Just as we are about to play teams they seem to find some form and that is exactly what this bunch of Robins has managed to discover recently.
Last time out they drew with Port Vale - at home and in the first round of the FA cup they beat Rotherham 3-1 away. They won at Colchester and at Carlisle and only lost by the odd goal in 5 at top-form MK Dons.
So with our recent home record we might look a bit vulnerable. Nevertheless we will be buoyed up by how we handled that rainy, windy night at Fleetwood. It seemed to illustrate that goals are most likely to come via fast sweeping moves upfield rather than via a slow build up and then having to cope with crowded goalmouths.
TSL made some excellent defence-splitting clearances which paved the way for such moves and it illustrates the value of varying the tactics. We too often seem to pass the ball to Molyneux expecting him to work it upfield which is so predictable and puts a lot of pressure on him.
I am hoping for 3-0 (Ironside/Sharp).
DPL v Cheltenham
posted 6 days, 8 hours ago
I also think we should get a lift from the win under atrocious conditions at Fleetwood, and would like a clean sheet, but at times our defense turns their brains off, so I'll say 3-1 to the Rovers, with Ironside scoring if he starts, I may change that after I see the starting 11.
posted 5 days, 23 hours ago
Conditions will play a part again. We've proved we can adjust. There will be a bit of Sparing but I think we'll manage the knock out 2-1. Sharp Ironside
posted 5 days, 21 hours ago
Rovers 2-1 Cheltenham
Sharp to score ⚽
posted 5 days, 21 hours ago
On paper, we have enough fire power up front that we should win. However, we hear there is some awful weather over there. Our nephew was supposed to be running a marathon this weekend, but it has been cancelled by the storm.
posted 5 days, 18 hours ago
Wind and rain have affected the East of England, but the worst of it seems to be in the west, Wales in particular.
We seem to lack the discipline to manage games like this and there is no carry forward of confidence from the solid performance at Fleetwood.
As time goes on greater consistency might be expected, mutual understanding should increase, formations should become more effective, but they don’t. As other teams improve with collective experience we are amongst those whose trend is erratic at best.
posted 5 days, 15 hours ago
One step forward one step back. The story of the season so far. Still we're in the auto play promotion places so it's not too bad and GM has a reputation for strong finishes to the season. I can confirm it's been pretty wet and windy in Wales but not as bad as forecast.its subsided now a little
posted 4 days, 16 hours ago
Based on the first half, we did not deserve anything out of the game. The weather conditions were atrocious, but they were for both sides. I was thinking "Why did I get up for this, and should I switch to watching a Premiership game?" The lack of real effort was so obvious.
In the end, both out goals were good, but theirs were both presents from the Rovers. It is a long time since I've seen a goal so stupidly soft as their second. Olowu had turned his brain off, and I suppose TS-L thought Olowu would intercept the ball. I know it took a slight deflection, but...
However, on to Tuesday!
posted 3 days, 1 hour ago
I'm not putting up a thread on tonight's Trophy game. It is unpredictable in that it depends on how strong the Management decides to make each team. You imagine that Rovers at least will feel that having got this far it will be putting in the effort to progress because there are enough players needing games.
So let's hope for a good contest and win.
posted 2 days, 20 hours ago
The worst thing to predict is Rovers' starting eleven. GM seemed worried about too many games so may well make too many changes although he claims to want to go all the way. I'm happy not to try and make a serious prediction although it has draw all over it with Vale winning the lottery at the end, but I'll hope we just nick it 2-1.
I've got an appointment that means I will probably not see the teams before the game starts, and will miss the first part of the game.
posted 1 day, 18 hours ago
Just about a total waste of time, and as the DFP says no fringe player did much to impress.
Lawlor did one very good reaction save, and it was bad luck that Clifton's thunderbolt did not score. He and Emmanuel showed some good quality. Fleming and even Kelly had poor games, and a good job McGrath was there for two incredible last minute tackles that stopped good scoring chances.Donaldo, I still do not see much in Gibson. His approach work can be good and gets himself in scoring positions, but no end product - he had two very tame attempts from good positions, and his crosses are usually poor (as were nearly all crosses and corners last night).
I did not agree with GM's substitutions. I'd have taken Close off (maybe he needs more game time, but did very little) and left Ironside on in case it went to penalties.
Our home record is embarrassingly poor, nowhere near promotion standard. Let's see if we can keep our much better away form on Saturday.