ROVERS VS STOKE CITY

[dallydally]

Terrific first half. Just need to ensure we keep going. Don't go defensive TM and get 3 points in the bag!! ???

[bluebruce]

Just now, Darwen Rover 007 said:

How has the formation worked?? Lol 

Very good question! How you go in with the most defensive lineup you can muster, away from home, no pace to catch them out on the counter attack, and are 2-0 up before half time against a traditionally defensively shrewd team, I don't know!!

[TruRover]

TM has his doubts on here, me included in some of his team selections. However the job he is doing atm is incredible, and this team is playing for him.

[Doaksie]

Hopefully that's the bad half out of the way....

[Miker]

Fantastic first half. Everyone is performing to the best of their abilities. Stoke look very poor and slow. Their defence is big but not very mobile, if we play through them and use our pace we can make this a big win. Feels like a perfect game for the likes of Armstrong and Palmer, even Rothwell.

Their central midfielder that was supposed to be man marking Dack got a yellow very early on, so I think that will continue to work to our advantage. Dack should be afforded more space.

Both finishes were superbly taken by Dack and Graham. Smallwood has really turned my opinion around in the last few games. He struggled early on but he’s back to being the King again.

[Neal]

Played some great stuff, some great short passing but noticeably picking our moment to only play it long when something is on. I can honestly say I've never seen a Rovers team work this hard, it makes me really proud to see.

 

What worries me is of we can keep it up for another 45 mins. They will go direct with Crouch and I think we'll struggle with that, he always seems to score.

[FGS5635]

Next goal is huge. We get thats is all over and party time

[Fraserkirky]

This 4-4-1-1 is working a treat. What a performance. Smallwood sitting deep and Evans now allowed to pressure higher up, protected by Reed and Benno the flanks.

Strolled this so far.

DG rolling back the years here.

Edited September 22, 2018 by Fraserkirky

[Exiled in Toronto]

A top 6 performance that half, everyone is playing well.

[Gogger]

Dont think we have been THAT good. Hard working as always. Lucky bounce and finish on Dacks goal. Grahams goal was class. Apart from that I dont think we have created a chance (neither have Stoke). 

[Oldgregg86]

Just now, Gogger said:

Dont think we have been THAT good. Hard working as always. Lucky bounce and finish on Dacks goal. Grahams goal was class. Apart from that I dont think we have created a chance (neither have Stoke). 

And I thought I was harsh ?

[West Yorks Rover]

Just now, Neal said:

Played some great stuff, some great short passing but noticeably picking our moment to only play it long when something is on. I can honestly say I've never seen a Rovers team work this hard, it makes me really proud to see.

 

What worries me is of we can keep it up for another 45 mins. They will go direct with Crouch and I think we'll struggle with that, he always seems to score.

Indeed he's scored in each of his last 6 games against Rovers, 8 goals in total.

It's a worry.

[Tom]

My prediction is still on!

[JacknOry]

Fuck me Stoke look shit. I can't believe we are toiling so hard at this level.

[Miker]

5 minutes ago, Neal said:

Played some great stuff, some great short passing but noticeably picking our moment to only play it long when something is on. I can honestly say I've never seen a Rovers team work this hard, it makes me really proud to see.

 

What worries me is of we can keep it up for another 45 mins. They will go direct with Crouch and I think we'll struggle with that, he always seems to score.

Crouch on the bench is a worry. I see them hurting us from set pieces if we give them the opportunity.

[punerover]

For a change I would like to see us cause a rout. 4-1 Rovers :)

[Husky]

12 minutes ago, DE. said:

What is going on here?

We've finally done what we should have done in most of our previous games and finished clinically.

[matt83]

With the quality of that stoke squad must be something wrong there. That said I picture them flying out of the traps 2nd half and winning. I’m sure crouch will be on to score against us. Done it for 3 different clubs so he likes us.

 

[matt83]

Or maybe not

[perthblue02]

Reed 3-0

Bennett set up again

Edited September 22, 2018 by perthblue02

[Husky]

Way to start a 2nd half.

[K-Hod]

Why are we so mint?

[JacknOry]

Just now, matt83 said:

With the quality of that stoke squad must be something wrong there. That said I picture them flying out of the traps 2nd half and winning. I’m sure crouch will be on to score against us. Done it for 3 different clubs so he likes us.

 

Squads equally as good as that have come down and suffered, the thing is they think they will walk it.

[Neal]

What am I seeing????

[FGS5635]

If carlsberg did starts to the 2nd half........