Salford have only lost once away from home, but have only won once. At home they have never drawn - L4 and W4. (At Salford we put 2 past them in the League Cup with no reply too.) So it’s rather odd! You might say they were inconsistent, but then that’s not true of their away form.
They have Jon Taylor (10 appearances and 1 goal) and Hakeem Adelukan (4 and 2 goals) on their books, the former having remained fit!! But HA has not been in the team for a while, so presumably injured. JT is usually subbed or on the bench and HA wound up there seemingly as a last resort when he failed to get the ambitious move and reward that he was hoping for when he turned down what was assumed to be at least a 2-year offer from Rovers.
So, coming back to expectations, we might assume that they have a good defensive plan for away games, so it could be an afternoon of hard toil.
There has been more consistency about Rovers in recent matches, they’ve kept up the pressure for 90 minutes in the last 3 matches and it’s brought rewards, so we shall hope that there is no dip on Saturday.
If we are to contend for automatic promotion this is a game to be won and perhaps we shall hope that Adelukan does not turn out for the opposition. Whether he does somehow recover his fitness or not I’m going for 2-0 (Sharp/Ironside).
DPL v Salford City
posted on 15/11/24
Live @ https://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/464808
One match ban enabled
posted on 15/11/24
Just not sure re this one. Form says we should win it. Were due a better scoring performance. Our defence seems to be solid enough with the odd lapse. So I'll go 3-1. Molyneaux to keep those shots lower or Ironside header.
posted on 16/11/24
I'll go with an optimistic 3-0 to the Rovers. Ironside to score the first, otherwise Molyneux.
I'm not happy with the upcoming games going live on SKY which result in a 04:30 kick-offs here. 07:00 is bad enough!
posted on 16/11/24
2-1 to Rovers. Molyneaux with the first.
posted on 16/11/24
Rovers 3-1 Salford
Ironside to score ⚽
posted on 16/11/24
3-2 rovers
Hurst to score
posted on 16/11/24
We failed to make enough space in which to work the ball. Ironside gets so closely marked that he seems totally penned in. We made some space on the left via Fleming and Gibson, but Molyneux too seemed either to deliberately take on defenders when perhaps a pass would be a better option. Kelly was more prominent up the middle in the second half and then GM took him off and took Gibson off for Yeboah who hardly looks fit and has no speed.
Sharp seems to be able find space, but we don’t have the skill to score when the opposition are in close attendance.
After a performance like today’s you wonder whether we really have the strength and skill to challenge for the top 3 spots.
posted on 17/11/24
I did not see the first 20 or so minutes, as I said earlier "07:00 is hard enough".
What I saw after that was very frustrating. Simple errors, such as Sterry basically passing to the opposition that leads to their goal. I do not exactly agree at McCann's comment about the goal from 25 yards. While TS-L maybe could have acted slightly sooner, that was a great finish.
After his goal, Billy should have scored that second.
I'm still not seeing too much in Gibson - OK, he hit the post, but when clean through he gave too much to their GK by not controlling the ball enough.
Why has Molyneux stopped going outside his man which he can do well, is he just wanting to score?
Another 2 points given away - not promotion form.
In some ways I'm glad Jon Taylor did not come on. At his best, he was good, but I understand why we let him go. I hope he can do well at Salford.
Next week - Biggins against us?
posted on 17/11/24
In the first 20 minutes Micky you missed some good combination play between Gibson (of whom I have become a fan) and Fleming who do work together well compared with Molyneux who too often prefers to go it alone.
We don’t seem to vary the point of attack though. Hurst is not as prominent as Clifton up the middle and Ironside rarely breaks free of his marker. As for their goal, I thought 90 out of 100 goalkeepers would not have got to it and then, not necessarily have saved it. Lawlor and Jones would have just watched it go in. Overall I’m pleased with TSL.
posted on 18/11/24
Donaldo, I also am pleased with TS-L. I was really saying I was surprised at Grant's comment. TS-L did make a good attempt to reach the ball which, as you said, our two other squad members would not have.
My problems with Gibson so far is that his final pass, cross, or his own attempts on goal have not been very good. I suppose that is like the rest of the team at the moment.
I can see Ironside is very frustrated at the moment. Often he thinks he has been fouled and the foul is given against him. Maybe he needs to change the way he stands while waiting for a long ball and the way he first moves. I think the fouls against him are for backing into the opponent or something like that. If he and Molyneux got back to where they were in the latter part of last season, we would be flying!