A team with no capability of promotion or risk of relegation will not have that much of an incentive to flog themselves to beat an opponent striving with a great deal more energy to consolidate their place in the play-offs, should it?
If our team were Barrow or Crewe at Gillingham we would not be able to look back on a wonderful run of success; we would be hoping that somehow we could defy our current form and get the win we needed in the Play-off battle. Crawley might be slightly more confident, but they would feel that they have wobbled somewhat and most recently only managed a draw with a team almost doomed to relegation.
But Rovers are on the crest kof a wave, knowing that they have beaten all-comers match after match and on this momentous Saturday they face a team who have scored the fewest goals in the league. So, if you look down the list of final day fixtures in League 2 would you choose any other team to put your money on (assuming a bet was compulsory)? The bookmakers have us at Evens to win which is the worst odds on an away team in L2. So want can go wrong?
The pressure will be on every team up there with us, but let us be consoled by the unlikelihood of defeat. I only once had a bet on the opposition to win - Peterborough - and it was a draw which I had neglected to cover, but it turned out that a draw was good enough in the end I think.
I had thought of going to the match which would be just a few minutes by helicopter - not that I have one, or I could sail part of the way there if I still had my dinghy, so I’d go the long way round. However the website is not easily navigable and just to “register" (in a country where any kind of official Identity Card supposedly infringes your basic rights) they expect you to provide a photograph - just to buy a ticket for a football match. How could I invade the pitch afterwards if I they had the means to so easily identify me? So I’m not going!
0-3 Biggins,Hirst.
DPL v Gillingham
posted on 29/4/24
I have to admit when it went to 2-1 I had to stop watching to keep my blood pressure in check!
The DFP and Grant mentioned a fine save by Jones at 2-2, nothing was shown on the extended highlights. I'm not prepared to re-watch the whole game, so did any of you see it, or if watching the whole repay, at what time in the game was it? I could then watch some of the replay.
I think we could do better in defending free kicks like the first goal. I know the kick had some pace, but the striker went for the side of the goal Jones was covering. I assume the wall was to cover the 2/3 of the goal where Jones was not. So it seems the ball went through a gap in the wall meant to be covered by Jones - or did it going between Rovers players meant to block it? To me it seemed to go through an obvious gap - maybe a Rovers player moved just before the actual kick that made it bigger than it was meant to be. There used to be a button to show highlights in slow motion, but it does not seem to be there on my iMac using Safari.
I assume the play-offs will be on iFollow and I'm glad we have the later first leg game, so a 09:30 KO rather than 07:00 over here.
posted on 29/4/24
Any save Jones makes is classified as "great" in the eyes of those who urge us to "give the lad a chance". Of course Jones is several years older than TLT but he does have the demeanour of a youth in comparison. I assume it will be on the extended highlights, although the fact that it is not on the short highlights suggests that the editors did not regard it as such a great save.
As for the failure of the wall, Adelukan was observed to have jumped out of the way. Jones got a hand to the ball, but, as we have seen before it was probably only a weak one and he might have been quicker to react.
I'm afraid I went into "fearing the worst" mood after the second goal and we were fortunate that there was no need for any proper goalkeeping from then onwards. TLT's absence in the first leg at Crewe will be a huge drawback and even if Jones does tolerably well it would be disastrous to allow him to keep his place.
When McCann gets praise for what he's done we mustn't forget that he chose the 2 goalkeepers that we were saddled with for the unsuccessful part of the season.
posted on 1/5/24
It’s not often you’re pleased to be wrong, but rescinding TLT’s red card/ suspension is amazing news!
posted on 1/5/24
Amazed to say the least! I think it is because of the given cause of "denying a goal scoring opportunity", and it was not 100% that a Gillingham player could get to the ball first. What is the penalty for just "deliberate handball"? If stopping goal-bound shot, it is a red card, but otherwise, I'm not sure. I bet Jones is not pleased 🤭.
posted on 1/5/24
That's fabulous news!
posted on 1/5/24
Maybe the fact that the players accepted it without demur could have counted in our favour. If the ref was asked to reflect, this would have made it easier for him to admit it was not actually "obvious". The apparent fact that the projected course of the ball was not goal-bound was presumably key.
Wearing a legal hat, I think we have been very fortunate. I read that Gillingham manager was angry about a "rugby tackle" which went unpunished, but then he got the sack, so I don't suppose he cares any more!
posted on 1/5/24
There were two or three Rovers players behind TLT when he handled the ball and the Gillingham forward was in front of them. So it was clearly not deliberately denying a clear goal scoring opportunity .
posted on 1/5/24
Not entirely sure but as I understand it was a big risk as if unsuccessful it would have been a 3 game ban.
posted on 1/5/24
I think that there is a general risk of an appeal being deemed “frivolous” in which case the ban can be increased, but that it would be unlikely in these circumstances if you are simply challenging the “obvious” test.
Earlier today I tried to find the official record of the proceedings on the FA website, but the most recent material there is for the month of March. The FA site is very difficult to navigate and I could not even find a “Search” facility.
posted on 2/5/24
Interesting free agents . John Marquis, Marko Marosi and Hakeeb Adelakun.