It isn’t looking good on the injury front and we will have to hope that soon McCullough and Kiwomya go some way to filling the spaces left vacant by Butler and Ben Khemis. But obviously not tonight.
The official Scunthorpe history of the fixture has erased the 0-3 loss in the cup; the last encounter on their records was their 1-0 victory. Their disappointing 1-3 home loss versus Gillingham although not similarly expunged has been discounted as a one-off and they seem to regard themselves as favourites despite the fact that their recent form has not been good.
In fact our away form in the last four has been better than theirs at home.
But on a similar basis I forecasted that we would beat Rochdale, but I can’t be wrong all the time; perhaps I could still be wrong again though.
DF recognises what seemed clear to me last season (after watching Sheffield United and Scunthorpe throw themselves into combat) that success in this league needs to be founded on 100% endeavour, the sort of effort we showed in the 2nd half last week and in the 2nd half against MK Dons. We know that Scunthorpe have shown their capability to repeat this again this season and so instead of 45 we need 90-minutes’ worth of the same thing tonight.
We must hope then that we can carry forward what we have been doing recently, sustain it for a full match and give ourselves the real boost that will blast us up into that top 6 before Easter.
A 3-2 win then, with Marquis at last hitting the back of the net before an assembled 5500.
DPL - Scunthorpe United
posted on 23/1/18
Finally we are getting some luck as that was one very lucky point! Rovers were so bad in the first half I seriously thought about not watching the second half. Of the games I've seen, that had to be Lawlor's worst performance, and it was not just the goal. With a new back line some mis-communication could be expected and hence did not help him. However it was the missed crosses (what about the one that went through his hands for a corner!), some poor punching and kicking. I got to the point of thinking please do not pass back again.
After being little involved in that fiasco of a goal, I thought Joe Wright saved us many times. He had blocks and late tackles, and his conservative play of playing safely into touch released pressure at times.
Many refs would have given The Iron a penalty when Lawlor and their forward tumbled. If it had been their GK and Marquis many of us would have screamed penalty.
In the end, just like against Shrewsbury, we could have nicked it in the last ten minutes. Thank you Alfie for that wonderful header.
posted on 24/1/18
Baudry played the first poor back pass to Lawlor in the first couple of minutes, leaving it short and causing him to rush out and kick clear.
That seemed to be the tone of the game for him from then on.
On their goal, if you look at the highlights, there is a foul on Wright.
Hopper does a two handed push into his back and shoves him towards Lawlor.
Maybe that is what put Lawlor off, however it was a howler of epic proportions.
He did make two or three really good saves as well to redeem himself.
The game changed when Garrett came on and Rowe went further up the pitch.
After that we looked good for the last twenty five minutes or so and I thought we deserved to score.
We continued probing instead of resorting to punting long balls into their box.
I heard a few people moaning about our corners.
The two away points are terrific this week and it extends our unbeaten run to eight league matches but it is strange to say that a win and a defeat would probably have been better, three points instead of two.
posted on 24/1/18
Optimistic, Hound; thanks for your report. I held back on posting my thoughts last night, so you can imagine what they were like!
I'll hold fire until I've seen a bit more of the highlights.
posted on 24/1/18
It was the worse performance in a long time.
Not going to talk about lawlor no point its been covered.
If bishop was to be carded it should have been red.
The ref should have booked several of their players inc the diving cheat after lawlor missed another kick.
Blair was awful nothing less.He was my player of season last year .
Hound you are correct it was baudry who made the bad pass back but it was Wright who made the wrong pass to baudry to put him under needless pressure.
Wright went on to have a spendid game.
I thought mason was our best player till.he went off.
Garret was really good for the time he was on pitch great cross for the goal.
Alcock did so well also.Considering he hasn't played in ages he was strong and positive.
26 did he usual twisty jinky things but little else.
Whiteman did ok and perhaps should have done better with his 2 chances.
Houghton did ok but thats all.
Marquis did his usual stuff maybe could have had a shot on 1 occasion when he dwelled on the ball.
Beestin average at best first half wonderful second half.
Tommy Rowe did well in defence and in attack although he also had a chance to shoot and didnt and could have crossed better but all in all played well.
posted on 25/1/18
Hound, after watching the highlights, that was some push on Wright. Watching the game live it is easy to miss such things (especially as there are no replays like we get watching the Premier League) and makes you appreciate the job refs have.
To me Wright was my MoM, but Garret did impress somewhat after he came on. I agree with Lanza that Beestin was not very good in the first half, but then was very good - his goal was well taken and nearly got my MoM.
Alcock was surprisingly good one he settled in considering he has hardly played this season.
I'm a fan of Whiteman, but he should have done better with the two chances he had.
Hound had a good comment about a win and loss would have given us more points, but draws away at #2 and #4 in the division is not at all bad!
RTID
posted on 26/1/18
Whilst Lawlor can continue to make impressive reaction saves no doubt he will keep his place and his dedicated supporters will find others to blame for his shortcomings. If I were Marosi I would look for club that expects their goalkeeper to be able to leave his goal-line and actually clear the ball by catching it, or punching it away decisively, to deal competently with routine back-passes and make more than a late token effort to save long-range shots.
Despite much to grumble about, it was a great second half fight-back again as Scunthorpe’s self-belief wavered and their nerves took over. Their considerable and worrying superiority as what I suppose we need to say, rivals for promotion, failed to produce the goals that time and again seemed inevitably their due, and somehow we escaped. Their individual talent was as impressive as seen by me in any L1 team we have met. It is to their great credit as such a small club to have assembled such skilful players.
Beestin is potentially the best player we have had at the club for a long time and I wonder if he might be the catalyst to reignite Mandeville’s talent. Although perhaps similar in attributes, could they work together perhaps? We seem to be short on invention in attack and these two might well combine to provide it.
Whilst Lawlor can continue to make impressive reaction saves no doubt he will keep his place and his dedicated supporters will find others to blame for his shortcomings. If I were Marosi I would look for club that expects their goalkeeper to be able to leave his goal-line and actually clear the ball by catching it, or punching it away decisively, to deal competently with routine back-passes and make more than a late token effort to save long-range shots.
So after this very brief introduction here is the DPL. Uthred underlined his command of the crystal ball with a stunning 9 points. Small Azza was referred to the 1-man Dubious Prediction Timing Panel and the late prediction was allowed on account of the fact that we were already losing 1--0 when the prediction of 0-0 was made. The crowd prediction might have been made on the basis of an on-the-spot observation of those present, but the Panel came to the conclusion that if Small Azza had forgotten that we were playing it would be a most unlikely coincidence that he/she happened to be present at Glanford Park.
Scunthorpe 1 : Rovers 1 (Beestin) 5193
………………..….Crowd Scorer Score Result Bonus Total Pts B/F Cumltve
Donaldo ………… 2 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 2 ……. 104 ……. 106
PDXMickey ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 124 ……. 124
Yorks Lad …….. 5 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 5 ……. 76 ……… 81
BVZ. ……..…….. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 92 ……… 95
Crazy …….……… 2 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 2 ……. 85 ……… 87
Uthred …….…… 3 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 3 ……. 0 ……. 9 ……. 115 ……. 124
Mooligan …..…. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 99 ……. 99
King Chmprr …. 0 …… 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 58 ……… 58
Small Azza ……. 5 …… 0 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 0 ……. 8 ……. 77 ……. 85
Aussie Lad. ……. 0 …… 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 …… 0 …….. 5 ……… 5
Azza ……..…..… 4 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 0 ……. 7 ……. 79 ….. 86
Cheltenham …. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……… 0
Nookie ……….… 0 ……. 3 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 34 ….…… 37
Selby …….……… 0 ……. 3 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 …... 3 ……. 85 ……… 88
Lanza …….….. 0 …….. 0 ……. 0 …… 0 ……. 0 ..…... 0 ……. 13 ……… 13
……………..……. 21 …….. 6 ……. 3 ….. 12 ……. 0 …... 42 … 1046 ….. 1088
posted on 26/1/18
Great analysis but I think I got both the score and result right plus not too far off on the crowd?
posted on 26/1/18
You did Nookie and I realised it about the same time as you did, so I reviewed it all and found others wrong, so here it is again with my apologies to Mooligan and Selby too.
I should add my congratulations to Nookie too for being top scorer as well as for his support for my views which I suspect may not be shared by all.
Scunthorpe 1 : Rovers 1 (Beestin) 5193
………………..….Crowd Scorer Score Result Bonus Total Pts B/F Cumltve
Donaldo ………… 2 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 2 ……. 104 ……. 106
PDXMickey ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 124 ……. 124
Yorks Lad …….. 5 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 5 ……. 76 ……… 81
BVZ. ……..…….. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 92 ……… 95
Crazy …….……… 2 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 2 ……. 85 ……… 87
Uthred …….…… 3 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 3 ……. 0 ……. 9 ……. 115 ……. 124
Mooligan …..…. 2 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 2 ……. 99 ……. 101
King Chmprr …. 0 …… 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 58 ……… 58
Small Azza ……. 5 …… 0 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 0...... 8 ……. 77 ……. 85
Aussie Lad. ……. 0 …… 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 …… 0 …….. 5 ……… 5
Azza ……..…..… 4 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 0 ……. 7 ……. 79 ….. 86
Cheltenham …. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……… 0
Nookie ……….… 4 ……. 0 ……. 3 ……. 3 ……. 0 ……. 10 ……. 34 ….…… 44
Selby …….……… 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 ……. 0 …... 0 ……. 85 ……… 85
Lanza …….….. 0 …….. 0 ……. 0 …… 0 ……. 0 ..…... 0 ……. 13 ……… 13
……………..……. 27 …….. 0 ……. 6 ….. 15 ……. 0 …... 48 … 1046 ….. 1094
posted on 26/1/18
Don re lawlor /marosi you sound like baby lanza
She said he is paid to make saves not paid to make repeated errors.
Scuni at times were very impressive.
From defence to attack in 4 or 5 quick passes not kick n rush
posted on 26/1/18
I thought Marosi developed into a decent keeper last season until his injury. Though I guess DF will stick with Lawlor unless he has another nightmare.