League Two Rovers v Bluebirds

[Sparky]

Well if tomorrow’s game goes ahead it’s a chance for rovers to move into the top three. Despite a recent FA Cup win at home to Nors Ipswich, the bluebirds have won only one out of their last 10 league games. Although Mark Ellis has been warming the bench of late, Ollie Banks is their top scorer with 7 league goals albeit quite a few penalties. Hopefully he gets a good reception. Other notable players include ex rovers youngster Mike Jones and ex loanee Josh Kay. Their manager of course is the marmite character Mark Cooper

I love Boxing Day games but just hope our side won’t be too depleted which could even things up. Although I’m guessing the visitors may also be missing players. Hopefully a decent attendance and 3 points

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Yes, Sparky, tomorrow’s team is likely to have a random look about it. So hopefully our squad players are better than theirs. Personally, I’d like us to play as many games as possible and get points in the bag before crowds are banned and/or most games get called off.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

As Sparky says, it is a fantastic opportunity for us to enter the automatic places, and also get within two points of Northampton in second place, which would have seemed inconceivable a few weeks ago.

I would imagine there will be one further round of testing tomorrow morning, which we will hopefully come through unscathed. I would also hope that the minimum of four players infected are fringe squad members, rather than Clarke, Morris, Hawkes and co.

 

[Boz]

Mark Cooper made things difficult for us when at Forest Green and even without the injuries suspensions and covid absences, think this would be a testing game. Waiting to see who the covid absentees are, as we can manage better in some areas than others. Anything could happen…

 

[Sparky]

Carlisles game called off yesterday evening so at present only 3 league two games going ahead out of 12.....

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Josh Hawkes is pictured on the Twitter preview thread, so at least he seems to be available.

 

[Sparky]

The club have tweeted 15 mins ago that they are wearing the away kit today. Hopefully that means all the days test results are in and we’re good to go

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Not too many missing. We have virtually a full first team. JDC, Jolley and McManaman are the main absentees.

 

[Sparky]

No excuses as a decent line up. A good opportunity for Maynard

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

1-0 Maynard!

 

[bigmart]

Not too many missing. We have virtually a full first team. JDC, Jolley and McManaman are the main absentees.

Glatzel, knight-percival also missing

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Why do we never get that second goal to kill a game off?

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Why do we never get that second goal to kill a game off?

Well, for once we did.

I look forward to reading the reports.

Incidentally, Keith Hill’s Scunthorpe came back from a goal down to win his first game at Oldham, who replace them at the bottom of the table. Our next opponents Hartlepool lost 3-2 at Mansfield, having been 2-0 up.

 

[Ian]

Not the prettiest of games and a tad scrappy at times but we got the job done. Lovely goal by Maynard (hope he’s ok) and a Morris special to kill off the game.

Barrow huffed and puffed but they had very little quality up front and our defence did a good job keeping them at bay with our keeper have little to do all game.

Up to 3rd as the momentum keeps building. Good Xmas for Rovers, let’s keep it going.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

A really professional performance and another great result.

I did not think we were fantastic with the ball today. We went long to the strikers too often and turned possession over too quickly at times. Barrow controlled the ball for long periods, although this was in part down to their having a spare man in midfield (similar to Orient last week). However, we worked incredibly hard out of possession, and pressed very well as a team, and I don't think Doohan actually had a difficult save to make all game.

We produced the moments of quality when it mattered and deserved the victory: a brilliant through ball by Spearing for the first goal, and Maynard doing what he has done his whole career with a calm finish; great work by Nevitt and a smart strike by Morris for the second.

I did not strongly disagree with the sponsor's choice of Spearing as man of the match, but I would have gone for Kieron Morris who was great again. Maynard's injury could not have come at a worse time for him, as he would surely have been given an extended run in the side now. The injury looked very nasty, a potential break initially, so hopefully he is not out for an extended period.

Hartlepool played and lost today, so Wednesday night could give us another opportunity to improve an already healthy league position. Onwards and upwards.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Incidentally, Keith Hill’s Scunthorpe came back from a goal down to win his first game at Oldham, who replace them at the bottom of the table.

Their first win in about ten matches I think.

 

[drwhoman]

A great result! Who would have thought a few weeks ago?! Unfortunate that Jolley, who I think triggered the revival upfront, now seemingly has Covid. A shame.

 

[ONIGP]

Enjoyable game. Not a massive amount of difference between the teams with 2 quality strikes and a tighter defence deciding it. A tough game but I completely (and totally without bias, of course) disagreed with all three of our yellows. Onwards and upwards!

 

[bigmart]

We were far from convincing and gave the ball away too often today but managed to limit them to not too many chances.
2 good goals, and hopefully Maynards injury not too bad it appeared to be to his ankle. We may have to play 1 up front on Wednesday.
Upto 3rd in the table after 5 wins on the bounce, decent business in January and we could be in a strong position for the second half of the seas

 

[aldoes mustache]

it's, good that all the forwards have got goals in the last few games, oh that mani guy who is a so-called striker is the only one who can,t score