When I remarked on us only having to play teams in the bottom half of the table apart from Luton, Sunderland and Coventry perhaps I should have referred to the Form Table. Looking at that the top end it is populated with nearly all the teams we have yet to play plus several of those who have taken points from us.
Luton have not been shining quite as brightly as some recently and the recent draw against Gillingham is less than you would expect, especially at home. Their only victories in the last month have been against Rochdale (2-0) and Bradford (0-1), so we confront them at what might be seen as a good time for us. Unfortunately, our form is currently 20th best in the league, so our hopes must rest on the belief that we have now recaptured what has been lost for about as long as Luton’s form has also dipped.
As committed supporters I think this must be our creed; a bad loss on Saturday would make us look worse than the 2 teams named above and even a narrow one might be a straw to grasp, but hardly proof of real proof of revival of form.
On the selection front it is sad, but inevitable to lose Mason, but McCann had got Lewis lined up to fill the gap and he does seem an exceptionally good find. He also has a very flexible approach to management and the team reflect this in their composition and their willingness to adapt. It should breed the confidence to pull together and minimise any feeling of disadvantage. We can no longer hope that Whiteman will be available and there is now an unnamed other, but Crawford is becoming more effective and perhaps Rowe (unless he is the second casualty) will be showing the strength and determination that defined his game before his injury.
To get where we want to now will require both application and ability in abundance. Suffused too with non physical therapy let us hope that they can show it with a win at Luton by delivering both the performance and its reward which we deserved in the first half against Barnsle;, then we will be well set.
Thus far, in the opinion of the manager his team have played well against the best opponents, but the results have not been real headliners; beating Luton earlier in the season was when we were above them in the table, so was unremarkable. It is therefore time that they produced a headline.
I’ll say 2-1 to us (Marquis/Wilks) with 10,000 spectators.
DPL vs Luton Town
posted on 23/3/19
1-1crawford/Rowe/marquis 10256
posted on 23/3/19
Like most of you, I think the best we could hope for is a draw, but our winless and their unbeaten streaks have to end sometime. So, Luton 1 Rovers 2, Marquis to score (it's about time!), and their biggest gate of the season of 10,099
posted on 23/3/19
3.1 defeat, Blair to score, crowd 10543.
Reverse psychology again 👍
posted on 23/3/19
Hatters 2-1 Rovers
Marquis to score
Crowd 9,876
posted on 23/3/19
1-1, crawford, 9926 crowd
ps - live coverage on radio sheffield
posted on 23/3/19
With that performance they must have thought they were still on their spa break
posted on 23/3/19
Were we really that bad, or is it that Luton were so good? It could well have been 10-0 with the chances they had. Luton were in a different league as it looks as though they will be next season!
Actually, we were poor - the worst I've watched this season. Passing was awful - either inaccurate, or the Rovers' player waiting and not moving to the ball so Luton intercepted. They totally controlled midfield, and too many clearances from defence went nowhere or straight to a Luton player.
I can't think of a Rovers' player that had a good game, although the 16 year old showed some composure and maturity - it was a pity his mistake resulted in a goal late the end. If Whiteman is not fit for Tuesday, will McCann have the guts to start the "kid"?
Although Marquis did not get much service, McCan should have the guts to take him off as he was having a dreadful game. About the only time he controlled the ball well he just shot tamely straight at their GK. If he had made it 1-0, it might have been a totally different game. What has gone wrong with him since the two million pound offer?
We have to win on Tuesday, and I've no idea what GM will do to change our awful run. As I said earlier, remember the 17 game run!
posted on 23/3/19
Worse Rovers performance for a long time. Symbolic and £26 to watch us roll over like we did is embarrassing.
posted on 24/3/19
Thanks Micky.
In advance of the match I said “(Luton’s) only victories in the last month have been against Rochdale (2-0) and Bradford (0-1), so we confront them at what might be seen as a good time for us. Unfortunately, our form is currently 20th best in the league, so our hopes must rest on the belief that we have now recaptured what has been lost for about as long as Luton’s form has dipped.” And “a bad loss on Saturday would make us look worse than the 2 teams named above and even a narrow one might be a straw to grasp, but hardly proof of real proof of revival of form.”
All I can say is that perhaps Luton have done their recapturing and we have maintained inconsistency if that is not a contradiction in terms.
There is every indication that we are in for yet another late-season collapse.
posted on 24/3/19
The crowd points were good, but we knew it was a home sell-out. The pessimists scored well, but even they did not envisage quite an extreme outcome.
Luton T 4 : Rovers 0 (10071)
>>>>>>>> Crowd > Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 5 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 5 >>> 152 >>> 157
PDXMickey> 5 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 5 >>> 143 >>> 148
Yorks Lad>> 5 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 8 >>> 156 >>> 164
BVZ>>>>>>> 1 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>> 140 >>> 144
Crazy>>>>>> 2 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 2 >>> 150 >>> 152
Uthred>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>> 147 >>> 151
Mooligan>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>> 169 >>> 176
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 86 >>>> 86
Small Azza> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 3
Stantonrover 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0
Azza>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 99 >>>> 99
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>> 156 >>> 156
Selby>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>> 67 >>>> 71
Lanza>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 94 >>>> 97
>>>>>>>>>> 30 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 12 >>>>> 0 >>>> 42 >> 1562 >>> 1604