Pyschology plays as big a part in performance as skill. GM seems to have lost his touch in building confidence in his squad. Have they lost confidence in him or themselves though?
Would be a massive boost if we win tonight. Any other result the downward spiral will continue I fear.

3-1 , Marquis, 6226

2-0 to the red rovers marquis 7898

I did not realise how well Bristol are playing at the minute - will not be an easy game. However, we have to win, and so I say Donny 2 Bristol 1. I was going to say Marquis to score, but having been nominated as L1 Player of the Year which is usually bad for form, so I'm saying Sadlier. Hard to guess how many of the faithful will turn out but guess at about 6900.

Not feeling confident about today, hope we win, but head n heart job. I'll go 1-0 victory to the red rovers. Marquis first goal, crowd around 6432.

1-1 Wilkes 7015

3-1, kane, 6915

Rovers 3-1 Gas
Marquis to score
Crowd 7,123

2-1 Rovers Wilks and 6666

2-0 rovers
Marquis
6900

Was that a Manfred Mann type formation? Or did GM listen to Hound with a slight variation of of 4-5-1 as 4-2-3-1. Seems to have worked!

An excellent first half, but why can't we maintain the full effort for 90 minutes? Marquis has lost his edge, but Rowe seems to be back to his old form and Wilks was very good too; Copps obviously was MoM and most of the others were far more engaged than of late. Bristol Rovers could not have played as badly in their recent run and the goal-keeping mistake and the deflection for the second goal were rather unlucky. However we were probably due a bit of good fortune, so overall a good night.

Mooligan scored well again in the DPL and I am tempted to give Lanza 3 points for the Copps goals, but I'm sure he is a happy man tonight.

Rovers 4 (Copps) Bristol R 1 (6907)
>>>>>>>> Crowd > Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>> 6 >>> 157 >>> 163
PDXMickey> 5 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 8 >>> 148 >>> 156
Yorks Lad>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>> 164 >>> 167
BVZ>>>>>>> 1 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>> 144 >>> 148
Crazy>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>> 152 >>> 152
Uthred>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>> 151 >>> 155
Mooligan>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 6 >>> 176 >>> 182
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 86 >>>> 86
Small Azza> 5 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 8 >>>>> 3 >>>> 11
Stantonrover 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0
Azza>>>>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 6 >>>> 99 >>> 105
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>> 156 >>> 159
Selby>>>>> 5 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 8 >>>> 71 >>>> 79
Lanza>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 97 >>>> 97
>>>>>>>>>> 29 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 27 >>>>> 0 >>>> 56 >> 1604 >>> 1660

I wasn’t sure what to expect, from us or them. I was quite surprised to see Rowe lining up in the Whiteman position with Copps and Crawford in front of him and a front three (?) of the right footed Sadlier coming in off the left wing, the left footed Wilks playing in from the right and, as always Marquis in the middle. I’m not sure that is how others would see it and, in practice, players were funnelling back and breaking forward in numbers all night. After Copps had scored the two early goals, both of which their goalie might have saved on another night, Bristol hardly got a look in. Marko was very much a spectator and after Wilks scored a solo blinder for the third it was all going swimmingly. The fourth, soon after half time, was a strange one. Copps put Marquis away with an exquisite through ball but the big man looked as if he trod on the ball as he tried to control it and it spun backwards. Before he could get it back under control Sadlier steamed in a cracked the ball into the net. It is a long barren patch for him, but Marquis never stops running and battering defences. At this point I suspect that fatigue, and the dislocation caused by substitutions meant that Bristol got back into the game. (Wilks, Copps and Sadlier off for May, Smith and Beestin over the course of the second half.) Marko pulled off some blinding saves but, perhaps inevitably, the pressure paid off when Blair pushed one of their players over conceding a penalty that Johnson Clark-Harris put away. The players held on and by the end looked quite comfortable – second wind perhaps. I’m not sure that any team can play 90 mins at full throttle. When we need a breather it would be nice if we could hang onto the ball a bit better but after a 4-1 win I really don’t want to sound ungrateful. Perhaps losing Whiteman and Kane won’t be the disaster I feared.

I agree with Art and Donaldo that it was a little like we took the foot off the throttle, but to give time to the fringe players and to rest some others, may be a good thing for doing to the finish. In the first half at times we were spectacular - but, of course, it was not against the likes of Luton. However, I think, if we play with that sort of energy and commitment over the next few games, we should be in a solid position.
I like the way Sadlier crossed balls in this game - way much better than Andrew at the moment - and Marquis should have put that one away that was delivered right to his head. I want him to score to get out this slump, but find it difficult to see it coming.
Anyway, I'm feeling more positive after this game, but am not really happy with Blair at right back - although he is doing better than Andrew at the moment.
We won 4-0 at Bristol and 4-1 here, and we won 4-1 at Walsall, so I'm hoping for 4-0 here!

Agree with most of the above.
The team were really good in the first half and the win was sealed when it went to 3-0.
Copps was by far the best player on the pitch.
Marquis as usual, gave his 100% but should have scored from the Sadler cross.
Marosi wasnt over busy but made two or three good saves to prevent Bristol having a chance to get back into the game.

Now who were those two injured players again.

Thoroughly enjoyable game last night compared to Saturday. I feel a few home truths were noted and acted upon. The game was a must win and we certainly did that. Hopefully we can add another 3 before we play Sunderland good Friday.

Don.
I was happy to see 26 score again.
My op got cancelled with me on the operating table all drugged up.
I did predict a Rovers victory with the legend to open the scoring as you can see.
Thanks for the reports lads

Lanza: I was sure I'd noted your advance predictions of the Bristol Rovers game in your Luton post, but the Excel gremlins obviously crept in and removed it, but I've adjusted it now and your total to carry forward is 103, not bad considering that you don't predict crowds.

Thanks don.
Shud b at keepmoat Saturday.
I think 26 may score AGAIN