Yes we really need to win this one. Smith will be missed, less so Sims. Hopefully the weeks rest and training will have helped settle things a little. I'm thinking a draw will be the most likely result but I'll go for the win 2-1. Bogle, Richards

I think I'd just slot in Bostock for Smith and Lokilo for Sims, and personally probably give Balcombe a game and seriously consider someone instead of Okenabirhie out wide (supposedly!) - but who? James and in midfield slot in Richards or AJ? Oh, of course there is Simoes as there must be some reason DM brought him in.
I agree with Donaldo that the lack of game time is not good for player development. Will we have Under-23 outfit next season? People such as Hasani and Ravenhill have had a taste of first team, but what since?
Did Ravenhill play in the Youth Cup game? - but that is not the a full "man's game".
I'm hoping the comeback last week will be a turning point and will go for a 3-1 win for the Rovers with Bogle scoring. May change my mind tomorrow!

MK Dons 1-2 Rovers
Bogle to score ⚽⚽

C'mon Rovers

I'm also predicting a win. 2-1 to Rovers. Bogle with the first.

Think we'll get beat but going 3.1 victory with James to score first goal.

1-1 anderson

There was a lack of intensity in the Rovers play particularly in the first half when they watched rather impotently on occasions as MKD moved the ball around with ease, albeit without much end-product. When they did get the ball, they seemed to lack the composure to keep it.

For once Bogle was kept well in check and Bostock got frustrated, giving away a number of fouls. Thus, two of the main engines were out of action and the third, Copps, did not seem to get into his stride either. MKD were confident and seemed more coordinated in their movement.

There were occasionally forays into MKD territory in the first half, but they were too careless to keep the ball for very long and Richard’s one-footedness was rather obvious. Lokilo did some useful things and Horton seems reliable at the back.

In the second half, MKD were more direct, allowing Rovers more opportunities to sneak into action occasionally, but tactically MKD seemed always to have control.

Somehow, the way Rovers played did not seem suited to their strengths; they passed the ball too hurriedly and were not capable of executing the manoeuvres which they were attempting.

It might have stayed 0-0, but MKD were going close far more than Rovers.

The skilful coordinated entity that cruised through the games we won in 2020 has somehow disappeared and Butler is seemingly reduced to random change (- why take Horton off?) in the hope that somehow a better combination will emerge.

We are now out of the top 6 and can hardly complain after losing to a team that were clever enough to beat us, but short of top-6 quality themselves.

Donaldo, I think you could have had a kind word for Jones as he kept us in it in the first half, and early in the second half. However he must stop short passes out that are too near to the opponent - nearly gives me a heart attack. Sometimes it was after a stupid pass back to him that put him under unnecessary pressure. Most of his longer kicks to the wings were very good.
I thought the Rovers played as though they had played mid-week as they were slow to react, and as Donald says, with no intensity in their play.
To me, our best chances fell to:
Copps - why he chose to go wide and cross and not cut inside to go around their GK, I do not know.
Lokilo - one unnecessary touch allowing his shot to be blocked. This was by far our best chance.
In too many games our lads stray offside, spoiling what often had been a good move out of defence. Also, these days, Halliday is too easily beaten such as for MKDons goal, though usually he is beaten around the outside.
Luckily next Friday's game is not on iFollow as I'd find it difficult to get up at 04:30 to watch this lot!

I find it difficult to take any encouragement from yesterday’s show. Jones was better than he has been before, but GK, unlike most positions, is where we have a more competent option.

Smith and Sims apart, we had our best outfield players out there today and we do not seem close to finding an effective combination. The question is whether the manager is making the best use of his assets, organising them, motivating them and generating the spirit that will enable them to become competitive enough to win.

He has said that the players may be feeling excessive pressure to succeed, but you would imagine that this is common in footballers and all professional sportsmen. Perhaps some group-counselling could be useful.

Do not forget Taylor was also missing - this side without Taylor and Sims just have no real attacking threat and do not justify a play-off position. Certainly we missed Smith who is a class above League One on his recent performances, and I see he had a good game for Wales on Saturday. Bostock appeared to becoming able to fill some of Whiteman's role, but was very poor yesterday. I know he was just one training session since injury, but like most of the team, did not seem interested in putting in the effort required.

Yes, I'd forgotten about Taylor who I think we agree did not get back to his early season form.

I thought that Bostock, rather like Richards was heavily favouring one foot on Saturday which the opposition seemed to recognise and exploit.

Friday will be the first time Rovers have played on Good Friday during the day since I was a boy. The north of England gave up the Good Friday holiday that long ago, but it is still observed to some extent in the South.

When Rovers don't score we don't do too well as will be clear from what follows. Nevertheless Selby's prediction of Anderson at Gillingham was a notable success in this latest rather ignominious run.

Rovers 0: Northampton 0
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 79 >>>>>> 79
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 90 >>>>>> 90
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 44 >>>>>> 44
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 86 >>>>> 86
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>> 110 >>>>>> 110
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 96 >>>>>> 96
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 35 >>>>>> 35
>>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 540 >>>>> 540

Oxford 3: Rovers 0
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 79 >>>>>> 82
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 90 >>>>>> 93
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 44 >>>>>> 44
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 86 >>>>> 86
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 110 >>>> 110
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 96 >>>>>> 99
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 35 >>>>>> 38
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 12 >>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>> 540 >>>>> 552

Gillingham 2: Rovers 2 (Anderson)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 82 >>>>>> 82
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 93 >>>>>> 93
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 44 >>>>>> 44
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 86 >>>>> 86
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 110 >>>> 110
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 99 >>>>>> 99
Selby>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 38 >>>>>> 42
>>>>>>>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 552 >>>>> 556

MK Dons 1 : Rovers 0
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 82 >>>>>> 82
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 93 >>>>>> 93
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 44 >>>>>> 44
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 86 >>>>> 86
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 110 >>>> 110
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 99 >>>>>> 99
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 42 >>>>>> 42
>>>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 556 >>>>> 556