Dpl v Accrington

There were some visitors from Notts Forest in the seats behind us who couldn't believe that May had been playing at Hythe. Despite his size he gave the AS defence a whole lot more problems than Williams, who just looks lost. Rowe did indeed miss a sitter but I actually fancied him for MoM, although I am a huge Blair fan, as he ran their left side ragged in the second half. Coppinger does some good stuff but now takes too long to pass, cross or shoot. Middleton is nowhere good as Houghton and I can't see why Ferguson rates Grant so highly. We have a soft centre and to win this league we have to toughen up. All highly subjective judgments of course!

Agree with most comments. We did look a little lost and cluttered in midfield. Very little width to our play which suited them. Definitely outmuscled a lot of the time.Taking off May and Copps did seem to lose us impetus at the wrong time as we seemed to be creating more gaps at the time. Their first goal inexcuseably sloppy, from losing possession unnecessarily and through the back 3 or 4 unchallenged. Nobody seemed to know what the system was to start with. I like Alfie. What he lacks in height and weight he certainly makes up for in energy and persistence. Whilst he did miss a great chance he certainly kept their defence occupied allowing Marquis and Rowe more space. Copps a little off the pace towards the end but probably should have stayed on a little longer. Descended into hoof ball towards the end.

Agree about Grant albie, he isn't as influential as I was hoping he would be.
I also fancied Rowe as MoM.
Nookie, I also like Alfie and he does look like he will be a very good player for us but I thought he struggled to have a major impact on the game today.

Well yet again it turned out to be men against boys. Shocking waste of 3 glorious chances missed, bullied out if game, nearly lost it too.
Took a mate from work who's a big man u fan. Been allover Europe watching them.
His take on the game. By far the best footballing team but have no guts. Lost the fight in midfield, said they'd get an equaliser as it gives the other team confidence when you keep missing chances. The lad May looks to be a really good player once he gets used to the physical battles ahead. Thought Grant Rowe just seemed to be going through the motions and not going all out. Didn't think the back line looked comfortable, to one sided as Alcock kept having to clear from both sides of the pitch. Copps is still a very good player but has lost a lot of his ability to beat players like last season. He said we'll go up but could get pipped to be champions as some players seem to be dropping their heads when we should be fighting to get 3pts. Said we don't have any stand out leaders to get the players over the line and need someone who's willing to get a booking or two by sticking his foot in instead of backing off letting them win the battle in the middle of the pitch.

Which could some up our last few games.

Hound .
Baby lanza went to Exactly the same game as you.
Same remarks re Middleton and May.
A little more scathing about a certain other players
Performance.

3 pens?

The trip on Copps just before half time was outside the box but incredibly the ref didn't even give a foul.
I thought Rowe did go down easily on his but there was definitely a pull on his arm and I thought he had the right to go down.
It was a foul and therefore was a pen.
The ref awarded a free kick in a shooting position in the first half to Accy when one of their players went down in similar circumstances.
The third one was a 50/50 and TBH I am not sure about it.

Baby lanza sed the Rowe one was a cert also

The highlights programme on channel 5 are really poor. I'm sure the rovers own highlights will be better for people too see.

We had a great opportunity at 1-1 in the first half by Copps I think when put through 1 on 1 just failed to lift the ball above the keeper and instead hit it at him that was a big chance.

Then into the 2nd half a great cross from the left for Williams but he headed wide another great chance.

Finally the 3rd one from Rowe was the easiest of the lot. The keeper had already committed to one side and Rowe pulled it wide to the keepers other side. Couldn't belive he'd missed!

It's. clear to see that everything we do is linked in and around Copps. He has such a massive influence on this team. Yes he might not be quick but his touch and thinking had already got him a yard over players in this league. Rowe too showed what he's about driving through the midfield linking in with Marquis and the wings. I have been disappointed in Grant this month. Not sure if he has a niggle or something but not usually his dominant spraying ball type player we've seen previous.

Agree with Baudry dilly dally ingredients. However I belive if fit he has to start. He clearly is our best defender and certainly if playing would have kept up with the Stanley midfielder who slotted in for the first. Butler and Alcock got out muscled a lot yesterday and neither are blessed with any true pace. Mason is just a hoofer but did what he had to do yesterday. Blair for all his pace we don't see it often and getting to the by line and putting in a DECENT cross. Middleton is no Houghton but he will improve with more games. May did well and Marquis played better than he had previously and scored a good goal. I've no problem with us getting promotion as when we slip up no one is taking the opportunity to catch us. We should be about 8 points clear of Plymouth alone now with the games we've thrown points away recently but it's another game chalked off to getting promotion. I'd be unhappy if we weren't making changes and getting battered but it's far from it.

I would like to think we will win our next couple of games though to show we aren't bottling this and potentially end up similar to last season where we don't win for months! I see it as 1 defeat in 14 rather than no win in 5, onwards and upwards

According to the Free Press, McCullough could be back before the end of the season. He's apparently way ahead of his expected tecovery schedule.