Seagulls v Rovers

[Boz]

Brighton top of the league and on a great run of home form. Apparently not enough Rovers fans for the club to run a coach, so nobody feeling too hopeful for this. Who can blame anyone for staying at home, especially after Tuesday's poor showing? It would take a minor miracle to get something out of this one, but miracles sometimes happen....don't they?

A few injuries reported on the official site McChrystal with a rib injury, which may account for his woeful game on Tuesday. Goodi also ailing. I wouldn't mind seeing one of Ash/Max, even Wood in central defence, but wouldn't like to be without both regulars for this game. Time to bin the Weir as right-back experiment too. Can't see many changes further forward, I doubt McGurk will start, Alliyu perhaps.

Prediction. Can't see beyond a loss here.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Despite my recent tirades against 4-5-1, I think we will rightly revert to that formation on Saturday: it is the perfect game for that system.

The injuries to the centre backs are a worry, but I would expect at least one of the two to play, possibly alongside Blanchard. The right back situation is tricky as although Weir needs to be dropped, Kay has had a couple of dodgy games there recently, and maybe Max could slot into this position ?

Up front I am sure that Lateef will be recalled, but it will be interesting to see who he replaces as Robinson (despite replacing Akins as scapegoat number one with some fans) and Zoom were two of our better players on Tuesday night.

I am just hoping for a decent performance really, to heal some of the wounds from Tuesday.

Giving this one a miss due to the finances, and I am hoping my absence will spur Rovers to an unlikely victory.

 

[bigmart]

we are going to get a good pasting im afraid 3 0 at least

 

[SCooperSomersaults]

Can't see us getting anything, which would make it 7 games without a win, which is very worrying. We need a win from somewhere but I'm pretty sure it won't come on Saturday :?

 

[SonkORLY?]

You would expect us to get battered.

You can't go around dropping players every time they have one or two bad games. Kay should have remained in the team in the first place, and hope to see him start vs Brighton. Still hopeful we can sign him on a permanent basis.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

I'm going, but I'm not sure why. It would be a miracle if we got anything but heavy defeat. The ground is open to wind and rain (I got soaked last year) and the away end is 50 yards from the pitch because of the running track and the high jump pit. You can't see the far end as it's about 200 yards away! Anyway, at least we won't be going there ever again, as Albion are due to move to a new stadium next season and even if they don't, they will be in another league from us!

I correctly predicted our demise on Tuesday. I can't see any hope on Saturday. The teams are leagues apart in ability and form. Even if we nick a goal and defend like mad, they have a great record in scoring late and we often let in goals near the end.

I don't expect a win or even a draw, but I hope we can expect more of a battling display than we got on Tuesday. I predict a 2-1 defeat.

 

[Tartantranmere64]

Our recent away performances suggest that this one might be closer than some are fearing.

Obviously losing one or both our centre backs would be a blow, but the last thing we need is panic and wholeseale changes. Our tactics and performances away from home have been fine - we've not had much luck.

Brighton are clearly a good team, full of confidence, but they were mighty lucky to beat Carlisle last Saturday, a team of similar abilities to us.

The best thing everyone can do is put Tuesday out of our mind and try to replicate the Brentford, Posh, Exeter and Charlton games. Then it might - just might - be closer than we think...

 

[Ian]

I don't think Les will make as many changes as he suggests, mainly because he can't. We don't have that many players! I'd rather not see the likes of Wood, Akins and Morrow. They aren't as good as our usual XI.

Going to be a tough one this. Very tough, but we seem to be playing much better away from home, so a draw would be fantastic

 

[roverstillidie]

I wouldn't be surprised if Tranmere won, this is Tranmere after all...

 

[DIW]

We won't get a pasting because because we surely, surely can't be that crap again. Probabaly play better but lose 2-0 anyway.

Where the f**k did that optimism following the Sheffiled Wed game go?

 

[DIW]

They aren't as good as our usual XI.

And that, my friend, is a terrifying but true statement.

 

[SCooperSomersaults]

Still no Dale Jennings for the game. I'm beginning to forget what he looks like! Ian Goodison and Mark McChrystal are doubts too. It could be a very tricky encounter, especially without those 3 players should they all miss out.

I think Les said he's make changes cos he wouldn't accept that performance. I'd be surprised if he made more than one or two and that's including injury problems ruling out a couple of players.

I'm fearing the worst I'm afraid to say :-|

 

[Mal]

20th anniversary of John Aldridge's fiirst game (near enough) which was against Brighton (W2-0). So there's an incentive. Never knew what happened to the Tranmere fan who streaked onto the pitch that day and was escorted off with a police cap over his privates...

 

[roverstillidie]

Where the f**k did that optimism following the Sheffiled Wed game go?

2 points in 6 games might have something to do with it...

 

[DIW]

2 points in 6 games might have something to do with it...

I know that - the question was rhetorical. :roll:

 

[Mal]

Forever the optimist - the teams below us only gained a point maximum on us, and we still have a game in hand, even if it looks likely to be a loss looking at the run-in. Saving grace is that we play top-ish teams at PP for the most part so may perform better. All the teams below us also have tough games and play each other so hopefully the extra points we have will mean we only need to win 4 out of the remaining games. It seems we were unlucky at Brighton, although Goodison does seem to like handball in our penalty area, given or not....