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#487338 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Ali gave us a 57th minute lead when he prodded in his own rebound after the keeper couldn't hold the initial shot. Yet our defensive frailties were exposed a minute later when Fred Opuku equalised for the home side. You would have expected them to kick on and take the points afterwards, right? Wrong, it only seemed to inspire us more. Lauri Dalla Valle, who was once signed by Liverpool, restored our lead with a close range finish in the 69th minute and then with ten minutes to go: Ali netted his second of the game to wrap up the points. Henke wasn't best pleased. A major step towards survival for us.
Could we build on this with another three points in my first home game against FC Lahti who are also battling for survival. If I didn't know how inconsistent this team was before, I sure as heck know it now as we produced a performance that was the complete opposite to the one the week before. I had warned the defence that Lathi had a striker with an eye for a goal but it didn't sink it. Afore mentioned Brazilian striker Vitor Naum poached in the first and then Estonian strike partner Henri Anier added a second to leave us two behind with half an hour left to play. Tuomas Rannakari pulled one back with a rare goal for the left winger but we were done for when Naum scored his second and Lahti's third moments later.
That result against Lathi had ensured they would survive but we had a chance to ensure our own survival when we hosted another relegation candidate in Honka a week later. It wasn't a pretty game with Honka picking up yellow cards like confetti and trying to foul their way to the points. It was going to take one goal to separate the teams, thankfully we scored it. The goal owed a lot to our highly-rated right back Ari Laitinen; who has been watched by Serie A teams in recent weeks. Laitinen charged at the Honka defence and although he couldn't get a shot away, the ball rebounded into the path of the recalled Niklas Jokelainen and he made no mistake. We are staying up! A fantastic achievement.
The league table is as follows:
#487262 FM19 - TONGEY travels the world.
HockeyBhoy
#486827 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
It was 3-1 in the 83rd minute, Harrington and Holden again combining (good signs indeed) for the latter to score his second of the game. They headed in a second in the fifth minute of injury time but we had done enough by then to come off winners. My first win at international level!
The table is as follows, with two games to go:
#486793 FM19 - This is Spartans
HockeyBhoy
Lower league management is great, gives you a real challenge ahead. Keep it up fella...
#486342 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Last Updated: 29/08/2020 12:00pm
Goalkeepers:
Nathan Evans (Liverpool)
Scott Reed (Swansea City)
Ryan Ramasut (Derby County)
Defenders:
Jonathan Letheren (Swansea City)
Brandon Cooper (Swansea City)
Ryan Astley (Everton)
Tom McCarthy (Cardiff City)
Trystan Jones (Cardiff City)
Jacob Jones (Swansea City)
Neco Williams (Liverpool)
Cole DaSilva (Oldham Athletic)
Midfielders:
Jordan Conway (Fleetwood Town)
Dale Fisher (Swansea City)
Ian Harrington (Stoke City)
Terry Taylor (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Lloyd Holden (Aston Villa)
Rabbi Matondo (Ipswich Town)
Brennan Johnson (Oldham Athletic)
Strikers:
Joe Adams (Bury)
Tyler Roberts (Leeds United)
Issak Davies (Cardiff City)
Andrew Berry (Swansea City)
The games will be played on 3 September 2020 at the Carlo Castellani Stadium in Empoli against the Azzurrini, and on 7 September 2020 at the Cardiff City Stadium against the Swedes.
#486340 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
29/08/2020
The 38 year old joins us from Scottish Championship side Edinburgh City where he has transformed a team of part-time footballers into the second tier of the Scottish football league. During his tenure there, he has lifted two consecutive league titles and promotions so we are hopeful he can work his magic here in Tampere.
Mark is also the current Wales Under-21 manager and will be combining his role here with the part time one in Wales. He comes very highly recommended and with five games to go, we hope he is the man that can keep us up.
His first game in the dugout is on Sunday 13 September 2020 when we travel to RoPS. Please give him a warm welcome. #WelcomeMark
#486232 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
24 August 2020
Jim Brown, who has been Chairman of Edinburgh City since May 2017, has conceded that the Scottish Championship part-timers might lose Mark Duell sooner rather than later. The Englishman has been a revelation since being appointed by Brown in the summer of 2018, leading the Citizens to two successive league titles and to the Championship which was just a long distant dream beforehand and Brown knows Duell could be appointed elsewhere:
So will the City fans making the trip to Tannadice on Saturday see their popular manager in the dugout as always, barking out his instructions? Or will he on the move? As Jim Brown says, Edinburgh City will not stand in his way if he decides to leave Ainslie Park and the team know he's being wanted elsewhere. If he goes, his two season legacy will be remembered for a multitude of right reasons.
#486132 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Attendance: 931 (399 away
Match Report: Edinburgh City recorded their second league win of the season and climbed up to 7th in the Scottish Championship table when they saw off Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Ainslie Park. It wasn’t a classic by all means with Thistle resorting to foul after foul to try and break down any home attack. In the 69th minute, the visitors were reduced to ten men when central defender Michael Rose was dismissed for a second yellow card for deliberate handball. The home side capitalised and scored the winner with a quarter of an hour to go, Graham Taylor hammering a loose ball into the roof of the net and proved to be enough.
Man of the Match: Clévid Dikamona (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)
Edinburgh City Team: Jamieson – Thomson, Allan, Devine, Kennedy – Stewart (Hall 58), Muir (Bain 83), Taylor – Humphrey (Handling 65) – Hurst, B.Henderson. Unused Substitiutes: L.Henderson, Reid, Shepherd, Antell (GK)
Next Game:
#485936 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Last Updated: 22/08/2020 11:00am
Page, 45, who was appointed to the hot seat when Ryan Giggs resigned in the summer after the European Championships: is set to name his first squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Germany and Turkey. The Germany game will be a poignant moment for the manager, as the game will be played at the Principality Stadium on his 46th birthday. Page will be watching this weekend's games with interest as the squad will be announced on Friday 29 August.
The same announcement day will also see newly appointed Wales Under-21 manager Mark Duell announce his first ever squad at international level. The youngsters will be facing Italy and Sweden in Group 3 of the Under-21 European Championship qualifiers. Duell, however, will be without Southend United right-back Mitch Clark who is still recovering from a torn hamstring and the games might come too soon for AFC Wimbledon midfielder Anthony Hartigan who is currently on the sidelines with a hamstring strain.
#485930 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Attendance: 1353 (750 away)
Match Report: .Two late, late goals clinched the win for Championship favourites Dundee at Ainslie Park but once the home support could be pleased with their team’s showing. Dundee took the lead in the 8th minute when Jon Bakero flicked on a pass to Euan Valentine who was unmarked at the far post to slot home his first goal for the club. However, City levelled in the 21st minute with a well executed counter attack and Josh Peters followed up on his hat-trick with another calm finish into the top corner for his sixth of the season. Denny Johnstone had a second chalked off for Dundee for offside which Steve Evans was raging about to the officials, before those two late strikes.
In the 83rd minute, experienced midfielder Andrew Surman sent Spanish striker Bakero racing clear and he beat Darren Jamieson at his near post. Then the same player put the game beyond the home side two minutes from the end; converting Tom McLelland’s pull back from six yards out.
Man of the Match: Jon Bakero (Dundee)
Edinburgh City Team: Jamieson – Thomson (Bain 74), Devine, L.Henderson, Reid – Stewart, Muir, Taylor (Handling 65) – Humphrey – Hurst, Peters (Shepherd 48). Unused Substitutes: Glover, Kennedy, Hall, Antell (GK)
Next Game:
#485628 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Allan suspension upheld
The 24 year old was sent off in the Betfred Cup at Hearts this weekend, and City appealed against it as they felt the decision was harsh. However, a Scottish FA disciplinary panel has ruled that the referee made the right decision and the red card stands. The suspension is for one game. Manager Mark Duell is understandably disappointed with the decision:
Details of his replacement has not been leaked but Liam Henderson, Lewis Macari and Scott Glover are all in contention.
#485075 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Irn-Bru Cup opponents confirmed
This was confirmed after the Black and Whites defeated non-league Huntly 3-1 at Christie Park in their delayed First Round tie. Attacking midfielder Bryan Clark led the way with a double, and although Paul Napier pulled one back: winger Marc Scott secured the win with eleven minutes left.
Tickets and travel for the second round tie at Borough Briggs will be on sale from the Ainslie Park Box Office from Monday.
#485073 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Attendance: 12426 (445 away)
Edinburgh City themselves will have a different look for tonight’s game. Loanees Scott Glover, Ryan Muir and Aaron Reid are all ruled out by cup-tie clauses invoked by their parent clubs. They will also be without skipper Blair Henderson (twisted knee), winger Louis Appéré (pulled hamstring) and young striker Regan Lumsden (damaged foot). Goalkeeper Darren Jamieson could earn a recall after being rested for the midweek win at Airdrie.
Match Report: The Edinburgh Betfred Cup derby ended up being an absolute classic as Hearts edged past Edinburgh City by the odd goal in nine after extra time. It was a game that had everything as both sides finished it with ten men. After being under the cosh in the early stages, it was City who stunned the large crowd inside Tynecastle with two goals just four minutes apart. Striker Josh Peters, recalled to replace injured skipper Blair Henderson, did the damage. After 14 minutes he latched onto a Kieran Stewart through ball and beat Zander Clark at his near post, then did the same four minutes later with Graham Taylor this time providing the assist. City were reduced to ten men in the 25th minute when Matty Allan was dismissed for a late challenge on Hearts’ Uche Ikpeazu. It certainly looked a harsh decision made by referee Stephen Finnie.
Ikpeazu reduced the deficit with his first of the night with a strike four minutes before half time. However, in the 68th minute, the visitors stunned the home crowd again with a third goal when Taylor slammed home the rebound after Clark could only parry a Calum Hall shot out to the stand-in captain. Hearts were rocking and needed something special to rescue them. With seven minutes left, young City defender Adam Devine turned the ball into his own net under pressure from the giant Nigerian striker. Then with the last kick of normal time, Ikpeazu managed to steer a low shot into the net and force extra-time.
The drama wasn’t over then. Four minutes in, and Kevin O’Connor curled home a delightful free-kick for his first Jambos goal and put Hearts ahead for the first time. Hearts themselves then went down to ten men after 101 minutes, winger Graham Carey seeing red for a two footed lunge on Peters. But could the visitors respond? Yes they could as Peters got on the end of a Chris Humphrey pull back to make it 4-4 in the 104th minute. Then as the teams looked to end the first period of extra time level, Hearts scored the ninth goal of an absorbing cup tie. O’Connor with the corner, and defender Sean Raggett headed it goalwards for defensive partner Tommie Hoban to touch in from close range. City couldn’t summon up anything more after that, they were dead on their feet, and Hearts scraped through by the skin of their proverbial teeth but the visitors had done themselves extremely proud in a game that most had thought would be a home walkover.
Man of the Match: Josh Peters (Edinburgh City)
Edinburgh City Team: Jamieson – Thomson (Shepherd 98), Allan, Devine, Kennedy – Stewart (Bain 68), Black (Hall 45), Taylor – Peters, Hurst (L.Henderson 25). Unused Substitutes: Handling, Macari, Antell (GK)
Next Game:
#484809 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
13 August 2020
Already without highly-rated young striker Regan Lumsden, City picked up two injuries in last night 2-0 win over Airdrie at the Penny Cars Stadium in Lanarkshire. Joining Lumsden in the Ainslie Park treatment room are winger Louis Appéré and club captain Blair Henderson. Henderson of course is a major loss due to the goal threat he presents and the talismanic presence he provides on pitch.
Former Dundee United youngster Appéré limped off after 58 minutes following a late challenge and the Club have confirmed that he has suffered a pulled hamstring as a result. This is set to keep the winger out for at least a couple of weeks and is a blow to the player's plans to establish himself after following his summer switch from Tannadice. Henderson had only recently recovered from a twisted knee, and although he managed to make it through the whole 90 minutes, he has suffered a reoccurrence of that very same injury. City manager Mark Duell had this to say on this double injury whammy:
#484805 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
An away day in Round Two
After disposing of League One side Airdrie last night at the Penny Cars Stadium; thanks to goals from Greg Hurst and Graham Taylor, City will be on the road again in the next round. They will be playing the winner of the Huntly/Elgin City tie which will be concluded this Saturday, 15 August. It's a draw that manager Mark Duell thinks couldn't have been any better:
The second round tie will be played on 5 September 2020 with a 3:00pm kick off. Details for tickets will be released as soon as our opponent is confirmed.
#484778 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Attendance: 717 (61 away)
Match Report: Edinburgh City produced a faultless defensive performance whilst taking their chances at the other end, and secured a place in the second round of this season's Irn-Bru Cup. The visitors, who gave a first start to winger Louis Appéré, took the lead in the 13th minute when Aaron Reid's ball forward caught the Diamonds defence dozing and City skipper Blair Henderson had all the time in the world to bring the ball under control before picking out an unmarked Greg Hurst who slammed the ball home. It was the former St.Johnstone striker's fifth of the season. A second goal in first half injury time sealed the route in round two. Kieran Stewart's header was parried by Scott Gallacher in the home goal but man of the match Graham Taylor reacted before anyone to put the loose ball into the back of the net. Despite Appéré and Henderson picking up knocks in-game, City were deserved winners on the night.
Man of the Match: Graham Taylor (Edinburgh City)
Edinburgh City Team: Antell -- Thomson (Black 66), Allan, Devine, Reid (Kennedy 23) -- Stewart, Muir, Taylor -- Appéré (Handling 58) -- Hurst, B.Henderson. Unused Substitutes: Glover, Humphrey, Peters, Jamieson (GK)
Next Game:
#484745 [FM17] Climbing Jacob's Ladder (Part Deux)
HockeyBhoy
Time to head for pastures new again methinks bud.
#484744 FM19 - TONGEY travels the world.
HockeyBhoy
Seeing what else you can achieve in this remarkable career. Spain's loss will be someone else's gain for sure.
#483952 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Might be right there mate, we've certainly overachieved so far. Still looking maybe moving onto a new club, but we will see.
The U21 role is going to an interesting task. Can only improve my overall reputation if I do well with it.
#483511 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Last Updated: 13/08/2020 11:00am
The highly-rated Englishman was an unanimous choice and joins manager Rob Page's back room team whilst also managing the Scottish minnows. Rob Page had this to say about the new appointment:
The new man is equally happy:
#483508 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Attendance: 4585 (94 away)
Match Report: In the battle of two pointless clubs, Edinburgh City finally got their first Championship points of the season with a comprehensive 3-0 win at the Falkirk Stadium. This is a result keeps the Bairns at the basement of the second tier. City made a great start and were ahead inside 10 minutes. Aaron Reid lifted the ball over a static home defence and striker Greg Hurst took advantage to poach his fourth of the season. Midway through the same half, the visitors added a second in the 22nd minute when great work down the left from Josh Peters saw the front man cross to the far post and winger Chris Humphrey lashed the ball home. Whatever Falkirk tried they couldn't convert, but City wrapped up the points 14 minutes from time. Skipper Blair Henderson had only been on the pitch seven minutes as a substitute when he was impeded in the area by Falkirk's Shaun Rooney, and the prolific front man picked himself up to send David Mitchell the wrong way and the 94 Edinburgh City fans delirious.
Man of the Match: Aaron Reid (Edinburgh City)
Edinburgh City Team: Jamieson -- Thomson, Allan, Devine (L.Henderson 45), Reid -- Stewart, Muir (Hall 61), Taylor -- Humphrey -- Hurst, Peters (B.Henderson 69). Unused Substitutes: Handling, Appéré, Kennedy, Antell (GK)
Next Game:
#483390 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Granted both Inverness Caley and Falikrk (ironically the next opponent) are below us but I am starting to think that we might seriously start to struggle to reach the magical 40 point mark comes May next year. We're the only semi-professional side in the division and the other nine are all full time sides. This means we will struggle to attract the high profile players I think we will need to survive the drop. It makes the decision by the board not to go full time to be on the verge of imploding on us already and we're only two games in!
It might be in my interest to move on and think I have taken Edinburgh City as far as I can. We're a small fish in a very big pond. After all, if I stay and we get relegated then it's going to damage my managerial reputation. So these jobs are currently available:
All the club jobs bar one are a step up in quality for me but perhaps my coaching qualifications might just swing it my way? The Girona one in the Segunda Division really catches my eye if only for the link they have with Manchester City, not to mention a possible good transfer budget I would also think. Waterford is about the same standard which I'm managing at now so I could see if I could get that. I would have a relegation battle on my hands if I got that. Roles in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga are way above what I've achieved so far, so my applications will probably get laughed out of the water.
Applying for the Wales Under-21 role is interesting. Am I good enough to take on a role in international football yet? That's the question.
I'm at my first crossroads in my career. Do I stick or twist?
#483387 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Attendance: 916 (393 away)
Match Report: Edinburgh City are still searching for their maiden Scottish Championship win after visitors Ross County took the points with a 3-1 win at a rain lashed Ainslie Park tonight. County took the lead in the 32nd minute when winger Jeff King poached in his own rebound after City keeper Darren Jamieson failed to hold the initial shot. The lead was doubled in first half injury time when Declan McManus got between two City defenders to convert Josh Mullin's well flighted cross. City got within one goal three minutes from the end when on-loan Rangers midfielder Ryan Muir thundered home an unstoppable effort from fully 30 yards. However, any chance of a point was snuffed out in the final seconds when Callum Morris headed in a Mullin corner.
Man of the Match: Josh Mullin (Ross County)
Edinburgh City Team: Jamieson -- Thomson, Allan, Devine, Reid -- Stewart (Hall 54), Muir, Taylor -- Humphrey (Handling 73) -- Hurst, Peters (Lumsden 67). Unused Substitutes: L.Henderson, Appéré, Kennedy, Antell (GK)
Next Game:
But will it be the last?
#482674 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Derby time in the Capital
The Citizens will make the short trip over to Gorgie and Tynecastle Park to face Heart of Midlothian. It's a draw that excites manager Mark Duell:
The tie will be played at Tynecastle Park Stadium on 15 August 2020, with kick-off at 7:30pm. Tickets will be on sale to season ticket holders from 9:00am tomorrow and if any are spare after that then they will go on general sale from 6 August; again from 9:00am.
#482196 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
#482195 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Team News:
Match Summary:
After that it was anyone's with the home side controlling things but the visitors hoping to catch them out on the break. Wighton put the Accies ahead in the 72nd minute when City left wing-back Aaron Reid was dispossessed in the left back and the home side worked the ball into Raphael Caceres and he teed up the striker for his second of the game. The game was put beyond the visitors four minutes from time, Jordan Marshall with the delightful cross and Wighton completed a hat-trick with a fine header.
Edinburgh City Team:
Attendance:
Man of the Match:
Gaffer's Post-Game Reaction:
#481306 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
We start the month and the league campaign away to Hamilton Academical. This is the team that the infamous Jimmy Greaves used to have a bit of a soft spot for in the 80s when he was on the Saint and Greavsie show. They were relegated from the Premiership last season so will be looking for an immediate return, it's probably one of the hardest opening day games we could have asked for to be honest. In fact, at this level there is going to be no such thing as an easy game - every game will feel like a Cup Final for us. So we have 36 Cup Finals to contend with. The last two seasons have seen around 40 points be the survival mark which means we have got to be winning at least 12 games and a few draws to stay up.
A tough ask indeed...
Our first home game in the Championship comes in midweek after the Hamilton game as we host Ross County at Ainslie Park. They have been in the top division, as have most of the teams in the division, and won the Betfred Cup as recently as 2016 when they beat Hibs 2-1. They also reached the Final of the 2010 Scottish FA Cup beating Hibs and more amazingly, Celtic, in the run into the Final which they eventually lost 3-0 to Dundee United. They like us, have progressed from non-league, and are one of my dark horses for promotion. We travel to Falkirk after that and from last season's games, know this is going to be a hard encounter. However, we've beaten them in previous match ups so maybe three points there is not beyond us.
Our Irn-Bru Cup game at Airdrie follows after the Falkirk game, it's a team we know we can beat but they'll be out to inflict a giant killing of sorts since we're now playing in a higher division to them. We can't afford to go into it thinking the game is won and we just have to turn up, that would be a recipe for disaster. As it stands we don't have a game confirmed for 15 August as that is the date the second round of the Betfred Cup is scheduled to be on, we're still waiting to hear if we have qualified. Championship favourites Dundee then come to Ainslie Park as part of back to back home games, with Inverness Caledonian Thistle following after that. Everyone knows about Caley, remember that headline in 2000?
The opening month concludes with us on Tayside as we travel to Tannadice to face Dundee United, another former SPL giant from days gone by.
I'm going to do a different match analysis in season three, let me know if you like it or prefer the previous recap style - Mark
#481302 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Squad Numbers announced
GOALKEEPERS:
1. Darren JAMIESON
13. Callum ANTELL
DEFENDERS:
2. Craig THOMSON
3. Michael KENNEDY
5. Matty ALLAN
6. Liam HENDERSON
12. Jamie BAIN
15 .Matthew SHAW
22. Adam DEVINE
23. Lewis MACARI
24. Edin LYNCH
31. Aaron REID - on loan from Kilmarnock
32. Scott GLOVER - on loan from St.Mirren
MIDFIELDERS:
4. Kieran STEWART
7. Danny HANDLING
8. Andy BLACK
11. Graham TAYLOR (Vice-Captain)
17. Chris HUMPHREY
20. Ryan DAY
26. Calum HALL
27. Louis APPÉRÉ
29. Ryan MUIR - on loan from Rangers
STRIKERS:
9. Blair HENDERSON (Club Captain)
10. Greg HURST
14. Scott SHEPHERD
18. Josh PETERS
19. Regan LUMSDEN
Supporters can purchase their favourite player's home and/or away shirt complete with name and numbering for the special price of just £40.00 until the end of August. After that it will be £45.00; we also offer unique personalisation which is available at 50p per letter and £1.00 per digit. Scottish Championship logos can be printed on the sleeves at £3.50 per logo.
#481153 Started from the bottom....
HockeyBhoy
Good luck with it :
#481075 Now I would walk 500 miles...
HockeyBhoy
Championship Odds out
The recently relegated pair of Dundee and Hamilton head the betting and SkyBet's expert Dale Tempest had this to say:
Who's your money on?