[Archived] Rovers v Donny: 11th January 2014...if only it was 1958!

[onlyonejackwalker]

We'll done Rovers, a vital three points.

Laughing at all those who predicted a 3 or 4 goal drubbing and who are now moaning about team selections and formations.

Another clean sheet showing that Bowyer got it absolutely bang on the money.

We'll done Rudy Gestede. I was hoping he would link well with Rhodes, so far so good.

Very pleasing result. COYB.

[Tom]

The annoyance today was Lowe was booked after 6 minutes and then reverted to Keith Andrews style stick near the man but don't put a tackle in

He wasn't bad as such just somewhat unnecessary against a team like that

We basically offered them the chance of a point and they nearly took it late on

All I really wanted was 3 points anything else was a bonus do we did enough

[Ricky]

I said I'd take a 1-0 and I got the 1-0.

Shame we seem to be a little negative at home. Compare the formation against Leeds to the formation against Donny, really makes no sense but we got 6 points so maybe GB knows what he's doing.

Results were a mixed bag for us today, didn't get any closer to the play offs. Still 2 points off but we did get a bit closer to some of the teams who dropped points.

[West Yorks Rover]

'Cairney in the centre Bonzo ! '

'Are you frightened of some of your players ?'

[moerpho]

I felt really negative before the match and honestly expected a loss or a draw after that great performance versus Manchester City. I guess I thought it would be huge step down facing Doncaster and easy to get complacent. Boy am I happy I was wrong! Brilliant 3 points despite that 2nd half and only lost 1 in the last 8 (first home win in almost a month though). Keep this going and start grinding out more home wins like today and we should be contender for the playoffs. Also good to hear Robinson got to play his part towards the end. Onwards and upwards!

[OJRovers]

Massive lift to have Robbo back in the team, not only to raise spirits in the crowd but for his experience and crucial saves like today.

[rovers11]

I felt really negative before the match and honestly expected a loss or a draw after that great performance versus Manchester City. I guess I thought it would be huge step down facing Doncaster and easy to get complacent. Boy am I happy I was wrong! Brilliant 3 points despite that 2nd half and only lost 1 in the last 8 (first home win in almost a month though). Keep this going and start grinding out more home wins like today and we should be contender for the playoffs. Also good to hear Robinson got to play his part towards the end. Onwards and upwards!

That's exactly what I thought. Expected us to slip up today so delighted with the win which leaves us in a great position.

Another 3 points and a clean sheet at home. That's the main thing even though we struggled second half.

[Stuart]

Sticks in the craw listening to Bowyer say how good a team Donny are and that they really shouldn't be where they are in the league. He's becoming a cardboard cut out manager in front of the microphones.

The only people who can be happy with today's game are those that didn't attend and only see the 3 points.

It could and should have been 1-1 but for a brilliant save from Robbo.

Hanley did nothing to warrant MoM and for it because we kept a clean sheet - even though we nearly didn't.

Someone said we started the game with the side that should have ended it. I almost agree, as Rhodes proved again how effective he is putting over a brilliant cross for Rudy to nod in. That was the only positive in an otherwise forgettable performance. We are going to have to be glad of three points and move on.

Sadly, Bowyer will not learn from this and will stick with his negative midfield, at least for league games. But I stand by my earlier point. You do not play our best centre midfielder on the left wing for 75 minutes. I fear that when Evans is fit, Bowyer will do even more shuffling of the pack to accommodate Lowe, probably with Williamson (the better holding midfielder) making way. If he is so desperate to play Lowe, he should be a full back when we aren't looking at using wingbacks or use him as a sub.

A 1-0 win with tactics so negative that they make Doncaster look like PL-wannabes isn't good enough. Against better opposition, when it matters, we will come unstuck.

I'm dreading seeing the side he puts out on 19th March.

start grinding out more home wins like today

Derby

Blackpool

Brighton

Burnley

Bournemouth

Leicester

Ipswich

QPR

Yeovil

Wigan

Not one of those teams will fear coming to Ewood.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

We WON the game.

Move on. Dissect it all you want but don't forget that we won. If you had said that we would get two wins and a draw from our last three games would you have taken it? I reckon you would have,.If Taylor and King weren't fit then who do you play out wide? Rochina maybe? Then who? I'm sure we could have won with more flair but equally we could have been far easier to beat.

To win following the performance against City shouldn't be taken lightly. We're getting hard to beat and its serving us well.

[adsfortheblues]

a win is a win but you have to ask questions here, a game at home we should of been buzzing because of the recent results, and yet we get so negative on the pitch again, sitting back defending a 1-0 is not good enough in this league as more times then not you will be punished.

I cant wait for evans to come back and warm the bench for us because bowyer will never drop lowe or Williamson.... I would love to see the formation we had away to leeds but with evans for Williamson.

still 2 points of play offs isn't it? he has done well bowyer but he needs to be more brave, we should be battering teams like Doncaster.

To be honest, you won't be punished in this league, hence the number of times we've been let off the hook. Today, Watford and boro at home spring to mind for starters. This is a poor league, with some really poor players.

[Colt Seavers]

Another win and another clean sheet.

Perfect!

Really disappointed with henley since his return though. I think kane is a far better right back in every aspect.

[AHoyle90]

Good win in the end, I thought we did well first half, Marshall and Cairney both looked good

Would still like to see Cairney in the middle but can't complain when we have 3 points.

Gestede is settling in nicely and starting to show signs of an understanding with Rhodes

[Mike Graham]

My goodness that was a dire/dreadful/crap game except for the first 20 minutes.

I note that Bowyer is now the new god after 2 decent results but that was another tactically inept performance.

However it is 3 points which is the main thing; but we must really improve as this side is a million miles from Premiership material.

[West Yorks Rover]

We WON the game.

Move on. Dissect it all you want but don't forget that we won. If you had said that we would get two wins and a draw from our last three games would you have taken it? I reckon you would have,.If Taylor and King weren't fit then who do you play out wide? Rochina maybe? Then who? I'm sure we could have won with more flair but equally we could have been far easier to beat.

To win following the performance against City shouldn't be taken lightly. We're getting hard to beat and its serving us well.

Marshall was out wide, do we need 2 ? especially one who is much better centrally.

Henley ain't bad at getting forward on the right is he ?

Marshall Cairney Williamson Lowe

That should have been the midfield if, he insists on playing Lowe and Williamson for whatever reason.

[adsfortheblues]

Another win and another clean sheet.

Perfect!

Really disappointed with henley since his return though. I think kane is a far better right back in every aspect.

Kane is a terrible defender.

[imy9]

Sticks in the craw listening to Bowyer say how good a team Donny are and that they really shouldn't be where they are in the league. He's becoming a cardboard cut out manager in front of the microphones.

The only people who can be happy with today's game are those that didn't attend and only see the 3 points.

It could and should have been 1-1 but for a brilliant save from Robbo.

Hanley did nothing to warrant MoM and for it because we kept a clean sheet - even though we nearly didn't.

Someone said we started the game with the side that should have ended it. I almost agree, as Rhodes proved again how effective he is putting over a brilliant cross for Rudy to nod in. That was the only positive in an otherwise forgettable performance. We are going to have to be glad of three points and move on.

Sadly, Bowyer will not learn from this and will stick with his negative midfield, at least for league games. But I stand by my earlier point. You do not play our best centre midfielder on the left wing for 75 minutes. I fear that when Evans is fit, Bowyer will do even more shuffling of the pack to accommodate Lowe, probably with Williamson (the better holding midfielder) making way. If he is so desperate to play Lowe, he should be a full back when we aren't looking at using wingbacks or use him as a sub.

A 1-0 win with tactics so negative that they make Doncaster look like PL-wannabes isn't good enough. Against better opposition, when it matters, we will come unstuck.

I'm dreading seeing the side he puts out on 19th March.

Derby

Blackpool

Brighton

Burnley

Bournemouth

Leicester

Ipswich

QPR

Yeovil

Wigan

Not one of those teams will fear coming to Ewood.

Some valid points Stuart. I am personally going to wait until Evans is back and hope Bowyer sees sense so play him alongside Cairney in the middle.

I think Bowyer has shown that he is capable of making tough decisions, for example playing Henley instead of Kane at right back, dropping Kean, dropping Eastwood, playing two upfront, Marshall at right back, three up front against Leeds, etc. Plenty to suggest he can adapt.

He is still learning, as well as the team but things are looking up.

[G Somerset Rover]

Not a chance in hell that GB will drop Lowe AND Williamson. It will be Evans and Lowe with Cairney out wide IMO. If he has to play Lowe every week then we need to move to 4-3-3.

[Dunnfc]

The midfeld line up when evans is back should look like

Evans

Taylor Cairney

Marshall King

[Stuart]

The midfeld line up when evans is back should look like

Evans

Taylor Cairney

Marshall King

Not gonna happen.

[Speedie Dived]

Sticks in the craw listening to Bowyer say how good a team Donny are and that they really shouldn't be where they are in the league. He's becoming a cardboard cut out manager in front of the microphones.

The only people who can be happy with today's game are those that didn't attend and only see the 3 points.

It could and should have been 1-1 but for a brilliant save from Robbo.

Hanley did nothing to warrant MoM and for it because we kept a clean sheet - even though we nearly didn't.

Someone said we started the game with the side that should have ended it. I almost agree, as Rhodes proved again how effective he is putting over a brilliant cross for Rudy to nod in. That was the only positive in an otherwise forgettable performance. We are going to have to be glad of three points and move on.

Sadly, Bowyer will not learn from this and will stick with his negative midfield, at least for league games. But I stand by my earlier point. You do not play our best centre midfielder on the left wing for 75 minutes. I fear that when Evans is fit, Bowyer will do even more shuffling of the pack to accommodate Lowe, probably with Williamson (the better holding midfielder) making way. If he is so desperate to play Lowe, he should be a full back when we aren't looking at using wingbacks or use him as a sub.

A 1-0 win with tactics so negative that they make Doncaster look like PL-wannabes isn't good enough. Against better opposition, when it matters, we will come unstuck.

I'm dreading seeing the side he puts out on 19th March.

Derby

Blackpool

Brighton

Burnley

Bournemouth

Leicester

Ipswich

QPR

Yeovil

Wigan

Not one of those teams will fear coming to Ewood.

You have completely ignored the 3 chances we missed in the first half an hour. They had one chance in the 90th minute, take that every week.

[K-Hod]

We made it hard work for ourselves in the second half, still, a win's a win.

[Mike Graham]

You have completely ignored the 3 chances we missed in the first half an hour. They had one chance in the 90th minute, take that every week.

And a nailed on penalty right in front of the ref

[darrenrover]

Derby

Blackpool

Brighton

Burnley

Bournemouth

Leicester

Ipswich

QPR

Yeovil

Wigan

Not one of those teams will fear coming to Ewood.

Good, should therefore present more opportunities for us to exploit as a consequence!

[the original david brent]

Hanley did nothing to warrant MoM and for it because we kept a clean sheet - even though we nearly didn't.

.

I disagree with that. As a result of Bowyers negative tactics, it's a good job we had Hanley at the back. He won everything, and made some vital blocks in the 2nd half. Over 90 minutes who played better than Hanley?

[LDRover]

Happy with the 3 points, especially as it was part of a 9 team acca that won me 630 quid.

Agree with the points made about the 2 DMs. I can't say that either of them played poorly but with both of them in the side our ball retention is shocking and we drop deep and invite pressure.

Donny are a poor side (another to add to the list) and it should've been more comfortable but it's another 3 points and we move on to the next one.