Celtic winning comfortably 0-3 v Clyde this afternoon and the draw gives the Hoops another away cup tie v the Saints. So Celtic's record unbeaten cup run moves to Perth!

So it comes to pass that Hibs have a home draw v ICT and we have a very good chance of progressing to the semi-finals again! May the best team win!

Not at all pretty but a battling performance wins us 3 pts.

Thought we had blown it when Evans headed way over Jalal to put us a goal behind but not for long. Denton scored with his foot I'll repeat that Denton scored with his foot. Not very often that happens put Pembo seems to have given Denton some confidence and he went through 2 defenders (literally) to slot home. We then bossed the rest of the first half. They should have been down to 10 men after an atrocious high tackle on Tyson. As usual the ref was god awful and gave them everything, a yellow was all he gave.

Second half we came out with concrete boots on. We looked sluggish and were incapable of playing the ball on the floor in blustery wind, the ball went all over the place. Again the ref gave us nothing for a blatant handball in the area but justice was served at the end, did it cross the line? Who cares.
The thing was we kept going, our heads didnt drop and we actually scored in the 94th minute instead of the opposition. Oh how good that feels, a last minute winner!!!

I think Pembertons 6 week trial ends next week. For once please please please Allen and Carson do the right thing. 8 games in charge 3 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss means give the man a job not bring in somebody else.

I think the main instruction from Jack Ross is that no complacency is allowed from any Hibs player in a match that makes HFC strong favourites to progress to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals. Also note that it looks like this cup tie is gonna be played in major storm conditions and I wonder if the game could actually be "under threat" based on the weather forecast for Sunday. Anyway, the main objective is to win this game and if we do it in style v lesser opponents, all fine and good. C'mon Hibs - we wanna progress to the next round!

GGTTH

Following towns weekend in the smog, which for me yielded mixed emotions as I was disappointed to lose, I was however pleased with the fight shown to come back from 3-0 down, to be leaving craven cottage with the sense that we could have got something out of the game, which with town over the last god knows how long has been, well, unheard of.

This weekend, the smog comes to Yorksha, in the form of the superhoops Queens Park Rangers. After starting the season fairly brightly, over the last few months they have gone back to what was largely expected of them, now sitting 16th in the table, 6 points ahead of town, 9 points ahead of the drop zone, so you'd like to say that they are sitting safe, but we know how football can suddenly turn on its head and form can disappear without a trace. With that being said, you'd imagine both sides will be targeting this game as a chance to notch another 3 points to the tally and edge further towards safety.

Currently still managed by former brentford manager Mark Hovis Warburton, his QPR side hold a much maligned statistic in being one of the few teams to give Jan Siewert a point during his tenure as town manager, thanks to a 1-1 draw at the start of the season. The R's come into this game on the back of a mixed bag of results its fair to say. A thrashing of Cardiff 5-1  on new years day standing out from the rest of the pack, and I guess one could highlight their last victory too, a 1-0 win over world club champions Leeds. Barring those two wins and an FA Cup victory, 2020 hasn't been too sparkling for them, not that it has been much better for us, defeats away at brentford and blackburn finished their league games for January, whilst they began February with a home defeat to Bristol City. Like I said, it wasn't better for us, we've picked up 4 points this year and have also had some really poor results in there too.



So with the transfer window closed, how was it for QPR? Well the standout issue is the recalling of former town striker Nahki Wells, the bermuda international was on loan at loftus road from burnley who decided it was time to cash in. A bit of an auction took place with promotion chasing nottingham forest rumoured to have been interested (they got diakhaby instead...) as well as bristol city, whilst QPR understandably wanted to garner his services full time, ultimately they were not able to compete financially and the striker went to sunny bristol with northerner Josh Brownhill making his way to the long grass of turf moor (find a better excuse arteta). The hoops weren't very busy in the january window, only managing to get former leeds winger Jack Clarke in on loan from tottingham, whilst the departure lounge at loftus road international seemed a little bit busier. German centre half Toni Leistner left to join Koln on loan until the end of the season, whilst dr who Matt Smith was recalled by man city and sent to charlton, Jan Mlakar was recalled by Brighton and sent to Wigan, whilst midfielder josh scowen dropped down a division to join Sunderland. Arguably the biggest bit of business for the r's is that Ebe Eze is still at the club after being linked with a move to the premier league.



On the other hand, towns january window was comparatively hectic, with a number of incomings and outgoings, with the bad eggs being shipped off to pastures new, with the hope that they do well enough to earn a move and a decent enough fee for us to not make a massive loss, unlikely on two of them I would guess. In terms of departures, Diakhaby went to find robin hood, he's stolen a living so far so he should fit in amongst the merry men, ironically in his first interview he mentioned being up for a fight or something, very unlike you adama. Mbenza went to Amiens eventually, I guess no one told him that they too were in a relegation battle, I hope he loses his passport whilst he is over there. TK got the best deal of the bunch going on loan to fulham, where he can spend a lot of money on nights out in london instead. Elsewhere Flo Hadergjonaj went to Turkey on loan with the aim of getting first team football to help his international career, he left with some praise from DC, so expect him to have a chance when he comes back. Josh Koroma went to promotion chasing Rotherham on loan to further his development, whilst Rarmani Edmonds-Green also joined a promotion battle down at Swindon. Fellow academy graduates Ryan Schofield and Kian Harratt also left on loan, joining livingston and harrogate respectively. Reece Brown's unhappy stay in yorkshire looks to be coming to a swift end, with the midfielder joining Peterborough on loan, with the posh hoping to strike some sort of deal with town for a permanent transfer come summer. The solitary permanent departure saw the pasty pirlo Aaron Mooy join Brighton full time following a successful loan deal.


still offers more than dia and mbenza combined

In terms of incomings, Richard Stearman hopped on the train from Meadowhell as he left Sheffield United to partner Christopher Schindler, Harry Toffolo jumped in the backseat with the Cowleys as he made the switch from Lincoln, whilst on the loan front Arsenal prodigy Emile Smith Rowe finally saw fields, I wonder if he was as surprised at seeing a cow as steve mounie was? former arsenal trainee chris willock finished his loan spell at WBA to try and get more football here on loan from benfica, whilst premier league winning midfielder Andy King joined former Leicester  team mate danny simpson in yorkshire following an unsuccessful loan spell north of the border. Finally former town keeper Jonas Lossl rejoined the club on loan, six months after leaving to have his wages reportedly trebled at Everton.



So, moving onto tomorrows game, Town will be hoping to have the vast majority of the squad to select from, with Grabara and Elphick the long term absentees, whilst super col is very much unlikely to be returning. Jonas Lossl is expected to take his place between the sticks, whilst international clearance has been received for Willock, who will probably have to make do with a spot on the bench. Alex Pritchard has been training with the first team but it remains to be seen if he is ready to join the matchday squad. It is hoped that Jonny Hogg and danny simpson will be available after what has been described as minor knocks has kept them out for longer than minor knocks keep players out for   Matty daly is also likely to miss out with a hip injury. That being said, I'd be surprised if there was major changes to the side with the likely changes being on the bench, maybe kachunga being the most under threat with bacuna an option to take the wide berth should simpson be fit enough to start.

As for QPR they lined up as follows, and I wouldnt expect many changes to the lineup, maybe just the one with Clarke getting a starting role on the wing, maybe barbet to come in to battle against mounie
32 Kelly
2 Kane
4 Hall
23 Masterson
3 Wallace
12 Ball Substituted for Shodipo at 88'minutes
8 Amos Substituted for Pugh at 63'minutes
20 Osayi-Samuel
19 Chair Substituted for Clarke at 81'minutes
10 Eze
9 Hugill

Substitutes
1 Lumley
7 Pugh
14 Manning
17 Shodipo
22 Rangel
29 Barbet
47 Clarke

So who to look out for?

well firstly Ebe Eze, an attacking midfielder with the flair and spark to unlock defences and draw fouls. the 21 year old has been linked with moves to the top flight and will probably depart loftus road come the summer. He has scored 10 goals and notched 6 assists so far this season.



Jordan Hugill- the target man made his name at preston north end and is known for bullying defences with his power house performances, very similar to chris wood in playing style. He is currently on loan at QPR from west ham and has at times been rumoured to be on towns radar. He is now the top scorer at QPR following the departure of Wells with 11 goals and 1 assist



Played for both.

now i dont think the list is going to be very vast on this one, but there is a few for you to guess

1- striker that has been mentioned a few times already, its a freebie for you

2- welsh centre half that joined qpr upon leaving town

3- came through towns academy and moved to qpr, became a bit of a favorite for them but left to go to the premier league, is now playing in the championship

4- a defender that had a loan spell at town, prone to injuries and has since left qpr for a couple of clubs. recently made the move to a yorkshire club

5- goalkeeper who made a grand total of 0 appearances for town in his short stay, he left to finish his career back down south. he spent 4 years at qpr before moving to a powerhouse of northern football

6- a midfielder more famous for a karate style tackle he made prior to joining town. always looked like bambi on ice during his time here and never delivered what was promised. made no appearances for the qpr 1st team whilst he was there. hes still playing...somewhere

7- A current town player, had a year in london before moving on to far better things elsewhere, including european football.

8- striker who spent a season at town and scored on his return to qpr and missed a penalty, left to join barnsley after his contract at town wasnt renewed. had two spells at the r's

9- A nomadic striker who had a loan spell at both qpr and town, found his spell at town to be more successful but ultimately shot his career in the foot with his off field antics

10- Another nomad, but this time of the managerial variety. managed town last century, managed qpr in the premier league and championship.

i've surprised myself with 10!

Wow ....

Nathan Ferguson will undergo exploratory surgery on his knee next week - but his agent has again expressed his desire to leave Albion. Highly, highly unlikely he'll ever play for West Brom again https://t.co/BEHndCRZEF #wba

https://www.againstleague3.co.uk/2020/02...st-owners/

Sorry as I feel for those former players who have developed dementia and the families who care for them, I can't help but reflect on the huge difference between the experience of a man like Jeff Astle and the young players of today. Jeff died at 59 in 2002, so had he lived he'd be 77, making him ten years older than me. That guarantees that the ball Jeff was heading as a boy …… when his brain was still growing by the way …. would have been at least as heavy and difficult to manoeuvre as the footballs I was brought up with.

My early experience was all at centre half. I didn't get a choice. I was the tallest AND I wasn't afraid to head the ball. Quite a lot of lads were scared of heading the ball, even some who were otherwise pretty decent players. That was because the old leather case ball was very heavy at kick off. In wet or muddy conditions it became sodden and not only was difficult to head, but also you had to be able to kick properly to lift it off the grass. Taking a corner or a goal kick would often be down to the kid who could actually get the heavy ball into the air.

In practice matches during Games for the school team's squad at grammar school I can remember the opposition goalie repeatedly kicking the ball from his hands (because that was one of the quickest ways to progress downfield with the old ball). He did well to get it far beyond the halfway line and at centre half I was the one positioned to prevent the attack by winning the header. Some afternoons I headed that soggy ball loads of times, eyes open as I attempted not to head the lace which had the capacity to cut you.

I eventually achieved my ambition and got to play in goal in my dad's mens' team. I also played rugby for the school. Whatever damage that repetitive heading did to me, it did up to the age of 15 …….. but for a Jeff Astle and loads of other lads it went on into the professional game. And if like Jeff you were known to be excellent at it you were expected to do it more and more. Like me he was around to see the end of the heavy leather ball …….. but unless you experienced what those old balls were like it is very difficult to compare those times with modern day football. In those days you'd never have wanted your keeper to kick the ball off the floor if he could get it in his hands. With the ball in hand he could either kick further or use a judicious throw out to start an attack. Poorer pitches meant that with that soggy heavy ball today's rules would have led to a hatful of goals coming from earthbound keeper clearances.

So taking into account improved pitches and balls that now bounce swerve and spin ……. which you can actually float into the area if you want …… I find it difficult to understand why we seem to be moving towards erasing heading from the game. If young players are to be prevented from heading the ball up to a certain age what happens to the skill? How, once they are older, does the heading they now can't do very well and have been trained to fear, become part of their skillset and part of an exciting game? Is the game destined to be played on the floor? Should perhaps the goals be changed to match this new earthbound sport?

I ask because I don't know. I do, however, know that those who are the same age as me will ALL have experienced the same ball as I did during my youth. I am sure the prevalence of dementia amongst ex-players must have something to do with heading the ball. But surely proper science must evaluate the vast difference between the old and new ball AND the way that difference has changed the game itself.

A trip to the Stadium of Pies for a local derby against Wagan Athletic whose form seems to have picked up in recent weeks, coincidence from last season they played Leeds away and won their next game was against us they won last season 2-0 however by that time most of our lot were wearing flip flops and beach wear.
They have been in the nether regions of the division for most of the season but they might be putting their act together having won their last two beating the hapless Owls and their Yarkshire neighbours Leeds.
In the Wednesday game thought Lowe's header for the winner was very clever.
They splashed a bit of cash during the summer on Lowe and Moore and probably have been disappointed in their form also be interesting to see how Robinson performs after his transfer to A C Milan collapsed due to typical Italian inefficiency due to not getting the medical procedures out of the way in time.
Last time I saw us win down here was under Moyes when we won 1-0 took 7000 that night.
Match is on the box 12.30 kick off on Saturday expect it to pour down.
Will we be unchanged for the third game on the trot after our draw against Swansea should be but maybe a bit of squad rotation seeing we are off to the arid wasteland commonly known as Stoke on Wednesday followed by those cheerful Londoners Millwall next weekend.
Macs mystic form rating

8

11
Match Officials: Wigan Athletic Away

Taking charge of this weekend’s live Sky encounter with local rivals Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium is match is Darren England
Darren last refereed PNE in the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough back at the beginning of October; this is, however, his first Latics game of the 2019/20 season.

Last season, he officiated two North End games; our win over Queens Park Rangers at Deepdale in August 2018, when Alan Browne was the match winner on the opening day of the season and then the thrilling 3-3 draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park in what proved to be Steve Bruce’s last game in charge of our opponents.
In 2017/18, his first on the Select Group Two list, Darren took charge of three North End games, another draw at Middlesbrough in August, the 2-2 clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage and the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in February, so the QPR game was his first and only visit to Deepdale thus far.
In total so far this season, he officiated in 22 games, issuing 56 cautions and no red cards, his last game being the 3-2 home comeback victory for Leeds United against Millwall at Elland Road.

This Saturday lunchtime he will be assisted by Nick Greenhalgh and Nik Barbard, whilst the fourth official will be Rob Jones.