Hoppo

We’ll I didn’t mean to SCREAMER, just to talk about the match not get involved in a “my balls are bigger than yours discussion” so I’ll keep it to that now!! Like I said you’ve a proud history, we both have and lots of fans of other clubs will be taking an interest in our game today which says something about us. There’s no question you’ve signed some quality players and they’re starting to perform for you now which is good. We’ve gone the other way with mainly young players and they also are starting to come good so it should be a cracking match. We really need to win this to make up for your game in hand and that’s what we’ll be coming to do so whilst it might be tight I think there will be chances at both ends and will come down to who takes them. Let’s just hope it’s the players who decide it and not the officials because we’ve also suffered from them this season. Enjoy the game even if you don’t get the points. ??

Really solidified a top six spot though. Think we’re six clear now. No one was expecting top two.  Feels a bit like a free swing at it. Is about 2 points a game to get promoted. We’ve been at that, we need a run of a few wins in a row to close the gap.
Top six this year, hopefully win play offs. If not would be expecting top two next season.
it’s been really enjoyable as well, has you looking forward to next games, looking at the table etc. feels long overdue to have a good run.

I like the fact that Max has obviously worked out that if he shoots from further out, the ball is more likely to dip UNDER the bar rather than fly OVER it, as many of his previous shots have done. 
Clever lad ?

1Wildsmith           7.5   
12Smith              6.5
3Forsyth              7
6Cashin               7
33 Davies            6
17Sibley               7
4Hourihane         7
McGoldrick         6.5
8Bird ?              8
11Mendez-Laing      7.5
38Knight              7
7Barkhuizen         7.5
Dobbin               6.5
9Collins              6
Rooney             6.5

One of my criticisms at the beginning when Warne came in is we all knew his style was direct and get the ball into the other half as fast as we can and try and win second balls and play from there. I think the team originally struggled with what that meant and how to execute it.
One of the key differences for me in this run is that Warne is allowing his defensive players to actually work the ball and pass it between us. It’s not as frequent as the LR style but it’s a definite shift from early Warne days.
We are constantly now in the 50-60% possession stat. Wildsmith gives a lot more short goal kicks and we definitely allow CF and EC more freedoms on the ball. 

I for one am really enjoying it now because it isn’t hoofball for 90 minutes. A lot of our better goals come from the passing passages of play - Hourihane header today for instance was a nice move with the EC diagonal after some passing in the defence. If you look back over the recent goals since December a lot more are worked plays. Hourihane against Accrington, McGoldrick first goal against Forest Green. All were excellent team moves.
I feel that Warne now trusts them and he’s striking the correct balance between ball retention, long balls, direct balls into Collins and playing the triangles of play to create space. There is a decent mix in there so we are not too one dimensional.
Well done Warne and his team. This is starting to get fun.

Goal of the season right there! Take a bow Max Bird!

No need to bother with that. We'll finish in the top two.

Game opening up—-we’ve got this

There was talk on RD about stubbing his toe in the ground?  (I'm not watching any TV version).
Maybe... and bear with me on this one, as it may well come as a shock... but maybe Sibbo was just being honest, and not looking to be awarded a penalty that never was?  ?‍♂️
Some of us have been crying out for more honesty from pro-footballers for nigh on two decades now, so good on Sibbo, if the above is indeed a refection of the truth? ?‍♂️

Please don't do that

Looked like it to me at first and on the replay. Sibley not interested though, no appeal from him.
 

Worldie Bird 35 to 40 yarder?
Goal of the season all over...

Goal of the season right there! Take a bow Max Bird!

COME ON YOU RAMS!

What a ball by Cash, 40 yards to NML, Crossed in to far post for Hourihane to head in at the far post.

Atonement for tackling like a big Jessie.....?

I’d be surprised if that Moyes bloke is still in charge by the time we play them. 

this Sunday the 8th January it will be forty years to the day since we did this in the FA cup !!
The Baseball Ground was shaken to its very foundations !!
 

Fozzy has been immense 

25,428... largest gate at Bolton for a decade.
 
? Come to see the Derby... etc... 

Both "sides have had struggles here and there" - make it sound as if us and Bolton couldnt open a jar of branston rather than being nearly harried out of existence by EFL 

David McHattrick! Get in!