Solihull

Was Solihull Away the last game McKeown played for us?

Quoted from ska face

I think a lot will come down to who can handle the pressure of the day the best, and who can raise their game rather than freeze with the occasion.

I think we benefit from having a decent amount of experience in the squad. Taylor has played in 2 PO finals, Holohan played in last year’s, Pearson has a few under his belt, Waterfall’s experienced the POs as well as Lincoln’s mental FA Cup run, then obviously Hurst has ended up in the playoffs with Ilkeston, Boston, us (x5) and Shrewsbury, with 6 finals in there.

The squad have also just played two games in front of 10k and 12k, which can only put them in good stead going into what’s likely to be a crowd of about 20k.

I’ll admit to not knowing anything about Solihull despite watching them beat us at their place this year. They could have a team full of playoff specialists for all I know.

All we can do is hope for the best. We know what this division is like with the refs and individual errors. It is what it is.

Our 12th man will make a big difference and should help the team to victory.

First thing to remember is that Solihull beat us twice and finished with significantly more points, so great respect deserved.
Ardley has done a great job after being sacked by Notts. County so if we're off the pace we're in big trouble. That said the experience of the last two weeks should serve us well

No doubt about it, it’s a tough game - we all know they knock the ball around well.

Storer in the middle is non-stop and will look to boss the midfield. Their wide players are excellent - Barnett? I think his name is who plays on the right can dribble and cross expertly.  He won’t be playing National League next season whatever happens. The full back behind him was also good. Rooney is neat up front but not the main goal threat, and Dallas is somewhat of a machine.

They beat us both times but I feel we are a different animal now in terms of personnel and attitude. We are unrecognisable from the first game - improved in goal, Amos for Crookes, Holohan in for Hunt who was off the boil by then and no McAtee.

The home game - we led at half time despite not being the better side. Second half we were excellent but didn’t get the goal to clinch it and then things fell to pieces when Efete came off. No Fox in that game either.

I think both sides will be full of respect for one another. We know they’re difficult opponents because they’ve beaten us twice. They know they can beat us but will know it won’t be easy and we have the experience they are lacking.

It could be a fantastic match - just hoping the officials get a good grip of it.

Quoted from RichMariner

I think those are some good points.

We've had to play away against two very good teams with hugely impressive home records who play two very different styles.

And we won both matches while looking, on the whole, the better side — despite extra time x2!

Our squad has absolutely nothing to fear. I made a point earlier in the week that there is a lot of promotion and play-off experience in our side — all that ska face highlighted, plus didn't Dieseruvwe get promoted with Salford?

If you're a Town player in that team, you look all around you and you're surrounded by players with experience in both getting promoted and scoring late goals.

If you're in a hole, a teammate is going to get you out of it. McAtee is our top scorer and was outstanding on Saturday with a goal and two assists, but you've got match-winners throughout the squad.

Goalscorers at the back. Game-changers on the bench. Long throw. Height and power up front. Skill just behind. Clifton and Sousa covering every blade of grass.

This is a well-balanced side Hurst has built, both in skill and experience. They're looking a tight-knit group too.

If I were Solihull, I'd be concerned about how you contain all our threats. And we're the underdogs!

One could say that we are Extra Time Specialists

Quoted from MaccasBoots

Against Notts County, we had to beat a team that move the ball around quickly and tidily, that press aggressively, and have some very technically skilled midfield players.

Against Wrexham, we had to beat a team that have two prolific strikers, play direct football, and that specialise in set pieces.

From what I've seen of Solihull, I think we're in for a bit of a siege against a very well organised side with some exceptionally capable defenders. Getting an early goal could be crucial.

You are right but we have to remember that neither team had lost many games at home, both teams had good defensive records and we scored 5 against a Wrexham team at home whilst holding out against their dangerous front line.

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

You are right but we have to remember that neither team had lost many games at home, both teams had good defensive records and we scored 5 against a Wrexham team at home whilst holding out against their dangerous front line.

I get your drift but not sure we held out against their front men.

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

You are right but we have to remember that neither team had lost many games at home, both teams had good defensive records and we scored 5 against a Wrexham team at home whilst holding out against their dangerous front line.

I don't really think conceding four would be considered holding out.

Solihull Moors Twitter says that their fans have been made welcome by Grimsby fans on 2 visits.  Not so they said by fans of the losing 2 semi-finalists.

Looking at their stats for the season shows that they have the second highest away points total.  They also have a tight defence away from home conceding only 21 goals.  The same same as Stock
port and Yeovil.  They were not prolific scorers away from home as Wrexham and Stockport were.

Overall they finished 10 points ahead of us.  Also scoring 15 more goals than us.

To finish on 2 big positives.  Only looking at away form as we are playing at a neutral stadium.  In our last 2 matches (both pressurised and winner takes all), we won well at County and Wrexham.  We even gave them an extra 30 mins to match us. These 2 teams finished first and second in most home points earned. 🙂🙂

Quoted from Southwark Mariner

Was Solihull Away the last game McKeown played for us?

It was indeed.