Bagpuss

September 2004

Charlton away was first up this month and we were taught a lesson in finishing as we once more finished with 10 men. We lost the match 5-2 and were outplayed with ease. Summerbell and Stevens scored our goals as we slumped nearer the bottom of the table.

Everton away was next and we were still struggling to keep up with these better clubs so our defence was still figuring out hw to play at this level. We only lost this match 2-1 with the strikers showing signs of improvement from the first few games with Stevens scoring the goal today.

Port Vale at home in the League Cup 2nd Round was next and we had a very simple 2-0 win today. With only one shot Port Vale stood no chance as first Foran and then Li Tie scored to wrap up an easy win.

Aston Villa at home was next and a very easy 2-0 win was the result as the Birmingham based club failed to have any shots all. Today's scorers were Leonhardsen and Stevens. The attendance of 20179 was a new record as we slowly worked up the table a bit. It was also the last match of the month as we found our selves 14th so far after 2 months in the top flight.

Bagpuss

October 2004

Blackburn at home was next and we drew 1-1 with the defence playing wel at last limiting them to very few shots. Our strikers had loads of shots yet only managed a single goal scored by Gavilan as they ran riot around the Blackburn defence.

Sunderland at home was next and we fought a good game earning another point after a 2-2 draw. Both goals were scored by Dean Stevens as he took his tally to 5 in 6 matches. The defence had a decent game too which hopefully is a sign that they can cope with the different style of football up here in the Premiership.

Bradford at home was next and we earned a 2-2 draw after a very open end to end game. The goals were both scored by Foran as he wa smaking the most of Tipton's absence through injury. It was a new record attendance of 20454 today too.

Chelsea away was next in our first real test up here in the Premiership as we had home advantage when we beat Arsenal earlier in the season. We fought well but a few defensive errors saw us lose 2-1 despite taking the lead through Gavilan's early strike.

Man Utd at home was the last game this month and we played very well losing 1-0. It was a very impressive performance and United's world class players are what won them the game, any other team would probably of drawn or even lost the match. We finished the month 17th down amongst the bottom teams and it is very close still down the bottom.

Bagpuss

November 2004

Newcastle away in the League Cup 3rd Round was next and we beat them 3-1 due to Newcastle resting their star players including their Defence of Taribo West, Titus Bramble and Fabricio Coloccini. Whitehead, Mendez and Tipton scored our goals as we struggled to beat this weak Newcastle team.

Bolton away was next and we were outplayed by them yet still managed to earn ourselves a 2-2 draw. Tipton and Chala scored our goals as we made the most of our few chances.

Millwall away in the League Cup 4th Round was next and we lost a long tough match 3-1 after extra time. Foran scored our goal early and Millwall scored a late equaliser sending us into extra time. Then the players got tired and made a few errors losing the match.

West Brom at home was next and we beat them 3-1 edging ourselves away from the bottom end of the table. Gavilan, Tipton and Middleton scored our goals as we palyed very well for a change.

Newcastle away were next and this time Newcastle fielded a stronger team, allthough a few players were rested. We again managed to beat them and this time actually played well, Mendez and Gavilan scored the goals for us.

Crystal Palace at home was the last game this month and we outplayed the bottom team winning 2-1. The goals came from Tipton and Foran as we moved up to 11th in the table.

Bagpuss

December 2004

Tottenham away was first up this month as we looked to bolster our mid table position. Unfortunatly numerous yellow cards and a ****e defensive performance saw us lose 2-0 to Spurs.

Birmingham at home was next and we lost to the bottom club 2-1. It was a disappointing scoreline as we were the better team in the match which makes a mockery of Birmingham's dominance in Division One last season. Diego Gavilan scored our goal proving that he was a very good signing even if it did take a few years to sort out. It was a new attendance record today too of 21771.

Liverpool away was next and we were looking for a decent result. The 1-0 loss was a fair scoreline in a very dull game as neither team looked like scoring. The Liverpool goal was a bit of a fluke too as Simon Davies cross somehow ended up in the net.

Sunderland away was next and we were after another good result to revitalise our challenge to stay up this season. It was a good result as we beat them 1-0 thanks to a Leonhardsen goal early on in the first half followed by a good defensive shutdown afterwards, yes not attractive football but it was 3 points to us.

Middlesborough at home was next and we played a lot better than last time we played them drawing 2-2. Gazza even made an appearance today as he made the first goal scored by Leonhardsen before Summerbell scored the second.

Leeds at home was next and we managed to hang on long enough to scrape a 2-2 draw with them. Goals from Summerbell and Foran helped us too the point which also helped us keep up our decent mid season run. We finished the month in 14th spot but it still remains very tight at the bottom half of the table.

Bagpuss

January 2005

Brian Wake was released
Ryan Baldacchino was released
Brendan McGill was released

Wolves at home was next and we lost it 1-0 despite playing better. It was a lucky goal and we never really made enough chances or took them well enough to csore from them either.

Plymouth in the FA Cup 3rd Round was next and we won it very easily 2-0 thanks to a pair of goals from Foran. Naturally we did not play exceptionally well as we were up against crap oppostion but we still had enough class to win.

Blackburn away was next and we were well and truly beaten this time getting drubbed 4-1. Some of my key players were still not fully fit from small injuries but that isn't much of an excuse, still Foran scored another goal making it 9 so far this year.

Charlton were next at home and we were hoping for a better result than last time. This we achieved easily by drawing 1-1, a loss by a goal would have been far better than last time after all. Gazza scored the goal in yet another one off appearance. It was also the last league match of the month and we finsihed 18th but there are only 3 points between us and 12th spot.

Middlesborough at home in the FA Cup 4th Round was next and we lost it 2-1 thanks to Alejandro being sent off for the 6th time in his Carlisle career. Summerbell scored our goal early on in the match before we were reduced to 10 men.

Bagpuss

February 2005

Arsenal away was next and they got their revenge for our win earlier in the season by beating us 4-2. Mendez and Middleton scored our goals as we played quite well against them. I have lined up a few signings for the summer starting with Francis Jeffers on a bosman and Jonathon Ashton from Leicester for £650k compensation. Hopefully Heskey will sign for me too which will bost my strikers considerably.

Aston Villa away was next as we were looknig for a win to get out of the drop zone. A good performance from the team and a late Gazza equaliser saw us draw 1-1 and also climb out of the relegation zone for now.

Ian Nolan joins Southend for £160k as i get rid of another unneeded player.

Everton at home was next and the 3-3 draw was just what we needed. Yes we let in 3 goals but we also scored 3 and were missing a few key defenders through injury. Gavilan, Tipton and Leonhardsen scored our goals as we still had a good chance of staying up.

Matthew Glennon joins Plymouth for £575k as he is not needed as back up to Alejandro especially with the summer signing of Robert Douglas from Bolton.
Neil Mellor signs from Liverpool for £300k adding a bit of depth to the strikers.

Bradford away was the last match of the month and we had an easy game winning 3-2. Goals from Middleton, Chala and Tipton saw us cruise to victory. We finished the month in 16th spot 3 points abve the relegation zone.

Bagpuss

March 2005

Chelsea at home was the first match this month and we managed to overcome their many attacks and even fluked a 2-1 win helping our chances of staying up a lot. Both goals were scored by Chala as we eased up the table a few more places.

Man Utd away was next and we were not expecting anything at all here. A 1-0 loss was the result but we withheld what few chances United had yet could not penetrate their defence ourselves. That was the last game of the month and we finished in 14th spot 4 points above the relegation zone with 8 games left.

Bagpuss

April 2005

Bolton at home was first of this month and we beat them 2-0 thanks to goals from Gavilan and Chala. It was an easy win as Bolton simply fell apart and the win also meant we went 7 points above the drop zone with 7 games left. Amazingly Matthew Tipton was selected for the team of the year.

West Brom away was next and we totally dominated them winning 2-0 thanks to a pair of Foran goals. This win moved us 10 points away from the drop zone making it more or less certain we'd be still here next year.

Newcastle at home was next and a 3-1 loss was not a fair result after us having dominated the game. This time Newcastle fielded a full team including their all star defence which can be theonly reason why we failed to win the game.

Crystal Palace away was next and the bottom club were more or less certain of relegation after losing 3-2 to us. This win also pretty much guarntees us our plce here next year as goals from Summerbell, Gavilan and Foran sawus win.

Tottenham at home was next and this match was disappointing as we out classed them easily yet lost 2-1. A late Tipton strike at least made the result look fairer but we should never of lost.

Birmingham away was the alst match of the month and it saw us beat them 2-1 in a very even tense game as Birmingham tried to win and save themselves from relegation. Thankfully goals from Tipton and Foran secured yet another win for us as we finished the month in 12th spot.

Bagpuss

May 2005

Liverpool at home was next and we got a 2-2 draw for our efforts. Chala and Gavilan scored our goals and Heskey's crap performance saw him dropped of my summer transfer list for now.

Leeds away was the last match of the season and we won it 2-0 quite easily. Goals from O'Shea and Summerbell rounded off a good season of football for us. Our 12th place finish earned us £2.3 million which will go on new players most likely as we try and do better next season.

Bagpuss

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Premier Division - Wednesday 25th May 2005********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2004/5 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st C Man Utd 38 17 1 1 34 8 10 4 5 25 14 86 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Liverpool 38 16 2 1 37 6 7 4 8 21 25 75 3rd Arsenal 38 13 5 1 35 16 9 3 7 34 27 74 4th Newcastle 38 14 3 2 45 15 8 4 7 27 27 73 5th Chelsea 38 16 2 1 33 8 3 6 10 16 31 65 6th Leeds 38 12 3 4 36 18 6 4 9 21 27 61 7th Blackburn 38 9 7 3 35 21 6 7 6 25 29 59 8th Charlton 38 11 4 4 38 20 4 7 8 26 33 56 9th Bolton 38 8 7 4 30 22 6 5 8 16 25 54 10th Sunderland 38 8 4 7 25 23 6 6 7 29 34 52 11th Wolves 38 7 4 8 25 26 6 8 5 20 18 51 12th Carlisle 38 6 8 5 30 27 7 2 10 26 35 49 13th Tottenham 38 8 5 6 25 19 3 3 13 15 35 41 14th Everton 38 6 6 7 21 22 4 4 11 17 34 40 15th W.B.A. 38 9 3 7 26 22 2 3 14 20 37 39 16th Middlesbrough 38 4 4 11 24 41 6 5 8 24 27 39 17th Aston Villa 38 7 5 7 31 30 3 2 14 17 39 37 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18th R Bradford 38 7 6 6 28 27 2 3 14 15 41 36 19th R Birmingham 38 7 3 9 31 28 2 5 12 17 37 35 20th R Crystal Palace 38 5 3 11 22 28 5 0 14 16 36 33 </pre>