v Hull City (a) - 23/8/25

[RoqueSantaBlues]

39 minutes ago, sammie said:

Brilliant performance today but rovers fans putting this under hulls full time tweet is absolutely pathetic… 

This is the superior option

[roversfan99]

Brilliant performance and much needed result. To be quite honest, probably flattered Hull.

Cantwell was absolutely outstanding, totally ran the game. Fair play to Hedges to, one swallow doesnt make a summer and I still dont think hes good enough across a season but beyond his very well taken goal and assist, I thought he was far more positive and direct.

3 other players who I thought were really good who perhaps wont get the plaudits. Tronstad I thought was brilliant, back to his best. I also thought the 2 centre backs were really good, McLoughlin is a good pick up and perhaps by accident that we got Championship know how despite him not being first choice, and also Hyam who never gets the credit he deserves but was very solid. Theres no excuse not to give Hyam and Tronstad the money they deserve as their importance has only increased but it wont happen.

Elsewhere, Tavares I think looks a good footballer and a signing we can be optimistic about, but isnt as clever in terms of making silly challenges and lacks the intelligence of Travis. I really hope he isnt injured especially as with us signing Baradji injured we would look exposed there. Kargbo is a weird player, certainly offers a threat and some good attributes but poor decision making and seemed reluctant to run at his man, he had heavy strapping on so maybe hes playing with an injury. Great pass for the first goal. Theres definitely something to work with with Alebiosu too, so quick and direct although the third came from a terrible touch which he managed to bundle his way out of through sheer power. Positioning defensively can be found wanting but his recovery speed can often get him out of trouble.

Still doesnt change that we need a number of signings and it hasnt changed my opinion massively on anyone, but it is a really good feeling and it was a much needed win and a pleasure to watch.

[Torgeir]

Excellent. Looked the better team for the entire match and Hull apparantly have played some good stuff up until now, and are a good home side with recent history on their side when facing Rovers.

We continued in the same manner as versus Birmingham. We look very well organised and every player works hard as long as they're on the pitch, including Cantwell who really has lit up after being made captain. 

Special mention to Hedges who has been getting a lot of flack on here. He's been top drawer last couple of matches, so hopefully him (and everyone else) can stay fit for a prolonged period now.

[Mashed Potatoes]

Hull were so poor that it is difficult to say how good we might have been - but you can only beat what is in front of you and at least the new signings look to be reasonably good which should calm the nerves of supporters

[Tomphil2]

Hedges normally plays really well early season so nothing new there great squad man is Ryan.

Shouldn't start every week when he's out of form though it's as simple as that.

[Jimmy612]

Great performance, and actually should have scored more. Hull were very poor, but our pressing and intensity was really impressive. 
 

Cantwell is just a cut above when he’s on his game. Making him captain might have been an absolute masterstroke by VI. He looks focussed, and set the tone of his performance with a really tough challenge after a minute or so. After that, he ran the game and Hull couldn’t deal with him. That bellend Palmer but in a really nasty, pure frustration challenge on him just before he got subbed. Yellow card all day, but ref appeared to ignore it, like most obvious cards through the game! 
 

Alebiosu has some great attributes but is very raw. He got lucky with our third goal after an awful touch and a fairly poor cross. He also got caught badly out of position after about 65mins, only for their player to take an awful touch and squander the chance. Was surprised VI didn’t put Miller on, just to have a bit more defensive focus to see it out.

Gueye is rubbish, and no one can convince me otherwise. We need a striker, ideally someone with real pace who can stretch defences. I’d be amazed if they don’t bring someone in over the next week or so. 
 

Overall, a great result and hopefully something to build on. Hope those clowns in the boardroom don’t see this as an excuse not to add to the squad. There’s work to be done, and it’s a very long season! 

[StHelensRover]

Wow, what a result. I was extremely downbeat and expecting the worst going into this, given that the last two matches we offered absolutely nowt in attack. 

I haven't seen the game, I listened to the commentary. Sounded like our best performance under Ismael so far to be honest. Hull not as strong a team as WBA or Bham, but you can only beat what is in front of you and they had started the season well. Let's hope it's a similar performance against Norwich and nothing like the barren nothingness that was the first three matches. 

Brilliant result.

Pasha out, Venkys out.

[Eternal Optimist]

19 hours ago, Eternal Optimist said:

It all clicks tomorrow 3-0 Rovers! Watch this space 

Called it 🥳👏🙌🙌

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

39 minutes ago, Colt Seavers said:

                                 Toth

    Alebiosu.  Hyam McLoughlin.   Ribeiro

                  Tronstad.  Tavares

This looks a good, strong 7 to me and an upgrade on 12 months ago. 

 

                                 Cantwell

           Kargbo.       Ohashi.      Hedges

If Adam Armstrong was in place of Ohashi this would be fine. This tells me where reinforcements are needed.

Also, once any of the above 11 are subbed, injured etc, we look much weaker.  If we can add bodies in key areas we could potentially be competitive. As things stand it will be a long demanding season.

The lack of (apparently) not wanting a striker is baffling.  Weren't we supposed to be signing Ashante last Jan but then picked up 2 forwards on loan? Clearly they must know it's the weak point. 

I'm wondering whether Gueye may well be on his way.  Ismail doesn't really seem to rate him.  

[USABlue]

4 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Cantwell beats his man and is dragged back. No yellow.

Every bloody week with these refs. They're so, so, so bad. 

Great win but yes I am getting tired of watchin the likes of Cantwell and Ohashi getting lumos kicked out of em BigMac too, with no protection from the ref.  OK if it is both ways but it never is 

[jim mk2]

12 minutes ago, Eternal Optimist said:

Called it 🥳👏🙌🙌

 

Hope you put some money on.

Today was not normal

[Waggy76]

58 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

Crazy nature of the Championship early season today anybody can beat anybody.

Great performance but lets be real Toth single handedly prevented us going 3 nil down in a crazy few mins.  As i said the other week that lad is twice the keeper Pears is and he'll probably be the next big sale in a year or so.

Hull were everything i expected us to be..shite.. but VI got everything spot on today.

Hopefully a sign of things to come and not just a rare once a season away performance.

Correct Toth made a few good saves before we scored , early days but he is looking an improvement on the last incumbent !

[DeeCee]

Amazing! Didn't think the captain's armband would suit TC, glad I was wrong!

Great team performance, always quite liked Hedges but never ventured to post that on here for fear of reprisals 😁

Onwards and upwards 🤞💪

[wilsdenrover]

6 minutes ago, Waggy76 said:

Correct Toth made a few good saves before we scored , early days but he is looking an improvement on the last incumbent !

Less hair-raising moments?

[harryhealless1928]

Gotta hold my hand up. I was fairly critical of Cantwell, but he certainly made me eat my words today(like Revidge). Showed why we signed him up on tub-thumping wages(at least by Venkys standards). Looked every inch a Premier League player. I have never called Hedges out though, and he does score great, unexpected goals! It`s just a pity its only one a season!

Good structure to the team I thought(maybe Hull were just poor?) and shades of early JDT creativity, with more physicality thrown in.

Enjoy tonight, boys. Long overdue.

[Clive 62]

We would have lost today with Pears . Look how Toth not only made the saves but got the ball away out of danger, compare it to how Hulls keeper makes the save before Cantwell scores. Toth was excellent today, one area where we have massively improved this season.

[SpaceBarSlam]

Cantwell has been good since Val took over. Okay, not always *today* good, but sometimes it takes the right player-manager combo for the magic to happen and I think we're seeing that with these two. 

Edited 3 hours ago by SpaceBarSlam

[USABlue]

Inwas amazed how good Cantwell eas especially after early assualts designed tontake him out the game, it seems to be antactic used against him and Ohashi, foul em hard and early.  He was sublime with some of his moves and ball control.  I could not have been more wrong in how I thought the game would be.

[Rover down South]

Cantwell looking a different class this season so far. No doubt they’ll be cashing in on that next summer so enjoy it while we can. 

Great to get three points.

Keep the faith 🤞🔵⚪️

[RoversTilliDie]

9 hours ago, RoversTilliDie said:

Travis didn't want to play for Blackburn Rovers, he made his mind up he wanted away. Better off without him, it affects the team, players who can't be bothered.

I think today's result, proves your thumbs down wrong.😉

[sharpysharps86]

Sensational result. Rovers were excellent today.

Hull may have been poor but Rovers did a job on them. Reminded me a touch of Norwich away under JDT.

Alebiosu appears to be a very good signing. Early days but looking like shrewd business.

Hedges was very good. Need him to turn up and be like that more often than not. He deservedly gets stick on here, but today he was great looked up for it.....and arguably should've had a hat trick.

Definitely prefer Kargbo on the right.

Cantwell - class above everyone else on the pitch. Maybe the captains armband has reminded him how good he can be. Big player for Rovers this season.

My only real criticism is with Gueye. Couldn't keep himself onside for that one chance, and didn't even put it in the net anyway. Poor. The need for a striker is clear as Ohashi will put in the work rate and deserved a goal....but he does get bullied and the first touch isn't great.

Just a joy to watch overall.

[ObiWhan8t7]

Everything just clicked. Every player on that field complemented each other and worked hard to get the lead they did. Great passing and movement. Dismantled Hull to the point I nearly felt sorry for them(joke) if we can keep performing like our last two outings we should do alright this season. Another 2-3 signings off a good championship squad 

[RoversTilliDie]

2 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

I disagree - The first game, we probably didn’t do enough but could’ve easily nicked a draw. The cup game was lost in the first 2 minutes and we suffered with the rotations, but we were well worth the win vs Birmingham.

Aside from the results, the point I was making was that in spite of losing Batth, Brittain and now Travis. Then replacing them with random foreign lower division imports, we’ve looked solid and well coached. Thats not easy to achieve in the circumstances.

Bullshit we should have had 3pts against Birmingham, and a penalty against West brom. It's been coming 3pts, we've played some decent football in parts without getting anything out of the previous 3 matches.

[RoversTilliDie]

3 hours ago, doctorryan said:

😆

Didn't he support Birmingham.😄

[Exiled_Rover]

9 minutes ago, sharpysharps86 said:

Sensational result. Rovers were excellent today.

Hull may have been poor but Rovers did a job on them. Reminded me a touch of Norwich away under JDT.

Alebiosu appears to be a very good signing. Early days but looking like shrewd business.

Hedges was very good. Need him to turn up and be like that more often than not. He deservedly gets stick on here, but today he was great looked up for it.....and arguably should've had a hat trick.

Definitely prefer Kargbo on the right.

Cantwell - class above everyone else on the pitch. Maybe the captains armband has reminded him how good he can be. Big player for Rovers this season.

My only real criticism is with Gueye. Couldn't keep himself onside for that one chance, and didn't even put it in the net anyway. Poor. The need for a striker is clear as Ohashi will put in the work rate and deserved a goal....but he does get bullied and the first touch isn't great.

Just a joy to watch overall.

Your only criticism is with a guy that was thrown on for 5 minutes at the end?

Bloody hell some of you have proper agendas.