Title Contenders vs Play-Off Hopefuls (Carlisle vs Pompey)

[K-Win]

Should be a good'un this. Carlisle have bounced back from their tricky patch with two quality wins against strong opposition and cemented their place in the promotion spots. Pompey have been clinging on to a play-off place and just about scraped a point at Barnet last week.

Against all reason, I'm going for Pompey to spring a huge upset of Burnley v Lincoln proportions and eke out a 2-1 win against the Cumbrian high-flyers.

 

[shoddycollins]

Reverse psychology much?

 

[K-Win]

We're heading towards the business end of the season, Shoddy. Any strategy is worth a try at this stage.

 

[cufc17]

Should be a great game, expecting a good attendance with Pompey bringing 1000+! Curle has practically begging fans to come to this game, but some simply aren't interested.

In this fixture last year we showed way too much respect to Portsmouth and we were very lucky to sneak a point. In fact, I'm pretty certain the last two games at BP have ended 2-2 with us scoring a last minute equaliser.

A draw wouldn't be a bad result for us, especially if Luton drop points against Plymouth, but hopefully we can grab a win and pull further clear.

 

[hellogregory]

The bookies have Pompey has clear favourites to win this match.

365 for example have the Carlisle win at 11/4 with a Portsmouth win at 19/20

 

[K-Win]

We're always at least half a point shorter than logic dictates we should be. It's been like that all last season and all this season. 11/4 looks bonkers and I may have an 'emotional hedge' bet on Carlisle.

We do have a strong defence, which is shielded by two CDMs. However, if you can get through that then we have a less than impressive shot-stopper sitting behind it. I'm still struggling to recall him making a single really good save all season.

At the other end we do create chances (with the exception of against Barnet last Saturday), but tend to struggle putting them away.

 

[shoddycollins]

We're always at least half a point shorter than logic dictates we should be. It's been like that all last season and all this season. 11/4 looks bonkers and I may have an 'emotional hedge' bet on Carlisle.

We do have a strong defence, which is shielded by two CDMs. However, if you can get through that then we have a less than impressive shot-stopper sitting behind it. I'm still struggling to recall him making a single really good save all season.

At the other end we do create chances (with the exception of against Barnet last Saturday), but tend to struggle putting them away.

experimental 3-6-1 is bang on then.
we allow a lot of chances against us and we're a little above average at stopping then going in. At the other end we're the only team that create more chances than you do and are reasonably clinical.

 

[Vanni]

Yep, Carlisle at 11/4 is a bit bonkers considering that Pompey do not have a great away record, with just two draws out of their last four away matches. Which kinds reminds me us actually, as a point at Accy tonight will see us overtaking Pompey in the away table on GD, and I don't think our away record is all that.

But, if I were a betting man, I think I wouldn't go for a straight Carlisle win but would take the draw as well. I think some people refer to this as a 'double chance' bet which is exactly what it is. It certainly makes more sense to me than the 'draw no bet' betting option.

 

[Carver]

I'd definitely take a point to stop them catching us!

 

[Don Tonberry]

If we lose this one our automatic promotion challenge is as good as over.

 

[WAP]

Big game for both teams, personally I'd take a point now. It's not that I don't think we can win the game, more that Carlisle have a tough run in and can still be caught even if we don't beat them.

Looking at Carlisle's results and seeing no clean sheet since October is encouraging but the amount of goals they score means this could be a 3-2, 4-3 type of game. Definitely worth a quid on a 2-2 though.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

I think whoever wins this match will come above the other at the end of the season.

 

[hellogregory]

I think we'll lose this. Pompey looked good down their place and if it wasn't for a heroic goalkeeping performance we'd have been slaughtered. I know we played most of the match down to 10 but I still think they would have dominated the second half against 11.

The more i think about it the more i think the bookies have it right and with Portsmouth's extra quality the cream will rise to the top and they'll take home the 3 points.

Plus we very rarely ever win 3 games in a row.

Carlisle 1-2 Portsmouth

 

[Carver]

I think we'll lose this. Pompey looked good down their place and if it wasn't for a heroic goalkeeping performance we'd have been slaughtered. I know we played most of the match down to 10 but I still think they would have dominated the second half against 11.

The more i think about it the more i think the bookies have it right and with Portsmouth's extra quality the cream will rise to the top and they'll take home the 3 points.

Plus we very rarely ever win 3 games in a row.

Carlisle 1-2 Portsmouth

A DRAW will do for us, we dont have to win it.

 

[hellogregory]

Na we need to win this, but we'll lose.

 

[Vanni]

Nah HG, a draw would leave you lot 6 pts better off Pompey, though they've played one game less, and 3pts over Luton assuming they beat Plymouth of course. So, it's deffo not a must win game.

 

[hellogregory]

We have Cheltenham and Plymouth away up after it. Plymouth have been above us all season and seem to win their top of the table home matches, and Cheltenham are the best team in the league and will be thinking it's about time they go into top gear to wrap up the title.

So I think we do need 3 points this weekend ahead of 2 tough away games.

 

[cufc17]

On the other hand, we've not lost a game against any of the top 8, home or away. A draw would be a decent result, I'd hope we go for the win though.

Pompey obviously have some fantastic individual talent for this level in their squad, but they've not shown it enough this season. They had 1 shot on target at Barnet last weekend, we can't show them too much respect and let them control the game.

 

[K-Win]

The thing is, Cook is nowhere near knowing what his best team is. The keeper, back four and CDMs rarely change but the problem is the three that sit behind the lone striker. He's tried every possible combination this season from what are an embarrassment of riches (on paper) at this level - Roberts, Baker, Bennett, Lalkovic, Naismith, Chaplin, Lowe - and not struck gold yet. Many of these have gone from flavour of the month to out in the cold at the drop of a hat, and then back the other way. You do wonder if he's just had too much choice at times.

 

[Bucket_]

Holy..!!

Change to 3-5-2 and we go and score three. It's on now!!

 

[Vanni]

Quick everybody, let's get out of here while there's still time.............

 

[hellogregory]

Aye like I said, the cream will rise to the top and as expected Portsmouth's superior quality came out on top.

Pompey are a better team with far better players and that showed today.

We didn't actually play that bad, it was a tight game until Roberts scored. After that we committed more players forward and then got absolutely raped.

What today does confirm (for those unlike me that didn't already know), is that we are no where near good enough to finish top 3. Its between Luton and Pompey for that third spot but I fully expect the latter to take it.

Our realistic priority has to be to pick up enough points from our tough run in to make sure we stay top 7. I think we're good enough to make top 7 but it will be tough and go whether we do as we have a lot of games to come against teams that are better than us.

 

[Alan Partridge]

Nightmare, losing our two CBs in the first half half killed us. An already shit defence made 10x worse by having a makeshift pairing at the back consisting of a midfielder and full-back, who'd blow over in a strong gale.

It was never gunna happen after that. We're now left with three fit defenders at the club and there's only one person to blame for that...

 

[hellogregory]

Well Gillesphey isn't a full back so moving him to CB is no bad thing.

 

[Carver]

Fuckiiiiiiiing heeeeell.

At least we will find out next week if our billionaire takes over...

 

[cufc17]

There really wasn't much in it, both teams created few chances until they ran riot at the end. Should we have had a penalty first half? Proctor missed a great chance at 0-0, just didn't get the right connection.

A draw wouldn't have been unfair based on the first hour, but after that they were dominant. I think us going two up top aided this.

I thought Linganzi ran the show for them, everything seemed to go through him. It wasn't a 3-0 game, and it probably should've been 4, but they are a good team.

Superb away turnout, didn't stop singing for the majority of the game, and about 10 minutes after!

 

[K-Win]

I wasn't at the game so only have radio commentary and highlights to go by. Sounded very even until 20 minutes from the end. The two big factors seemed to be Carlisle's bad luck in the centre-half department and our switch to 3-5-2 to exploit this.

Our radio commentary team were really laying into Gary Roberts moments before he got the opener. Mind you, that was the first good thing he's done for a while.

Sounded like a definite handball pen for Carlisle in the first half. Who knows what would have happened if that had been given.

 

[Carver]

Sounded like a definite handball pen for Carlisle in the first half. Who knows what would have happened if that had been given.

Yes it was a pen but referee's are told to let big clubs like Pompey off the hook so they can get back up the leagues instead of us minnows.

 

[hellogregory]

It was a definite handball, 100% penalty but we can't be relying on referees to give straight forward decisions because we all know how shite they are.

Yes Proctor did miss an easy chance at the start of the second half but remember E.Doyle missed an even easier chance just before half time. It was harder to miss than score.

 

[Carver]

Anyone who say's our automatic promotion hopes are over is a c*** because it's not over until it's over, fair enough if it gets to the point of us having to win something like 3 games in a row and all of them have to be 10 nil wins and hope other teams lose 10 nil, but we're still 3rd and unless we drop out of it then people can start whining and feel suicidal. How often does a season come along where we're in the top 3 of a league in February? Hardy ever!

So let's just fucking enjoy it.

Cheltenham up next and 3 easy points!