Birth of the Football League (EFL 1888 sim)
Jul 20, 2024 2:54:04 GMT 1
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Post by dinokea on Jul 20, 2024 2:54:04 GMT 1
1895/96 Division 1 - Week 12
Aston Villa vs. Bootle
The first match of the week is a big one between league leaders Bootle, who are the last undefeated side in the Football League taking on record 3 time champions, Aston Villa who currently sit in 3rd place. A win for Villa would open up the league massively. It was a closely contested match, with both sides getting some good chances and Bootle looking the better side but nothing really ever came in the form of a goal as the two sides split the points.
The Wednesday vs. West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion have not had much in the way of success this season, currently propping up the league with a tough match put ahead of them as they head to Olive Grove to take on a Wednesday side who continue their trend of being a solid mid-table club and sit within their usual finishing range of 5th-7th. Things started off badly for WBA as The Wednesday would score in the 8th minute and hold onto possession through much of the match. Keeping it just 1-0 at half-time kept West Brom in the match, but a goal in the 68th and a second in the 79th minute would put Wednesday 3-0 up and an 89th minute goal would be a mere consolation for the losers who remain bottom of the league.
Derby County vs. Preston North End
Once the best team in all of England and still the only side to have ever pulled off a league-cup double, Preston feel like a side that should not be the underdogs in this match, let alone facing a relegation battle. But as they head out to Baseball Ground, Preston could fall into the bottom 2 should they lose and a number of teams around them pick up points. Preston clearly knew it as they were clinical throughout the match and in control. A goal in the 5th minute saw them take the lead, which was doubled in the 22nd. Derby hit back in the 35th, only to suffer again in the 43rd minute. Fewer goals were scored in the second half, with Preston just scoring their 4th in the 68th minute to take a resounding win.
Birmingham St George's vs. Walsall Town Swifts
The current FA Cup holders are the favourites in this match as they head out to Cape Hill Brewery to take on the Dragons, who I really am struggling to judge where they are at as they constantly swing between being solidly midtable and relegation candidates while somehow scoring the 2nd most goals. Walsall meanwhile will be looking to once again compete in the secondary group and not get cut adrift. It was actually BSG who took control in this match, holding the majority of the possession and getting better chances just to concede in the 19th and 67th minutes as they defense continues to be the worst in the league and many question their choice of keeper. An 89th minute goal at least made the scoreline slightly more reflective of how the game went.
Blackburn Rovers vs. Newton Heath
Battle of the half-and-half kits, at reigning champions Blackburn look to turn their poor start to the season around against the side who are on a miraculous run up to second place with a side that does not look to have that level of quality. I do not know who or what possessed the Blackburn keeper today, but he was the only competent player they put on the pitch as Blackburn failed to create single good chance to score across the match and spent much of the game watching Newton Heath players trying to score. But the Blackburn keeper made a stunning save and then another. A third in the second half was followed by a fourth even later in the match. As the match progressed to the later minutes however Newton Heath got a final good chance which they sent towards goal on for Blackburn's keeper to save it again and hand Blackburn Rovers potentially the most undeserved draw in Football League history, which also happens to be their sixth of the season.
Sunderland Albion vs. Middlesbrough Ironopolis
Ironopolis once looked to be set to have their first ever season in Division Two when this season started, struggling to find any way to make a single point but a recent turn in form as seen the side pull their way out of the bottom 2 spots into safety, for now. Their opponents this week are Sunderland Albion who sit just a point ahead and have never really been in the relegation playoff battle, but could easily drop in if their form dips. This match had plenty of chances and no goals as Albion pick up their sixth draw of the season and both sides split the points.
Sheffield United vs. Woolwich Arsenal
Whoever loses this match is going to be in the relegation playoff spots as with all other results accounted for, these two sides sit in the 14th and 15th places. A win for the home side in particular could be interesting as it would put next week in a position where any side in the bottom half of the table within 2 points of the relegation playoff spots. Neither side have been the most impressive, have both won their playoff matches last season to be in the division. Arsenal successfully managed to shut down Sheffield United's attack this match, scoring just once in the 73rd minute to take a deserved win.
Darwen vs. Liverpool
Our final match for the week sees Liverpool head out to Barley Bank to take on Darwen, with the potential of moving into second place in the league table. Darwen meanwhile are clearly looking to avoid the situation last season where they looked like a potential relegation candidate as they look to solidify themselves into the top half. Darwen looked the better side in this match, only to suffer a goal from Liverpool in the 58th minute to put them at risk of losing. Fortunately for the home side they were able to find a goal in the 73rd minute to put them in a position to split the points only to score again in the 85th minute and win the match.
Division 1 Standings - Week 12
- DinoKea
