Unofficial Ilkeston Town 2026/27

L’varn Brandy has returned to the Robins following a short spell with Eastwood.

REVIEW TIME

We’ve hit the 8 game mark and so it’s time to take a look at how our new look team is doing.

I think it’s fair to say it’s bleak at the moment.

We had an incredible start to the season winning our opening two games. Then reality started to hit as we lost 3 on the bounce before an improved performance gave us a share of the points at Ashton. And then the weekend came.

Let’s face it Bury away was always going to be a tough game but to lose like we did was unacceptable. However, today’s defeat to Quorn is an even worse result. If, and it’s a big if, we are going to survive the drop this season then we must be winning against teams like Quorn.

Starting afresh with a brand new team with brand new management is a hard thing to do. Especially at this level where you need to be on your game week in week out. Maybe winning those first two games gave us all false hope but the truth is that we have been playing worse every game.

Why?

Is it the system we are playing that’s not suited for a brand new set of players? Maybe if we were an established team then moving to this new style may have worked better.

Is it the players? A lot of the team haven’t played at this level before and it shows. Yes we have got some players that have played at a higher level but they can’t be expected to do all the work themselves. How long is it going to be before they start thinking of moving on to other teams?

Is it the management? This is a big step up for them, they are under no illusions about this themselves. They have a set style that has worked for them before but are they able to change and adapt it now when things aren’t working?

Is it time? Have all of the above just not been given enough time to click into place yet? Some fans are already getting restless and it’s hard to say they are wrong to do so. If results don’t pick up then fans will stay away and attendances will drop.

We knew at the start of the season it was going to be a tough ride and these last few days have proven just how hard it’s going to be. So buckle up and let’s hope we start to see some improvements soon…really soon.

COME ON ILSON!

Musings Of An Ilson Fan
Picture Quorn FC

A special moment before kick-off as The Manor Foundation girls had the honour of leading the 1st team out. ❤️👏

Full-Time Ilkeston Town 0 Quorn 2
Attendance 639

📸 LEAM Digital Media

Tomorrow at the New Manor Ground, Bank Holiday Monday

ILKESTON SUFFER A THRASHING
Bury 7 Ilkeston Town 0
New look Ilkeston were humbled by Bury this afternoon. The former Football League side were simply far too good for them.
Ilkeston’s new faces struggled against a side full of talent and experience. From the start, Bury’s Momodou Touray showed his class and won the admiration of the travelling supporters.
He could have had an early goal but stumbled just before applying the finishing touch.
Bury’s first goal came in the 18th minute, Owen Robinson the scorer.
Four minutes later it was 2-0: Kai Evans scoring from the penalty spot.
Three minutes after that it was 3-0, Leo Graham getting on the scoresheet.
Four-nil wasn’t far away. Tom Carr netted in the 38th minute.
The Gigg Lane crowd were loving it; Ilkeston could only defend grimly.
Ilkeston’s best effort had been a shot from Jevin Seaton, which brought a good save from Mitch Allen.
Nine minutes into the second half saw Bury get a fifth goal. Ilkeston players were too slow to react to a quickly taken free kick and Leo Graham scored.
Overworked Sam Wilson in the Ilkeston goal was doing well .... but a bit more magic from star man Touray made it 6-0 in 63 minutes.
It had been a tough watch for the travelling supporters but there was more pain to endure as Bury were awarded a penalty and Lynden Joyce was sent off in the 89th minute.
Tom Carr sent Wilson the wrong way from the spot making it 7-0.
Ilkeston had won their first two matches but now they’re in the bottom six of the NPL Premier table.

ANOTHER GOOD ANFIELD PERFORMANCE BY FOREST
Liverpool 2 Nottm Forest 2
Forest led twice against Liverpool but had to settle for a draw.
They included new £50million signing Liam Delap.
Dan Ndoye had given Forest the lead midway through the first half, before Alexander Isak tapped in an equaliser on 60 minutes.
Morgan Gibbs-White restored Forest’s lead from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Alisson was adjudged to have brought down Neco Williams (70 mins).
Liverpool battled back and Victor Munoz equalised with a shot off the crossbar on 82 mins.
Neither side could find a winner in the closing minutes. Forest were glad to get off the mark after two defeats at home to Leeds (one in the EFL Cup).

DISMAL DERBY SUNK BY SWANS
Derby County 0 Swansea City 3
Derby gave a poor performance and were easily beaten by Swansea.
It took the visitors only two minutes to go in front through Joseph Opoku.
Eom Ji-sung doubled the lead with a tap-in just before the break.
Derby improved in the second half but could not score.
Swansea were menacing on breaks and forced Jacob Zetterstrom into some great saves. They eventually scored again in added time to inflict more misery on the Rams.
Derby were booed off by their fans who had hoped for a promotion push this season, but after one draw and three defeats from their first four matches, a relegation fight seems more likely.

NOTTS HIT BACK TO WIN
Notts County 2 Burton Albion 1
Notts County ended Burton’s run of good form with a late winner from the penalty spot.
Finn Delap opened the scoring for Burton in the 22nd minute.
It took Notts until the 78th minute to get level - Luka Smyth heading in.
Five minutes later Curtis Tilt (Burton) was sent off for a foul in the Notts penalty area and Luka Smyth converted the resultant spot kick.
The wins takes Notts into 6th position in the League One table. Burton are 11th.

Reports Tilchestune Tidings

A massive thank you to local artist Billy Stevenson “STEVO” for sponsoring Ilkeston Town Zurich U9’s new home kit for the 26/27 season.

Ilkeston Town Juniors on tour 🌞