The U's-letter: Issue 28
A wrap-up of a fortnight at United
It’s been the story of cup competitions the last few weeks. Firstly, coasting past Chester to book a frankly awful draw in the second round of the FA Cup. Not much magic there.
But you can always rely on the magic of the Vertu Motors Trophy. By beating Brighton U21s 1-0, United booked their place in the knockouts, but finishing second means we’ll be away from home in the next round. In the short term, the main worry from Wednesday is that the added playing time for a few first team players hopefully doesn’t affect their performance up at Salford on Saturday.
As usual, the Preview Show looks ahead to that game and discusses both cup competitions. This week on the Coconut Tier you get a written article with United’s returning number 9, Louis Appéré, which is a brilliant read. Thanks for reading and listening!
What’s New? 📰
We’ve been drawn away to Stockport County in the FA Cup 2nd Round. Top of League One. At the time of writing, it’s the worst draw we could have possibly got.
But, as mentioned, we’re through to the knockouts in the Vertu. That’s the real quiz.
New series of ‘Footnotes’ kicks off with broadcaster Kate Mason.
At The Match ✍️
Notts County 2-0 U’s: Predictably predictable
So much of the trip to Notts County’s trip was just that: predictable. In fact, maybe the only unpredictable thing United did that day was the line-up. Many had expected that for a tricky away trip like this Harris might go back to one up front, which he’d preferred at the start of the season. But instead it was unchanged in that department, with Kouassi playing alongside Lavery.
And the predictability in the first half concerned the Northern Irishman. You knew straight away something was up. With United on the attack, the ball made its way across the box, innocuously evading everyone. Then, the first thing you noticed was Kouassi going over to Lavery, and then calling to the bench. Lavery – understandably reluctantly, probably not wanting to believe it himself – then went down holding his hamstring. Cue knowing groans from the away end.
We knew that his fitness was unreliable. We’ve known it for a long time. And this moment was always going to come at some point this season. The main emotion was just feeling sorry for Lavery himself, who must at this point be starting to question the viability of a professional career if he can only play for a month at a time before his hamstrings give way.
Going in 0-0, the second half started with United very slightly dominating, but never committing enough to give the game a real go. The turning point came here; just as it felt like there was a game there to be won, Harris went to 5 at the back. We noticed it in the away end, and moments later Notts took to the lead through a back post Jatta header.
After that, we (predictably) didn’t offer enough to force an equaliser. County made sure of all three points with a very tidy Jatta finish in stoppage time. It’s as tough a place to go as any (literally the hardest in the league right now, given the win meant they overtook us as the best home team) but there are still question marks about the predictably negative way to approach another away game.
That away form needs to change, and fast.
U’s 3-0 Chester: The Mundanity of the Cup
Firstly, apologies for a lack of Antlers recently. Life and work have gotten in the way. What have I missed? United have been really good at home, and really bad away. We’re joint-top in the home League table, having only dropped four out of twenty-one points this season. We’re joint 20th in the away League table, having only taken five from twenty-one.
But let’s put the League aside for one minute, because cup fever has hit the Abbey as Chester FC come to town in the FA Cup. In a week where professional moaner Mikel Arteta was saying that clubs will start withdrawing from cup competitions to ease fixture congestion (why don’t you start with the bloated European ones then Mikel?) there was none of that negativity around the Abbey, as despite constant attempts to devalue the cup it still remains a viable way for lower league teams to get a big (and profitable) draw.
Harris rung the changes, reinstating fans favourite Liam Bennett to the XI, whilst an injury-enforced formation change up front meant that Kylian Kouassi led the line solo. It was United that got off to another early start, with Kouassi bundling home after ten minutes, and the loanee doubled his tally on 35 with an excellently hit shot through the keepers legs. The game was wrapped up just before half time, when Kouassi burst free of the defence and teed up Brophy for his fifth goal of the season.
The game was won after that, and Chester’s changes didn’t really do anything to make a difference. It was a professional performance from the U’s, although it would have been nice for Harris to unshackle the team and let them get a morale-boosting thrashing under their belts. Nonetheless, the win was confirmed and we’re in the hat for the next round.
Read in full here:
View From The Away End 🧐
Notts County - By Notts County Talk
I thought it wasn’t a brilliant game of football to watch and you guys never came to try and win it.
I was slightly concerned at half time that it would be typical Notts where we dominated the ball and get caught on the counter, losing the game 1-0, but we were professional and ground the win out. Even after we scored I couldn’t believe the lack of urgency and creativity across your whole team and I’d have felt very disappointed travelling to watch that performance.
Chester City - By The Blue & White
Without being able to go to the game (I’ll keep it short), by all accounts we didn’t play great and gave a poor account of ourselves. One of our centre backs (who I don’t rate) was hooked at half time and we played a bit better second half. But the result wasn’t in doubt really.
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Opposition Preview 🔮
Salford City (A) - 3rd place - Saturday 8th November (3pm kick off)
Last 5 (all comps): DWWLW - Another team that haven’t been spoken about as much as others, but they find themselves 3rd and only one point off top.
Last time out: Salford 4-1 U’s, 9th February 2021. An afternoon I’d completely forgotten about, and a huge blip in our promotion season.
Our H2H: P4, W1, D0, L3. Not a team we have played many times over the years.
Manager: Karl Robinson. A manager who has plied his trade more often in leagues above the fourth tier, and comes with a big reputation and I’m sure a big price tag. Renowned for intense high-octane and high-pressing football, he is a good coup for this level.
One to watch: Daniel Udoh. Another one who shouldn’t really be in League Two, signing from Wycombe after a good spell at Shrewsbury. He’s been a nuisance for us in the past. A special note for Fabio Borini here, who just signed for Salford as a free agent.
Former U’s players: Not that I can see.
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Under The Other Stands 🏟️
A week off for the cup last weekend, so we’re all back to league action this weekend.
Key results to note from the last gameweek: Bristol Rovers shipped another four goals, this time away from home to Crawley. They’re sliding backwards at an impressive rate, but worth noting Tom Lockyer making his return to professional football in this game after two heart attacks on the pitch in recent years.
Cheltenham’s resurgence continues, this time beating Walsall in a game that had a comedy goal to somehow seal all three points for the Robins in a match they were frankly battered in.
And finally Shrews are now five unbeaten in all comps, including a decent 2-2 draw at Oldham last week. Bit of an upturn in their fortunes which we managed to give them a hand with.
Stats Corner 🔢
10 League One teams were knocked out of the cup, currently occupying league positions: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 19th, 22nd. Luckily we didn’t draw 1st or anything…
Speaking of Stockport: 27/10/2018 - Stockport draw 2-2 with Nuneaton in the National League North. Same date in 2025, they go top of League One. With the same goalkeeper playing in both fixtures.
In Case You Missed It 🍿
Thanks for reading this week’s U’s-letter. Send us any comments or suggestions to include in next week’s issue to: hello@undertheabbeystand.com