DPL v Crewe Alexandra

Let's hope we don't hit the buffers again against the other Railwaymen. We need our youngsters to deliver the goods and not be passengers. We've been fortunate that the dropped points in our last two games haven't signalled a stop to our auto promotion hopes. Let's hope this game is a platform for our express return to League 1. 2-0 to Rovers with Street to derail them.

Excellent Nookie. Crewe have always seemed to get the better of us when it matters and it always seems unfair. In recent games they have been very erratic in their endeavours and have failed against teams who you would regard as weaker than Rovers. They always seem to rise to the occasion against us and having actually been at the Ecopower for the home fixture I cannot pretend that they were not worth the draw.

Looking at their last 10 results they have won only 2 and they were back-to-back, two matches ago amongst a sequence of losses and draws. If there is a pattern they do seem to crumble if they do go behind, conceding 3 or even 4 goals. And they have lost to some sides you’d expect them to beat.

I have deliberately avoided commenting on Rovers because they are both unpredictable and seemingly weak in responding to adversity, not exactly the sort of comrades you’d choose to accompany you into battle although their record of breaking the rules by illegal means and having to depart the contest is noteworthy.

You would imagine that some kind of law of probability would mean that we would begin to hit the target soon, but as Micky might remember, DGS’s headmaster in my time and his early years there, Dr Best, always reprimanded anyone who suggested that there was a “Law of Averages”!

I’ll go against all that is sensible and say we’ll win 3-0 with Street the first goal scorer or Molyneux as second choice.

Another game that I will not be up for the kick-off - if it was a play-off final I might get up before "sparrows". More games later on being moved, but at least the one moved because of call-ups will be lunchtime here.
It seems all Rovers' games are difficult to predict, but this is worse not knowing if our centre-backs are fit enough to play.
I'll say 1-2 to the Rovers, and also will join the Street bandwagon, with Mols if Street does not start for some reason.
I'd like to see Ennis get some playing time.

I'll say an optimistic 2-1 to Rovers. Street with the first.

Crewe 1-3 Rovers
Street to score ⚽

That was level from crossing.

I'm sure that previous successful seasons (of which this must count as one) have brought far more pleasure in the manner of our performances. Is it because L2 teams try to play in a style that can only be attractive if the skill levels are higher or is football at this level stripped of the talent that used to there? When there are surplus players at L1 mid-table (12th) Lincoln City (Adelukan) that stand out at our level and there are players like Lincoln's Street who is well worth his place in front of our own players it suggests that this is the case.

Yesterday there was no one performing the role of the wing-backs without Maxwell and Sterry. Bailey apart, the midfield was absent and the two wide defenders stayed back. Not until Kelly came on did anyone attempt to carry the ball up through the middle. Broadbent and Senior may be just about OK on a good day for some people in this league, but I can't see that they will be adequate in L1.

The manager picked the starting team yesterday and a lot of them seemed to think that kicking the ball upfield and hoping it might find someone who has had the sense to find some space would do. It won't and even if, somehow, we do get promoted playing like this we'll no last long at the higher level.

Watching Rovers at the moment is a cruel sport.

If you think watching Rovers at the moment isn't enjoyable thank yourself lucky you're not a Welsh rugby fan! I actually felt sorry for all my Welsh pals!😂

I actually spoke to one of my friends who is a rugby fan and he did not seem to recognise how fundamental to the Welsh nation rugby is. Some of them have perhaps only taken an interest relatively recently whereas when there wasn't much other live sport to watch on the TV we got a lot of rugby. Barry John kicking for touch and the dependable JPR at full back. It probably wasn't as exciting in those days, but the Welsh were invincible back then weren't they?

My most fervent Welsh rugby following friend died before their current slump which was perhaps a blessing. His wife, who survived him was so emotionally involved that she could not actually watch matches; it was as though they were taking penalties for 80 minutes!

So yes I understand; Wales must be an unhappy country right now.

Here are the latest DPL results with a fairly even distribution of points, but Micky still leading Mooli by 9 which is a slight reduction in the lead before this series. Some of us have picked up points by our faith in Street and his presence has made a difference.

Rovers 1 (Street) : Grimsby T 2
>>>>>>> Scorer >> Score >> Result > Bonus > Total > Pts B/F >>> O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 67 >>>>>> 67
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 127 >>>>>> 127
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 70 >>>>>> 70
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 114 >>>>>> 114
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 66 >>>>>> 66
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 444 >>>>>> 444

Morecambe 0 : Rovers 1 (Street)
>>>>>>> Scorer >> Score >> Result > Bonus > Total > Pts B/F >>> O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 67 >>>>>> 70
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 127 >>>>>> 130
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 70 >>>>>> 73
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 114 >>>>>> 117
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 66 >>>>>> 66
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>>> 444 >>>>>> 456

Accrington Stanley 1 - Rovers 2 (Clifton)
>>>>>>> Scorer >> Score >> Result > Bonus > Total > Pts B/F >>> O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 70 >>>>>> 70
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 130 >>>>>> 137
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 73 >>>>>> 80
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 117 >>>>>> 120
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 66 >>>>>> 66
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 8 >>>>> 9 >>>> 0 >>>>> 17 >>>>> 456 >>>>>> 473

Rovers 3 (Street) : Newport C 0
>>>>>>> Scorer >> Score >> Result > Bonus > Total > Pts B/F >>> O/all
Donaldo>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 70 >>>>>> 77
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 137 >>>>>> 140
Crazy>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 80 >>>>>> 87
Mooligan>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 120 >>>>>> 127
Nookie>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 66 >>>>>> 73
>>>>>>>>> 16 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 15 >>>> 0 >>>>> 31 >>>>> 473 >>>>>> 504

Bromley 1 : Rovers 0
>>>>>>> Scorer >> Score >> Result > Bonus > Total > Pts B/F >>> O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 77 >>>>>> 77
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 140 >>>>>> 140
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 87 >>>>>> 87
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 127 >>>>>> 127
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 73 >>>>>> 73
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 504 >>>>>> 504

Rovers 2 (Street) : Swindon T 2
>>>>>>> Scorer >> Score >> Result > Bonus > Total > Pts B/F >>> O/all
Donaldo>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 77 >>>>>> 81
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 140 >>>>>> 140
Crazy>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 87 >>>>>> 91
Mooligan>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 127 >>>>>> 131
Nookie>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 73 >>>>>> 77
>>>>>>>>> 16 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 16 >>>>> 504 >>>>>> 520

Crewe A 1 : Rovers 1 (Bailey)
>>>>>>> Scorer >> Score >> Result > Bonus > Total > Pts B/F >>> O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 81 >>>>>> 81
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 140 >>>>>> 140
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 91 >>>>>> 91
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 131 >>>>>> 131
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 77 >>>>>> 77
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 520 >>>>>> 520