Especially pleased for Hawkins.Big mistake sending him out on loan

Our best performance of the season by a mile.

Jordan Richards man of the match for me, the best I've seen him play.

*like*

Have to say I was surprised with how well Richards played. I knew he had a good cross on him but didn't think he was up to it, today he proved otherwise. Perhaps he was wrote off too soon, it was nice to see some good balls into the box. Also though Oates had a good game as well, looked at beating his man every time and did well aerially.

I've always liked Hawkins so it was nice to see him given a go and I'd say like a lot of then he took it. Plenty of promising performances but they've set the level we know they are capable of. Hopefully we get a better ref next week, perhaps not one who left his white stick in the changing room

Agreed.

I was not sure at all before kick off about the shape of the team and having 4 central midfield players in the side, but it worked well.

If Magnay is fit for Saturday I hope Moore sticks him in but keeps Hawkins in there as he did very well indeed.

Thought Carroll was very impressive. Hopefully the postponements have helped freshen everybody up.

Same team next week for me.

I just think we are a better team with Magnay in and Featherstone is too one dimensional and offers nothing going forward and isn't great at tackling as has been pointed out many times.

He did well today though, just think Magnay is better

I agree about Magnay but I think we can take something from today's game and nobody who played deserves to be dropped.

It was a bloody good game, even defeat is bearable when you see them trying, the goal was a cracker and a good burst from Woods.

I thought Oates was spent after 60 minutes and although Richards played ok, he should have figured out by the time the cross went in for there second, that the winger was going on the outside like the other 6 or 7 times he did.

A word for Carroll, he had his first decent game today

It's a different game on Saturday. The nitty griity of the league, different mindset and we are playing a very good L2 team in Wycombe.

We need our best players on the pitch and we wont get as much time on the ball as we did at times today.

But I acknowledge it was a terrific performance today, but our league position suggests we don't give consistently good performances week in week out and I believe in the league Magnay offers us more than Featherstone, and with a more defensive minded holding player like Mag's it could help Hawkins, Woods and Gray play more to their strengths.

Have to agree about Carroll, he had a bit of a different role today. Rather than being a conventional full back he was doing a man marking job, drifting in a lot to follow his man and kept him quiet so job done. He received good cover from Oates as well to allow him to do his job.

I'd say same team again next week with Magnay on the bench if he is fit, nothing wrong with having options. For one of few times we may have a positive selection dilemma.

Same team for me, thought Featherstone was magnificent, reminded me of Paul Stephenson when he switched to centre mid in a way but thenFeatherstone always does well imo alongside Woods.

Struggling to see how he can change it next week. Even if we actually make signings I'd like to see the same again.

So close and so unlucky. Really deserved more. Being honest, I expected another Bournemouth before kick off where we were just chasing shadows and said to the lad I just hope we make a game of it. To come out gutted we didn't get more says it all. Ref was a twat. Gave us nowt. Where in the rules of the game is it ok to clean someone out whilst they're in the air trying to win a header?

Anyway, really pleased with how we played and I hope we maintain this form at least until we pull clear of the bottom two.

Whilst there is a strong argument for keeping the same side, it depends who you're playing and whether the same system would work against them. If so, leave it as it is.

I wonder how many patronising cliches Match of the Day will trot out tonight lol

One arsehole in front of me shouted 'fuck off' when Hawkins was given man of the match. I despair for some fans sometimes. Hawkins was excellent. We should be playing the same team next week.

And no Sam Collins to coach him at Spennymoor? Better player now maybe

Personally I think it was a good thing for him to get full match fitness.
The last game (I can't remember which it was) he played, by the end of the match he was exhausted and was on the floor with cramp more than once. A run of games, which he wasn't necessarily able to get at Pools can work wonders.
Just my opinion though.

I was very impressed with Carroll too. As if Moore being public about wanting fullbacks spurred him on

I also thought Jake Gray really benefitted from playing behind the striker in more of a free role. The amount of balls he picked up that in a more rigid position he wouldn't have got to was great to see. Very refreshing, it seemed to open attacking options that gave the opposition more to think about.
Walker was a threat too when he replaced him. The chipped cross was good although I am surprised he always went for the pass rather than the shot outside of the area.

I do think Naismith will be a miss though. While Hawkins did do well and I do like the pace and direct drive of Oates neither are real wingers.

Richardson, towards the end making full runs up the pitch at pace was good to watch.

In the end done by players that were millions of pounds. Bent with 200 career league goals and having multiple transfer fees over the 10 million mark. I think Butterfield cost a few million at some point, possibly to Boro.

Easily the best we played all season.
If the lads can show that level of commitment for the rest of season then we should comfortably retain our league status.
Special mention to Jordan Richards who was outstanding.

Fantastic game, very enjoyable despite the result. Some excellent individual performances, but it was a pleasure to see us play as a team in parts, especially through Richards/Hawkins. It's even tempted me dad to return next week after he has stayed away all season.

However, it has taken Ronnie the best part of 3 months to find (stumble upon) a formation that stops our midfield being overran, despite it being blatantly fucking obvious to everyone else. It's also taken 6(?) games to find (stumble upon) Gray's best position, despite it being blatantly fucking obvious to everyone else.

I for one won't be getting carried away with the performance. We will probably do okay for the next game or so, until we inevitably pick up an injury (probably to Hawkins) which means Ronnie will revert back to a 3/4 man midfield and we will look shite again.

Anyway, we still need 3/4 new players signing permanently this window. Hopefully Ronnie won't have enough time to bring them down a peg or two and they can keep us up.

I am also usually an advocator of keeping the same team on the back of a performance like that, but I would be getting Bates straight back in place of Harrison for Saturday. Harrison is good for at least one mistake a game, which usually leads to a goal scoring chance. Luckily on Saturday the one big mistake he made Jackson was clever enough to bail him out.

Have we heard any more about Paynter's return? Or is it still February sometime?

Thoroughly enjoyed the game and we deserved a replay. The full team was outstanding, if we play like that on Saturday we should have a really good chance of taking all 3 points. I wouldn't change the team at all, the midfield worked perfectly together as did the defence.

Your goal was a good one like, whoever put the cross over did well and the finish was very good to say the least.