Since I last penned an article for this blog, City have played twice at St James Park against Shrewsbury Town & Port Vale. After previously stating that a minimum of 3 points was required from those 2 games, City contrived to only gain a point from 2 very winnable home games.

A 0-0 draw against Shrewsbury did at least serve to stop our losing run, but it felt like a game that was there for the taking. Shrewsbury were as poor a side I have seen this season, but Vil Sinisalo still needed to produce a couple of very smart saves for City to avoid defeat. City edged the game, but as generally seems to be the case, rarely troubled the opposition keeper. This game saw the start of some “Caldwell out” banners and chants. To credit the fans on the Big Bank, this was generally contained to after the final whistle. After such an awful run of form, supporters are entitled to make their feelings known, but doing so during the game is counter productive.

City followed up the draw against the Shrews with a defeat at home to Port Vale. After the solitary point in the first of our two home matches within days, the Vale game felt like a must win. So, to lose that match felt like another hammer blow, especially considering the visitors looked to be another poor side. The visitors took the lead through a goal that was clearly offside. When things aren’t going your way, it really does seem like everything goes against you. For what it’s worth, I believe City were the better side on the day, and barring the dreadful decision for the goal, would have at least gained another point. City gave it a go in the second half and did manage to create a couple of very good chances, which we really should have converted. Yanic Wildschut (who is improving every week) squandered a chance to level which really summed up City’s problems (or some of) this season.

City finished the game with 10 men after Will Aimson was dismissed for his second booking. Both yellows were for almost identical challenges and to say the sending off was silly would be an understatement. However, I feel the boos as he left the pitch were unnecessary. While he has not performed to the best of his ability in recent months, nor have most other players. Aimson had a terrific start to the season, but is currently going through a shaky period. Sometimes people like to find a scapegoat in the team, and it appears Aimson has the unfortunate tag. Again, while everyone is entitled to their opinion (football is a game of opinions), I feel that targeted abuse of our own players is madness.

The end of the game saw some very loud “we want Caldwell out” chants coming from the Bank and as the players and Manager approached the Big Bank after the game, there were loud boos. The City boss mentioned after the game in his interview that is was a small minority of fans chanting for him to go. I’m sorry to say Gary, it was much more widespread than that.

The mood and expectation going into the weekend’s game against Stevenage Borough was bleak to say the least. Boro were unbeaten in 12 going into the game, form that was polar opposite to City. I don’t think many City fans realistically expected us to gain any points from the game.

What followed was a real gutsy display from City. In the absence of Aimson, City shifted to a back four, with Sweeney lining up at right back, Zak Jules at left back and a centre back pairing of Alex Hartridge & Chieck Diabate.

I felt City performed quite well in the first half, despite creating few chances. In fact, the only chance of real note fell to Ilmari Niskinen. Dion Rankine, who was a real handful, played the ball across the face of the hosts goal and Ilmari was oh so close to getting his toe on the end of the ball and steering City into the lead.

There was good energy in the performance, the returning Reece Cole, along with Ryan Trevitt & Kyle Taylor provided real energy in City’s midfield. Jack Aitchison was also pressing from the front and looked the most lively he had for a while. Rankine was causing problems down the right, and Niskinen was full of endeavour and was tenacious in the tackle on the left. City certainly looked like a team who were playing for the badge and playing for their manager. You have to give credit where it’s due. Whereas some recent performances have called for some to suggest that Caldwell had “lost the dressing room”, this performance was suggesting otherwise.

As has been so often the case recently, the positivity was soon dampened. A 3-4 minute period before half time resulted in City being down to 10 men, and a goal down. Aitchison was dismissed for a second bookable offence. His first booking was a clear yellow, fouling the Stevenage player from behind. However, the 2nd caution looks somewhat harsh. When I first saw that Aitchison’s 2nd yellow was for dissent, it led to me to believe he had let his teammates down. Having now watched the game back, it important to note that Aitchison did not appear to approach the ref in an aggressive manner at all. Indeed the City no 29 was pushed to the ground, only to not be given a free kick. This resulted in frustration for City, and Kyle Taylor responded by scything down a Boro player on the touchline, getting himself into the referees book. Aitchison walked over to the ref to question how he didn’t receive a free kick for the push on him and was subsequently sent off. Caldwell said after the game that they didn’t know why he was sent off, so I can only assume that he didn’t use any colourful language and also wasn’t aggressive in the protests.

Unfortunately Boro scored shortly after the dismissal, which I am sure had all City fans, including myself, fearing the worst.

City needed a presence at the top end of the pitch, so at half time, Kyle Taylor (unfortunate to be taken off) was replaced by Yanic Wildschut.

City started the second half really well and equalised almost immediately through Wildschut. A good City move, instigated by the positive forward passing of Reece Cole, resulted in the tricky Rankine beating his man and directing a cross to the near post, where Wildschut got in front of his man to steer in the net. City hadn’t scored a goal in their previous 5 league games. To finally break that duck will have been a huge relief to the players, let alone the supporters.

The goal certainly looked to spark some confidence into the City side, and they could have taken the lead in the 52nd minute when the lively Rankine broke through the middle of the pitch who played in Wildschut, but unfortunately the Boro defender just managed to get back and get a block in.

With only 10 men, City understandably came under increasing pressure as the half wore on. Rankine had to be replaced on the 67th minute due to injury. Hopefully it will be nothing serious and he will be available for the upcoming games. Despite being frustrating at times, this was Rankine’s most effective performance.

Talking of effective performances, Cheick Diabate was a colossus in the heart of defence, heading away cross after cross that arrived into the City box. Diabate was outstanding at centre back, which makes it all the more baffling that his most recent appearances have come as City’s front man. This performance warrants Chieck keeping his place for Friday’s visit to Cambridge.

While coming increasingly under the cosh, there was no lack of effort, fight and desire from City. It was certainly refreshing to see after some recent performances.

City now have a visit to Cambridge on Friday. The U’s are currently sat in 16th place in the League One table, 5 points ahead of City, having played a game more. Before their weekend win against Blackpool, the U’s had lost 3 and drawn 2 of their previous 5 games. We follow up the visit to the Abbey Stadium with a home Boxing Day fixture against Wycombe Wanderers. Although Wycombe did manage to claim a good point away at Derby County at the weekend, they haven’t claimed a win in the league since 7th October (a winless run of 10 league games). These are 2 games that City have to target points from, to try and back up the mainly positive performance at Stevenage. 2 positive results from the next 2 games will give things a better outlook, but 2 poor results will again inevitably intensify the discussion around Caldwell’s position.

In other news this week, City released an interview with Nick Hawker, Chairman of the Club board and the Trust board. Quizzed by Scott Palfrey, Hawker was asked some direct questions regarding Gary Caldwell’s position and plans to address to current slump in form.

Hawker informed the club’s supporters that they have been able to lay down a significant sum of money into the club’s playing budget for the January transfer window (more than they have ever been able to allocate before). While Hawker most likely felt the need to address this, due to supporter concern and unrest, I have never felt that’s it a wise move to alert selling clubs, and prospective future players that we have more money than normal to play with. It opens us up to being taken advantage of financially.

One thing that was jumped on by plenty of City fans on social media, was Hawker’s statement that City would look to be competitive in League Two should the worst happen this season. People seemed to take this comment in isolation and cite that City were unambitious and preparing for relegation. What Hawker actually said was that City always budget plan for the next 3 years, and that includes forecasts for whichever league we would be in. The intention was to assure City fans that if we do get relegated, we should be well placed to mount a push for promotion again. In hindsight, I feel it would have been better for Hawker not to mention that. The timing was not ideal, but I completely appreciate that his intentions were to re-assure, rather than concern supporters.

It certainly seems that Caldwell still has the backing of the club board for time being at least. The next few weeks will be pivotal, in terms of results and recruitment. Supporter unrest is still high and it’s down to Caldwell and the players to get those fans they have lost, back on side. Performances full of grit and effort like the one at the Lamex at the weekend, will go some way to help.

Merry Christmas to all the Grecians out there and thanks for reading this blog as always, it’s very much appreciated. We all have different opinions, but one thing is for sure, we all want what is best for this fantastic football club.

(Photo Credit – @TomPicillo (X – Twitter))