It is a change of pace this weekend as after multiple league games over the festive period, the world famous FA Cup rolls into Town. With numerous lower league sides still in the competition the hopes of facing someone new and different were very much high, so we were drawn against fellow Championship side Preston, a side we faced only a couple of games ago during the festive season, to make matters worse (or better) we are once again away at Deepdale, to make things even worse (or better) it is a lunch time kickoff so that the millions of Town and Preston fans from around the globe are able to witness their sides battle for a place in the next round.

This game will mark the 4th time the two sides will have met this season, heaven forbid a draw to make it 5 times in one season, whats the record for most encounters between two sides in a single season? anyone? I don't know, if I had to guess it would be Manchester United v Arsenal back when they were the only two teams in the Premier League or so it seemed. Anyway, back to Saturday, I don't think there's much to say really so I'll keep the thread relatively brief, although any future ramblings may extend that...

So the first time the two sides met this season was back in August in the Carabao Cup when Danny Schofield was 'in charge' of Town as Preston hammered 4 past us in a 4-1 victory. It was hardly a makeshift side with the likes of Nicholls, Lees, Nakayama, Holmes and Rhodes all starting, alongside Broadie Spencer and a then untried Etienne Camara. It was a performance that was symptomatic of the problems at the club and was an indication of what was to come. Preston went into half time 3-0 up thanks to goals from Troy Parrott and an Ali McCann brace, before Brad Potts made it 4 in the second half, Jordan Rhodes pulled a consolation goal back for Town. It was a game that we was completely dominated in. The sides would meet again in October at the John Smiths Stadium, this time with Mark Fotheringham in charge and yet again it would be the visitors who would win. Granted it wasn't as big a defeat as before, but it was a game that saw us register 0 shots on target at home as Greg Cunningham scored the only goal of the game. A couple of months later and the sides met at Deepdale on Boxing Day, Cunningham once again scored against Town as Preston took a 1-0 lead into half time. Surprisingly, Town managed to produce a turnaround in the second half when Rhodes, who was back in the side after being thrown under the bus by Fotheringham and thanks to an injury to Danny Ward, scored the equaliser after good work down the right by Brahima Diarra. Rhodes would hit the post minutes later as he found confidence in front of goal, before Jack Rudoni put a dangerous cross that found its way to loanee Kaine Kessler-Hayden at the back post who bundled it into an empty goal. It would be Towns first win at Deepdale since 1969. Since then we have beaten Rotherham and lost to Luton both at home, Preston meanwhile have lost away to West Brom 2-0 and won at Stoke 1-0 through a Ched Evans header deep into injury time.



So what happened in the previous FA Cup campaign, well Preston entered and left the competition in the third round, travelling to Wales to face Cardiff. Still under COVID rules, the game was played behind closed doors and saw the two sides drawing 1-1 after 90 minutes. Isaak Davies opened the scoring for the Bluebirds before Daniel Johnson equalised from the spot. To avoid fixture congestion, FA Cup ties were to be settled on the day, so the tie went into extra time where Mark Harris scored in the 116th minute to send the Welsh side through. Town meanwhile travelled over the Pennines to face Burnley at Turf Moor, Jay Rodriguez opened the scoring for the Clarets in the 28th minute, heading past Ryan Schofield who later went off injured, however, going into the latter stages of the second half, Josh Koroma equalised for Town before boyhood Blackburn Rovers fan Matty Pearson headed in from the corner. In the 4th round, Huddersfield would host local rivals Barnsley, on a very rainy afternoon, Town took the lead through a Duane Holmes goal and saw Ollie Turton have a goal ruled out for offside, current Town player Michal Helik also saw a goal ruled out as Town progressed through to the next round. The 5th round saw us travel to Nottingham Forest on a Monday evening. Town started the game without a recognised striker although you could say we've been doing it most of this season anyway when we pick Ward. Forest had a goal disallowed for offside before prolific scorer Tom Lees headed Town ahead from a corner. Sam Surridge would equalise for Forest before Ryan Yates completed the turnaround shortly before the half time interval. Town were unable to grab an equaliser and Forest progressed to face Liverpool in the next round. Liverpool would go on to win the cup so it will come as no surprise that Forest lost.



I would ask what has changed since we last met and the answer is obviously not a lot, Town have signed Matt Lowton on loan from Burnley until the end of the season and Florian Kamberi who signed as I was writing a paragraph on why I wouldn't sign him, only to be announced once I had finished it. Any road, it seems like a weird signing as he doesn't appear to offer anything that we have been missing in the front line, he's not massively tall, he's not overly quick, hasn't really scored a load of goals in his career and probably offers nothing more than what Ward does, unless Danny is leaving. Apparently he is decent technically so he may be someone who offers something different a touch deeper, but at the moment for me in league football Jordan Rhodes is the starting striker. Kamberi did have a good spell at Hibs so maybe just may be there is something there.



So team news for Saturday. Well Fotheringham is yet to talk to the media ahead of the game, but I'd imagine there may be a slight shuffle of the pack to allow some players a rest and others a bit of game time. I'm inclined to say that if it was me, then Hogg would be sitting out this weekend after going off injured against Luton, we need him for the dogfight, Rhodes has been working hard alone up top so I'd be giving him a breather this time out and letting one of Ward, Simpson or Kamberi take his place, he's the only natural finisher we have and looking at how the likes of Hull and Wigan who we have coming up have defended recently, I'd be saying Rhodes will be causing them a few problems. Elsewhere, Nicholls is approaching his 5th yellow in league football so it may be worth letting Bilokapic have a go between the sticks in case he is needed in the league, which is quite possible, Ben Jackson could/should be taking the left back/ wing back spot with Lowton going on the right, Pearson has been returning to training although it may be a big ask to get him into the team for this weekend, he may appear on the bench. Young players like Spencer, Diarra and Ayina may also see a bit more game time on Saturday, with Ayina being a candidate to play alongside Lees. We may also see little Duane get a breather after producing better performances in the last few games. The B team play on Friday afternoon so that could offer an indication of which young players may be with the team on Saturday with other candidates for the first team squad including Kian Harratt, Scott High, Kyle Hudlin, Charles Ondo and Myles Bright.



If it was me in charge I reckon I'd shift to a 4-2-3-1 formation and get a few minutes into the legs of our other attacking players.

Bilokapic

Lowton Lees Ayina Jackson

High Camara

Thomas Kamberi Mahoney

Ward

As for the bench, take your pick really, but I would say Simpson and Diarra both have to be there.

As for Preston team news, again, I'm not sure how seriously they will be taking the cup, obviously we have bigger fish to fry with the relegation battle, but with Preston sitting 10th and only 2 points outside of the top 6, a good run of form could have them as dark horses, Forest were 9th when we faced them in the Cup last season and look what happened there. It is quite possible that Preston use this as a chance to get some minutes in the legs that need them the most.

I was going to have a little rant about what was going on at Town in regards to the ownership, but maybe another day, safe to say we are a circus being run by clowns, the only thing I've heard out of the usual is that administration is a very large possibility as our majority owner cannot afford to pay any sort of upkeep, maybe some of you have heard other stuff.



Now for a couple of FA Cup themed anagrams to end this off

1) Rim My Joss

2) A Newer Genres

3) Footballs Nuclear Lab

4) A Fiercest Puma

5) Rigid Roadbed

Aldershot 0-2 Notts County
Altrincham 2-2 Bromley
Barnet 2-0 Gateshead
Dag & Red 1-2 Woking
Dorking 2-1 Oldham
Scunthorpe 0-1 Maidenhead United
Southend 1-1 Solihull Moors
Torquay 1-0 Halifax
Wealdstone 0-2 Eastleigh
York 2-1 Maidstone United

League Table After Matchday 30
Devon - 619
Lord Snoots - 528
St Charles Owl - 517
SaltergateBorn - 509
Amelia - 489
Spireitematt - 465
Dancing - 452

THE MATCH

SATURDAY 7TH JANUARY KO 6:00PM

v

LAST MATCH



We made it 3 wins in a row and moved up to 2nd place with an emphatic win v Cambridge. We got off to the perfect start Windass latching onto a long pass & finishing well. It was 2-0 when Smith converted a pen after Paterson was "fouled". Onto the 2nd half and it was soon 3 as Palmer finished from close range. Then Windass went on to get his hat-trick, his second an angled drive from just inside the box then his hat trick goal cam from the edge of the area, a good curling effort from the edge of the box, although he could have celebrated a bit.

THE MATCH



A break from the league as Mega Rich Newcastle make the journey south to play us in the FA Cup 3rd Round. The Geordies are having a very good season and lie in 3rd place and will just be looking to finish in the top 4 and clinch that Champion League spot. The last time Newcastle won a significant trophy was 1955, the FA Cup, so it will be interesting to see what team they put out on Saturday. There top score is Almeron with 9 and Callum Wilson second on 6. Eddie Howe is there current manager, can he win them there first proper trophy in 68 years??

ALL TIME H2H

OWLS 42
NEWC 57
DRAWS 31

CURRENT FORM

OWLS              -                                                                      

NEWC              -                                            

EFL STOOGES

DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT  

Referee Michael Salisbury
Assistant Referees Gary Beswick & Akil Howson
Fourth Official Ollie Yates

THE TEAM

Stockdale
Palmer McGuiness James
Hunt Adeniran Byers FDB Johnson
Windass Smith

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

1-3 Smith

ATTENDANCE

30578

WEDNESDAYS FIRT GOAL TIME

26

BML LEAGUE

Imre 18
Owlskev 18
Stateside 17
Wash 16
SCO 15
Peiowl 11
Maddix 9

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Hartlepool United v Stoke City
Norwich City v Blackburn Rovers
Stockport County v Walsall
Aston Villa v Stevenage
Manchester City v Chelsea

AAAHH

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE

WEREHAM




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC

Peterborough United have reappointed Darren Ferguson for a fourth spell as manager until the end of the season after sacking boss Grant McCann.

The 50-year-old resigned from his third spell in charge last season, with Posh heading for relegation to League One.

McCann, 42, and assistant Cliff Byrne, 40, departed Posh on Wednesday after a run of one win in seven league games.

Peterborough co-owner Jason Neale said the return of Ferguson would only be until the end of the campaign.

"When you look for a manager in January, it is a very difficult time, an impossible time to get someone in, so if you were to write down what you would want in a manager, someone who identifies with how you work as a football club, someone who has had multiple promotions on their CV, someone with a style of football that gets people off their seats, where would you find a manager like that?" Neale told the club website.

"It just so happens we have one that lives nearby and has agreed to come and help us until the end of the season.

"We are not talking a long-term appointment, it has been agreed between ourselves and Darren that the best way is for him to come in and work with the squad."

Ferguson led Peterborough to successive promotions in his first two full seasons in charge but left for the first time with the club bottom of the Championship.

He returned 14 months later, in January 2011 after being sacked by Preston, and led Posh to victory over Huddersfield in the League One play-off final, only to leave "by mutual consent" in February 2015 following relegation and a poor start to the season.

After leading Doncaster to relegation and instant promotion, Ferguson left for his third spell at London Road, taking the club back into the Championship, before resigning in February of last year with Posh in 23rd place.

Neale added: "He only left a year ago, none of the owners wanted him to leave, for us the Championship was a challenge for a club our size, he made the decision to leave, Darragh (MacAnthony, chairman) felt it was the wrong decision at the time, but we feel that after a year out, he is full of enthusiasm, he is going to come in and his motivation and aim is to get another promotion under the belt.

"He has won five promotions in his career; he will be going for number six and we are delighted that he has agreed to return. It is business as usual and on we go."

McCann reign 'hasn't worked out'
Grant McCann
Grant McCann won 18 of his 48 games in charge of Peterborough during his second spell as manager
Former Posh midfielder McCann's sacking ends his second spell in charge at the Weston Homes Stadium.

He was initially sacked 21 months into his first spell as manager, in 2018, but returned to Peterborough following Ferguson's last departure, having led Hull to promotion in 2021.

Unable to prevent Peterborough's relegation from the Championship , McCann stayed in his job, and led Posh to four wins in their first five league games this season.

Four straight defeats in August and September ended that run, but Posh bounced back again with six wins and a draw from eight matches to reignite their promotion hopes.

Since November, however, five defeats from seven league games - culminating in a 3-0 home defeat by Wycombe at the weekend - prompted the board's decision to part company.

"It just hasn't worked out," said MacAnthony. "With the squad that we have, at the beginning of January, where we are in the league table is not where we expected and we feel if we are going to give ourselves a chance of a promotion run, now is the time to make that change.

"After watching us lose 3-0 at home on New Year's Day, that hammered home what kind of run we have been on, one win in 10 weeks and that is just not going to cut it. We have high expectations, and those high expectations will continue."

FA Cup 3rd round weekend so a real guessing game given the chance of 2nd string teams being selected. I've no idea whether we have replays or straight to extra time in this round so scores will be taken after e-t if applicable, before penalties.

Gamball:
Bournemouth - Burnley

Others:
Forest Green - Birmingham
Reading - Watford
Blackpool - Nottingham Forest
Ipswich - Rotherham
Middlesbrough - Brighton
Millwall - Sheff Utd
Shrewsbury - Sunderland
Cardiff - Leeds
Norwich - Blackburn

Portsmouth have sacked head coach Danny Cowley after a run of nine League One games without a win left them nine points from the play-off places.

His brother - and assistant - Nicky has also been sacked, with the pair spending 22 months at Fratton Park.

The former Lincoln and Huddersfield coaches had replaced Kenny Jackett.

They led Pompey to an eighth-placed finish in 2020-21 - missing out on the play-offs by two points - before guiding them to 10th last season.

"We are desperately disappointed that, following our recent run of results, we have today made the difficult decision to part company with Danny and Nicky," said chief executive Andrew Cullen.

"Both Danny and Nicky have given everything to Pompey, working so hard inside and outside of the training ground with a determination to bring success - not just to the football club, but to the city of Portsmouth and the wider community."

Well I expect this away fixture to be played without our resident clown of a manager, Lee Johnson, in situ. We shall wait n see if that is the case as Hibs must realise they really have to act like a top four Scot Prem footie club and get on with finally rectifying major probs within the footie institution that is Hibs FC or all offenders within GTF away from our footie club and let a serious hibee (or other), somebody who has a high regard for our esteemed footie club, take over and get on with the serious business of changing things for the benefit of the club going forward and for the the vast numbers of fans who support Hibs. Hibs had better field a starting line-up with a solid spine to it and with a high commitment/focus + leadership to win a match that really must be won at all cost - NO IFS OR BUTS ABOUT THIS!!!!!! WE ARE NOT PLAYING IN ANYTHING LIKE A TOP QUALITY FOOTIE LEAGUE!!! Revamp our ops, sign targeted players who will improve the team - I.E. DO SOMETHING, TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION!!!

I don't know whats more of a joke in this game so far, the refereeing/VAR or our performance.

If anyone can see in what way we are being "managed" here can they please let me know ? Thanks a lot.