Just like last season’s final game, this is a contest with promotion-related issues firmly attached. Coventry have been more consistent than Rovers and have won their last two league away matches 4-1, one at Tranmere and the other very impressively at Wycombe. We may feel confident, but so will they.
As far as I know, none of their players have departed in the January window - yet, but some seem under scrutiny by other clubs and could go.
One of their best loanees Callum O’Hare is confirmed as staying, but I don’t think they have brought anyone in.
Rover’s home league form is more or less the same in terms of points as Coventry’s away from home, although Coventry last played away in the league on 1 January. Interestingly they could only draw at Bristol Rovers in the Cup, so our win there is a direct comparator. It will also be interesting to compare Dieng with Marosi.
It will be close and a win gives us the potential to overtake them and there are grounds for believing that we have it in us to overcome them.
I see that Pukki, Norwich's main striker, is fit again which may improve our chances of getting Adam Idah on loan.
I’ll opt for 2-1 to us (Ennis/Anderson)
DPL vs Coventry City
posted on 18/1/20
2 nil victory, Copps first goal.
posted on 19/1/20
As usual, our defence played well, but we have that problem when a team really packs the defence, we do not seem have the skill to create the great chances.
As far as what I thought abut players, Dieng had little to do, but I think he should have done better with the goal. He seemed from iFollow to have good view, and if anything, seemed to dive too early. I know from one view it is difficult to make an accurate assessment, but from someone who played GK many moons ago, that is my thoughts. One report said it was a thunderbolt, but it was not, an another said it was unstoppable - which from my previous comments you know what I think!
Sheaf, after a great game at Bristol, was back to his normal inconsistent game - some great work, and then some stupid passes.
Ennis had, to me, a poor game. He worked hard, but was bundled off the ball l too easily, or gave away a foul. However, we should have got a penalty when he has almost rugby tackled to the ground.
To me, Bingham does not offer what we require, I'm sure DM is only hanging on to him to the last minute in case we do not sign a striker.
The other players were mainly "average" over there normal performance, but if I had been DM, I'd have brought on Watters or Blair.
posted on 19/1/20
Thanks PDX
posted on 19/1/20
Thanks Micky. The extended highlights showed that Rovers played some fine flowing football in the second half but shooting was all rather long range. No one seemed to get into Marquis territory - the 6 yard box.
posted on 19/1/20
Big win away at Peterborough.
Great win at Bristol.
Hmmm?
posted on 19/1/20
Enobakhare was an outstanding Wolves loanee who played up front for Coventry last season and got their "Young Player of the year" award and has just returned from a loan at Wigan which apparently was "unsuccessful".
With our connections with Wolves, perhaps he might be available? But, then again, he might just prefer Coventry who are no doubt already on his trail.
posted on 21/1/20
We sat there listening to someone going on and on about how we are so slow at getting it forward compared to them. So we started counting the passes from our keeper to when we get into striking range, interestingly we were averaging 12/15 passes to get near their area, well around 25yrds out. They on the other hand were averaging around 4/5, just like their goal and the one that hit the post, 3 or 4 quick passes took out 6 or 7 of our players.
Another thing what we are seeing every week, is the other teams seem to have sussed us out. Let us take a goal kick, then push up on our full backs and have one man, or two in Coventrys case, push on our CBs. Thus it gets booted up field to our striker who can't jump to save his life. So get the ball straight back.
Difference is when other teams play out from the back, we let them. The big thing what stood out for me is Halliday is spending more time as a centre half than covering his side of the pitch, he does get targeted by other teams as he spends far to much time ball watching. A new pole has been put up on social media saying he has the 2nd most in the whole league, that's because other teams spend most of the attacks down their left hand side.
Let's hope we can sort it out before we play sunlund.
posted on 22/1/20
BVZ: Are you saying Halliday spent more time than anyone else "ball-watching"? This is an odd stat; when I have seen him he seems a useful defender usually operating on the right. What is happening in the centre of defence if he sees the need to cover?
As far as Humphrys is concerned, local opinion is not enormously favourable and he may be "for sale" because he could be out of contract in May.
With 3 Championship clubs aiming to sign Ben Whiteman, we could end up weaker at the end of this window unless the club starts to display some ambition.
I know it's an old theme of mine, but Dickov never seemed to do any transfer business until everyone else had finished and the cupboard was bare. Presumably because he or the club were unwilling to pay the market price for the best players. McCann and Ferguson got on with it, but it does look rather like we are not serious customers for new talent. The market has surely closed on the best players that are likely to be available, unless of course we have a genuine first refusal on Idah.
posted on 23/1/20
I think we need to judge DM's transfer dealings at the end of the summer. His feet will be well and truly under the table by then and the club will need to back him. This month it's clear that we need to and are looking to sign players but no point unless they're better than what we have. I am hoping that Idah remains available and that we get him. Looks like a genuinely exciting prospect.
posted on 23/1/20
Sorry for the delay in putting these out. There were not many 4-pointers, but Small Azza and Lanza managed one each and Uthred stood out for a loss forecasted against Coventry.
Rovers 2 (Ennis) : Shrewsbury 0
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 53 >>>> 53
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 46 >>>> 46
Yorks Lad>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 49 >>>> 52
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 19 >>>>>> 22
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 33 >>>> 36
Uthred>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 37 >>>> 37
Mooligan>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 48 >>>> 51
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0
Small Azza> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 29 >>>> 36
Azza>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 11 >>>>> 11
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 74 >>>> 77
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Lanza>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 38 >>>> 42
>>>>>>>>>> 4 >>>>> 4 >>>> 18 >>>>> 0 >>>> 26 >>>> 437 >>> 463
Bristol R 0 : Rovers 2 (Whiteman)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 53 >>>> 53
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 46 >>>> 49
Yorks Lad>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 52 >>>> 55
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 22 >>>>>> 25
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 36 >>>> 39
Uthred>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 37 >>>> 37
Mooligan>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 51 >>>> 54
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0
Small Azza> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 36 >>>> 36
Azza>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 11 >>>>> 11
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 77 >>>> 80
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Lanza>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 42 >>>> 42
>>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >> 18 >>>>> 0 >>>> 18 >>>> 463 >>> 481
Rovers 0 : Coventry City 1
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 53 >>>> 53
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 49 >>>> 49
Yorks Lad>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 55 >>>> 55
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 25 >>>>>> 25
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 39 >>>> 39
Uthred>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 37 >>>> 40
Mooligan>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 54 >>>> 54
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0
Small Azza> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 36 >>>> 36
Azza>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 11 >>>>> 11
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 80 >>>> 80
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Lanza>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 42 >>>> 42
>>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>> 481 >>> 484