By Simon ‘Sprout` Phillips
Welcome to this weeks special (and possibly shorter than normal) Something for the Easter Weekend. there is a busy holiday weekend coming up, but first we rewind to last Saturday and the goal less draw against Swindon Town. It was always going to be a tough game and to come away with a point is something I think most of us would have gladly taken. Having said that I have to say though I was a little disappointed when I heard the team news. I didn`t think there was anything particularly wrong with the starting eleven, but the lack of forward options on the bench was puzzling seeing Elliot Richards sat in the stand. I think if a manager with the initial PB had picked that match day squad with no striking options on the bench he probably would have been pilloried for it. It seemed odd for him to be completely omitted from the squad and for the team to have such a defensive outlook, and when Muzzy Carayol had to go off at half-time after what sounded like us being under the cosh it looked like it could have been a bad outcome but in the end it worked out alright. It was pleasing to hear that Michael Smith had a good second half on the right of midfield. The few times I have seen him, he has looked promising as an attacking full back who can cross and perhaps a role further forward would suit him.
On the subject of Elliot Richards, anyone who may follow the forums and/or twitter may have seen he has been getting a new tattoo on his lower leg. (maybe a reason for his omission on Saturday) Seems a bit odd to get such a thing done during the season, especially when you will be wearing shin pads, footie socks and getting mucky and sweaty. Surely with scabby skin and blood around you are risking infection?
nyway, the two games over the Easter weekend sees a chance for us to get some more points and put us in with a decent shout of a top half finish. By the time you read this we may well have won, drawn or lost our Good Friday home game against Gillingham, in a convincing, battling or abject fashion, followed by the away game against Crewe. Both games should be tough as both the Gills and Crewe are pushing to nab a play-off place, but then who knows what either game will or will have thrown up and I am sure Mark McGhee will have the team well prepared for both match-ups and we will probably see the team reshuffled slightly over both games as players look to impress the manager before we head into the summer and next season.
That`s it for me as this week as I head into a busy Easter period with football and family commitments. Hopefully we can pick up those points over the games and push ourselves into the top-half (or at least close) of the table for the first time since God knows how long. Whatever you are up to this holiday period I hope you have a good one and I hope the Sun makes a slight return
UTG!
Simon ‘Sprout` Phillips
