Cod Almighty | Diary

Looking for the answer

22 September 2025

Miss Guest Diary writes: The omens weren't good even before Saturday's game started: bumper away support, a team who hadn't won at home this season, hot chocolate no longer available in the ground. And then, exactly like last week, right from the off one of our players underhit a pass which went straight to an opposition player who attacked. That Town were only 1-0 down at half time was thanks mainly to the kindness of the referee towards us in 50/50 decisions. No chance this week to blame the result on poor officiating.

To paraphrase that oft-paraphrased Oscar Wilde quote: to have one league game where most of your players are having a bad day might be regarded as a misfortune, to have two in a row might look like something has gone wrong with Artell's 'process'. I can't even begin to guess what that might be; to be honest I felt completely mystified at what I was witnessing, not to mention embarrassed and annoyed. I didn't quite get to the point where I took out a book to read in the second half but that may have been only because I bumped into a friend I hadn't seen in a while and we were catching up.

Games against Barnet have been a mixed bag over the years. Certainly my all-time favourite away game in the league has to be the inflatables game back in 2015. Then there's one of my worst experiences – the last time we played Barnet at their old ground in 2009. Another abject 3-0 defeat, and on that occasion I did spend the second half reading a book while a lot of the Town support spent it staring at their shoes. Anywhere but at the game. Another thing I recall from that day is Human by The Killers being played over the Tannoy at half time. I remember particularly because I didn't know who it was and had to ask someone. So what was playing when I took my seat at The Hive on Saturday? You've guessed it: another bad omen.

There was, however, one major difference in last Saturday's experience. Back in 2009 it was remarked upon in the following Monday’s diary that the players made no attempt at the end of the game to acknowledge the 539 fans who had made the trip to Underhill. Not so on Saturday: there was a prolonged period of the players applauding the Town support, led by George McEachran – one of the only players who could hold his head high for the effort shown. No consolation for the result but appreciated all the same.

In his post-match Humberside interview Artell pulled no punches, also describing the performance as "abject" and apologising to the fans for letting them down. What was worrying was his seeming inability to put his finger on why it might have happened. He criticised the players for not running around enough and not showing any fight, suggesting that playing 14 games in seven weeks is mentally tiring, but when pressed could offer no real explanation.

If he doesn't solve the mystery, then those predicting promotion this season might need to have a rethink, but at least I'll catch up on my reading.