Dpl v Cambridge

going 1-1 draw. Marquis to score. crowd 4300

A game that swung one way then another with Rovers taking advantage of a period of total dominance. For the first quarter they defended effectively restricting CU to efforts largely outside their area without really taking offensive control.

The penalty, right under our noses on the edge of the area saw Lawlor cleanly palm the ball from the feet of the attacking forward; the ball came towards the touchline. It was an appallingly bad decision and the failure to convert it was justice.

Following that the home side seemed to surrender possession and control of the game to Rovers who just breezed through them to score two fine goals. They played superbly well.

Cambridge came out fighting in the second half, but were largely contained along the line of the penalty area just as they were in the first half.

Marquis, Coppinger and May worked particularly hard to harry the home defence, but when they were withdrawn the newcomers, particularly Williams, played conservatively and failed to put the pressure on the home defence.

The home team were encouraged and the result was that the previously strong back line was breached disturbingly frequently.

I was not at the right end to see exactly who was at fault, but whereas the defence seemed much improved until the last quarter, it was worryingly vulnerable by the end.

Thanks don not spoke at length to baby lanza but she described their pen as you did.
Ref seemed to giving them everything Ist half

Well put Don. Was an enjoyable match however I said afterwards we struggle to play for 90 mins. It's either first half or 2nd half. Good to get back on track and all the results went for us

You would have thought Fergie would have learned the lesson from Saturday when the same thing happened when both May and Copps were substituted late on and Rovers lost impetus and control. They are both very effective at keeping opposition midfield and defences occupied.

Precisely Nookie. McSheffery is the ideal substitute for Copps. I am not against Williams because he is an intelligent player, but he does not do harrying and chasing which I think means that May (who did not seem to run out of energy) should have been left on. Possibly it could mean that Williams could have replaced Marquis who could have done with a rest. He is one of the most industrious players I have seen play for Rovers, exhausting to watch even. As an out and out frontman Williams would then have to do more running and competing - and I think he would.

Ferguson was full of praise, but the defence were definitely shaky towards the end and 2 could have been 3. (One of Cambridge's final efforts did not seem to feature in the highlights.)

In my report I probably didn't give Rowe the credit he deserved. In fact he seemed to be limping towards the end and perhaps he might have been subbed rather than May.

As for Keegan, most of you will have seen more of him than I have, but I have difficulty in understanding where he fits in. He did not seem to add much to the defence when there was an obvious need, so what is his role?

Don, Keegs came on in the 88th minute.
Not much time to do a thorough assessment is it.
I was listening to the radio deedar commentary of the game and it is much the same as you described it.
I have already said on the VSC site that when Copps get subbed, invariably we lose control of the midfield.
This happened on Saturday and Accy scored, it happened last night and Cambridge scored.
it has happened quite a few times this season.
If the likes of you and i can see this why cant the manager?
However, our position is again strengthened and we move further away from the rest with only 12 games to go now.
Two defeats in 21 is good enough for me.

I hope that the context of my comments is obvious. Those present last night will know that there was a great deal of defending, some rather desperate, in the short period that Keegan was on the field. I nevertheless would not argue the point against those who have more evidence on which to base a different view.

The management of substitutions is probably a subject in itself. Does it achieve anything more often than not? No one will ever know, but in Rovers case perhaps the probability is that it usually doesn't. I did think DF would not use any as there seemed no need. However, as I said, Rowe did seem to be struggling with a knock, so McShefferry might have slotted in for him.

I guess Fergie's sub theory is not just about the current game but with an eye on preserving resources and giving fringe players some game time. Though for me points on the board now would be priority.

15 mins + add on to go. 3-0 up. Can't really blame Fergie for making substitutions in that situation.