After the reality check on Boxing Day, playing another in-form team away is not the ideal sequel.
Col U have a good record against us even when we have been flying high and right now they have not lost since mid November, so obviously in good form at home.
I needn’t remind you that Rovers are on the wane right now, although the last two matches have been against strong sides.
Walsall are probably the best team in the League by some distance and losing to them is not the end of the promotion mission, but it does underline the fact that Rovers’ don’t have the strength to achieve automatic promotion without an improvement in so many aspects of the play.
The defence seems the strongest section of the team, but when we defend in numbers at set-pieces and in open play in a crowded penalty box it often seems haphazard. They just do not seem to function as a unit.
I have my tickets as it’s only 40 odd miles from home and it’s always good to see a live match, but any hope for a win would be based on emotion.
I think that even a draw is optimistic. 2-0.
DPL v Colchester Utd
posted 2 weeks, 4 days ago
I'll go for a 2-1 win for Rovers. Bailey, Olowu
posted 2 weeks, 3 days ago
We started the season relatively well - what has gone wrong? Teams working us out, and we have no Plan B? Or is it just players like Mols going "off the boil"?
I hope we break the poor run soon, but cannot say more optomistic than a 1-1 draw tomorrow. However, I hope Nookie is right! I go with this score as my lovely wife of 57 years said 1-1, and she has been right often. Anyone, as a teenager who came to games with me and stood at the Rossie end keeping warm with Bovril, must be some girl!
The goal will not be from the front, do I'll say Bailey.
posted 2 weeks, 3 days ago
Colchester 1-2 Rovers
Ironside to score ⚽
posted 2 weeks, 3 days ago
Can't believe that I forgot to enter a prediction for the second match in a row! Busy Christmas! All I can do though, is day well done Pauline! Micky, maybe you should let your good lady wife do the predictions every week?
posted 2 weeks, 2 days ago
It was a match which, if we had lost, we could have had few complaints. Col U were quicker than we were and Olowu and TSL apart had a handful of better players with worrying skill and pace in attack, but lacked finishing.
Molyneux did little of note and Gibson provided the one perfect finish we needed for the point plus another excellent free kick over the wall which might have been number two, but for an excellent save from their GK.
Olowu was absolutely outstanding and he exudes class and if he were to go in January we can look forward to another season in League 2.
Fortunately our opponents are a form team, so perhaps the opposition will not prove quite as challenging over the next few games and give us a chance to steady ourselves and restore a bit of confidence.
posted 2 weeks, 2 days ago
Thanks, Crazy, for your comment - and remembering my wife's name which I must have mentioned on an earlier post. Maybe it was when I think I mentioned she went to the same Intake Junior School as John Ryan (although a few years ahead of him) and in his book he mentioned teachers Pauline knew.
These days she just likes watching goals, so the Premier League updates we get on NBC are her favorites - but she will watch some Rovers highlights.
Thinking of those days at the Rossie End certainly brings back memories. A group of us from Beechfield Junior and the a slightly larger group from DGS, would gather there. If we were kicking the other way in the second half, sometimes you could make your way through the Popular side and get to the Town End.
Things were so much simpler back then!
posted 2 weeks, 2 days ago
Donaldo, I did not see the game, only the Extended Highlights. I must admit Gibson's goal was a great strike, but the second yellow was stupid from him and the referee. The highlights only show him moving the ball once, so it is hard to judge. I reminder Ivan Toney moving the ball from the ref's marking so he could get a better angle for his free kick ad he scored, but nothing happened to him.
We seemed to do enough to win if they had a less good GK, but then in the end the woodwork saved us.
I was slightly encouraged by the highlights, but is it time to drop Molyneux to give him a wake-up call?
posted 2 weeks, 2 days ago
A draw away to a form team is a pretty good result. If only we could do something about our home form. Agree about Molyneaux. GM will sign a new winger in the Jan window but it will be interesting to see who else goes out and if there are any more coming in. Our form to this point puts us well in the mix but lots of teams within touching distance if we have further bad runs. Fingers crossed the McCann magic works again this time.
posted 2 weeks, 2 days ago
Sometimes, in concentrating on the shots on goal, the highlights can distort the actual balance of play. Col U played the more dynamic and attractive football overall and there were 2 or 3 of their players who I’d be keen to sign (in GM’s position), although they would probably have higher expectations. As a team they were also faster and perhaps fitter overall.
The referee was quite tolerant and allowed the game to flow. He let quite a few things go to keep the game flowing, largely to Rovers’ benefit and I’d have given Gibson a second yellow too. I see that he has apologised.