Yes Tuesdays performance was very poor. I lay most of the blame firmly at ABs door. Lets hope he learns from this. Saturday should see us back to winning ways but ive a sneaky feeling it might not work out that way. These are games we should win if we are to fulfill our promotion potential. Im hoping for a win but Ill go draw 1-1 , Richards, Oke.

I'll go again with 2-1 to the Rovers although none of us know what the team will be. With Bostock definitely missing for this game, James and Bogle more likely to miss than play, and Okenabirhie touch and go, it could be a disaster! A great chance for #26 to show his youthfulness and score the first. If he does not start, I'll go for Sims.

I'll go 2-1 to us. Anderson with the first.

1-0 to rovers Richard's with the goal

Rovers 3-1 Cobblers
Okenabirhie to score.
C'mon Rovers ⚽⚽⚽

As neither of my "scorers" is starting, I'll go with Okenabirhie. So far I've not seen anything I like about Simoes - hopefully today he'll show me why DM brought him in.

Going usual 3.1 victory. James first goal

I'm pleased to see Amos on the bench rather than in the commentary box!

It is difficult to interpret what has been on view as encouraging. Northampton seem to have spent a lot of time in Rovers half and have tested our defence fairly frequently.

We still seem to choose the more difficult option for a pass and Northampton generally manage to limit any danger. Getting the ball to the by-line and then crossing it is rarely attempted.

Considerable improvement is needed to equal Northampton's performance; the Anderson header was the only significant threat on their goal.

In the early part of the season, we had more excitement in the average 2 or 3 minutes than in the whole of this tedious ordeal.

Northampton provided practically all of the dynamic football of the afternoon and Rovers furnished more misery than seemed possible, even when they were in positions which in football you would normally classify as potentially dangerous.

It looked like a contest between two struggling teams with the edge clearly with Northampton. In actual fact, it probably was.

Whether it was because the style is predictable or because players are slow in moving into good positions, every time we got the ball there was someone in close attendance ready to make it difficult for them to make the next pass.

I have really lost track of what they are trying to do now, but whatever it is, they are failing miserably

It is a long time since I've been so bored and frustrated watching the Rovers. If somehow we manage to squeeze into the Championship, playing like this we would get slaughtered, earning fewer points than the Blades are getting in the Premier League.
There does not seem to be any ideas how to beat a defence and create good chances. Sometimes they went wide on the left and tried to cross balls, but on the right Lokilo tended to cut inside and go nowhere. Simoes showed a few sparks I had not seen before, but why no Sims? Was this just because of the limit on loan players in the match day squad?
Why take Smith off as he seemed about the best player most of the time.
To me, a game neither side deserved to win.

How can such a promising team/squad fall apart so badly?

Was Whiteman such a talisman?

I just don’t understand.

Would it be any better if Moore was still in charge?

Whiteman, without a doubt, was a key player, and a good captain. I think we missed Bostock today, no Whiteman, but he has some of his qualities. I do not think DM would have made much difference as the last games under him were just as frustrating.
Earlier in the season we were scoring a lot of goals - why has that stopped?
I still do not understand why Smith was subbed - he is a good player, one of DM's best loan inputs.
It is bad news about Sims, and so I'm not looking forward to the game against Oxford - who are supported by one of my cousins.

Has anybody got Chris Wilders number?

The Sims news explains a lot, but it must be really worrying for him.