Plymouth Down Rovers In Christmas Cracker

After 45 minutes of Bristol Rovers' Boxing Day clash with Plymouth Argyle, boss Paul Buckle was at the head of the table for Christmas dinner. By the time it was over, he was the proverbial turkey.

The air of positivity that had swept over the Memorial Stadium following a half of football that saw the home side deservedly lead 2-0 was refreshing for the beleaguered manager, whose side had not won in five league games. The two goals Argyle had scored after 79 minutes meant the green army finally had the Christmas cheer that has been such a long time coming, the stoppage-time winner wrapping up the relegation battler's perfect present.

The seasonal good will was not extended to the under-fire Rovers boss, who was jeered off the pitch by the frustrated locals growing increasingly weary of their supposed promotion push being thrown to the dogs in post-dinner scraps.

The bad feeling towards Buckle has been reinforced by his egotistical nature; club legend Stuart Campbell agreed to a contract termination last week, after the pair played out a war of words through the local press - striker Jo Kuffour has also been shown the door during the opening months of 41 year old's turbulent reign.

The result resurfaced uncomfortable memories for the Rovers faithful. In the opening week of 2011 the Pilgrims visited Bristol, finding themselves 2-0 down after just 11 minutes, but three second half goals sent the Greens home with the points. Only one of the Argyle players from that game took to the pitch on Monday, yet the end result was just the same.

With the first half an even affair, Rovers made the first great opening of the game, Andy Dorman's header forcing Jake Cole into an athletic save, pushing the ball onto the woodwork to keep the game level.

He had little chance to keep out the opener, however, the Pirates' top scorer Matt Harrold converting the penalty he won after a trip from Onismor Bhasera.

Harrold's second, his tenth of the season, completed a two minute double-salvo, Joe Anyinsah's tinsel-toes evading Bhasera's challenge before his cross found the well-travelled striker. Rovers were making it a blue and white Christmas.

As home supporters wandered off for a half-time pasty, they were looking upwards - towards seventeenth place, no less. Argyle, meanwhile, were left at the foot of the table; a quirk of the day's results leaving them in that position, thanks to Dagenham's 3-0 win over Barnet.

The full effects of the previous days Christmas lunches appeared to take it's toll on the Rovers' players as the second half commenced, Plymouth clawing a goal back through Warren Feeney. The Northern Irishman forced the ball past Scott Bevan after Nick Chadwick had knocked down Ashley Hemmings corner in the 52nd minute.

Andy Dorman's volley was thwarted by Cole at one end, before Chris Zebroski was forced to clear off the line at the other. Though before long, the Pilgrims got the equaliser their efforts, or Rovers' lack of, deserved.

Plymouth's momentum was pegging back the home team into their final third, the pressure only relenting when Chadwick shrugged off Eliot Richards and struck a fierce drive past Bevan to level the scores.

The Greens were carving Rovers apart and, with the home side wilting with fatigue, any joy was destined to head to Devon.

Bevan's sharp reactions kept a Chadwick header from flying under the crossbar but, soon enough, the former Torquay stopper's mark out of ten went down the chimney. A poor clearance found the grateful feet of Hemmings, whose pace allowed him to go one-on-one with the lanky goalkeeper, his cool finish defying the Wolves loanee's lack of senior experience.

The rapturous scenes in the away end continued right up until the final whistle; the Plymouth entourage driving home for Christmas with all three points. The Rovers faithful hoping the only trip Paul Buckle was taking went straight to the North Pole.

Campbell's On His Way Out, But Buckle's Going Nowhere

The season of good will has proved less so for Stuart Campbell - and it looks as though it will go the same direction for Paul Buckle.

Campbell's unceremonial departure from the Memorial Stadium has been on the cards for weeks, the saga finally coming to an end on Tuesday with the announcement that the midfielder had agreed mutual terms to cancel his contract.

Shocked supporters have raged at Buckle's decision to let the ever-popular Campbell leave, his status at the club far outwaying the fans view of the underperforming manager.

But however much Buckle remains unpopular, it seems that he is here for the long haul.

After five managers in the space of six months the club needed stability and, for better or for worse, that is what Nick Higgs is going to provide with his backing of the under fire boss, even if it means letting a living legend pass through the exit door.

Campbell's seven and a half years at the club have been filled with pride; a leader on the pitch who helped the club to two major finals in 2007 and an FA Cup quarter-final a year later. A complete professional who never gave less than 100% and stepped into the breach in a last ditch attempt to prevent relegation last year.

For the past two seasons there have been question marks over his ability to maintain a regular starting place, a view that was shared by Buckle, though not so by Campbell himself.

His wishes to extend his playing career at the club were rebuffed by the former Torquay boss, who claimed to have received an ultimatum from the players agent, details made public after the pair took part in a slanging match via the Bristol Evening Post.

Since taking the helm at the Memorial Stadium the 41 year old manager has had a track record of falling out with his playing staff. Jo Kuffour was shipped out on loan to Gillingham, his story of the events that preceded his departure differing from the details given by Buckle, Craig Stanley also had a reported falling out with the boss, whose popularity with the local media is also in a trough.

Whatever Campbell's reasons were for taking the matter into the public domain, taking on an ego the size of his new gaffers was never going to end with a win in his column. The majority of fans may have backed Campbell throughout the saga, but Higgs was never going allow the midfielder to upstage the manager.

In any walk of life, having a dissenter amongst the ranks will cause nothing but trouble; Campbell made clear that he was going to be a thorn in the managers side. With the chairman having bankrolled an overhaul of the squad in the summer, the release of Campbell was inevitable.

To this point, there have been 19 signings made either permanently or on loan, and the chairman has hinted that further ins and outs will occur over the January period, so, complete disaster aside, it looks as though Buckle will have at least another six weeks in the Rovers dugout.

Gasheads will look at the situation as the dark side winning over the good, but there is no immediate change on the horizon.

Paul Buckle may not have such a merry Christmas, but he will hope for a happy New Year.

Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Hereford United: Chadwick Pen Earns Pilgrims A Point

Two late red cards marred a feisty relegation tussle between Plymouth Argyle and Hereford United, Nick Chadwick's late penalty rescuing a point for the Greens at Home Park.

The point keeps Argyle off the bottom of the table, though gaffer Carl Fletcher felt a more consistent performance could have resulted in three points.

"At times, in the first half, we were okay; at times we weren't. In the second half, we weren't and then we were. So it was up and down.

"Overall, I'm disappointed we didn't win at home because we want to win every home game we play but it's another big case that we didn't lose today.

"After going a goal behind, we came back well and possibly could have won, but, in terms of what we're looking at and what we want, it wasn't fully there."

The opening period was a largely drab affair, Chadwick forced Bulls stopper Adam Bartlett into a fine save early on, Yoann Arquin's spectacular scissor kick flashing inches wide for Hereford.

Durrell Berry looked on in horror after he sliced Delroy Facey's centre towards his own goal, the crossbar sparing the 19 year old's blushes.

67 minutes in, however, the travelling support did have something to cheer. Harry Pell found yards of space in the final third and burst into the penalty area, cutting the ball back for on loan Blackpool winger Tom Barkhuizen to give United the lead.

The Pilgrims were fighting hard for a way back into the game and were rewarded when Nicky Featherstone clattered substitute Warren Feeney in the area, former Bull Chadwick converting the 81st minute penalty.

Michael Townseend's crass fould ended Ashley Hemmings forthright run, earning the defender a second yellow card.

Feeney had two late opportunites to snatch the full quotient of points for the home side; initially forcing Adam Bartlett into an outstanding full-stretched save before sending a swivelling volley into the Green Army behind the goal.

Darren Purse still found the time to receive Argyle's ninth red card of the season after a dreadfully mistimed slide on Nathan Elder, though the 26 year old's breakdancing antics made the challenge look worse than it actually was.
Hereford boss Jamie Pitman left with his frustration increased following the low points return his side have garnered from their last few games, despite positive displays.

"We go into every game wanting to win it but obviously it was a big game given where both teams are in the league.

"Our last three performances previous to this one have not given us the rewards we have probably deserved.

"Today was another such case. To be fair to them, they have had a few chances but I think we were good value for the win."

On Song Gills Leave Rovers Crooning

Danny Kedwell netted two goals from the penalty spot as Gillingham continued their fine run of form, storming to a 4-1 win over Bristol Rovers at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.

Andy Hessenthaler's side remain unbeaten in all of their eight games since the end of October, a sequence that has propelled the Kent side into the final League 2 play-off place and set up a third round FA Cup tie with Stoke.

The Gill's boss was pleased with the performance of his players in the emphatic win.

"I'm very happy, it was a good performance," Hessenthaler told the media. "We had tempo, desire and set the tone to get the crowd behind us.

"We thoroughly deserved to win the game, I'm absolutely delighted and once their lad got sent off we just saw the game out.

"We plugged away, and although it was a bit disruptive with [Andy] Frampton going off we tried to play in the right way and got the second goal at the right time."

Little over seven minutes in Lewis Montrose opened the scoring, nodding in Danny Jackman's left-wing cross with no Rovers defender in sight.

Joe Anyinsah tangled with Montrose, felling the midfielder in the area, setting Kedwell the task of doubling Gillingham's advantage.

Mustapha Carayol produced a neat finish to give the Pirates a fighting chance, but Jackson drove past the ball between Scott Bevan and his near post to restore the two goal cushion.

Cian Bolger swiped away Curtis Weston's legs with a quarter of an hour to go, earning himself a straight red card and allowing former Wimbledon striker Kedwell to slot home his sixth spot kick of the season.

Visiting manager Paul Buckle came out with a surprisingly positive outlook on Rovers' display, questioning referee Oli Langford's decision making throughout the heavy defeat.

"They had one goal for their troubles in the first half and then we had a penalty decision go against us which saw them double their advantage. I really don't think that one should have been awarded.

"That changed the game, because it gave them a two goal advantage. In the second half we came out and scored a great goal and we were on top, massively on top, at that stage of the game.

"However decisions change games and I don't think anything went for the players today and I'm bitterly disappointed for the team."

British Badminton Is Mixing It Up

Just when it looked as though British badminton was going nowhere, two bright sparks reignited hopes of a home medal at the London Olympics.

Since the sport was promoted from an exhibition event to a fully-fledged member of the Olympic family in 1992, Britain has won just two medals, one silver and one bronze. The powerhouses of the game lie in Asia - China, Malaysia and Korea just three of the nations that dominate the international scene - leaving Britain as a fairly minor country, left to plough the fields of the Badminton World Federation’s third and fourth tier Grand Prix events for titles.

The BWF Super Series, launched at the beginning of the 2007 season, has seen only a single event end up in British hands; that was Anthony Clark and Nathan Robertson at the 2009 Singapore Open. Last year’s Commonwealth games witnessed a new low for the sport, as no gold medals were placed around British necks for the first time since the sport was inaugurated into its fold.

So where does this tale of woe change? August came around with little under a year to go until the opening of the London Olympics and test events in full flow as part of the preparations. The BWF decided to hold the 2011 World Championships at Wembley Arena to feature in the test calendar, hoping to win the hearts and minds of British fans in the process.

The remotest chance of a medal was with the English mixed doubles pair of Robertson and Jenny Wallwork, the top ranked of any Britons over the entirety of the five events. Robertson has long been one of the faces of English badminton, rising to prominence during the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where he claimed a silver medal with Gail Emms in the mixed, garnering the sport a lot of media attention and a new found audience. He his previous partner also managed to strike gold at the 2006 World Championships, England’s first in 23 years.

Unfortunately, Robertson and Wallwork were downed in the second round by an unseeded Malaysian pair. The remaining collection of assorted Brits fell by the wayside, leaving only the partnership of England’s Chris Adcock and Scotland’s Imogen Bankier in the round of 16, facing the task of Japanese 15^th seeds Shintaro Ikeda and Reiko Shiota for a place in the quarter-finals.

Burgeoning Talents

Adcock and Bankier first set foot on the Super Series tour towards the end of 2010 as a new pair, losing out at the second stage of the French Open. They followed up with a trio of tournament wins, taking the crowns in the Grand Prix Scottish, Irish and Italian International events at the close of the year, before taking up a regular spot in the travelling English team on the top rung of the international tour. Only once did they pass the first stage of any Super Series tournament, leaving their success at Wembley a shock to the badminton world.

They disposed of the Japanese in three games, before proceeding to delight the local support with a typically British story of underdogs come good. They eliminated fourth seeds Tao Jiaming and Tian Qing in the quarters, before sending Indonesian second seeds Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir out in straight games at the semi-final stage.

They fell at the final hurdle to the world number one pair of Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei from China, ending the tournament on somewhat of an anti-climax, though the initial disappointment soon turned into pride.

”It's hard to end the tournament on a loss when we've been on a high all week. But, when we reflect, we've produced some fantastic performances and had brilliant results against top 10 pairs," Bankier said to BBC Sport immediately after the final.

The Numbers Game

In the months since, Adcock and Bankier’s world ranking has risen from 18^th up to 12^th - they hit a high of 11^th – while the well-travelled Robertson and Wallwork have slipped from inside the top ten to 15^th, falling to a low of 20^th in early November.

As per Olympic qualifying rules, this means that it would be the younger pair who will clinch the British spot at the games come July, potentially leaving Robertson in a quandary. Prior to his top ranked status being usurped by the hungry Anglo-Scottish partnership, he had spoken to the media about his plans to retire after one last hurrah at London 2012, though he now appears to have a fight on his hands.

In doubles competition only 16 pairs will make it to the showpiece event at the games, but two teams from the same country can only qualify if they are both in the world’s top eight. This leaves the top two British partnerships with a shootout for the place, assuming they aren’t overtaken by another couple looking for a break.

Scotsman Robert Blair and Gabby White, ironically Adcock’s girlfriend, are back at 22^nd in the world, yet they had the opportunity to gain points that their rivals didn’t this week. Blair and White finished 7^th in this season’s Super Series rankings, qualifying them for the tour finals in Liuzhou, China – thanks in part to their appearance in the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open at the turn of the year, and the quarter-final they achieved at the China Masters.

The world rankings take the 10 best tournament results, based on the points received, and total them up to give a final place. Despite losing all three games at the Masters Finals, Blair and White took home a haul of 6050 points, replacing their first round exit at the Indonesian Open.

With a little bit of calculation, this takes them up to a year ending ranking of 15^th, the place currently occupied by Robertson and Wallwork, putting them straight back into the race for Olympic contention.

The Olympic qualification period finishes across all events on May 3^rd with the release of the BWF world rankings, it is likely that only then will we know identity the successful pair, if any, who make it to Wembley Arena.

The opportunity to capture the memories of a lifetime on the biggest stage of them all, and in front of a partisan home crowd, is there for the taking. Be it the first of many for Adcock and Bankier, or a swansong for Robertson, this is the chance to end years of hurt for British badminton.

Tip-Top Town Represent Tough Test For Rovers

Bristol Rovers will host and in form Swindon Town at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday in League 2, hoping to put to bed the shortcomings that see them languishing in the lower reaches of the fourth tier, though they will have to put in the performance of the season to overcome the rocking Robins.

The form

Both sides come into the game on the back of excellent FA Cup victories, Rovers thrashing non-league AFC Totton 6-1, while Swindon caused a minor upset, dumping League 1 Colchester out to set up a home tie against Premiership Wigan in the third round.

The Wiltshire side are currently on a 13 game unbeaten run, inclusive of the whole of October and November, the most impressive of those results coming in the FA Cup first round, where they dismembered League 1 high-flyers Huddersfield 4-1 at the County Ground.

This stunning form has seen Swindon rise from 11th up to a comfotable 6th in the League 2 standings, as well as guiding them to the area final of the Johnstones' Paint Trophy with victory over table topping Southend. They will clash with Barnet over two legs for a place in the Wembley showpiece, potentially their second final at the national stadium in three seasons.

42 goals in 26 all matches to this point in the season makes them a sizable threat, though the scoring duties have been shared around in recent games, Algerian striker Mehdi Kerrouche is the leading marksman with eight for the season.

The key men

Despite his goalscoring prowess Kerrouche has started just one of Town's last five games, being substituted after just 26 minutes of the cup game at Colchester, as well as receiving some constructive criticism from his manager this week. Raffaele De Vita and Alan Connell have worked in rotation up front along with Birmingham loanee Jake Jervis.

A one time Rovers target under Paul Trollope's management, Jervis possesses a fine physique, standing at 6'3", while also being fleet of foot with the turf ahead of him. The additional tricky feet make the 20 year old a potent threat to any defence in League 2.

Joining at the back end of September means that only one of Jervis' 11 appearances has been on the losing side - that was his debut game away at Macclesfield - the four goals he has bagged in that time displaying his burgeoning talent.

If Rovers are able to keep Jervis and the rest of Swindon's dangermen at bay, then they will have to work their way past towering centre back Aden Flint to take the win.

The lanky defender, signed for an undisclosed fee from Alfreton Town at the turn of the year, has been a rock in the Robins defensive line, dominating the aerial duties when is called upon, leaving Paul Buckle with a tactical weight on his mind come match day.

The gaffer

If you don't know about the latest rider on Swindon's managerial roundabout, which rock have you been hiding under; the focal point for much of the media's coverage of Town this season has been ever-controversial boss Paolo Di Canio.

The County Ground hot seat is the Italian's first job in football management and, after battling through a rocky start, he seems to be coming good. Di Canio has produced a multinational squad containing Spaniards, Italians, an Algerian and even a Namibian, a rare sight in the British dominated bottom rung of the Football League.

The continental approach instilled into his squad is paying dividends, the Reds now playing an attractive brand of slick, passing football, the pace of the forwards and widemen a menace to opposing defences.

In-keeping with the former West Ham striker's character, there have been differences with players, the touchline dispute with Leon Clarke was well publicised at the time, and it is fair to say that opposing fans have centred their attention on Di Canio, often taking pressure away from his team inadvertently.

The history

The close proximity of the two clubs, both in terms of locale and league positions, has created a simmering rivalry, never more apparent than in recent seasons.

Every year since Swindon became the first Premier League era side to be relegated to the basement division, they and Rovers have met in league fixtures. Rickie Lambert scored a scorching 40 yard half volley at the Memorial Stadium that season to help Rovers into the play-offs, from which they were promoted.

The Robins have edged the record since then, winning four of the eight games, although the Gas did manage an emphatic double in 2009/10, thumping Swindon 3-0 at home before humiliating them 4-0 at the County Ground. Will Hoskins opened the scoring in last season's corresponding fixture, which ended 3-1 in favour of the home side.

Surprisingly, it may be Jeff Hughes that Rovers will miss the most. The midfielder, now with Notts County, had scored in each of the last four tussles between the clubs.

The verdict

Rovers will have to be on the top of their game to snatch all three points in this one; Swindon are riding on the crest of a wave. The Pirates will need to remain tight, compact and not get sucked in by Town's passing rhythm, while breaking incisively themselves.

Aden Flint will most likely monopolise the aerial challenges, so getting the ball out to Mustapha Carayol and Jo Anyinsah on the wings will be way forward.

Matt Ritchie's suspension will be a blow to Swindon, the wideman has scored seven this term, as well as creating numerous others. It may, however, open up a space in the centre midfield for Simon Ferry, who will need to be kept under wraps by his quartered counterparts - bringing Craig Stanley back into the side may be advisable.

Rampant Rovers Outclass Totton

Paul Buckle has had a satisfactory week, a fairly unusual occurrence in the tumultuous opening to his career as Bristol Rovers manager, but a positive period nonetheless.

Languishing in 18th place in League 2, the early promotion tips have been underachieving greatly, the support quickly growing weary of the performances put in under Buckle's stewardship.

There have been home defeats to Cheltenham, Port Vale and Barnet, and thrashings on the road at Crawley and Oxford, the voices on the terraces calling for their managers head, meaning the 1-1 draw on the road to league leaders Southend last Saturday came as a relief to many supporters.

And so came the chance to make amends on Sunday, Rovers lining up against Southern Premier League AFC Totton, three full divisions lower than the West Country club, a place with the big guns in the FA Cup third round up for grabs.

The Pirates turned up on the south coast and looted Totton for all they were worth with a display of exquisite finishing, easing some of the mounting pressure on Buckle's shoulders, and setting up a home tie against Premier League Aston Villa at the Memorial Stadium in January.

Though the far less illustrious Stags controlled much of the opening five minutes, a storm of Rovers attacks killed off the tie within a quarter of an hour.

Joe Anyinsah was the first to ripple the net, driving past Grant Porter after skipping away from two defenders to score his fifth goal of the season.

There was little time for the home side to regain their composure, Mustapha Carayol marauding forward from the centre circle to the edge of the Totton area, dispatching the ball onto the underside of the crossbar and over the line for a stunning second.

While the first two strikes had been absolute pearlers the third was arguably the best of the lot. Right back Danny Woodards pushed forward, his ball inside kindly bouncing up for the 28 year old to emphatically volley into the bottom corner with his weaker foot, his first for the club.

The non-league side could easily have been shell-shocked - no doubt both sets of supporters were - but they continued to push for a way back into the game, almost pulling one back when former Rovers youth Jonathan Davies' deflected strike was cleared off the line by Andrew Dorman.

Carayol's game was tarnished after squaring up against Totton's assistant manager, who appeared to stick out a leg the way of the winger as his momentum took him off the pitch. The Gambian received a yellow card for his troubles, before being replaced by Eliot Richards in the 41st minute.

Visiting custodian Scott Bevan pulled off a barely-believable double save in the opening minutes of the second half, preventing Nathaniel Sherborne and Mark Osman from getting on the scoresheet, Gary Sawyer then having to keep out Davies instinctive flick on the line.

Soon enough the fourth tier side made their prowess count once again, Byron Anthony rising to head Richards corner home in front of the travelling fans.

Totton did eventually score a consolation, Sherborne flicking Tom Baddeley's cross past Bevan, but little over a minute later the four goal advantage was restored, Richards swivelling to thrash the ball past Porter for the fifth.

His fellow substitute Ben Swallow, making his first appearance of the season for Rovers, lasted barely six minutes on the Testwood Stadium turf, the young Welshman handed a straight red card for a lunge on Totton captain Carl Pettefer.

After three minutes of stoppage time were signalled there was still time for the Pirates to bag another, Matt Harrold laying the ball across for Richards who showed neat footwork and technique, placing his final shot for a seventh goal of an entertaining afternoons football.