v Luton Town (a) - 12/4/2025

[Ossydave]

16 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

They created nothing before the sending off.

Their only two chances were two long range efforts. We were well worth the win.

Fair enough 👌

Maybe they turned a bit of a corner after going 2 down against sheff weds the other night, it's too little too late like but it's always nice to win games.

[rigger]

3 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

If you’ve got to ask me that you must have never played at any level yourself. How about self respect, will to win, pride, desire. All the things we don’t have enough of unfortunately.

Most of those attributes left most players a long time ago. Money is the main motivation these days.

[bazza]

I listened to Radio Lancs and our wonderful fans were heard loud and clear with "No nay never", "Marching down the Bolton Road" and "We want Venkys out". Made the hairs on my neck stand on end.

[davulsukur]

The biggest disappointment of the day was the incredibly harsh 2nd yellow for Montgomery. On his full debut, probably knocked his confidence a fair bit.

[chaddyrovers]

29 minutes ago, rigger said:

What have we to play for ?

Winning for their supporters who backed this team by spending their hard earned money supporting their club up and down the country. Good enough reason

[aletheia]

2 hours ago, DaveyB said:

I mean, all of what you say is true, Gavin Ward is a ****, he does seem to hate us and does always love to be centre of attention, but it just seems a bit strange in a thread about a match refereed by David Webb 🤷‍♂️

Fake news -he was reffing and all refs are rubbish and all refs hate us and all refs should be sacked and then er, we can just ref ourselves....;-))

[aletheia]

1 hour ago, Ossydave said:

Weird finish from Yuki but they all count.

Excellent finish with outside of boot. Sniffer in the box but sadly has to do too much other crap in this team.

[jim mk2]

1 hour ago, Mercer said:

A surprise and unconvincing win but omg what an abysmal team Luton have become so quickly.

We rode our luck with 2 stunning Luton strikes hammering the woodwork but guess we are due some luck.

As for Toth, haven't seen a Rovers' goalie so unconvincing on crosses since John Butcher!  Neither Pears or Toth are good enough.

Question for anyone at Luton today - did Ismael acknowledge and thank the fans having at long last managed a win?

I was looking for the manager to see if he was celebrating with the players but couldn’t spot him. Might be wrong though but wouldn’t bd surprised if he just walked off. Seems a cold fish 

[Gav]

18 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

I was looking for the manager to see if he was celebrating with the players but couldn’t spot him. Might be wrong though but wouldn’t bd surprised if he just walked off. Seems a cold fish 

He was stood in the middle of the players at the end then walked off, how did you miss that?

 

[jim mk2]

3 minutes ago, Gav said:

He was stood in the middle of the players at the end then walked off, how did you miss that?

 

Tronstad was in front of me at pitch level 5 yards away leading the celebrations so I missed him - as I said. But you weren't at the match but you did see him. So there it is.

I'm just relieved our group has broken this season's hoodoo. Odd feeling walking away from a match having won.

 

 

[Gav]

2 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

Tronstad was in front of me at pitch level 5 yards away leading the celebrations so I missed him - as I said. But you weren't at the match but you did see him. So there it is.

I'm just relieved our group has broken this season's hoodoo. Odd feeling walking away from a match having won.

 

 

Here to go Jim, all 6ft 3” of him, maybe Tronstad got in the way……🤣

https://x.com/roversxtra/status/1911105876334727459?s=46&t=vixBk9JCaQx4yRvDSEyAbQ

[...]

29 minutes ago, Gav said:

Here to go Jim, all 6ft 3” of him, maybe Tronstad got in the way……🤣

https://x.com/roversxtra/status/1911105876334727459?s=46&t=vixBk9JCaQx4yRvDSEyAbQ

So your saying he actually put his hands together and clapped?

[...]

Regardless I'm on the vodka tonight we're staying up!!!! When's the open top bus through the town centre?

[johnradfordsubbuteo2]

3 hours ago, ... said:

And that the Luton commentary called him a 'serious threat' 🤣 

 

4 hours ago, RoversTilliDie said:

How did we hang on for the 3pts,  we were under immense pressure after Montgomery got sent off. Bad decision keeping him on after the first yellow, but it was a harsh red that needs appealing against. Great to see Yuki Ohashi on the score sheet again. We really need to get that killer instinct, and wrap up the 3pts. Ismaels first win, let's hope it's the turning point for Blackburn Rovers.

Can't appeal 2 bookings reds.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 minute ago, johnradfordsubbuteo2 said:

 

Can't appeal 2 bookings reds.

He dragged their player back in a promising position. If it was the other way around I’d want a yellow card. A sympathetic ref might have given him the benefit of the doubt, but we didn’t have a sympathetic ref.

[Parsonblue]

What a difference between the journey home tonight and the one from Portsmouth.  Today we looked so much better and simply carried on from the second half against Wednesday.  We got on the front foot, we defended exceptionally well and broke with purpose - Yuki scoring another well taken goal.  However, after the sending off we showed the battling qualities that have been missing in recent weeks.  Today we fought for everything.

Montgomery again impressed until his unfortunate sending off.  I thought the ref was a little harsh to say the least as similar incidents had gone unpunished.  

Hyam and Batth were outstanding at the back and won virtually everything in the air.  Back to their best.  Montgomery and Ribeiro provided excellent cover from the full-back positions in what looked an impressive back four.

Still unsure about the goalkeeper, particularly on crosses when he looks very uncomfortable.

Yuki worked ever so hard up front in terms of being the first line of defence and made the most of his chance when it came.  However, for me, the outstanding player was Dolan.  His work rate was outstanding and in the second half, when he had to drop back to play as a wing-back/full-back, he was excellent.  For me he is an outstanding talent who will be difficult to replace, particularly with little or not transfer budget.  He may not always have the best game but he never stops trying and never hides on the pitch.  

[47er]

4 hours ago, Penwortham Blue said:

Kaminiski is far better than Pears, Walton, Wahlsted and likely Toth as well but I was never totally convinced with him. Couldn’t hold a candle to Sir Roger, Jim Arnold or Terry Gennoe.

Well we clearly have 2 keepers we can't rely on so that's an imperative for next season.

But Gestade didn't mention it as a priority so I guess we won't go that way!

That's a few points lost already.

[47er]

5 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Great to see these scenes 

 

 

We have great fans. Deserve so much more than Venkys.

Good to see so many youngsters there.

[WacoRover]

OK, I celebrated our win today. But it’s almost tomorrow in Blackburn, so I can start thinking about our Good Friday match versus Millwall.

Ismail has his 11, except Monty, & Yuki, if he’s truly injured as badly as feared. We missed those two I suppose Rankin Costello & Gueye are back in the 11.

I agree with those who say we still have much to play for. Our supporters, who go on the road or who show up at Ewood, are worthy of our support. Also, we need to all admit that we enjoy a Rovers win. We cannot despise our leadership more than we love Blackburn Rovers. 

[...]

1 hour ago, Parsonblue said:

What a difference between the journey home tonight and the one from Portsmouth.  Today we looked so much better and simply carried on from the second half against Wednesday.  We got on the front foot, we defended exceptionally well and broke with purpose - Yuki scoring another well taken goal.  However, after the sending off we showed the battling qualities that have been missing in recent weeks.  Today we fought for everything.

Montgomery again impressed until his unfortunate sending off.  I thought the ref was a little harsh to say the least as similar incidents had gone unpunished.  

Hyam and Batth were outstanding at the back and won virtually everything in the air.  Back to their best.  Montgomery and Ribeiro provided excellent cover from the full-back positions in what looked an impressive back four.

Still unsure about the goalkeeper, particularly on crosses when he looks very uncomfortable.

Yuki worked ever so hard up front in terms of being the first line of defence and made the most of his chance when it came.  However, for me, the outstanding player was Dolan.  His work rate was outstanding and in the second half, when he had to drop back to play as a wing-back/full-back, he was excellent.  For me he is an outstanding talent who will be difficult to replace, particularly with little or not transfer budget.  He may not always have the best game but he never stops trying and never hides on the pitch.  

I have a love hate relationship with Dolan (hate is a strong word tbh) I see him work so hard and gets the ball in a decent spot and I'm just willing and yelling for him to do something good with it, I was chuffed to bits with his last couple of goals. Can't deny his work rate is good and can close down players quick quashing their options, just wish he had a good finish on him lad would be great 

[roversfan99]

I dont think we were on the front foot nor did we break with purpose. The goal was very much the exception in a game where we sat back in and very rarely got near their goal.

We were certainly far more well organised and defensively strong today and the centre backs in particular were outstanding. Was a smash and grab away performance.

I also am not having that Dolan is an "exceptional talent." No questions about his work rate or application, no doubts that we probably will end up with worse on our budget today, and not doubting that he will almost certainly get another Championship club when he leaves. But he is a very inconsistent player who has ability and works very hard but still frustrates more often than not.

I think in an ideal world we would have him, Kargbo and 2 new signings next season. As it is, it will probably be Kargbo, Hedges and some random loanee. 

[bluebruce]

3 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

He dragged their player back in a promising position. If it was the other way around I’d want a yellow card. A sympathetic ref might have given him the benefit of the doubt, but we didn’t have a sympathetic ref.

Thought it was harsh, especially for a second yellow personally. We've had much worse ones against us not given.

[Exiled_Rover]

3 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

He dragged their player back in a promising position. If it was the other way around I’d want a yellow card. A sympathetic ref might have given him the benefit of the doubt, but we didn’t have a sympathetic ref.

The ref didn't book Walsh any of the three times he did that.

Personally I thought it was a coming together between two players chasing a long ball. It's a foul, but nothing more. 

[philipl]

Credit where credit is due but Luton deserve to be where they are if they can't win 12 V 10.

Good to see us playing some passing football and defending effectively.

Montgomery looks a proper footballer and that ref a brainless bully.

Good that we finally have a double (at the last opportunity) and 1965/6 remains the last season when we didn't get one.

Here's hoping Ismael has turned a corner in a positive direction.

[Ossydave]

There's probably an element of Dolan putting himself in the shop window a bit too, he has been decent past few games. Over the course of a season he's either good or awful, there's no inbetween and it's very frustrating - I would prefer him to stay here like. If Derby stay up he's going there, just can't see them paying big wages in league 1 though although I'd expect JE to get them back up first time.