Gary Mills hails York City fight against AFC Wimbledon

12:01pm Tuesday 13th November 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Dave Flett, Sports reporter

Gary Mills watches his men fall from the FA Cup Gary Mills watches his men fall from the FA Cup

YORK City manager Gary Mills declared himself proud of his ten-man team despite their exit from the FA Cup following a thrilling 4-3 defeat at AFC Wimbledon.

Despite having Scott Kerr sent off in the first half, the Minstermen forced extra-time in an absorbing first-round replay courtesy of substitute Jamie Reed’s first kick of the match on 90 minutes.

After the Dons then forged ahead 4-2, Reed also grabbed an 119th-minute effort to ensure the enthralling tie’s outcome was in doubt right to the final whistle.

Mills added afterwards that his team also went a long way to proving that Saturday’s disappointing 3-0 League defeat to the same opposition at Bootham Crescent was a one-off.

He said: “We were excellent from the word go. It could have been 3-0 before we even scored and 4-1 or 5-1 at half-time.

“We got what we deserved on Saturday but we didn’t in this game. Hopefully, though, this performance proved Saturday was just a one-off because I thought the players were unbelievable last night.

“I am gutted and proud of them because they gave me and the football club everything. I’m also gutted to be out of the FA Cup because everybody wants a good run in the competition.”

Kerr was sent off for two bookable offences, fouling Rashid Yussuff in the build-up to Wimbledon’s first goal after being cautioned for dissent earlier.

The City chief, though, was frustrated by referee Keith Stroud’s display, saying: “For the first booking, it was the most blatant corner or the first of what should have been two or three penalties we weren’t given. That didn’t cost us the game but we need a break at the moment.”

Reed, meanwhile, was compared to Premier League ace Edin Dzeko by Mills for his potency off the bench.

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“He’s come on and scored goals ever since he came to the club,” said the Minstermen boss. “There’s a chap at Manchester City doing the same and it can be a strength. I thought Reedy had a good shout for a penalty as well.”

Comments(43)

haxbyreds says...
12:09pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Very pleased with York last night and Mills def got a reaction from players after sat,put that to bed because they will not play has bad again this season

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dazthecat says...
12:17pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Hard luck Reedy, you gone and earned yourself the super-sub label

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redbluelion says...
12:27pm Tue 13 Nov 12

a much improved team performance..in the end it could have gone either way. one thing that stood out for me is jamie reed..who must now warrant a starting place ahead of the misfiring jason walker..who i think could do with a rest after all goals are what he came to york for..sit walker on the bench for a while and see if he can find his shooting boots when he comes on as a sub..

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rogue84 says...
12:28pm Tue 13 Nov 12

regarding formation, reed possibly starting etc, it is starting to look more and more like we should go 4-3-3 away and stick with the old 4-4-2 at home.
on our travels, we all agree, we look like a completely different side whereas packing the midfield more, with the pace and running of blair & chambers, seems more of an obvious tactic at BC?
however, i still trust Mills to keep us going and a mid-table position in November is absolutely fine by me!

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MUSHEMINSTERMAN says...
12:37pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Is it possible to apply for an away season ticket?

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TerryYork says...
12:44pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Good spirit and we did enough to win the game even with 10 men....but we lack that killed edge....until Millsy put Reed on with TWO minutes to go.

We nearly won it then. Why TWO minutes to go.

And why did we have an unused sub, namely Potts, on the bench after 121 minutes when Kearns could hardly walk after 110 minutes.

I don't want to cause Millsy to attack Barry Parker if he reads this comment, I'm just asking the question. If you've got a personal issue with Reed, man up and take it on the chin, because he clearly knows where the goal is.

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redbluelion says...
12:46pm Tue 13 Nov 12

MUSHEMINSTERMAN wrote:
Is it possible to apply for an away season ticket?
i wish we could..we should play all our games away.

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ian923 says...
12:52pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Well done to City who apparently deserved to take something from this game.And well done to Reedy who has shown again recently that he knows where the goal is. Why they don't seem to be able to play like that at home I don't know.Will it get Reedy a starting place on Saturday? I don't know that either!

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skilly says...
1:13pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Thought the performance was excellent, watched online and had Barry Parker's commentrary a full minute ahead of the coverage, bit weird that! Could and should have scored at least 4 goals probably 5. Great reponse from team following saturday and restored some pride to all associated with club, thought ref was poor and gave us very little. Shame we are out of FA cup but I guess all neutrals wanted MK Dons v Wimbledon, commentators mentioned it enough!!

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giggs08 says...
1:49pm Tue 13 Nov 12

I dont often comment on here but some of the posts on are unbelievable. I watched the game last night and thought every single city player gave 100% and without doubt we deserved to win it.The reason we are better away from home is because of the minority of dick heads who boo and complain at every home game when a pass goes astray or things ar'nt going perfect,when Mills took over we were a poor conference side and within 2years he,s turned us into a decent league 2 side 3 points off the playoffs and gained us 2 trophys on the way,yet people still question his ability to manage us!.The **** chambers gets is unreal,he's a quality player but a confidence player and cheering when he gets subbed is really gonna help his game.I evan read on hear someone asking what has happened to the scot kerr of 2011,he was out for 6 months with an inury that can finish players and 5 games in from his comeback he's been slated!..I hope non of the players or mills read some of these posts.it,s embarrasing!

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Theapplesarecoming says...
2:10pm Tue 13 Nov 12

I'm sure the lads. Are professional enough to see the bad comments off some people mostly in previous posts here for what they are , simple trolling

Alot of different people go
To football for different reasons , some go to support , some go so they can to shout and harrass someone ( the players) without getting into trouble

It doesn't matter as long as they players don't hear and certain people arnt targeted, everyone's paying right?

Booing and targeting certain players especially when they can hear you
Is plain out of order and although Saturday we terrible compare us to other teams who have bad losses aswell and it doesn't look so bad does it?

Well done on last nights game york it was entertaining and you gave your all which at the end of the day is all we can do

It is about time we had some
God **** luck though and stopped hitting the post !

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YoRkIe59 says...
2:27pm Tue 13 Nov 12

its been said before many times but just what has jamie reed got to do to get a little more time on the pitch scored with his first kick but the last kick of the 90 what could he do with ooh maybe ten minutes.

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OLD - HEAD says...
2:31pm Tue 13 Nov 12

I thought that the players gave their all last night, we always looked to have control of the game and we should have been three or four ahead at half-time. Naturally with a man short, we tired as the game progressed, and you could see AFC Wimbledon getting on top. But that never say die attitude kept us in the game. Jamie Reed showed that he is still our best goal poacher, if only he had been on the field in the first half. We are far from perfect but we are a much better team than we showed on Saturday. I dont agree that our failings at Bootham Crescent are due to supporters moaning. The majority of City fans are right behind their team, home and away. We just have to start playing like the home side is expected to play, and not sit back waiting to catch the visitors with a counter-attack.

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chalkytalky says...
2:47pm Tue 13 Nov 12

dazthecat wrote:
Hard luck Reedy, you gone and earned yourself the super-sub label
hah too true.
What utter rubbish from Mills about Reedy there though. Edin Dzeko normally gets a bit longer on the pitch than Reedy does for us!

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openallhours says...
3:06pm Tue 13 Nov 12

So in the last 9 days that's 4 games, no wins, 2 draws, 2 defeats and we're out of all of the cup competitions and it's only mid November. Poor souls, I'll bet they're shattered.

On the plus side, at least we can now concentrate on the league.

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long distance depressive says...
3:24pm Tue 13 Nov 12

And if you think Reedy has been snubbed..why have Potts on the bench when half the team were on their knees in extra time!?

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long distance depressive says...
3:25pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Don't suppose Mr Mills will reconsider his wierd idea that Blair is a central midfield player in any shape or form!?

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andy jamo says...
3:25pm Tue 13 Nov 12

ive never seen a team miss so many chances in one game, awful finishing !.
i suppose thats why were the draw experts in div 2.
a mixed bag a woeful finishing (a right back in the centre forward pos)
a forward who has lost his bottle, several times last night.
added to that some very bad luck ie danny kearns and matty.
plus a couple of penalty appeals turned down.
and then theres the defence, our king pin captain, chris ill catch em smith.
also why were the city team smiling, laughing, and joking all night ?
I DIDNT FIND IT THAT FUNNY.
maybe because ive done a right bundle on the last 2 games against the bumbling wombles, who in my opinion, would of struggled against rose and crown reserves.
finger out boys !.
in millsy we trust.

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uhtred says...
3:44pm Tue 13 Nov 12

giggs08 wrote:
I dont often comment on here but some of the posts on are unbelievable. I watched the game last night and thought every single city player gave 100% and without doubt we deserved to win it.The reason we are better away from home is because of the minority of dick heads who boo and complain at every home game when a pass goes astray or things ar'nt going perfect,when Mills took over we were a poor conference side and within 2years he,s turned us into a decent league 2 side 3 points off the playoffs and gained us 2 trophys on the way,yet people still question his ability to manage us!.The **** chambers gets is unreal,he's a quality player but a confidence player and cheering when he gets subbed is really gonna help his game.I evan read on hear someone asking what has happened to the scot kerr of 2011,he was out for 6 months with an inury that can finish players and 5 games in from his comeback he's been slated!..I hope non of the players or mills read some of these posts.it,s embarrasing!
Well said giggs 08, in particular the comments re Chambers. The cheers from the main stand when he was substituted were disgusting, nobody deserves that, even when they have a poor game. Chambers is up and down with his form, nobody will deny that, but when he is on song is one of the best players in the division, when running at defenders he puts the fear of god in to them and I am sure many would be happy to have him in their team.He is also our top scorer. However his confidence can be easily affected;thus the dimwits that cheered his substitution will not have done anything to boost his morale, thus are not helping the team as a whole.

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walwynwasgod says...
3:55pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Well said uhtred

At least your comments stopped a succession of negative B******s. In other words the usual crowd.

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openallhours says...
4:02pm Tue 13 Nov 12

giggs08 wrote:
I dont often comment on here but some of the posts on are unbelievable. I watched the game last night and thought every single city player gave 100% and without doubt we deserved to win it.The reason we are better away from home is because of the minority of dick heads who boo and complain at every home game when a pass goes astray or things ar'nt going perfect,when Mills took over we were a poor conference side and within 2years he,s turned us into a decent league 2 side 3 points off the playoffs and gained us 2 trophys on the way,yet people still question his ability to manage us!.The **** chambers gets is unreal,he's a quality player but a confidence player and cheering when he gets subbed is really gonna help his game.I evan read on hear someone asking what has happened to the scot kerr of 2011,he was out for 6 months with an inury that can finish players and 5 games in from his comeback he's been slated!..I hope non of the players or mills read some of these posts.it,s embarrasing!
Being stuffed 3 nil at home - that's embarrassing.

Being stuffed 4 nil at home - that's embarrassing.

Not winning football matches - that's embarrassing.

A manager who won't apologise to the fans for poor results and has a terrible attitude - that's embarrassing.

Chambers, Carlisle, Smith - embarrassing!

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walwynwasgod says...
4:13pm Tue 13 Nov 12

openall hours

Give it a f*****g rest. You sad b*****d. Its you that's embarrassing ! They were unlucky last night. If Kerr had not been sent off, we would have won. Simple as that. We lost. Get over it !

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YorkCityLuke says...
4:19pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Please don't rise to his stupid comments, he's obviously just some sad Luton fan who can't let go.

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walwynwasgod says...
4:21pm Tue 13 Nov 12

YorkCityLuke

You're right mate. I should know better !

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RooBeck says...
4:31pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Sounded a good contest and that in the main, we redeemed ourselves following Saturday's off-day! Though match officials shouldn't be held-up as excuses, it sounded as if the referee did have an un-healthy influence on the outcome, via bottling a very early, strong penalty appeal for a foul on Jason Walker but (as happens!) showing he was "strong" by brandishing very early cautions for simulation and dissent, resulting from the incident! Throughout the Radio York commentary, he was singled out for some poor decisions against us and in favour of the hosts - a real "homer"!! However, we seemed to return to our pass/movement game and for sustained period, controlled affairs through a good standard of football(Kearns again MotM) but without getting that bit of luck and breaks to finish them off.This is encouraging, with the Port Vale/Rochdale away games coming-up - two potentially tough encounters. The only concerns I would have, even though down to 10 men for a long part of the match and bearing in mind it was a "sudden-death" cup tie, is that we "shipped" in four goals(seven in two days, against a side struggling near the bottom of League 2), two of which sounded very preventable and on the other side of the coin, we are missing easy chances to score and finish off the opposition. The manager/coaching staff must keep working hard on tactics and consider some minor changes/replacements
, so as to again become a tight, mean unit at the back and certainly, to start making the most of straightforward opportunities to score! COYR.

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PositiveFootball says...
4:47pm Tue 13 Nov 12

openallhours wrote:
giggs08 wrote:
I dont often comment on here but some of the posts on are unbelievable. I watched the game last night and thought every single city player gave 100% and without doubt we deserved to win it.The reason we are better away from home is because of the minority of dick heads who boo and complain at every home game when a pass goes astray or things ar'nt going perfect,when Mills took over we were a poor conference side and within 2years he,s turned us into a decent league 2 side 3 points off the playoffs and gained us 2 trophys on the way,yet people still question his ability to manage us!.The **** chambers gets is unreal,he's a quality player but a confidence player and cheering when he gets subbed is really gonna help his game.I evan read on hear someone asking what has happened to the scot kerr of 2011,he was out for 6 months with an inury that can finish players and 5 games in from his comeback he's been slated!..I hope non of the players or mills read some of these posts.it,s embarrasing!
Being stuffed 3 nil at home - that's embarrassing.

Being stuffed 4 nil at home - that's embarrassing.

Not winning football matches - that's embarrassing.

A manager who won't apologise to the fans for poor results and has a terrible attitude - that's embarrassing.

Chambers, Carlisle, Smith - embarrassing!
openallhours (AKA moaningallhours) - now that is embarrasing!

Regarding our home form people like you are a big part of the problem - an appeal to the silent majority at home games - tell the moaning minority to shut the **** up!

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bartsimmo says...
4:49pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Ok Millsy there you have it. Play Reed down the middle and get balls into the box then you will have goals. This could be helped with Walker's hold up play knocking them through to him.

Dare I say 442?/ 352?

Why can't you see what everybody else sees?

Whenever Reed gets a start he is dropped straight away if he doesnt score. What of Walker / Chambers and co? Give Reed a longer running in the team and reap the rewards wholesomely!!!!

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CaptainCreosote says...
4:50pm Tue 13 Nov 12

openallhours - I think you are confusing disappointment with embarrassment. None of what you point out was embarrassing. You however........work it out Einstein.

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thirsky says...
5:11pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Facts speak for themselves, we are out of 2 minor cups and more importantly out of the FA cup and sliding down the league table. All despite playing attractive football which counts for nothing when we cannot score more goals that our opponents. There is no guarantee we would have won last night had we had 11 men, remember we couldnt beat 10 men last week with 11.

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Phil, Leeds says...
5:17pm Tue 13 Nov 12

We haven't got a poor home record because a few moaners are having a go. Footballers aren't such delicate flowers. We've got a poor home record because we don't play the right formation/tactics. The fans by and large get right behind the players when they can see they're playing well and putting 100% in. Mills needs to be more flexible and realise that Reedy is a more natural goal scorer than Walker.

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rupertbehr says...
5:50pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Wasn't there, didn't see the game, can't comment..........But from what I've heard, City more than redeemed themselves.
So c'mon children, please, give the man and boys a break .......we all have off days.
Yes it's frustrating at times, even I left BC before the end on Saturday.
But let's all take a deep breath, look back and let's not forget, just what has been achieved in a very short period.
............In Millsy we trust

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PositiveFootball says...
5:56pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Phil, Leeds wrote:
We haven't got a poor home record because a few moaners are having a go. Footballers aren't such delicate flowers. We've got a poor home record because we don't play the right formation/tactics. The fans by and large get right behind the players when they can see they're playing well and putting 100% in. Mills needs to be more flexible and realise that Reedy is a more natural goal scorer than Walker.
If Inghams reaction to the boo boys is anything to go by it does have a detrimental effect on performance in home games. At away matches the fans are loud and proud which makes a big difference to the way the team performs.

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johnbyrneshair says...
6:23pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Completely agree. Much prefer away matches to home ones. Positive vibes and better atmosphere.

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dazthecat says...
6:31pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Phil, Leeds wrote:
We haven't got a poor home record because a few moaners are having a go. Footballers aren't such delicate flowers. We've got a poor home record because we don't play the right formation/tactics. The fans by and large get right behind the players when they can see they're playing well and putting 100% in. Mills needs to be more flexible and realise that Reedy is a more natural goal scorer than Walker.
I'm sorry but I've got to disagree with you there. Saturday was the only game this season you could even begin to entertain the idea that 100% wasn't being given by the players, but even then I don't think that was the case, it's just that 10 out of 11 players had a severe off day.

So in the other home games, where 100% has clearly been given, where has the support been in them?

On the tactics side of things, yeah I'd like to see us try 442 from the start in a game, but 2 up front is only any use if you can get the ball to them. I suspect that mills feels we'd get overun in midfield and that's why he's not going for it. Kearns aside, can we honestly say that our midfield is man for man better than that many teams in this division?

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Some old bloke says...
6:45pm Tue 13 Nov 12

I managed to see the match via computer, although it had a foreign commentary and was accompanied by some bloke practising his drums in the second half - but still great entertainment.
I can't believe that people come on here moaning about City after that match. They hit the woodwork at least three times, matched Wimbledon for shots on and off target, had 57% of the possession (playing with 10 men for 85 minutes!) and should have had at least one penalty. I couldn't believe that Wimbledon's player Gregory was still on the pitch at half-time. Kerr rightly was sent off but it should have been ten against ten for most of the game.
Can't wait for the Port Vale and Rochdale games. If the City players can reproduce that spirit and quality I don't think they have too much to worry about, especially if they can keep eleven men on the pitch.

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YorkCityLuke says...
8:50pm Tue 13 Nov 12

thirsky wrote:
Facts speak for themselves, we are out of 2 minor cups and more importantly out of the FA cup and sliding down the league table. All despite playing attractive football which counts for nothing when we cannot score more goals that our opponents. There is no guarantee we would have won last night had we had 11 men, remember we couldnt beat 10 men last week with 11.
It is disappointing to be out of the cup competitions, but our league position is looking pretty solid as far as I can see. And no, there is no guarantee we would have won with 11 men, but the fact is we forced a draw out of them in normal time with 10 men, and narrowly lost (at least partly due to the extra running/ fatigue) in extra time.

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valduggan says...
9:48pm Tue 13 Nov 12

As a York City fan over over 30 years, I'm still on a 'high' from last season's 'double success' and feel that Gary Mills is the best manager that York City have had for the last 20 years & some of the football we have witnessed @ Bootham Crescent over the last 2 seasons has been some of the best live football I have ever seen. The acheivement of getting York City back into the football League after 8 years in the 'wilderness' & putting 2 pieces of silverware in the trophy cabinet will never be forgotten. This season, our first back in the league has produced a mix bag of results, but apart from last Saturday's disappointing game against AFC Wimbeldon, we have always been in games with a chance of points until the last few minutes. Last night's game was a great game to watch from a neutral as well as a follower of both teams. The loss of Kerr was a blow & despite being down to 10 men for 2/3 of the match we were still the better side & should have been ahead at both half-time & full time. Our finishing has let us down last night & as well as during several other games, particularly the Fleetwood game where we could have been 3 up at half time. Either some of the players need to improve their finishing or we need to replace them, but surely Reed deserves a chance to start some games & have a good run in the team, possibly alongside Walker or perhaps in front of Walker. Whilst Walker may be working hard he is not scoring enough goals & we are dropping points in lots of games despite dominating chances & possession. As a part-time Liverpool supporter i know this feeling & whereas Liverpool can go out & buy a quality striker we cannot.

Whilst not surprised at some of the boos on Saturday I do not agree with booing my own team & don't feel this helps. Gary Mills know more about football than I or most of our fans do (or will ever do) & deserves our 100% support, but why did he wait until a few minutes from the end of 90 minutes before making changes & bringing on Reedie? Whilst we missed an opportunity last night, we should all be very proud of the performance of the 10 players (and subs) who put up such a great fight.

Happy Birthday Gary & good luck for Saturday at Port Vale.

I still feel that a top 7 finish is within our reach this season.

In Mills we Trust.

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haveapasty says...
11:12pm Tue 13 Nov 12

now, i am not a walker hater- far from it, i think the work he does is very good.
but i think that reed now has to start after scoring 3 in 2 from the bench!!
last night i can only remember him touching the ball 3 times- 1 to control his first goal, 2 to put it in and 3 to score the second- that is striking efficiency and goal poacher/scorer credentials if i have ever seen them. he is a fan favourite mills, give him a go and the fans might get off your back!!! kearns is a cracking little player as well, a super find.

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erniet says...
11:18pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Watched it on ESPN. That was a really good performance by City. They were clearly the better football team and I'm sure they would have won if they'd not been a man down. Yes they did make a couple of defensive blunders, but what I've seen at this level is that most teams lack speed in central defence - it's just one of those things in lower league football. What was nice to see was that they recovered their early season attacking threat. Even allowing for some bad misses you have to say that they had no luck at all in front of goal. Excellent hard-working effort. I would start Reed at Port Vale, mainly to give Walker a rest. They're going to kill him at this rate! He does work incredibly hard. So did Blair last night.

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YCFC115 says...
6:13am Wed 14 Nov 12

Fantastic effort by all the boys and totally played wimbledon off the common. How on earth we managed to lose that game I will never know. I thought Kearns was outstanding. We desperatly need an out and out goalscorer which I know is very hard to find. Walker does hold the ball up well and wins his fair number of free kicks but he cannot do this alone. Fortunately last season we were scoring goals from midfield but this has dried up recently. I'm sorry, Reed took his goal(s) very well last night but his first touch is dreadful and he cannot be played as alone frontman. GM has a few options either play Walker/Reed together, persist with the super sub role for Reedy or go out and buy a striker.

The end of the cup run is unfortunate but now we can concentrate on getting into a play off place, I mean we wouldnt want professional athlete's playing to much football.

PS Could of done without the extra time, only managed 3 hours sleep thanks to Reed's equaliser lol.

CTID

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redwhiteblue says...
9:19am Wed 14 Nov 12

Gary Mills and the team can hold their heads up high and be proud of what you did - brilliant performance backed up by the 210 fantastic supporters who travelled down to Wimbledon. Praise also to the 210 who gave Chambers a fantastic cheer and made themselves heard throughout the game - this must have lifted not only Ashley but the whole team. For those who stayed at home - fingers ready to fill the site with negatives, sorry - you missed a great game and performance. Speaking to many Wimbledon supporters after the game they all said 'the best team lost' and they felt embarrassed to admit it. The fixture against MD Dons is something they do not want - many will boycott the game - directors will be behind the goal as protest. A great team performance, let's get behind 'the team' and stop moaning about individuals - the lads are 100% behind GM and their team mates. See you at Port Vale

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Southern Exile says...
10:26am Wed 14 Nov 12

Also watched on ESPN and we could have been 6-1 at half time, should have been 3 or 4. Very good performance just a mixture of mostly bad luck and a poor decision on the pen...

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Tug job says...
12:32pm Thu 15 Nov 12

openallhours wrote:
So in the last 9 days that's 4 games, no wins, 2 draws, 2 defeats and we're out of all of the cup competitions and it's only mid November. Poor souls, I'll bet they're shattered. On the plus side, at least we can now concentrate on the league.
At least we're not struggling to maintain contact with the play off positions in the BSP!

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