This will be the first match at which I will have been present since Colchester (Away) last season. And what an important one it will be.
Defeat must be avoided and Sutton have improved their results since their awful start ..
We shall probably be without the players who had to go off at Bradford and whilst I think Close is very overrated and not a player I’d choose, but although he has his shortcomings Molyneux will be missed. I don’t know enough about Carty to worry about him and I suppose it’s will leave the way clear for Waters and Adelakun and possibly Goodman who is allegedly “highly rated".
At Bradford Wood was effective and McGrath looked OK, Nixon usually seems to put the work in and I like Maxwell, but recently Rowe has not been the reliable figure of the past, so may or may not feature. Ironside is obviously a great asset, but without the luxury of seeing entire games so many of the others seem very variable in what they contribute.
The Sutton v Harrogate highlights illustrated the visitors’ skills and several of the Sutton players showed rather more ability than we routinely see from some in our current squad. However despite hitting the post Sutton were unsuccessful until the Harrogate goalkeeper let one through his legs to make it 1-2.
It will be a case of slugging it out I think and if Taylor can turn on his pace (as he did on when he came on on Tuesday) it might just prove the difference. We must just hope Jones will not be rendered vulnerable to numerous shots on goal or crosses because he must be earmarked as the principle point of weakness by anyone who has seen him in action and has even the slightest understanding of goalkeeping techniques.
I’ll be conservative and say 1-1 (Ironside, Adelakun).
DPL v Sutton U
posted on 1/2/24
At last a new goalkeeper. Young and inexperienced,just what we need. But I guess beggars can't be choosers. We could end up just 4 points above the relegation zone on Saturday and I've an awful feeling we will. 2-0 to Sutton.
posted on 2/2/24
Will McCann play the new GK though or does Jones's formidable record rule that out? Ha,ha - who knows how Jones is considered worthy of his place?
I am profoundly disturbed by the financial irregularities which come on top of other misdemeanours and untruths peddled over recent years. the club basks in the glory of its Awards and the CEO's integrity is at the heart of all of it.
posted on 3/2/24
Will Grant drop Jones? - I'm not sure, but I hope he does.
Again, we ask "What team will show up?'. OK, I'm finally thinking there is some curse on injuries after what happened in the last game. At least Molyneux appears to be fit to play. If he could add good finishing to his play, he would become a good asset. However, the bad luck on Carty is hard to take.
It really is a "must win" game, so I'll stay positive even though Sutton will be feeling the same.
So, if Jones starts, 1-2 to the Rovers, if he does not, 0-2 to the Rovers. Who to score, it has to be Ironside after his current drought.
Maybe I'll change some of that after the team is announced - if I am awake
posted on 3/2/24
So difficult to predict right now. An ok performance last week but we lost. I'll go for a 3-2 win. Molyneaux with the first. Ironside if Molyneaux doesn't start.
posted on 3/2/24
Sutton 2-1 Rovers
Ironside to score
posted on 3/2/24
Very one-sided, but the ref was poor. We should have had a penalty right at the start - it was definitely not simulation. I saw it head on and it set the pattern of decision making by a poor ref.
Nevertheless we were pretty awful and apart from a pleasing debut from the Goalkeeper it was not encouraging. Was this the team that beat MK Dons???
posted on 3/2/24
It was amazing that he started without Maxwell and Molyneux. The Lincoln loanee didn't offer much and the front line which started was not good. Wood seemed solid and Oluwo was OK.
I hesitate to say that MvCann did not choose the best starting 11.
posted on 4/2/24
No wonder Grant was livid about not getting penalties. I have just watched the first minutes on the full replay as that early penalty shout was not shown on the Extended Highlights - why not? I agree with him and Donaldo that the first one was a definite penalty, why would a player take a dive when he had gone past the GK? It was more a penalty than the one we got. The other claim when Senior was felled looked like a penalty to me - he had pushed the ball past the defender and then was taken out. Where do they find these referees?
A weekend of poor play by my favorite teams - Liverpool were very poor against Arsenal!
posted on 4/2/24
You will gather I did not watch the Rovers' game live. I overslept, and when I saw we did not have a shot on target in the first half, I watched the second half of Newcastle vs. Luton instead which was an amazing game.