[spireitematt]

Well what a game yesterday was. When I found out several weeks ago they were going to televise our game against Pompey, I kept thinking I hope we give a good account ourselves otherwise I would never hear the last of it from people and friends who support Premier League clubs. But yesterday we didn't just give a good account of ourselves we played Pompey off the park and matched them man for man. We looked and played like a Football League team.

The chances we created we could have had 3 or 4. I was really impressed by Banks, Grigg, Naylor, Grimes and Palmer at the back. I did worry a bit when Frecklton came on and gave the ball away rather cheaply once or twice but we managed to grind out a 1-0 victory against a team who haven't lost a league game since March.

As much as I enjoy the FA Cup and love a cup run, promotion back to the football league is more important. I do believe if we get promoted and I think we will then if we keep this team together in L2 then we could be looking at a back to back promotion.

[Dancingwilldoit]

Agree with you Matt. It was a good game to watch. We looked solid and I don't think they would have scored had we played without a keeper.
Next week is the big one though. Win and we go 5 points clear with a game in hand.
We need to turn up just like we did yesterday straight from the off. Fingers crossed we can do them.

[SaltergateBorn]

I went on Sunday, as I did to the Kettering game – I do love the FA Cup.

I don`t think any Spireite outside of a mental institution would argue that it wasn`t a great game. As you say, Matt, we could and probably should have won by more. The atmosphere in the ground was fantastic as well, due in large part to the 1,500 or so Pompey supporters in the ground. Hopefully, we can look forward to more of the same next year if we make it back to the EFL and come up against teams who bring that level of support.
I don`t think any player had a bad match, but personally I`d have made Liam Mandeville my MoM. His movement all through was faultless and that was a beauty of a ball into the box that Naylor got his head onto for the goal.
I agree that next week is probably more important in the greater scheme of things, but I`m not one of those who thinks that a cup run has to be a distraction or a hindrance. It didn`t do Wrexham any harm last year and I reckon that we have enough depth of quality in the squad to cope with it. And, of course, if we make it to the 3rd Round – and if we play like we did on Sunday, I think we`ll give Orient a few problems as well - there`s the prospect of a nice boost to the coffers.

As far as next Saturday goes, I think Barnet need to win it more than we do. If we win, that puts us 5 points ahead having played a game less but if we lose we`re still only a point behind with a game in hand. A draw wouldn`t be a disaster for us either, so the pressure is all on them. I`m trying not to get too confident, but over the season I reckon our squad depth is stronger than theirs so we should be in a better position to cope with the fixture congestion, injuries and suspensions that will inevitably come.

There I go again; tempting fate.

[Devongone]

Just think if we beat Orient we might get an easy and lucrative third round tie, like Man Utd at home. Would that overflow your FA Cup Salts?

Strangely on Sunday I wasn't as excited as I'd have imagined. I always thought we'd win and from the very kick-off you could see Pompey were scared OF US!!!!!! Never for a moment did I think we'd lose. I thought Palmer was wonderful at the back. I admit Grimes did well too, but he's always happier up against a centre forward who doesn't run him round the field. To be honest I thought Horton looked potentially vulnerable, and though Mandeville was excellent and his dead-ball delivery superb, we waste him that far back. You would never have played Paul Cook at full back and he's our Paul Cook when passing.

We were really more than one goal superior to Pompey. They were off their game and couldn't work out where and why it had gone missing. I think there is a bit of a Wrexham effect. EFL sides are worried by the prospect of playing the very top non-league sides. They take a look at teams like us and see proper teams. We've even got a proper stadium and we came out and played like a team challenging Notts County, Stockport and Wrexham at the top of EFL 2, because that's our level.

Though I'm happy with Cookie changing his team regularly I didn't think that Sunday's was our best starting XI, but it turned out to be the right one. I hope we take a serious look at Barnet and consider the hive of forward players they have available, capable of giving is much more mobile trouble than the largely static Colby Bishop. We need not to lose and encourage them. They WILL lose several more games this season, but the psychological impact on both sides of a Barnet win might just be decisive.

But yes on Sunday we were clearly better than the highest ranked team in The FA Cup. There was no element of fluke, but Will Norris made an awful decision to go for that ball. Neuer would have struggled to get that one! The delivery was perfection.

[SaltergateBorn]

Man Utd at home would indeed do very nicely. However, Man Utd at Old Trafford would do even nicelier. And who knows? The way United are playing at the moment we might even stand a chance.

Let`s not get ahead of ourselves though. We have to beat Orient first.

[spireitematt]

Man Utd at home would indeed do very nicely. However, Man Utd at Old Trafford would do even nicelier. And who knows? The way United are playing at the moment we might even stand a chance.

Let`s not get ahead of ourselves though. We have to beat Orient first.

The way that Man United played against Newcastle in the League Cup last week was woeful and even we could have beaten them. (As I'm typing this just seen the final score against FC Copenhagen. Man United were 2-0 up and lost 4-3)

[Devongone]

So long as Ten Haag is selecting the team there is always hope.

How appropriate that a man called Ten ends up with ten on the field.