v Bristol City (a) - 4/11/25

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

13 minutes ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

Good win, table looking a lot more rosy now.

hope Wharton isn’t injured but if he is I’d stick with the 3 at the back and play Pickering lcb and move McLaughlin centre 

Or Ribeiro. We need to stick to the same formation in my opinion.  I hope he doesn’t got to a back 4 because we are short on numbers.  It’s just showing how foolish it was to let Hyam go as well as O’Riordan when we knew Carter was so injury prone.

it’s noticeable Pickering wasn’t even on the bench tonight.

[Norbert Rassragr]

If we keep this up we'll sell several players in January. We all know how promotion is sabotaged.

[47er]

25 minutes ago, NeilInBristol said:

He’ll come shopping again in Jan I bet

and we'll sell.

[Exiled_Rover]

1 hour ago, Torgeir said:

The home side were always going to come out hard after the break. An excellent win for us and thought we stood the game out well with little to no help from the referee who got worse and worse by the minute.

 

A few key players missing for the match on Saturday, thought Tronstad was excellent before he was let down by Miller and got his yellow. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant run of form! Really good goal as well.

Gueye looks heavier than before, or am I seeing things?

It wasn't even a foul by Tronstad - although once the ref had given it I thought he had to send Sondre off. He was the last man.

[Exiled_Rover]

26 minutes ago, NeilInBristol said:

He’ll come shopping again in Jan I bet

He can't possibly have any money left. 

[Neal]

2 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Hedges is absolutely stealing a wage tonight.

Eh? He was class. Worked his balls off down that wing tonight. 

[Exiled_Rover]

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Not sure about Miller.

Thought Wharton was great before he came off.

Alebiosu absolutely outstanding first half, strangely subdued second.

They man marked Alebiosu out of the game second half.

He was also clearly knackered.

[DackDackGoose]

Had a good view from my seat high up in home end, Bristol city fans are awful, so quiet. Particularly compared to Bristol Rovers (who I frequent as a local). Their reaction during Toth injury was laughable.

Miller my man of match, city were awful and didn't think we were much better, but a good away performance. We were much the better side.

[Ossydave]

4 hours ago, DackDackGoose said:

Had a good view from my seat high up in home end, Bristol city fans are awful, so quiet. Particularly compared to Bristol Rovers (who I frequent as a local). Their reaction during Toth injury was laughable.

Miller my man of match, city were awful and didn't think we were much better, but a good away performance. We were much the better side.

City were awful, didn't think we were much better, then go on to say we were much the better side? Did you have a few drinks too?

[Ossydave]

6 hours ago, Ricky said:

It was mentioned on comms that it was his 5th yellow and he would miss Saturday now. 

Yes he's definitely out which is a huge loss, Derby seem to be winning games in midfield at the minute, so much so elements of their fans are saying they've been much better since Travis got injured......

Forshaw actually did ok tonight, but a full 90 would be too much for him, suspect it'll be a split shift between him and Montgomery.

[Torgeir]

6 hours ago, Neal said:

Eh? He was class. Worked his balls off down that wing tonight. 

He's been good all season but usually he breaks down once he peaks, but he seldom plays the full 90 and has healthy competition for his place in de Neve now. Was surprised when he got benched, but his issues with his end product are still ongoing 🙂

[ageoftherover]

7 hours ago, NeilInBristol said:

Lads I am home safe and sound

tonight was a joy 

tomorrow will be a sweet day in the office - they mocked for years after THAT drubbing, well tomorrow I will be doing the mocking! 

come on you rovers

 

Nothing sweeter.

[NeilInBristol]

6 hours ago, DackDackGoose said:

Had a good view from my seat high up in home end, Bristol city fans are awful, so quiet. Particularly compared to Bristol Rovers (who I frequent as a local). Their reaction during Toth injury was laughable.

Miller my man of match, city were awful and didn't think we were much better, but a good away performance. We were much the better side.

We should go watch the gas together mate and talk all things rovers!

[arbitro]

For the fourth time this season the journey home felt far better despite the best efforts of Highways England to change that.

Once again I thought we were the better side particularly in the first half when we were dominant and Bristol were reduced to counter attacking. Getting a goal when in a position of dominance is so important and that is what we did (at one stage I thought our Achilles Heel of missing presentable chances would cost us) so for me that was stage one completed.

We knew the second half would be a backs to the wall job, almost a role reversal from the first half. But we, once again defended valiantly and being completely honest I was relaxed about holding on to the lead.

We were desperately unlucky with injuries in the second half but he much maligned Forshaw in particular came on and did a really good job. Despite the referee doing his best to give Bristol a chance (from afar we thought the tired challenge by Alebiosu was a penalty so perhaps I can forgive him for the extraordinary amount of stoppage time.

Whilst we are on a good run it was heartening to hear a some Rovers fans singing anti Venky songs.

Well done to the staff and players once again. They have been questioned many times this season for various reasons but one thing nobody can question is their commitment to the cause.

[Penwortham Blue]

7 hours ago, Neal said:

Eh? He was class. Worked his balls off down that wing tonight. 

Hedges played really well, I think both him and De Neve are really decent options a LWB. Some really good performances tonight but thought Miller played really well.

[joey_big_nose]

8 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Or Ribeiro. We need to stick to the same formation in my opinion.  I hope he doesn’t got to a back 4 because we are short on numbers.  It’s just showing how foolish it was to let Hyam go as well as O’Riordan when we knew Carter was so injury prone.

it’s noticeable Pickering wasn’t even on the bench tonight.

Agreed we have to stick with the 3412 - the combination of Miller, Alebiouso, Morishita, Ohashi down the right is absolutely devastating. Sort of setup which is both offensively almost impossible to defend against as they totally overwhelm the oppositions left side while being very robust off the ball.

That said I wouldn't go for Riberio at lcb - he is way too small. We were lucky Bristol were poor and down a man so couldnt target him.

Pickering seems more suited to me. A bit bigger and more physical, and has more quality on the ball which you need in that role. Feeling a bit concerned about not having Wharton organising things though as he is brilliant at it. 

Edited 3 hours ago by joey_big_nose

[...]

Woken up, tired, back in the van to work, absolutely piss soaked 🌧 and happy as fook 🔵⚪️🔵⚪️🔵⚪️🔵⚪️🤣🤣 COME ON YOU BLUES!!!

GET IINNNNNN!!!

[...]

6 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Agreed we have to stick with the 3412 - the combination of Miller, Alebiouso, Morishita, Ohashi down the right is absolutely devastating. Sort of setup which is both offensively almost impossible to defend against as they totally overwhelm their left side while being very robust off the ball.

That said I wouldn't go for Riberio at lcb - he is way too small. We were lucky Bristol were poor and down a man so couldnt target him.

Pickering seems more suited to me. A bit bigger and more physical, and has more quality on the ball which you need in that role. Feeling a bit concerned about not having Wharton organising things though as he is brilliant at it. 

This rightside definitely has  chemistry and clicking really well.

Really like our play at the moment, pressing, and going forward not many sideways passes, think we stopped at half way line on two breaks and just  played safe but other than that the energy, the tempo was zippy and show some brilliant link up play

Edited 3 hours ago by ...

[Eternal Optimist]

Strange game, thought we were excellent in the first half Alebiosi especially not sure if he was tired 2nd half or he was told to hang back but he was barely used. Miller was outstanding and has really grown into his centre back role 💪

2nd half was very scrappy some of our short passing was abysmal, it feels like sometimes our players panic to get rid to another and just don’t look up! Anyway that’s my only negative from what was a fantastic away win ☺️

[M_B]

8 hours ago, Neal said:

Eh? He was class. Worked his balls off down that wing tonight. 

Rovers Co commentator singled Hedges out for praise, rightly so. 

[Tugayisgod]

8 hours ago, Neal said:

Eh? He was class. Worked his balls off down that wing tonight. 

I think Rev has a rather curious view of some players performances and sees things somewhat differently to most of us 😄

[joey_big_nose]

7 minutes ago, Tugayisgod said:

I think Rev has a rather curious view of some players performances and sees things somewhat differently to most of us 😄

Yup works on an immediate sorting of players as good or bad then will stick with it come hell or high water!

[...]

12 minutes ago, M_B said:

Rovers Co commentator singled Hedges out for praise, rightly so. 

Thought Hedges has really come on leaps and bounds (short ones!) Since last season credit where credits due he's really working hard down that side and I was mauling him last season. Definitely more room for improvement but he's been OK 👍🏻 

[rigger]

3 minutes ago, ... said:

Thought Hedges has really come on leaps and bounds (short ones!) Since last season credit where credits due he's really working hard down that side and I was mauling him last season. Definitely more room for improvement but he's been OK 👍🏻 

Perhaps Hedges is now being asked to do a job more suited to his capabilities ?

[joey_big_nose]

Looking ahead to Derby I think Id go

                            Pears

            Miller.   McLoughlin.  Pickering

Alebiouso.    TGH.     Forshaw.     Hedges 

                          Morishita 

                Ohashi.       Gudjonsen 

Just look to get forward down the right and defend on the left. Bring Montgomery, De Neve, Henricksson for extra energy around the 60th-70th minute. I have include Forshaw as I think Montgomery and TGH are a bit too similar in how they are most comfortable getting forward, and we will need someone who can drop off and calm things down a bit in the middle.

If we had Toth and Wharton id be optimistic, but feels like our defensive confidence could be quite fragile. First goal even more crucial than usual.