Sky Blues put to the sword on a cold, wet Tuesday night

I sit on Row M in the ESL and there were times last night when it was like sitting in the open. Not quite good enough that roof, although I suppose those upstairs are alright. I don't mind a bit of rain, but that was cold stuff last night. Despite that though what a brilliant couple of hours at Oakwell! We made a top six team look pretty ordinary for most of that game and, unlike years gone by, even at only 1-0 up the result never looked in doubt to me. A second was just the icing on the cake, but I am glad we got it.

Anyway, I've just seen the highlights on Player and I suppose the first thing to mention about them is what an absolutely cracking player we seem to have picked up from Boro. Harry Chapman had a good second half with barely a mistake in him but the one incident that stood out was that right wing run which should have resulted in a goal. What made it special was that he beat the first man in "old fashioned winger style". You hardly ever see it these days but what I mean is that he was in full flight and he just pushed the ball one side of the defender and ran past him on the other side. He charged on and expertly skipped inside a second defender but then it all went wrong. With only the keeper to beat he lashed it across goal and out.

Now that is not a criticism of the young lad. The run was fantastic and gives you goose bumps to think what might be possible with Harry tearing up one side and Adam Hammill doing the same on the other flank. It's only a matter of time before he gets a goal or two for us and I think then his confidence will be boosted, in the same way that Ashley Fletcher's has been. It's a shame, in a way, that Lloyd Isgrove will probably be the one to miss out but what a great position to be in when you have such options available. I know injuries are starting to bite now but I think we will ride them out and just keep on doing the same as we have been.

I arrived at the ground last night in no doubt at all that we would win, hence my high-roller bet under the stand. £3 at 6/5 odds to win. It was enough for me and I had no doubt that a few quid would be coming my way at the end of the match. I'm not brave enough to try twenty or thirty pound bets - not yet! The team obviously shared my optimism because the way they set about this big city opposition made it quite plain that they have only one thing on their mind this season. TWO trips to Wembley - wonder what the odds are on that happening?

Adam Davies had very little to do and what came his way he gobbled up with confidence. Only one shot gave him a problem but it probably skidded off the surface and took him by surprise. He got his body behind it anyway, so that was all that mattered. It was probably the much vaunted Armstrong's only real chance and it is a great credit to our defence that they kept a player who has scored so many quiet. With Marcus Tudgay as a partner I couldn't see us being in much trouble, and we weren't.

Alfie Mawson and Marc Roberts were immense - as Mowbray said afterwards, they didn't miss a header all night. But it was more than that. We have two footballing centre halves there, and I am certain that both have benefited from having Kevin Long around the place. James Bree and George Williams both had cracking games, defending and going forward. I hope Bree's injury is nothing much to worry about as it would be a shame if he missed some games now that he has just got going.

As many have already said Conor Hourihane had a storming game. What has happened to this lad? He seems to have lost some of his "shoot on sight" instinct but has replaced that with tenacious play and good leadership. Player of the season certainty I reckon. Josh Brownhill had another terrific game for us and Marley and Lloyd put the work in that every team needs. They never gave the Coventry defence a second to dwell on the ball. If Isgrove's substitution was tactical then it worked a treat - Chapman had a wonderful second half.

SSW was relatively quiet again but, again, NO criticism from me about that. He will always stick the ball in the net even if he does nothing else. He seemed to get clattered last night and, I assume, he never recovered from that. It was another example of the inept referee of course, where he booked Fletcher for flicking the ball away no more than five yards and yet allowed some nasty challenges from Coventry to go completely unpunished. Perhaps the one on Winnall was one of those. Young Ashley up front seems to be settling into it now and will benefit from a run of games. He worked hard last night and, like against Donny, was in the right place to snaffle a goal scoring chance. Good prospect.

Josh Scowen had a tidy game when he came on as a sub but he is not back to his pre-injury best yet. He's probably a bit put out that he cannot get in ahead of Brownhill, but he will have to work for that won't he? Likewise, George Smith. He got a chance because of Bree's injury and did a couple of good things going down the wing in his 25 minute spell on the pitch.

So, on we go. Another win on the board. Where is this going to end? You would suspect that Walsall away will be a tough one but they are doing nothing much just lately, just like last night's opposition. The Bescot Stadium is not a happy place to visit for us, but this team are more than capable of turning that around. Winnall not being fit will be a serious blow, but we have the squad now to manage these problems. I think they believe they can beat anyone and who would disagree?

 

Good report, PoR. We're back row of the ESL and we could feel the rain blowing right in. I said to Grandfathertyke it was like the old Brewery Stand days!

I agree with you that young Harry looks a very good prospect. A bit like Hmmill but without the stepovers! I think that Hecky and Tommy will use all three of Isgrove, Chapman and Hammill in games, but probably not all at once. I totally agree with you about the progress Alfie and Roberts have made and I think the lad on here who credited Kevin Long for helping to bring them on was probably on the mark. Having Sam out will be a blow, but I think we can manage this by using Marley and Fletcher together, providing Ash doesn't pick up too many more silly bookings.

As regards Saturday, Stan James offer 2/1 about us to win, which equates to a 33% chance. Walsall have won only one of their last six (six games ago!) and have lost five of their seventeen at home, conceding more goals at the Bescot than on their travels. I think we may have more than a 33% chance of winning, so I'd go mad and have a fiver on if I were you!

 

We won 2-1 there in 2006 to sneak into the playoffs and back to the Championship.

Although we did lose there which almost ensured relegation a few years earlier.

 

Thanks Orsen. I think we were getting wet initially from the sprinklers which were blowing our way. Seemed a bit pointless that but they probably didn't see the weather forecast!
As regards the betting I have gone mad a couple of times and put a fiver on us, only to lose my money. Betting low seems to work better but I'll never be rich.

 

I was at both of those games. I remember Don Goodman virtually consigning us to relegation and I remember our star left back at that time - Paul Gibbs!! We've come a long way since then

 

Good read that prince. Cheers, I was going to go to the match, but work took over!

TWO trips to Wembley - wonder what the odds are on that happening?.... I can tell you what the odds were just before our area final win against Fleetwood...
16/1.
My tenner is looking to be one of my best bets of the season!

That bet is... Barnsley to reach Wembley and just to reach the playoffs! So not quite 2 Wembley appearances!

 

I was at both games too.

I think we lead 1-0 in the first game but as you say Don Goodman scored their winner.

We had him on loan for a while and he was useless.

Me and my boys went on the pitch after the second game and I shook hands with Nads. I had a Renault Laguna with a sun roof and we drove back through Walsall with my 2 lads standing up through the roof waving their scarves.

I'll be there on saturday, see you then maybe.

 

Re: I was at both games too.

I'm in East Upper, row KK, so at least half way back and there were times the rain was sheeting in on us as well! Probably only the 2nd time I recall that happening

 

Re: I was at both games too.

Freak weather for a time. Surprised it got you up there.

 

Re: I was at both games too.

Was in family stand in ESU and got a bit wet for first time ever. It was like being 13 again on front of the Ponty.