[Archived] Rovers V Chelsea Match Preview

[Rovers in America]

Never mind that he went down too easily. He clearly had his shirt pulled.

Exactly. If Samba or any of our other defenders had done that exact same shirt pull against Chelsea, it's a penalty kick.

[roverfanuk]

Chris Sutton the brown nosed reindeer!

Apparently we havent made any shots/chances, haven't had the ball, haven't even got 11 players on the pitch?!

[novella]

Exactly. If Samba or any of our other defenders had done that exact same shirt pull against Chelsea, it's a penalty kick.

love how it was a dive in the commentators eyes as well

[James No. 7]

I don't think we've become a poor side. We've played well in quite a few games but just haven't finished teams off. We played brilliant against Villa, who are a team most people predict would finish just outside top 4, yet they somehow won the game when we controlled it and should have got the 3 points.

Hasn't this been dealt with in years gone past? The very sign of a poor side is when they "play well", yet continually fail to deliver.

[rovers1993]

the deflection was a hand ball.... the ref's a ####. always on chelsea's side!

we just don't have that bit of luck at the moment.

[Rovers in America]

the deflection was a hand ball.... the ref's a ####. always on chelsea's side!

we just don't have that bit of luck at the moment.

Not sure, I thought it looked like it went off Anelka's thigh on the replay from Chelsea's back.

[Alex Rover]

the deflection was a hand ball.... the ref's a ####. always on chelsea's side!

we just don't have that bit of luck at the moment.

It came off his thigh but it was bad luck.

[G Somerset Rover]

the deflection was a hand ball.... the ref's a ####. always on chelsea's side!

we just don't have that bit of luck at the moment.

I'm pretty sure it was his knee. Freak goal, but we can't complain that we're one down.

Who the hell do we bring on to get back in this? Robbie Fowler? I think the best we can hope for is to ride our luck for the whole second half and then grab one from a set-piece.

[rovers1993]

are you sure it's the knee? even the commentators admitted it was the hand clearly..

anelka tried to take his hand away but it still hit the hand as he was pulling it away. In one of the replays, the view clearly shows it is his hand.

[Look4Me]

I'm pretty sure it was his knee. Freak goal, but we can't complain that we're one down.

Who the hell do we bring on to get back in this? Robbie Fowler? I think the best we can hope for is to ride our luck for the whole second half and then grab one from a set-piece.

Seing as Chelsea is yet to concede a league goal in the second half this season, it would be the perfect time to break another teams positive statistics. We usually do it with other teams negative statistics...

[speeeeeeedie]

We got battered, yet go in 1 down due to an Anelka knee. We should have had a pen, and Carlos should have scored. I think we are playing OK, plenty of effort anyway. They are streets ahead though. Mikel is a dirty sod.

Andrews off for Derbyshire.

[Eddie]

We were battered for about 20 minutes, but towards the end of the half we held our own. I almost feel as if conditions have suited us less. I think we've been decent, hopefully we can find a goal from somewhere, but we have to expect to get nothing from Chelsea, so it isn't exactly a surprise.

[Eddie]

Roberts should have scored.

[Rovermatt]

This is grim. Aside from the terrible conditions (which applies to both teams of course), the touch and passing of our players is embarrassing. Pedersen in particular is out of his depth.

[stuwilky]

This is grim. Aside from the terrible conditions (which applies to both teams of course), the touch and passing of our players is embarrassing. Pedersen in particular is out of his depth.

I think hes had a reasonable match. Not great, but certainly not as bad as some performances he's put in.

[Eddie]

Totally disagree Matt, I think we're looking pretty good right now. We probably won't score, but the performance in the second half is good; we've been the better team and then they will score.

[Rovers in America]

I think hes had a reasonable match. Not great, but certainly not as bad as some performances he's put in.

Oh come on stuwilky, you should know at this point that even if MGP went out and scored a hat trick some game, there's still be people acting negatively and saying he's had a dreadful game.

[tony gale's mic]

We're playing better this second half but Pedersen is still having an awful game. EVERY time he gets the ball in a good position he squanders it, as per usual.

[novella]

warnock banned for the spurs game i think

[Rovermatt]

Totally disagree Matt, I think we're looking pretty good right now. We probably won't score, but the performance in the second half is good; we've been the better team and then they will score.

If we fail to score, then it's irrelevant how good we looked for a period in the second half. Chelsea are bound to let up for a period when they're leading.

[Sysagent]

Anelka 2 - 0...

[Eddie]

If we fail to score, then it's irrelevant how good we looked for a period in the second half. Chelsea are bound to let up for a period when they're leading.

No it isn't. Playing well is important.

Not a surprise that they got a goal really against the run of play.

[tony gale's mic]

Once again, nice football in midfield this half, but sloppy defending on the edge of the box lets Anelka in.

Unless Ince sorts our defence out, we're prime relegation candidates.

[emglch]

0-2 anelka

[bubblerrovers]

The boys have played well but just have no attacking threat whatsoever, Next 2 league games are must win now or a see a serious relegation battle