Gloucester Saint

Yes on Larin, Kevan injury not ideal but we’ve not missed THB as much as spring 2026 Stewart. Whereas Dobbin bar two games and a half at Norwich is terrible VFM and the lad from City wouldn’t have scored for Sholing at Salisbury today.

B, except they didn't up the tempo much, it was down to PNE dropping deeper. Movement was very poor on and off the ball bar a 20 minute spell second half. Got away with it in a few games but not today and PNE well organised with no freebies. Fitness (lack of) is part of it. With a smaller squad, you’ve got to be fighting fit and more evidence that the players are only 75%-80% of where they should be into November.

Bolster the fitness and conditioning team - essential with a smaller squad. We start games out of condition and grow them into them - it was going to catch up with us. Match work-rate in first halves and quality will show as the game goes longer.

Can’t agree with spanked. They dropped off for sure but how much did we create? How many times did we get in behind them and cut back from the 18 yard line? How many PNE defenders did we go past and commit? Did we get 1-1 with their keeper? We didn’t do any of that. It was all in front of them. Great organisation and effort by PNE but you won’t win matches surrending first halves, second to every challenge and duel and being less fit. You have to match the work-rate and effort, only then does the extra quality come through. Story of today is one side worked a lot harder than the other for 70 minutes and deserved their win.

Agree with all of that but Saints put themselves into that position by a total surrender in the first half and giving a PNE outfit something to hold onto. Goal was their attacking credit rather than poor defending. Their players looked in better condition. Tonda and the board need to boost the fitness staff over the break. Far from the first time there has been a non-performance and apathy in the first period.

PNE worked much, much harder today for a side low on confidence and fully deserved the win. But for their keeper, we might have burgled a point. Bar 20 minutes in the second half, Preston put far more energy into the game and showed more quality. On 10% of Saints budget. Today needs to be a kick up the arse to get the players fitter. Poch double sessions up to Christmas period.

Not fit enough, PNE have outworked and out-run them today.

That’s what workrate, belief and full effort looks like. The SR corporate style has been in evidence today combined with a lack of quality. PNE players have worked much harder on 10% of our budget.

Been the bright spot today by far.

Just unwilling to take a player on, create space, draw a foul in a dangerous area, or speed it up.

First half they were though, which is common pattern, and unlikely to get away with it today,

Only if PNE choke, which they might as not used to winning. Will need to be gift wrapped though as an unforced error.

He couldn’t finish a portion of fish and chips. Surely Edozie, Bazunu and Larios might have been a warning?

That’s when teams go for it vs a team low on confidence. PNE are but it’s been the SR corporate football manual today. Their keeper has had more to do than Peretz but you’d expect that.

They didn’t miss much by not signing him in the summer. And I hope this ages terribly.