Scored two. One each for our strikers. Worked our socks off. Battled and fought. Played for each other. Matched them physically. Kept our focus and composure. Good away point.  We have been terrible in recent derbies.

We all expected to concede in the 2nd half after two late goals in the first half. Not pretty to watch, but we didn't collapse. Well done to all involved including the thousands of away fans who went in hope rather than expectation.

Best of luck to JDT.

However his departure felt somewhat inevitable as we plummeted down the table. Regardless of who is to blame, we need to start performing and picking up some points.

Great to be above Septembers champions PNE.

I'd rather lose trying to win anyday.

We are better than many on here believe.

We are improving with every game we play in this manner.

I'm more confident this time round than I have been for years.

Well done to all concerned. Look how many we are scoring!!!

The team and players are improving. The longer we play in this manner the better we get. I'm much more confident this year than last.

Both teams coming off important victories, but I expect us to win by the odd goal.

5 minutes ago, Moptop1 said:

I thought it was “Never felt like singing the blues, when Burnley win and Rovers lose. Oh Rovers, you’ve got me singing the blues…”

Behave.

20 minutes ago, 47er said:

Shouldn't it be "I've never felt less like singing the blues"?

😀

Its a 'blues' as in colour and conversely happiness 47er, but you know that already!!!! And yes we are happy tonight!

Don't try and make sense of football chants!

For years before matches in the early 80's we sang 'We are the Rovers, We are the Champions'....'We are the Rovers, Champions of Europe'....normally before losing at home to Swindon, or Port Vale, or Oxford. Real Madrid weren't panicking, but we kept singing it.

I never felt more like singing the blues, the Rovers win, the Burnley / North End lose....

I'm much more confident this year than last. A lot of single goal victories last season.

COYB.

41 minutes ago, Mercer said:

Unbelievably, odds on Preston win are 3/1.

We will barely have a defence come Friday and behind that defence will stand a nervous, error prone, 'draculaesque' goalie. 

The aerial bombardment will be akin to America's bombing of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia!

This is some opportunity to fill those Christmas stockings - make the most of it and soften the blow of a PNE win.

Mmmm you had us losing 3 or 4 - 1 at Norwich earlier. If we had kept 11 men on the field we might have won by 5!

Bet against the Rovers? Doubt there are many on here who would ever do that. 

We just need to take our chances. 2-1 Rovers.

4 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

429 Rovers fans made the trip today and each and every one of those deserved a huge thankyou from Rovers and other Rovers fans. Delighted for them we won. 

Yes me too. They have not heard of motorways in that neck of the woods and it is a terrible journey.

Tremendous result. Chuffed for the players and the travelling fans. Brilliant.

Joe Root playing across the line through mid wicket / square leg, first ball, to a delivery hitting middle and leg, that he should be playing through mid-on or even straighter if he doesn't shuffle across his crease. LB bubblegum, golden duck, terrible example, with loads of time on his side to build an innings. Joe Root!! One of the more intelligent players.

Sweeping changes needed, in personel, strategy, preparation and mind-set.

Chasing 4.58 per over. We could have won it in singles. Too many players forgetting simple fundamentals like playing straight and protecting their wicket. Very naive batting by experienced professionals.

8 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Buried my mum on Thursday.  She loved rovers hope we get a result for her. I used to go to games with her till venkys came and ruined everything.  I couldn't go after that because of what they did to the club.  My big regret was not taking her to one more game

I am very sorry to hear that. I hope your managing. 

I don't agree it's a poor division and we are a poor team. A young team, an evolving team, a team needing an extra sprinkle of experience and star dust, then yes.

The clues in the word team. We work our socks off for each other. We were in the top six for months last year. We beat a couple of PL teams away in the cups. Only inexperience, a small squad and Diaz dropping off a cliff after January goosed our chances.

We had much more expensive squads under Coyle, Bowyer and Kean and often couldn't buy a win.

Watching West Ham win in Europe last year, Villa score 4 away, Newcastle batter PSG, Arsenal winning away in Seville, Liverpool scoring 5 midweek, Brighton winning in Europe, City in the last 8 of the CL most years, demonstrates the strength of the PL far and wide. The overspill  for teams below them and into our division is hugely beneficial.

Players, pitches, medical, dietary, stats and data standards have all improved dramatically this last twenty-five years.

I think we are getting better and better. I believe we are much more learned and knowledgeable this year. The technical requirements to play possession based football from your own penalty box should not be underestimated. As more teams play in this manner standards will further improve. 

A win against Swansea and we have 22 points and are possibly back in the top six. I'm much more confident this season than last. COYB.

Edit - spelling.

Embarrassing yet again.

Not making excuses but especially for batsmen, it can't be easy balancing the technical requirements of county cricket, 20 over cricket, 50 over cricket and test cricket. I feel that some of our players are a tad confused.

Dynamite. Cheered me up no end. It felt like we were in a false position, but until you stop the rot it gets a bit worrying. COYB.

2 hours ago, Gav said:

 You can see a batsman in him though I presume OjW?

Some of those shots he played during the Ashes were a joy to behold, absolute class, the lads technically gifted and that is the reason why the management have stuck with him. 

Yes of course. I'm just not sure I see an opening batsman. Two or three low scores and he will be back averaging in the 20's and be in line to get dropped. So he needs to crack on.

He suits the latest brand of ccricket. He is fun to watch. I just think an Alderman or a Mcgrath would keep knocking him over early.

On 04/08/2023 at 11:43, chaddyrovers said:

Oh Yes Crawley, England top run scorer in the Ashes and still zero praise or knowledge that you were wrong on him. Quality player that Stokes and McCullum backed every time. well done 

Still only averaging 31 in test cricket. Looks like a decent number 5 or 6 to me. Needs to learn where his off stump is and play a lot straighter. Very good eye however and looks good in full flow.

Line and length bowlers would fancy their chances.

2 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

As you say play every ball on its merits. I get the feeling that our guys have decided on the shot before the bowler has let go of the ball. That’s fatal.

You cannot charge down the wicket, play reverse sweeps, scoops over the keeper, hoofs over mid-wicket to the quicks....without it being completely pre-meditated. There's no time to get into position for these shots at 85 miles an hour over 20 yards after the ball leaves the hand.

The problem being if the ball doesn't go exactly where hope, you end up adjusting mid-shot and then anything can happen. Like getting out! And looking really scruffy and unprofessional whilst doing it.

The way we are playing our cricket at the moment is good fun. And we have won a lot of test matches of late. I don't think you can play this way unless fully committed. You either do or you don't.

You can still get out fudging about Chris Tavare style. I say keep going and see where it takes us. We just need to be better at hitting every single ball faced to the boundary.  🤣 

If we can't believe in the team at the moment it's a poor do.

We aren't conceeding many. Our away form is much improved. We are on a great run. Players are developing and performing. The team is improving. Its not far to travel. We'll have a good away following. Our injuries are clearing up. Players are holding down their positions. The squad is getting playing time. Their is an excellent team spirit.We are not only managing expectations, but exceeding them. We are getting better.

We have just beat Sheff United. With that result, if I was in charge, I'd be thinking top two, not top six. I'd be challenging one and all to win at Stoke to further that aim. 

We aren't conceding many! Hard to lose when they struggle to score.

Stoke 1 - Rovers 2. COYB.

That was a great example of professional football.  Very tough and uncompromising. Only decided by a good move and smart finish. Two very determined teams. 

There is now real belief in all we do. A strength and resilience that was missing at times earlier this season. I was confident today we would win.

Huge credit to management for the way the group is being handled. I'm really enjoying seeing the players develope individually. And improve as a team. 

Don't be aggrieved by United's tactics. The stakes are monumental and we should expect nothing less. Just be proud how we handled them and stayed focused.

Time for the fans to up the ante now and show the players we believe in them and want success. The missing thousands would be the perfect addition to the promotion push.