG) every game - Wigan the only game in 18 where we haven't.

We have now kept 6 clean sheets, with 2 coming in the last 4 games and 3 in the last 9.

We could and possible should have got a second last night but if we can keep things as tight at the back as we now seem capabable of doing whilst allowing Wing to get a bit further forward, then we will really move up the table. Another 2 or 3 quick wins and we could even target a top 10 finish, as 9 points can be clawed back fairly quickly with good form.

[Snowflake Royal]

My observations on Mola

Awful first touch
Terrible at defending 1 on 1 with the winger.
Looks lost when he ventures past the halfway line

However

Defending crosses at the back post was incredible, can't remember the last time we had a full back as good as him in this aspect.

I can see now why Selles insists on bringing him on when we're trying to close out a game.

That's a pretty good assessment of Mola

[The Royal Forester]

By my reckoning that nice Mr, OG is joint League top scorer with our Mr. Smith. I don't remember us getting so many own goals in our goals for column. Anyone know what is the most we have got in a season?

[Hendo]

By my reckoning that nice Mr, OG is joint League top scorer with our Mr. Smith. I don't remember us getting so many own goals in our goals for column. Anyone know what is the most we have got in a season?

Would be interesting to compare stats with Rick O'Shea.

[The Cap]

So Evans has been in touch with EFL officials and the proverbial 'they' are saying that Stevenage should have been awarded a clear and obvious pen towards end of first half. Can't make my mind up about the bloke. On the one hand, he's giving us the sympathy vote and then he's barking on about World Cup celebs. Good Evans, what's that all about?

[From Despair To Where?]

He's a dick. Always has been, always will be.

Evans was suspended by Boston as manager on 4 July 2002 after a much-publicised Football Association (The FA) investigation into "contract irregularities".He later resigned as manager of the club in September 2002, after still being suspended by the club. He was found guilty by The FA in December 2002 of impeding an FA inquiry into contract irregularities. Evans was also suspended from the game for 20 months in January 2003 for involvement of the affairs of Boston, in which players' contracts lodged with the FA contained false salary details. Evans was further accused of impeding the inquiry and fined £8,000. Evans lodged an appeal against charges in May 2003, but The FA rejected his appeal later that month and the punishment stood. Evans later pleaded guilty in court to conspiring to cheat the public revenue, and was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

[Sutekh]

[Franchise FC]

Because he’d have eaten the answer

[Mr Angry]

Steve Evans is a throw back to a time of football played on pitches that would have graced the Somme, John Beck being hailed as a tactical genius and 2 points for a win.

Most of his sort went when that Asteroid hit the Yucatan Penisular a few Years back.............................................

[RoyalBlue]

Steve Evans is a throw back to a time of football played on pitches that would have graced the Somme, John Beck being hailed as a tactical genius and 2 points for a win.

Most of his sort went when that Asteroid hit the Yucatan Penisular a few Years back.............................................

To be fair, given the way our team used to resume after half-time under Ince, they could've done with the John Beck treatment - a bucket of ice cold water over them at half-time!

[Sutekh]

God, he never stops going on and on and on and on and on like "unfortunaties" have never happened before to any club. Now they apparently should have had penalties

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/spor ... -decision/

If he put as much effort into managing as he does whingeing he'd probably be leading a team in the PL.

[stealthpapes]

Anyone mentioned the Stevenage physio yet?

[Brogue]

Anyone mentioned the Stevenage physio yet?

[Uke]

Anyone mentioned the Stevenage physio yet?

The “elderly” lady?

Remember some “Your Nan” type chants