After last weeks pulsating game against Stoke in the Cup, which I thought we could have won, it's back to the League tomorrow. We come up against the second placed team in Gillingham who beat us 1-0 at the Priestfield Stadium in September.
Hopefully with DF in charge weshould be able to do better, particularly if we play as we did against Stoke. Fergie is hoping that many who came to the Stoke game will come back and give us another good crowd.
" The pleasing thing is that everyone around town knows about the Stoke game and I hope they come back again".
It will be a tough game against Gillingham they are flying at the moment, although they came down with a bump when losing to Wigan 3-2.
" They are a team full of energy, but we have prepared well and know where we can hurt them," said DF.
Rovers chances of victory were enhanced when Cameron Stewart re-signed his loan agreement till the end of the season. He had other offers but wanted to come back to Rovers and help finish off what has been started under Fergie.
Darren added that Stewart gives us a lot of flexibility in that he can and has, played several positions. He added that he had not mentioned the play offs to the players as at the moment it is something not worth talking about. " The only time I would talk about it is in March if we are in a similar position and have a chance of being in the play offs."
Injury news as far as Rovers are concerned is good, apart from Ben Askins everyone is fit and available, including Stewart and Coppinger who pulled out of the Stoke game.
Gillingham will be without Cody McDonald who will be out for a few more weeks, but Josh Wright will be available, despite breaking a finger at Wigan.
Gillingham Manager Justin Edinburgh is under no illusion, " They are an improving side, Darren has gone in and started to implement his own ideas, but anyone playing us will know we are a good side and full of confidence.
It certainly looks to be another match which will show how far we have come under our new boss.
Match Officials
Referee Nigel Miller ( last weeks fourth official).
Assists Karl Evans and David Plowright.
4th Off Declan Ford.
COME ON YOU REDS. Enjoy the game if you are going.
ROVERS v Gillingham.
posted on 17/1/16
PDX, i had a look on the DROS and cant see where they are giving that information.
What heading is it under please?
posted on 17/1/16
Mickey and Hound, if you look at the DROS it shows the result of the home game against Fleetwood with the attendance as 4,876.
It does not refer to the game yesterday although I would imagine as the power cut was very widespread across the area, a lot of fans were doing things connected with it rather than going to the game.
Posters on VSC have put the figure at around 6,500 but they are only summising.
posted on 18/1/16
Well, I took the number from what is published on the fixture list page on the official site as the attendance last Saturday for the Gillingham game - and the 4876 is still there as at 18:00 PST.
posted on 18/1/16
NY - i too thought it looked like 6500 to 7000 on the day but as PDXMick says, the DROS does show 4876.
Tax fiddle?
posted on 18/1/16
I see that now Hound, but I cannot understand how we get exactly the same crowd number as we did against Fleetwood in the dark Dickov days as we did on Saturday.
I think someone has just put a figure in there and taken it from the Fleetwood post on the front page of DROS.
posted on 18/1/16
Stop Press.
Mark Robins sacked at Scunthorpe after 5-0 loss to Blackpool. Favourite for the job is Steve Cotterill.
posted on 18/1/16
I guess the ticket sales numbers must have been captured. Also, when the turnstile operatives collect tickets from those entering, do they throw them away or keep them for reconciliation purposes? To avoid tax, the club would have to understate takings. I can't see Rovers doing that under the current owners.
posted on 18/1/16
4876 - Never in this world!
posted on 19/1/16
TBH it is an embarrassment and makes us look very poor to people on the outside.
Apparently, because of the power cut, the ticket office people were hand writing tickets so maybe they didnt get recorded.
Even then though that wouldn't account for a "shortfall" of around 2000.
posted on 20/1/16
Hmmm - I have to agree, Hound - that doesn't sound good.