After a patched up Bees side came unstuck against League 1 Chesterfield, there was some concern that our sixth choice centre back and third choice wing back had not performed as expected against a team likely to top 110 points. For those of us on planet earth it was an expected result and a gritty performance against an opposiiton who were more clinical and had more in the tank than our ailing team.
Despite saving the club Raj Singh has proven to be something of a divisive figure, having seen his Hartlepool United side relegated back to the National League and then banned the local paper from going to games. Seeing the writing on the wall he asked the Monkey Hangers Support to singh for their supper and the club has been on sale since April 2023. A Supporter led bid was rejected in January for somewhat spurious reasons and the reality is he appears in little rush to sell the club. After an indifferent start to the season, premier league hot shot Kevin Phillips has been brought in to manage the side and his record of 13 points out of 18 has seen them settled 7 points out of the playoffs.
Given our recent defeat a trip up to Hartlepool in a chilly March would not be one for the faint hearted. It is likely to be brass monkeys up there, or arctic monkeys given how far north we have to travel. I have booked on one of the few direct and running services to Hartlepool. I did have to ask myself do I wanna know how early I have to set the alarm for this one but thankfully the return service is at a reasonable time and we don't have to be back at the station by 5:05. I asked my Fiancee to join me at the club which Meatloaf used to support but she told me she would do anything for love, but she would not do that.
In terms of our team news I don't think we will have anyone back for Saturday but the presence of Hall-Johnson on the bench gave some hope that we would at least have him to call on. I would go as follows:-
----------------------------------Keeley-----------------------------
------------------Cropper------Stevens----------Okimo-----------
-----Hall-Johnson------Pritchard-----Hartigan-------Coker-----
-------------------Brunt--------Stead--------Armstrong-----------
Subs: Walker, Wynter, O'Donkor, Senior, Smith!
I am hopeful we will have some returns from injury for this one or that we can enter the loan market as that back three looks quite weak as it stands.
Fingers crossed we can get back to winning ways.
COYBS
