Rovers v Dover Athletic

[bring back the cowshed!]

Tomorrow sees the visit of Dover Athletic, one of the division's enigmas. Some weeks they are unstoppable, others they get thrashed, occasionally games pass without much incident. You are never sure what you are going to get. In Ricky Miller, they have the league's highest scorer (by far), as well as two others in double figures. Only FGR have scored more goals, but they have the worst defence in the top half.

Discussion about Dover's likely tactic have already started on the Braintree thread. Will they try to contain Rovers and steal the points (as they did last season) or will they trust their considerable firepower?

On the other hand, will we stick with the same formation and personnel (assuming CJ is OK) or switch to 442 with perhaps Mekki, Sousa and/or Collins seeing some action? I predict Micky will leave things as they are, but I expect two wingers to be on the bench.

I have a feeling this game will be a low-scoring win for Rovers. If this happens and Lincoln lose at Sutton, we will move to the top of the league for the first time since New Year's Day.

 

[Sparky]

Massive game this for both sides as we seek to maintain our chances of catching the league leaders, whereas Dover lie 2 points off a play off place, battling it out with the likes of Aldershot & Gateshead, both who are in good form, as well as Macc and Barrow - the latter having had a couple of wins of late.

If everyone is fit I fully expect the same line up and system. I had concerns before Saturday as to whether it would create enough chances but we should have been 3 up at half time. Lets hope if any more of those chances come that we take them. Braintree were fairly non threatening in attack apart from a couple of scares late on, which were inevitable once the spot kick was missed, but I expect Dover with the likes of Lafayette, Emmanuel and Miller who have a staggering 54 league goals between them this season, to create clear chances and, you would expect, take at least one or two.

Hopefully we'll see the likes of Sousa on the bench as if things are not going our way, you would not bet on Mekki to change things, no matter how hard he tries. We may need more than winning the odd free kick. Hope Hughes has a better game on Saturday and has a tough opponent if Devericies plays for the visitors. Big Mac and the entire defence will have a tough game on their hands.

I can't see Lincoln getting anything other than 3 points at Sutton, especially after their morale boosting win against FGR. Whereas for rovers, I can't see us getting more than a point.

Before recent wins over poorer sides like Braintree and North Ferriby, we had struggled against the better sides such as Macc (twice), and Barrow in the league. This will be another similar challenge, if not tougher, and I have a concern that against this sort of side our lack of decent wide options may not be enough tomorrow. Hopefully Dovers seemingly leaky defence will be bad enough for us to take advantage of.

Prediction: score draw

 

[Ian]

I think at this stage of the season, teams throw caution to the wind a little to try and grab those three valuable points so I can see this one being quite an open game. As Sparky mentions above, they are capable of scoring a lot of goals so our back line has got to hold up. We also need to be more clinical and put away any chances we get. Bit nervy for this one as I know what a threat they can be going forward but we have to keep up the winning run and get those three vital points.

Can't predict how this one is going to end up, but I'm praying we come away with three points.
I'd imagine same team as Saturday too.

 

[drwhoman]

Agree with Ian's last para. I have just seen a BBC stat that we have the highest average attendance in the NL. Just over 5k. Let us hope they all have something to cheer!

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I am nervous about this game, for all the reasons stated above. We really struggled to deal with Dover's physicality last season and in Miller they have a player who can win a game single-handed. We can certainly expect plenty of gamesmanship and niggling tomorrow night, particularly if Dover take the lead. However, we should still remember that we played them off the pitch in October and a Rovers victory is hardly impossible.

I think both team and formation will be unchanged and we will be watched by a crowd of just over 4,000. The result is very difficult to predict, not least because Dover are one of the most unpredictable teams in the division.

Regarding Lincoln's game tomorrow night, Sutton have beaten both ourselves and FGR on their plastic pitch this season and I don't see a Lincoln victory as a foregone conclusion by any means.

 

[Boz]

Like everyone else, I'm not confident about this game. Dover on their day are capable of beating any side at this level and with Miller returning to form after his suspension, things are looking up for the visitors, two wins on the trot, though the free-kick specialist Deverdics has returned to Hartlepool.

I would be surprised if MM changed the starting xi. Hughes needs a break, but the way Dover play is not suited to Wallace strolling around the pitch and we haven't any other midfield options the manager would consider, with Maynard having a set-back in his fitness battle. I'd like to see Sousa on the bench ahead of Mangan and I think Buxton's physicality could be an option and give more balance to the subs.

Agree with RLC about the attendance, our progress in the Trophy and playing so many Tuesday games will put a dent in our attendance average. On the pitch anything could happen (well aside from getting a decent referee)

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Just as an aside, if we win the next two matches we will go top of the league on Saturday irrespective of Lincoln's result.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

My mistake. I thought their game on Saturday had been postponed to make way for the televised game against Dagenham, but they are actually playing twice in three days, which is bizarre.

 

[Ian]

but the way Dover play is not suited to Wallace strolling around the pitch and we haven't any other midfield options the manager would consider, with Maynard having a set-back in his fitness battle.

I see MM has mentioned Wallace is now available for selection and I wouldn't be surprised if we see him in some capacity.

 

[Boz]

I see MM has mentioned Wallace is now available for selection and I wouldn't be surprised if we see him in some capacity.

MM has made some errors of judgement regarding Wallace already. Not impossible that his fitness has improved recovering from his latest injury-enforced absence. If not, it's too high a risk to start him in a game like this, given the way Dover are likely to play. It would be useful to have a midfielder on the bench but at the moment, I can't see him as a game-changer.

 

[Sparky]

Despite the standards of Hughes having dropped recently (overall he has been very good since he signed), I'll be astounded if MM chose to start Wallace given his lack of match fitness. Wouldn't surprise me though if he's on the bench and may come on if say we need to close a game out and keep the ball which he is good at.

However if the game is blood and thunder and at a high pace, I don't know whether he could cope as he struggled at times to get up and down the pitch last time he played. But as I say if we were winning and MM wanted to shut up shop, he may bring him on e.g. for someone like Connor J to sit in the middle and play it safe.

 

[Ian]

Don't think I can make this, gutted. Fingers crossed for the win, enjoy the game chaps.

 

[Boz]

Buxton in for Sutton, whose not on the bench, otherwise as you were. No places for Wallace or Sousa on the bench again.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Looks like the same formation but with wide men on the bench as options. I'm confident.

 

[Boz]

Sounds like Dover edging it, Miller shot pushed onto the woodwork and a good shout for a penalty. Only one decent effort from Rovers from Cook.

 

[Boz]

Another penalty miss for Rovers, Norwood. Didn't sound like they'd sorted the penalty taker before the game.

 

[drwhoman]

Yes and a draw for Lincoln! Mickey get the pens sorted it is SO unprofessional!

 

[Boz]

1-0 win for Rovers thanks to Cole Stockton. Look forward to the reports.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

A good performance and a superb result against horrible opposition. While it was a tight game, Rovers were the only team trying to play football and win. Contrary to the comments above, Miller's effort against the bar was Dover's only shot on goal and they were obviously content simply to time waste, niggle and wrestle from the first minute in hope of taking a point. Credit to Rovers for sticking with the game plan, particularly after the disappointment of the penalty.

I don't think we were ever at our best, largely because of the physicality of the opposition and because our most creative midfielder, Jeff Hughes, looks absolutely knackered at the moment and is below par. However, we fought hard as a team and there were some great individual displays: Ihiekwe, Ridehalgh and McNulty, who I thought was man of the match, were all excellent and Jay Harris had a superb second half, putting his body on the line. Buxton also had a very good game at centre back, and the defence in general did very well to stifle the threat of Miller for the second time this season.

A lot of credit for the three points has to go to the manager. He bravely took the decision to substitute Cook when he was on a yellow and had been targeted by Dover, and Stockton duly popped up with the winner from a superb ball from Ridehalgh.

I think the crowd also played a massive part tonight by sticking with the team in periods when the game was not at all pretty to watch.

An absolutely massive three points and an exciting few weeks ahead. On to Wrexham, where we could establish a three point lead at the top, if only for a few hours.

 

[drwhoman]

Thanks RLC. Fingers crossed for Wrexham. Is there any case for pairing Cook and Stockton who can both score goals and at least the latter can take a pen?! Too similar maybe but we have both known teams play with two front strikers quite successfully.