County go into tomorrow’s second round of the FA Cup tie with struggling Torquay knowing that only a win and a place in the third round will do to boost morale and give the Hatters some much-needed money.
Two days after administrators Leonard Curtis release a statement to all creditors saying that ‘negotiations with a number of existing and also new parties are ongoing. A number of positive meetings have taken place over recent weeks including a meeting with reps of the FL and Prem Rugby at which a number of issues that are key to the sale being concluded were addressed and a way forward agreed. We are confident that we can now make significant progress towards concluding a sale and have asked interested parties to formalise their financial proposals so that a sale can be finalised.’, County return to EP still under a black cloud of sorts, with progression to the 3rd round required.
Any sort of respectable Prem team would do us (we’re due a good draw) IF IF IF IFFFFFFF…we can beat Torquay. Hopefully.
Liverpool away please?
Vital Quotes:
Gary Ablett (after Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Colchester): ‘That was as good as we’ve played all season in my opinion, and when Aidy (Boothroyd) and John Ward come up at the end to ask `Why are you down there?’ it shows it’s not just me who believes in the quality we’ve got.’
‘Unfortunately it’s a common theme at the moment with other managers coming up and saying: `You were fantastic and you deserved something from the game,’ but we’ll keep going and hopefully our luck will change.’
‘Other than the first 15 minutes when they scored their two goals, I thought we were miles better in terms of the quality of our football.’
‘But again, for all our possession, we didn’t make the goalkeeper work hard enough and despite the quality of our play into the box we didn’t have anything on the end of it.’
County Team News:
Nick Bignall will return after missing the last two defeats with a hamstring injury or something!
Liam Bridcutt is available, although he admits this week that he’s uncertain on his County future after January. Oli Johnson should be fit after complaining of feeling unwell.
County are still waiting to hear back from Bristol City on the availability of new loan signing Christian Ribeiro.
Player to watch: Peter Thompson
Sorry to pick him again! Now Bignall’s back, seemingly we’ll be going 4-4-2 again and giving ‘Pistol Pete’ the chance to repeat his first round antics and grab a few more goals. God knows his effort deserves it.
Torquay Utd Team News:
Spurs have given permission for on-loan teenage England Under-19 full-back Adam Smith to play for the Gulls.
The 18-year-old has started both league games for the Gulls since arriving at Plainmoor in an initial month-long loan a week ago.
Player to watch: Nicky Wroe
Driving midfielder scored a cracker in his side’s 2-2 draw with Port Vale on Saturday, that sees Torquay lying in 22nd in the table, one place above the drop zone. May prove a challenge if Liam Bridcutt doesn’t play and offer some stability.
Match Facts & Stats
County – 5/6
Draw – 23/10
Torquay – 13/5
Match Prediction:
3-1 County. Surely it’s our time to win a match?
Next Fixtures:
COUNTY v Swindon
Edgeley Park
League One
Saturday 5th December ’09, 3pm
I’ve gone for 1-1 and a replay in Torquay on a Tuesday night but I hope I am wide of the mark. We need to win, get a plum draw in round 3, get some ackers in and entice those dithering consortia into taking the plunge and rescuing this knackered and broken thing that we love so much. A shed full of ale required before the game tomorrow I think………