The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Three of Diamonds wrote:COME ON YOU DIAMOND BOYS

Well said, I 100% agree with you.

So looking forward to tomorrow, I'm wanting to go home happy.

Looking at the weather with thundery showers expected I hope there's no risk to the pitch!!!

Amazing how nervous football can make you - so excited for tonight.

What are people's predictions?

I think it will be 0-0 AET and go to penalties. Attendance 750 of which 525 will be Diamonds.

Yeah I think we should take 5-600 at least.

We're in a very unusual position of being underdogs. We've got nothing to lose, i'm certainly not expecting us to win. Pressure's off.

Very excited for the game. Just hope the rain holds off.

No idea how to predict tonight, we're the underdogs and have a poor record against the top teams, but ultimately I don't think there's much between the 2 sides and there won't be many goals, either 0-0 penalties (which would be agonising) or 1-0 either way I think, hope we have Dolman and Sandy back, we'll need them, players that could be the difference, come on you Diamonds

This would be my starting line up:-

Findlay, Kennedy, Dolman, Ashton, Lee, Harris, Quigley, Richards, Sandy, Bowen and Hoban.

I really hope the players aren't as nervous as what I am!

I think Peaksy might have some tough decisions to make regarding both formation and personnel tonight. Having struggled to create scoring chances recently playing 4-4-2, I thought we looked a bit more threatening with the 4-3-3 against Godalming, a side who may not be as good as Royston but who had been on a good run of form recently, particularly away from home. I'd be very tempted to start that way tonight, especially as Royston will probably be expecting us to line up how we did at their place.

As for the starting XI, the back four picks itself, assuming Bully was only rested on Saturday and is available for tonight, otherwise Brad deputises for him (he was superb on Saturday, and anyone who was at Spalding away will know he can do it at CB in a big game). Choices are limited up top, which may influence the formation. It looks certain that Stevenson will miss out with injury, Lorraine is out, Shariff isn't fit enough yet, I suspect the same can be said for Liversedge, and Parsons is too lightweight to start in a game like this, which leaves Bowen and Sandy (assuming he is OK to play) who have never played together before and are quite similar players. Leslie and Harris are definite starters based on recent form, and we could really do with Quigs' fight in the middle of the park too, adding further weight behind the 4-3-3 argument. None of the wingers have impressed in the last couple of games (Richards started OK against Godalming, but did very little after the penalty miss), so it could be any 2 of the 3 to start tonight.

I think I would go for:

Finlay
Kennedy Dolman Ashton Lee
Quigley Harris Leslie
Richards Sandy Hoban

It was more like;


Quigley Leslie
Parsons Claudio Richards
Bowen

On Saturday Dave?

I'd be temped to go 2 up not tonight, purely because that massive lump Frater's ban wouldn't have come into play yet, and he'd just physically dominate the lone striker and that smaller guy with the Afro would just mop up. Least they'd be occupied if we started Bowen and Sandy? But we could get overrun in midfield.

Back 4 picks itself but I'd be tempted to go;

Quigley Harris
Richards Sandy Claudio
Bowen

But I'd be more than happy if Hall or Leslie were picked

I'd like to see

Quigley Harris
Hall Leslie Richards
Bowen

I've already expressed my dislike for Claudio, if he plays tonight he'll either be incredibly frustrating and do nothing or be incredibly frustrating and score a worldie but the realist in me says the first scenario is much more likely.