Swindon are an improving force. They beat Ipswich in the televised game over Christmas proving they could reproduce the quality showed against us, even though, in between they lost 4-1 to MK Dons.
Looking at their recent stats, the way they play seems to vary. Whereas they matched our possession they seem to have played a more direct kind of.game at Ipswich. In the home game v MK Dons they saw a lot of the ball, but could not engineer many opportunities. But after a slow start with only 4 points out of the first 8 games in charge, John Sheridan does seem to have begun to improve things with a decent performance against us and 4 points from the next 3 before an enforced break due to Covid.
We will miss Whiteman, but the young players we have should continue to improve and the performance at Blackburn showed what can be done without him.
We must hope for a tight game, keeping them in check and I will say 2-0 and J-J/Simoes with the first.
DPL v Swindon T
posted on 16/1/21
Ill go with the flow and say 2-1 to Rovers. James or Richards. No No 26 at all today.
posted on 16/1/21
Swindon 1-3 Rovers
Okenabirhie to score
C'mon Rovers⚽⚽⚽
posted on 16/1/21
2-1 to Rovers. Okenabhirie with the first goal
posted on 16/1/21
1-1 Anderson to score
posted on 16/1/21
I'll take another scruffy 1 nil win, James to score
posted on 16/1/21
A passive sort of performance. Against a team in Swindon’s position who in the second half dominated possession and occupied Rovers territory, it was a risky strategy. One question would be why were they not more aggressive tactically?
They are so committed to playing from the back that they resort to it when playing on the edge of the opponent’s penalty box sometimes.
Okenabirhie had a better game quite apart from his two excellent goals and the stupid foul that earned the yellow card, the only one we got that seemed justified. You wonder if refs get on the League List simply because they issue loads of cards. They should second refs like him into policing mask-wearing. Okenabirhie did not play right up front in the middle for 90 minutes which seemed to suit him better. You could say that he and Halliday were the best and I would have to admit that Lokilo was better than I have seen him before.
Richards put on a good show in a Whiteman-like role. The injury to J-J was a blow and his reaction suggested that it could be serious. John is careless for a defender. AJ Greaves did not do much wrong, but Amos was fairly anonymous. Having to put two inexperienced ones on exhibits the lack of strength in depth, but I wonder why Ravenhill who would have been an ideal midfielder sub (if he is as good as they make out) does not get a chance.
Apart from a bit of defending towards the end, the Taylor of old was invisible.
Incidentally, the ref allowed an extra 1 minute 58 seconds for the uninterrupted advertised 2 minutes injury time in the first half and it is curious why some are so willing to add on even more time if a side look as though they might have a chance to score; from a corner for example.
If you didn’t know the respective positions in the league you could have taken Rovers’ strategy as one designed to avoid defeat rathe than a top team going for a convincing win against a bottom 4 side. It closely resembled what they did away at Blackburn.
They certainly need reinforcements, especially if JJ’s injury is bad.
posted on 17/1/21
I agree, the ref was terrible - throwing out cards like confetti, but leaving some harder challenges unpunished even with a foul. There was also several dubious throw-in decisions, and one where Rovers should have a corner and a goal kick was given. Both sides suffered, but probably Rovers more so with cards.
Earlier in the season we were scoring more goals, but letting more in. It now seems to be more a case of "if they don't score, we cannot lose", and this is exaggerated if we go ahead! As Donaldo says, very risky.
At half time, I felt confident we would go on to win 3-0 or 4-1, but the last 15 mins + added time were nerve racking. I wanted another goal to give some padding even though 2-1 was my prediction. Congrats, Crazy, for predicting everything.
I'm still no fan of Lokilo, even though the well-worked short corner produced the second goal - before that he seemed unable to get a corner into the goalmouth. Also he rarely beat his man either with speed or footwork. It was the best I've seen Okenabirhie play - more like he was before his red card last season. Although his first touch lets him down sometimes, today he brought some awkward balls under control quickly. His work rate was very good, often helping out in defence, and not giving away as many fouls.
The back four were good with John the weakest link. We will miss James on Tuesday, but not the push that got him his yellow! Taylor is either not fully fit (in addition to his Covid recovery), or is frightened of re-injurying himself.
Once Richards gets a little more consistency, especially with his choice of pass/passing accuracy, he is going to be a good player - and he seems to have a good understanding with J-J (I understand they are good friends who have known each other for some time).
Like many of our games, it was a tale of two halves, and I agree we need some experienced additions, especially if J-J is going to be out for some time. The look of anguish on his face seemed to indicate he thinks it is bad.
posted on 17/1/21
Good to hear your views as always Micky.
So many times this season the opposition has fouled 5 or 6 times to our 1 and yet again our player gets a yellow card for his first and our second or third foul. Although the number of fouls was even in the end, we got 5 yellow cards and we have no one within our ranks of a Wellens or Stock type. 14 fouls with rather more than 1 in 3 so punished looks most unjust.
As always, lavish praise is heaped upon the team with Swindon's performance portrayed as a hopeless and almost totally ineffective struggle. In fact their hard work which was rewarded with one goal could well have yielded an equaliser, possibly even via a penalty, given the time they spent in and around our penalty area. Leaving Wright out in favour of Lokilo suggests that the strategy would be towards attack and you wonder how, when they get out there, constantly "playing it safe" squares with that. Is there some arrogance creeping in?
posted on 17/1/21
I understand Reece's yellow was for kicking the ball away, not the minor push that got him the foul. I'll have to look at the highlights.
It is fascinating that we are the joint top scorers in League One, and #1 on a goals per game basis! However, it seems to me that it is the defence, despite the lack of clean sheets, that is winning us the games.
I do not think arrogance is creeping in, it is more a bad choice of tactics at times.
The amount of passing back still drives me bonkers, even though it eased up a little in this game, but I think there were at least three times when we were attacking at the edge of Swindon's penalty area and the ball finished back with our goal keeper. Donaldo, I hope it does not drive you as bonkers as it does me!
On to Tuesday... Too many injuries may take a toll, and I see Watters has gone to Cardiff for a deal with add-ons that could be more than a million!
posted on 17/1/21
Might have said this before but I think resigning Andy Butler is the best bit of business DM has done so far. His experience and maturity appear to be having an important influence. DM has confounded his critics with his individual team shuffles. I wish he'd be a bit more creative with formation set ups though. Hell have to be even more creative with player shuffles over the next few, if not all our remaining matches. Grinding out results gets you promoted though.