FL2; Rotherham v Torquay United 19th February 2010

I'm with you Dave on the Elliott Benyon thing and he has got a lot more about him than he gets credit for. Branston again brilliant tonight apparently but just scroll back through the forum and see the number of negative posts when he signed.

Three points would be great on Tuesday but I would be happy with a draw. We are in a scrap and to beat the same team four times in a season would be statistically unlikely (DTG and Hector please advise )

Grimsby are trying to sneak up on us by drawing so we may as well do the same and keep one pace ahead!

Anyway a more comfortable sleep tonight and although Barnes missed from close in I've got confidence in that lad and am absolutely sure that he will be producing the goods for us and, like Jason Roberts, when he is playing in the Premiership we will be proudly saying 'he played for us'.

Off to bed happily tonight for a change at a weekend and working tomorrow so I will be nice to the client (only one job tomorrow in Exeter Burnthouse Lane) - normally people don't want to see me before Wednesday!! ;D

if benyon had come on 15 minutes earlier we would have won it probably,still happy with a point with the usual scoring

No doubt about it and for once we could not complain about luck not being on our side as they hit the woodwork three times, in the first half. Had some relatives at the game. They say that we were abyssmal in the first half. Camara could not get above walking pace so he clearly is not better than what we have. Rowe-Turner was also unimpressive, albeit his first game,although the Swindon player was useful.
We will have to play a whole lot better on Tuesday night.

Back in Lancs a bit late, so just a few thoughts. Only travelled from my daughter's in Sheffield but still had a mare getting there and missed first 15, partly cos I had to do a circuit of the stadium to find our gate and it's ok for Kelly Holmes inside but a mighty big cicuit for me ! Apparently we had missed a decent chance by that time and I thought our football was ok, tho we then let them sling some crosses in with the ball travelling further than it should have, resulting in the woodwork being struck and then the goal. For the rest of the game I didn't think Rotherham were any great shakes and that gave hope. I didn't know about Macklin's signing and we were so far from thepitch I hadn't a clue who he was - nor did the guy next to me. Same with Rowe-Turner - I didn't realise he had come on. I thought Camara had been ok on the ball but suspect back-tracking. Incidentally had a chat with Nico's future father-in-law at ht, nice bloke, had sthg to say but nuff said about all that. Zebs worked hard again and always suggested he might do something. First view of Barnes and have to say I wasn't impressed, especially when he missed the glorious chance that I felt Benyon would have typically tucked away. I thought midfield was poor and disorganised. Thompson was the pick of them for me. Wroe had a poor game and gave the ball away lots. A bit early for Macklin I suppose - another youngster and we seem to have tried so many wingers. Don't remember Muzzy touching the ball when he came on. Ellis was good, won loads in the air, even if his distribution wasn't always spot on. Have to hold my hands up here and say Branston was good, though I never said he was a bad player just that i didn't feel we needed him as much as other positions. At the end Rotherham were hoofing it at times and we looked more likely to nick it. Anyway i got away without being clamped and the point should really gee the lads up for Cheltenham - here's hoping !

I must admit that my heart sunk when I saw both Smith and Thomson missing from the line-up. So to go on and get a point, which probably exceeded a lot of fans expectations is both a good effort and a confident booster ahead of a crucial period of games.

Over the next month, there are six matches, four are at home, including the Lincoln fixture and the away games are at Darlington and Cheltenham.

If we can push on towards the forty point mark then there will probably be enough of a cushion to see us through. Anything below 35 and it is going to be a very stressful end to the season.

COYGs.

Bizarre night really, and the rollercoster of football emotions that comes with supporting Torquay continues.

Picked up longeaton en route (great company again, cheers) found a nice little pub (The Wentworth), where it was buzzing with a mix of locals, Rotherham fans and Elvis's (or should that Elvi?). Some refreshment later, I managed to pry longy away from the dolly birds (Mabel and Doris) who, being 'ham fans advised us the ground was a 10 minute walk. Turned out to be 10mins to the ground, then another 20mins round it to our "end"!

Just like Hereford, twas a strange ground but in a different way. On the approach the initial thought was that there was no obvious atmosphere or noise, which was backed up on entrance (£18, steep!). As an athletic stadium it was good, but for football, completely unsuited. We were so far from the action at times it was difficult to make out who was doing what. And the "home" fans were, for a side sitting in fourth, subdued and almost complacent.

From the off we looked quite settled, a good turn and run from Macklin won us a corner, then a fine chance and save. Promising... Then the home side, who didn't exactly run the show, started making chances. They were quicker to make moves, and to spot options. Twice off the woodwork, then the goal, it started looking bleak. Just as an aside, nasty to see the rise of ballboy bias again - quick to their players, no rush for ours. And a mascot who wound up everyone and won several decisions for his team, making the ref look like a "homer!". Shame he dropped his drum...

Camara had a mare (slo-mo, a nickname I overheard,was very apt and funny) and was obviously distracted by the running track, thinking he was competing in one of those silly walking races. Thankfully subbed at half time his replacement Rowe-Turner, looked more comfortable and able. A promising signing I feel. Elsewhere Bevan looked off the pace, and out of place on several occasions.

Half time entertainment was provided by the Gulls "chief scout" chatting/slating in the stands, nico's pa-in-law, and the longest wait for a coffee ever encountered.

The new boy Macklin looks promising, even though his shirt number caused some fans problems. Zebs worked hard, and Branston was looking in charge again. Barnes up front is worth watching and will prove fruitful I feel.

The negative fans were proving annoying, why travel all that bloody way and spend so much money just to slag people off? For Gods sake, stay at home and shout at Eastenders instead! Whereas the young posse at the back of the stand were vocal all game in a positive way, and top praise to them.

2nd half much better, a better shape and attitude. Closing down at every chance and hassling them in their own half seemed to unsettle them. The goal was coming and it was deserved. To be honest it would have not been too surprising had we sprung another from all the late pressure we applied.

We were never outclassed or overrun, and you couldn't really tell the two teams were so far apart in the league. All round a better showing and if this can be maintained then we can build on this excellent point and start moving upwards.