Dpl v Col U and Blackpool

Rovers were far and away the better side until the sending off.
Their keeper made three top saves to keep it at 0-0 at the break.
Blairs first yellow was unjust not reckless.
He slipped when going into the tackle and he slid into the Blackpool player, a total accident.
The second yellow was probably justified which left the ref with no option but to send him off.
This was avoidable if he has been more aware of what was happening with the first tackle.
Poor refereeing.
After the sending off DF seemed happy to try and contain Blackpool no maybe nick a goal but be happy with a draw.
We rarely looked troubled and Marosi didn't actually have a lot to do.
The defence was solid and Wright in particular stood out.
ATS did ok Lanza but I was sad to hear some black bank di ck heads boo him on his first touch.
I actually though we would see the game out and secure the point.
What induced Baudry to try and punch the ball away for the first pen I will never understand.
There was no way they were going to score from that particular situation.
However they hit the post from the pen (did Marco get a slight touch to the ball?).
The second pen, straight away I knew the foul was outside the box.
Anyone in doubt should pause the Sky to highlights at the point of contact.
The touch is a couple of feet outside the box.
A shocking decision.
The ref actually did go and speak with the linesman who possibly said as much.
The ref then mysteriously pointed to the place on the pitch where the tackle was made but then stuck to his penalty decision.
Crazy.
Anyone who says that refs can't influence the results of games really should study this game.
I also don't understand why no Blackpool players were booked.
Marquis in particular was constantly held and had his shirt pulled throughout the match and their CB should have been booked early on for this and maybe it would have prevented more of the same.
Overall I thought we played very well despite all the changes.
First half we dominated and second half under different circumstances, we defended very well.

Perfect hound.
Just as i saw it.
Ats did do ok as well.

Very comprehensive Hound as always. Having watched a few League 1 matches recently - one today, but I won't bore you with the details - there is no doubt that Rovers are more combative in their style than most in League 1. I think that is a good thing because the only team that I have seen which has adopted a similar approach in L1 was Sheffield United!

Inevitably there is more contact which a lot of modern refs won't tolerate, but it shows desire to compete. I think it is the right track to be on and we just need to do it less clumsily.

When a team oversteps the mark with a stupid late or dangerous challenge it colours the ref's judgement for what follows and perhaps that is what we should avoid. Thoughtless unnecessary fouls early on have cost us yellow cards. In several matches our yellow cards : fouls ratio compared with the opposition bears this out.

Today 4 yellows 1 made red : 9 fouls :
Blackpool 0 yellows 10 fouls - QED!

This needs addressing; refs are not machines and whilst "bad decisions" may be the result of unreasonable prejudice on their part, we should not be fuelling their animosity unnecessarily.

Thanks for all the reports, especially the very detailed one by Hound. When I saw the result I was very depressed and wondered where had our shooting boots gone. I feel a little better now as once again luck and the referee appeared to be playing for Blackpool. I wonder what Fergie will say on Player. Plymouth certainly cut our goal advantage today!

Good interview with Joe Wright on Player; another intelligent young man!

On the first pen.Fergie said.......the ball possibly struck boudrys arm......?lol

The highlights show a good performance. Blair's first tackle looked more bookable than the second (which was hardly dangerous or reckless) and the Blackpool man almost seemed to be making HIS excuses to the ref. The pull-back on the second penalty began marginally outside the area, but the man did not come down until he was inside. Alcock knew he had done it by his reaction and was it really necessary?

We did not seem to have had the luck our play deserved and I suppose that's life.

The DFP (http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/doncaster-rovers-marquis-and-coppinger-in-pfa-team-of-the-year-but-should-there-be-more-1-8502552 )
tells us that there are only 2 Rovers player in the PFA L2 "Team of the Year" and imply that since Plymouth have 3 and Portsmouth have 2 this may not be fair.

I suppose Rowe might have a good case for inclusion, but another way of looking at it is that Rovers are not as dependent on individuals as others and that there is quality throughout.

Not surprisingly Carey of Plymouth who has been pivotal to their success this season is there and so is Bradley who is at the centre of their bus park as well as being a goal-scorer. And McCormick with his important saves must have kept them in numerous games.

Such individuals, like Hylton of Luton and Berry with his goals for Cambridge stand out completely because they are utterly indispensable for their clubs whereas the overall quality of Rovers makes individual talent beyond the two most obvious ones less notable.

I think I'd rather have our team than either Plymouth's or Portsmouth's (to whom DIckov lost Enda Stevens who probably deservedly is in the team) or any of the other also-rans!

....and that my friend is exactly how to put a positive spin on what some supporters are calling a snub to some of our other players.
Well done Don (which is your constituency by the way)?

It's all very blue down here. If you are of another persuasion it is hardly worth voting. The best hope is for a decent bloke as a Tory MP (which we did have and who was a golfer too!) but he's retired now. But don't get me going on politics.