No praise should be high enough for our win at Southend we are told; so much for objective reporting.
We play Tranmere on Saturday and I am tempted to provide a prediction (3 – 0 and Sadlier to score) and leave it at that. But perhaps there is some interest looking a little deeper into the prospects. When I first watched the Rovers 70 years ago all I wanted was for us to win, but as I have grown older, I realise that there is more to any game than the result and the margin of victory or defeat. There is also more to making comments than presenting your view as the only one possible.
However, in attempting to provide an intelligent introduction, I do try to stay relatively detached.
Tranmere Rovers have had an inauspicious start back in League 1 after dramatic wins in the play-offs. Were it not for 3 teams having rather worse opening results or had not Bury been eliminated they would be in the actual drop zone.
Their wins are but three: against Bolton before they were rescued, Coventry – away – which happened after our draw there and then Burton at home, but there have been some creditable draws away. Losing midweek 0-5 at Sunderland and scraping a last gasp draw versus Southend in their last home match will mean that Saturday will be a severe test of their self confidence, especially as they have probably been better away from Prenton Park.
Rovers will obviously be hugely bolstered by the 7 – 1, but that became a very easy victory. As I observed for myself they were confident throughout, even after they went one down and there was little pressure. Such conditions will not prevail at Tranmere and the determination needed will probably need to be to a be a good deal greater than on Tuesday.
Given the battering that Taylor took midweek he must be severely bruised if nothing else and we will miss him if he cannot start. Let us hope that smooth moves, slick passing and sharp shooting will be in evidence from the red and whites which brings me back to 3 – 0 and Sadlier with the first.
DPL vs Tranmere Rovers
posted on 25/10/19
Don, thanks for another great intro. I cant match your 70 years as a supporter just yet, but Im not far off. Im tempted to think we might be over confident after Southend. However we should win. Ill go 0-2 with Sheaf, Whiteman to score.
posted on 25/10/19
0 2.
Whiteman or the leg end
posted on 26/10/19
3-0 to DRFC - Sadlier with the first goal, Whiteman if Sadlier does not play.
posted on 26/10/19
Well, I wish I'd known before I went to bed so I would not have got up at 06:00!
At least you go off summertime this weekend but we do not do so until next weekend and so next week will be a 08:00 kick-off rather than 07:00. There is a god somewhere!
posted on 26/10/19
I saw Ipswich at Southend today where they came away with a 3-0 win. They were not impressive as a team, but they had some sharp-shooting forwards, individuals who took the rather limited chances that came their way.
Southend, despite 8 or 9 injured players, matched them man-for-man in a lot of positions, but the luck went Ipswich’s way.
I would not bet on Ipswich for automatic promotion and relying on a number of ageing players in key positions raises doubts about their resilience.
posted on 26/10/19
Results went rather well for us today.
posted on 30/10/19
Did any of you go to the Man U game? We should have been out-of-sight within 15 minutes. Alfie should have scored - the GK did not really save it, as it just hit his legs as he unnecessarily dived, but the miss of the match was Kiwomya. Their GK made a good reaction save to Wright's header that might have gone in on most days. I think the Man U youngsters were surprised at our speed and rapid passing, but soon settled in and controlled most of the rest of the game but did not really test Lawlor. Their first goal was an unstoppable volley, and I think only their second attempt on target. Watching the second goal again I think it should have been given as an own goal by Lawlor as it did not appear to be going in until it hit Lawlor.
I was a little disappointed at the team selection and some of the substitutions if we really wanted to win the game. I assume Taylor was not fully fit or not worth risking, and seeing the starters without Sadlier or Taylor did not look positive.
I'd have taken Alfie off at half-time for Sadlier. Alfie's "goal" looked as though it was going to another bad miss until their GK acted like a Polo Mint!
Still, Lincoln might beat Rotherham by one goal...
posted on 30/10/19
In tenerife so thanks pdx