Comfortable in the end but not without some hiccups

Gave ourselves the perfect start, but our customary terrible defending let Slough back into it, I really liked their right winger Ogbonna, Pyke scored just on half time to give us the lead going into the break- His goals to game ratio is very good!

1st 15 mins of second half was all Slough, and only a brilliant Rose header prevented Slough from equalising, we got the 4th from Gnahoua who i thought was very good, and that killed it off and slough tired badly

Hunt came on with Ainley and they both exploited a tired Slough defence to excellent effect.

7 flattered us slightly, and i still worry about our fragile defence but delighted to be through and its 27K? In the bank too.

Quoted from Hagrid

Comfortable in the end but not without some hiccups

Gave ourselves the perfect start, but our customary terrible defending let Slough back into it, I really liked their right winger Ogbonna, Pyke scored just on half time to give us the lead going into the break- His goals to game ratio is very good!

1st 15 mins of second half was all Slough, and only a brilliant Rose header prevented Slough from equalising, we got the 4th from Gnahoua who i thought was very good, and that killed it off and slough tired badly

Hunt came on with Ainley and they both exploited a tired Slough defence to excellent effect.

7 flattered us slightly, and i still worry about our fragile defence but delighted to be through and its 27K? In the bank too.

Our defence is very suspect at the moment. Once it was tight as a ducks bottom but now we ship goals for fun. The dynamic duo need to tighten it up very quickly and the new manager should make it a priority. That said a win is a win and 7 goals makes it a very sweet win.

UTM

Quoted from Hagrid

Comfortable in the end but not without some hiccups

Gave ourselves the perfect start, but our customary terrible defending let Slough back into it, I really liked their right winger Ogbonna, Pyke scored just on half time to give us the lead going into the break- His goals to game ratio is very good!

1st 15 mins of second half was all Slough, and only a brilliant Rose header prevented Slough from equalising, we got the 4th from Gnahoua who i thought was very good, and that killed it off and slough tired badly

Hunt came on with Ainley and they both exploited a tired Slough defence to excellent effect.

7 flattered us slightly, and i still worry about our fragile defence but delighted to be through and its 27K? In the bank too.

Thought it was £41K

3 unbeaten. 10 goals scored 5 conceded in 2 games. Can't complain at 'the stats' as they say albeit against a lower league opposition 1 of then but on the flip side an in form team near the top of our division.

Some of the defending tonight was just dismal. Credit to Slough for trying to get at us, but we didn't half make it easy at times and their goals came from incredibly weak defending and individual errors. The positives were obviously some good attacking at times and some good, calm finishing from various players in the team.

You can't keep conceding two a game and hope to win, so I'm hoping for no sloppy goals given away at the weekend.

Well done Town we got there in the end  :)

I accept that the opposition wasn’t of the highest quality but I feel like that (coupled with Saturday) has exorcised some of the dross home performances of recent times. Shocking defending for their two goals and they maybe could have had another in a similar period but we were very good throughtout the rest of tonight. Hopefully the new boss can see that when the players are free to be a bit more expressive we’ve got quite a good squad.

Thought we were a bit casual once we went 2 up, and that let a very attacking Slough back in it. They are very good going forward, but wide open at the back and you can see why they concede a lot of goals.

They gave it a right go for 15 minutes at the start of the second half, and were unlucky not to get back in it, but we then went up the other end, and an excellent goal from the impressive Gnahoua saw their heads drop a bit, but they still had a couple of decent chances and one on ones, which Cartwright dealt with very well.

Both sides made a load of subs, and I guess on their part it was to give all their players a bit of the action, but they faded badly and we were carving through them at will towards the end. Their keeper made a good save at the end to stop an eighth going in, but they were dead on their feet by this stage.

10 goals in 2 home games. I'm a bit giddy.

More well timed subs from Pearson and Davies to kill the game off. It's one thing they've done very well as a duo, subs have always come on and impacted a game in every single game they've been in charge and that was a major downfall of Hursts. Job done and onto Saturday.

I echo most of the above but only 3-2 at half time flattered Slough we could easily have been 5-2 up and looked like scoringeverytime we went forward.Credit to them they had a right go and until they tired badly caused us plenty of problems at the back .Proper FA Cup tie and there fans were brilliant better than a lot of league 2 Clubs think they had 180 which is a great effort on a Tuesday night. Two entertaining home matches on the bounce been a long time since I've said that. More please UTM

Scoring 7 goals is really good and if Town can keep within that ratio ? Must be a confidence booster

An entertaining night at BP for sure. Slough gave it a good go and ran out of steam after the 4th goal for us to take advantage.

7-2 probably did flatter us though both teams had a lot of chances. The goals should give us another confidence boost after the weekend.

Tonight was fun! But make no mistake, until 65 minutes it was neck and neck, and Slough had some good attacking players (and great fans).

We were really clinical as they tired.

Should have been zero against and possibly ten for us....they had nothing up front really, one tricky winger who couldn't deliver a final product and that's about it but the times we just switched off and looked so lapse and we let them  in when they had no right to.

Some nicely worked goals and an abundance of early decent crosses into the box, Rose & Pyke (any striker really) can thrive off that.  

Despite the conceded chances good to see a similar approach to Saturday even with an altered squad. Hopefully they can continue in this vein.

The team were set up to play attacking football and it worked yet there are still the usual moaners on here carping on about the defence. A 3-4-3 lineup almost invites the opposition to try their luck and we were caught out with most of the team in the opposite half . Credit should go to their team, who despite their lowly position, gave us a good game and used their chances well. I also thought that our midfield looked more skilled and capable when Ainley,Andrews and Hunt were together but credit to all the players for an entertaining evening.

Quoted from Stranger in the Park

The team were set up to play attacking football and it worked yet there are still the usual moaners on here carping on about the defence. A 3-4-3 lineup almost invites the opposition to try their luck and we were caught out with most of the team in the opposite half . Credit should go to their team, who despite their lowly position, gave us a good game and used their chances well. I also thought that our midfield looked more skilled and capable when Ainley,Andrews and Hunt were together but credit to all the players for an entertaining evening.

The BBC showed us as 3-4-3, but did you believe that? It’s not how I saw it, not from the starting eleven.

Quoted from lukeo

3 unbeaten. 10 goals scored 5 conceded in 2 games. Can't complain at 'the stats' as they say albeit against a lower league opposition 1 of then but on the flip side an in form team near the top of our division.

Them pesky little stats again. 😊😊😉

Taxi ‘no’ the coach for the Managment Appointment Committee well down the road now 👍👍

Quoted from Heisenberg

Tonight was fun! But make no mistake, until 65 minutes it was neck and neck, and Slough had some good attacking players (and great fans).

We were really clinical as they tired.

It's good to read that for a change this season, it's usually 'we're not clinical'.

Well at least it was entertaining . 9 goals  what more can you ask,  Our defence realy is not good tho . Switching off and not picking players up untill too late and slow as hell.. Their  right winger tho was fast and tricky  wouldnt mind him here .

Quoted from Heisenberg

The BBC showed us as 3-4-3, but did you believe that? It’s not how I saw it, not from the starting eleven.

The formation looked 4-1-2-3. The biggest difference I could see is that the two wide men are a good 20 yards further forward. Seems a deliberate gamble, to give them both more freedom.

Quoted from moosey_club

Should have been zero against and possibly ten for us....they had nothing up front really, one tricky winger who couldn't deliver a final product and that's about it but the times we just switched off and looked so lapse and we let them  in when they had no right to.

Some nicely worked goals and an abundance of early decent crosses into the box, Rose & Pyke (any striker really) can thrive off that.  

Despite the conceded chances good to see a similar approach to Saturday even with an altered squad. Hopefully they can continue in this vein.

Think thats a rather arrogant and unfair point you make on slough.

Their tricky winger with no end product scored, and they had 2 or 3 other chances bar the goal which went just wide and one which Rose headed off the line.

Just when you thought we had turned a corner, we had to play Slough (Sluff, Slew) who are 40 odd places below us and at times we struggled in our own backyard. No bouncy carpet to blame, as I did when we just drew 1-1 at their place.
The score does flatter us, as the part-timers flagged in the end as we knew they would.

But heres a question for our management, how on earth do we allow the opposition to stand all alone a few yards from the goal and get a free header? Yes of course we won, but I would have been happier with a 2-0 and we had bossed them, than a flattering 7-2 which needed off-the-line clearances. There were times when you wondered which team was from the N L South.
Well, we are next off to FGR who are more desperate than us for points. I just hope FGR don't watch a video of our Slough game that's all.
Note to management:  Sort our back line.

Quoted from GrimPol

Just when you thought we had turned a corner, we had to play Slough (Sluff, Slew) who are 40 odd places below us and at times we struggled in our own backyard. No bouncy carpet to blame, as I did when we just drew 1-1 at their place.
The score does flatter us, as the part-timers flagged in the end as we knew they would.

But heres a question for our management, how on earth do we allow the opposition to stand all alone a few yards from the goal and get a free header? Yes of course we won, but I would have been happier with a 2-0 and we had bossed them, than a flattering 7-2 which needed off-the-line clearances. There were times when you wondered which team was from the N L South.
Well, we are next off to FGR who are more desperate than us for points. I just hope FGR don't watch a video of our Slough game that's all.
Note to management:  Sort our back line.

Just no pleasing some is they, if Hurst was in charge and we won 2-0 you still be moaning, should have had a go.
Last night was a free hit, yes our defence is all over the place at present, most have be moaning that the football has been dull under Hurst which is true.
The last two games have produced 14 goals and we have won both one against one of the form teams in league two, did we struggled last night not in my opinion Slough had a go in the first fifteen of the second half, but I never had a feeling we was going to lose.
It does not matter how many places we are above Slough, its the FA cup and you have to give credit to Slough for having a go and making it entertaining game.
Make you mind up, do you want dull boring ball hoping to win by the odd goal or playing entertaining football with goals but we might not get the result we wanted, I know which I prefer.
If FGR do watch the video of last night game, they will be be plenty for them to consider especially our composure in front of goal which has be missing recently and our set pieces scoring from corners. The difference now is Rose has support up front and is not isolated trying to hold up play, we are more on the front foot.  
The defence is an issue, we have recently changed our goalkeeper and the defence has not been settled, the more they play together the better understanding and trust between them, which hopefullly will lead to less mistakes.

Whoever comes in, Shaun & Ben will have shown there is a good squad of players, capable of playing good football.

UTM

Pearson himself said it was much closer than the scoreline suggested.

For those who didn't see it I wouldn't pay too much attention to the score, marvellous though it is we got through and took our chances well but for parts of the game you wouldn't know which team was two divisions lower.

We abandoned our short goal kick routine after half time as it would be criminal to give goals away unnecessarily with very little reward but we are certainly much more entertaining going forward.

I'm really looking forward to the new manager/ coach so we can settle on a plan for the remainder of the season and get even more out of the players.

Great game. Scoreline flattered us.

1. Our first touch is often poor. It's no surprise that when Slough tierd and gave us more time in the ball things started to happen.

2. Defence was woeful. Seemed to stem from a lack of leadership, with nobody commanding the area, nine men in a big running around like headless chickens.

3. I don't want to pick on individual players, but will just say their number 23 was given free reign throughout the first half.

4. Ref was below average, missed an obvious handball but fell for lots of theatrics.

5. I know sod all about football, so take all that with a pinch of salt.


Fair play to their fans. Long journey home.

Can’t seem to find any highlights anywhere. Anyone seen any?

Having only seen the goals, my insight is incredibly limited so grateful for the feedback from those who went - thank you.

Good to see Hunt getting praise when playing further forward, with contributions also for Ainley who I'm hoping can add another dynamic to that link between midfield and attack.  Also Gnahoua who has fallen out of favour when he's probably looked our most consistent attacker.

Pains me to say it, but (and again based on goals only) Waterfall looks to be done.  He's never had much pace but he's getting exploited for his lack of it now.  Can't remember if it's the first or second goal but their guy just glides past him without even going to another gear, that said it doesn't excuse the absolute intercourse up in the middle that followed.

The defensive flaws is a genuine puzzle.  I'm not sure if it's confidence or something else but a previously solid (we're talking years, not just a few games) has gone to pot.  First month of the season I thought it looked the best unit we've had for a while.  I was hoping that we would stick with the same back four as the weekend to try and re-establish some sort of familiarity and confidence but I get the reasons why they've rested people, especially the likes of Glennon who hasn't played much of late.

I'm not getting too carried away after last night but IMO it highlights several points.
1 - PH assembled a squad of good players but didn't know how to get the best out of them or play a system that suited their abilities.
2 - Ben and Shawn appear to have a better understanding of the players and how to use them. Hopefully their input will prove invaluable to a new manager, especially one who is prepared to listen and not be dogmatic about his approach.
3 - We need a settled  back four to allow a better understanding between them. The silly defensive lapses that lead to goals have to be eradicated and than can only be achieved by forming a settled defense.
4 - Some posters have highlighted that last nights result was against a team 2 levels below us , which I think is very churlish. These posters must have very short memories!  Last season, in this same competition, we made the record books by beating teams all from levels higher than us and away from home.

We fans have seen an immediate change in playing style since Shawn and Ben took over which has resulted in better performances and a more enjoyable spectacle to watch. All the components were there in the squad but not being used properly and it would appear that Ben and Shawn recognised this. With the right new manager and his assistant coupled with an existing  excellent coaching team , I can see good times ahead.

Quoted from The Yard Dog

Just no pleasing some is they, if Hurst was in charge and we won 2-0 you still be moaning, should have had a go.
Last night was a free hit, yes our defence is all over the place at present, most have be moaning that the football has been dull under Hurst which is true.
The last two games have produced 14 goals and we have won both one against one of the form teams in league two, did we struggled last night not in my opinion Slough had a go in the first fifteen of the second half, but I never had a feeling we was going to lose.
It does not matter how many places we are above Slough, its the FA cup and you have to give credit to Slough for having a go and making it entertaining game.
Make you mind up, do you want dull boring ball hoping to win by the odd goal or playing entertaining football with goals but we might the result we wanted, I know which I prefer.
If FGR do watch the video of last night game, they will be be plenty for them to consider especially our composure in front of goal which has be missing recently and our set pieces scoring from corners. The difference now is Rose has support up front and is not isolated trying to hold up play, we are more on the front foot.  
The defence is an issue, we have recently changed our goalkeeper and the defence has not been settled, the more they play together the better understanding and trust between them, which hopefullly will lead to less mistakes.

However comes in, Shaun & Ben will have shown there is a good squad of players, capable of playing good football.

UTM

"Just no pleasing some is they, if Hurst was in charge and we won 2-0 you still be moaning, should have had a go."  How you interpret my piece as "have a go at Hurst", I can't imagine.
FA Cup effect is all well and good and the difference between professionals is one thing. The difference between Slough and Grimsby is that they are part-timers, some of those Slough guys were working in the morning to pay off mortgages, before setting off Up North to play "mollycoddled professionals" whose only job is to kick a ball in the right direction, and then these part-timers have to get up in the morning and put shifts in. Ours will saunter in for a massage. Beats me why I have to tell you this, but it seems I have to.
We were 2 nil up and nearly collapsed, to be honest. Rose scored  and  settled us down. But he also cleared off the line, which is fantastic against FGR or Oxford, as we get points or move on to the next round. Bit desperate against a Carpet Fitter.

( PS I made Carpet Fitter up, like you made up my anti Hurst dig)

Do other clubs win by a five goal margin and have supporters bitching at each other like teenage girls the next morning?

FFS there are some moaning fornicators on here.
Into the next round
Scored 7 goals
Some great entertainment for £15
What more do you want.

Quoted from TAGG

FFS there are some moaning fornicators on here.
Into the next round
Scored 7 goals
Some great entertainment for £15
What more do you want.

According to some, to have put 25 past the tinker, tailor and candlestick makers whilst not conceding 1!!..
They may be part time, but a lot of thos lads have played higher  or gone through academies of league clubs, so they were no mugs.
Gave us a good game for 60 minutes but our depth of squad, and better fitness levels eventually won us that game at a canter, as proved by Ganhoas reaction to his second.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable game, in fact, I reckon I've just seen the 2 most enjoyable games, back to back at BP, for god knows how many years tbh.

I’ll be honest I’m failing to see how some are saying the scoreline flattered us. We dominated vast periods of the game and if we’d have gone in 5-2 up at halftime it would have been justified. We must have had at least 7 attempts on goal in the first half.

We certainly deserved to win the match and carried a threat while in possession throughout the entire 90 minutes (22 shots, 11 on target, 8 corners), so ultimately the scoreline didn't really flatter us. I think the grumbles are focused around how we let a side two leagues below us have a lot of possession in dangerous areas in and around our box, looked very stretched defensively at times and resorted to a lot of last ditch tackles and goalline clearances (for the first 65-70 minutes of the match). Although that only resulted in 3 shots on target for Slough all game, they still had 6 corners and 9 shots which a more clinical team may have punished us from.

22 shots 11 on target i'll take that at home & it's not a dig at paul but we've been too edgy at home for a long time & two swallows certainly dont make a summer but it's like we've took the shackles off

What would most posters like a really tight defence and win games 1-0 or enjoy lots of goals and win 3-2 or 7-2. ?

Ben and Shaun have had a couple of weeks to get their ideas across to the players.

In another couple they might be able to tighten our defence without effecting our new found scoring record.

Let's just enjoy it while it lasts.

It's too early to say the job is yours but if this way of playing continues for the next month we might be happy with what we have got in-house and continue with the status quo.

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

Do other clubs win by a five goal margin and have supporters bitching at each other like teenage girls the next morning?

In one corner there is a group of people who started discussions early on and pointed out the perilous position Grimsby were in and slowly travelling towards dropping  out of the league (Do you still remember that or have you forgotten?)
In the other corner are people who think Usain Bolt had the greatest win of his life when he beat the 10 year olds at the local junior school race.

The point is we should have won anyway. Yes the Cup effect plays a part but only when the opposition plays a weakened team because of stacked league games say. Did we name a weakened team? No
Did we underestimate the opposition? Hardly, most of the named bunch came back chastened from being pushed and getting a last minute draw only 9 days ago!

So if you are happy with this display where we had to clear off the line and had our backs against the wall, from Carpet Fitters, Taxi Drivers, Plumbers 46 places below us, who played last Saturday a hard match, then bully for you. Now if we beat FGR 7-2 next Saturday, I'll be ecstatic.  Perhaps you can comment on what you think the score will be?

Quoted from GrimPol

So if you are happy with this display where we had to clear off the line and had our backs against the wall, from Carpet Fitters, Taxi Drivers, Plumbers 46 places below us, who played last Saturday a hard match, then bully for you. Now if we beat FGR 7-2 next Saturday, I'll be ecstatic.  Perhaps you can comment on what you think the score will be?

Oxford are 43 places above us, do you think we could beat them?

Quoted from Hagrid

Think thats a rather arrogant and unfair point you make on slough.

Their tricky winger with no end product scored, and they had 2 or 3 other chances bar the goal which went just ourselves and one which Rose headed off the line.

Definitely not posted as intentionally arrogant, I thought Slough were a tidy team and had some decent individuals  but they really didn't have an end product, the winger caught the eye but didn't really produce anything.... even just running the ball out of play a couple of times...he scored but that again was down to p!ss poor defending before he got the ball.
Overall i felt their biggest threat was actually our own failures rather than their abilities.

Quoted from SteffiMariner

Oxford are 43 places above us, do you think we could beat them?

Yes in a word.  Both teams are professionals so should be as fit as each other. They of course have a higher calibre players, but will have a dilemma, full team or a weakened team as they are striving to go up. I bet a weakened team, so could falter and if we are good enough, we could take the initiative. But we need to put a plug in our leaky back.

Quoted from denni266

Well at least it was entertaining . 9 goals  what more can you ask,  Our defence realy is not good tho . Switching off and not picking players up untill too late and slow as hell.. Their  right winger tho was fast and tricky  wouldnt mind him here .

A 5000 crowd?  ;)

Quoted from TAGG

FFS there are some moaning fornicators on here.
Into the next round
Scored 7 goals
Some great entertainment for £15
What more do you want.

Strippers and free beer at half time would do for a start.

Quoted from GrimPol

Yes in a word.  Both teams are professionals so should be as fit as each other. They of course have a higher calibre players, but will have a dilemma, full team or a weakened team as they are striving to go up. I bet a weakened team, so could falter and if we are good enough, we could take the initiative. But we need to put a plug in our leaky back.

All the teams in our league are professionals but, without remembering specific examples, I have often noticed some teams "appear" fitter than ours. The higher you go up the leagues, the better the training facilities and the greater access these clubs have to more expensive fitness monitoring systems.