League Two Rovers (0) v Wrexham (1)

[Sparky]

This Saturday sees the visit of our cross border neighbours Wrexham in a game I would say is the biggest of Dawes fairly insignificant managerial career so far.

Despite being pre-season favourites for the title the dragons season so far has been average at best. They sit 16th in table with one win, one defeat and 3 draws. Tuesday night saw a league cup defeat to Bradford on penalties albeit the Bradford penalty in the 90 minutes looked very soft. Wrexham dominated that game in terms of stats and had 20 shots on goal, albeit only 3 on target. Even without Mullin (assuming he is still injured and doesn’t make a miraculous recovery for a game he’ll be gutted to miss), Wrexham have some very good players for this level. Similar to us they haven’t been shy in scoring goals but have conceded plenty too. In fact in 5 league games this season they have scored 14 and conceded 14, so 28 in total. It should make for an entertaining game you would think.

As for us hopefully the lads will have taken some confidence from Tuesday nights performance. Even if there are a few incomings/outgoings I expect a similar line up to the Leicester game. Even if we bring in a specialised right back Yarney might keep his place as he did fairly well on Tuesday although he struggled at Notts County. I’m expecting the same midfield trio of Merrie, Hendry & Morris with Jennings and Hawkes still part of the 3 up front. The only outfield change might be bringing in Dennis for Sam Taylor on the right of the 3 albeit I’m not a fan of playing a penalty box goal poacher out wide, but we shall see. Hawkes was hobbling at the end of Tuesday but hopefully nothing serious (and more importantly, hopefully we don’t lose him before the deadline tomorrow). McGee will obviously come back in between the sticks.

A win would hopefully kick start our season. We lose and that will be 5 defeats from 6 league games and dark clouds will get ever closer for Dawes time in charge.

Prediction: we’ll do well to win this as Wrexham don’t lose many games. A score draw for me but hopefully we can pick up a win and the atmosphere will spur the lads on.

 

[bigmart]

I think they play 3 centre halves, depending on any incomings registered in time for the match I don't see there being too many changes in personnel and unfortunately the same formation. I'm going for a draw 2 2.

 

[Ian]

Surely we have to win at home soon, so let it be against The Red Dragons. I agree, I dont think there will be too many changes in tactics and personnel but the defensive line should be fine, let's hope we don't sit back. We need to get at them. I'm going for an entertaining 3-2.

 

[dollar'sbloke]

The front six should be Morris, Hendry, Merrie, Hawkes then Jennings and Dennis; but it won't be more of a 3-3 confusion and a home defeat

 

[Sparky]

Over 9,500 tickets sold so far

 

[Sparky]

Dawes confirms that leake (hamstring) and LOC (ankle) will be out for a few weeks yet. Still a bit cryptic about Norris but it’s clearly not good news.

Still hoping to bring new faces in before the deadline. Likely on loan

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I think it will be the same team as Tuesday night, save for McGhee coming back into the side, but with Hawkes and Taylor given more licence to get forward and support Jennings. A victory would certainly give Dawes some breathing space. I am really looking forward to the game.

Incidentally, Murphy injured his hand on Tuesday night when he was stamped on by Vardy, so it will be interesting to see whether he makes the bench.

Connor Jennings to score the winner. You heard it here first.

 

[Boz]

My first game of the season. It doesn't look like there will be many changes in personnel for this game, though will be my first sighting of some of the new arrivals in action. Absolutely must not lose this one, but hard to see Rovers winning either.

 

[Am on mobile]

A big crowd and we know what Rover's normally do in front of the big crowd's so a win would be great

 

[Higgy 2]

Id be concerend if Dawsey persists with 433.
Really need a partnership up front and in the absence of Norris, i'd prefer Jolley, who i thought battled hard against County. Jenno is that good hed be great anywhere in midfield in ters of creating and getting a foot in....which doesnt happen enough for me. If its 433 I'd take a draw now.
McGee
Yarney, Davies, Turnbull,
Pike, Morris, Jennings, Hendry, Hawkes
Jolley, Dennis

 

[Boz]

Id be concerend if Dawsey persists with 433.
Really need a partnership up front and in the absence of Norris, i'd prefer Jolley, who i thought battled hard against County. Jenno is that good hed be great anywhere in midfield in ters of creating and getting a foot in....which doesnt happen enough for me. If its 433 I'd take a draw now.
McGee
Yarney, Davies, Turnbull,
Pike, Morris, Jennings, Hendry, Hawkes
Jolley, Dennis

I’m not averse to 3 at the back and playing with wing-backs Higgy 2. However with Leake out, have reservations about deploying either Hawkes or Morris there due to them being needed in an attacking role. It sounded like Merrie had a good game against Leicester though can understand the concern that a Merrie-Hendry midfield is very vertically challenged in the centre of the park.For me Jennings works best in a no 10 role and would like to see a 4312 formation with Connor behind a front pairing of Dennis and Taylor.

 

[dollar'sbloke]

Struggling to see how the crowd isn't already hugely affected by welsh in home seats! 7,000 home fans already?

 

[Ian]

My kids are going just incase they get to see Deadpool in the stands. Sad really but that's the pull of Hollywood!

 

[ADD]

Aside from McGee obviously coming back in for Murphy I also suspect we will start as we did against Leicester. I would definitely start Merrie who I thought did well and strengthened midfield. Taylor I would like to have a consistent run in the side now - he was getting into so many good positions/ space even against the much better Leicester defenders but was very rarely found. That will only come with the midfield playing regularly with him and starting to build up an understanding. Perhaps play Dennis and Taylor upfront together but then who is left out in midfield?
Really important game - it's not a must win given the amount of money Wrexham have splashed but either way Dawes simply now needs to have decided on and play his current best 11 taking into account Leake, Saunders and Norris are out likely for a while.
Hoping desperately for a solid cohesive performance first and foremost but also of course a win to calm frayed nerves and kick start the season proper.

 

[Sparky]

A draw the most likely outcome but we are capable of picking up three points. Since their opening day battering at home to MK Dons, Wrexham are unbeaten in the league - 3 draws and 1 win - plus a 1-1 draw midweek with Bradford in the cup. So they don’t lose many. It is a real shame we’re missing Norris who could have been the difference. Hopefully others will step up.

ADD makes an interesting point on playing Taylor and Dennis but I can’t see it happening. Dawes likes his 4-3-3 and doesn’t see either of those as a central striker In that system. Plus he likes inverted players I.e. left footers playing on the right so only one of them can play there, with a right footer on the left, probably Hawkes. Plus Dawes does like his rotation so he probably thinks he has two players for that one wide right position in the front three. If I were to guess I think he’ll rotate from Tuesday and Dennis will start but not concerned if it is Taylor. As ADD says he looked sharp on Tuesday night.

 

[Ian]

It is a real shame we’re missing Norris who could have been the difference.

It's typical isn't it. I thought Norris had really started to impose himself on games and was looking to be a real handful for the opposition and then he gets injured.. It almost seems like we are back to square one scratching our heads as to the best options up front again. There is an obvious choice in putting Dennis into his preferred position but Dawes doesn't seem to like that option.

 

[Am on mobile]

Thats because he wants to get sacked. Lol imagine who ever takes over puts him in the right place and we go and get wins and i think like a lot of fans he wont be in a job to long

 

[Am on mobile]

What a shame i will be cooking gavibg said that tge last time i attended pp for a huge game was the forest green boxing game massacre

 

[Am on mobile]

Please lads dont put a bad show on today i am hoping for a Rovers 2-0 with Dennis the menace getting both i realy hope Daws wakes up and plays him in his right position

 

[Sparky]

Wrexham pulled off the signing of Luke Armstrong from Harrogate late last night. Will be interesting if he’s registered to play.