Battling, brilliant bounce back from the Hull match. Watford controlled possession but Rovers chased and harried, mostly restricting Watford to long-range efforts. Good game for: Pears (clean sheet), Hyam & Carter (organised), Travis (harried), Hedges (his running broke up their attacks), Scott Wharton (strong off the bench when it mattered). Poor game for: Dolan (I fear not Championship standard). In addition: Moran (once up to speed could be a gem), Adam Wharton (Dunn enthusiasm, game time will help iron out the slips) and Leonard (needs game time, but tricky when just one up top). Great result!

Not often you ‘enjoy’ a defeat, but it was a cracking, entertaining match that could have gone either way. Noteable shouts: Leonard chased and chased. Travis harried and when he picked up the ball deep was composed helping ease pressure. Hedges took his chance and worked hard. Ennis held the ball well. Wharton increasingly class. Play like that again and we will win more than we lose. As an aside I hope we don’t panic and read too much into this result and feel we have to make signings. We don’t need more ‘Morton’s’ for the sake of it.

Entertaining win, with everyone who would benefit from match experience getting a chance. Roll on the 2nd round.

I enjoy a good cup run, did wonders last season: morale, cash and an opportunity for game time for the wider squad. Doesn’t look it’s on TV, so Rovers TV for the radio coverage for me.

Nice to see my faith wasn’t misplaced. With injuries and a slower transfer window it’s an opportunity for certain players to take their chance and today they have with both hands. Great start to the season!

That is a poor pre-season. Rare sunny day, Leonard takes his chance, Rovers 1-0 and we are off! It’s a decent squad… We just missed the play-offs, yes Diaz has left but he had tailed off. We have a young, hungry squad, the new signings will get fit and add some depth. Roll on Saturday.

Deserves a chance, though needs to be given a proper run of games to get into the rhythm of senior football.

Renewed - these fanzines are fantastic, so big thank you to those that pull it together 👏🏻

It’s important to not carried away from pre-season friendlies. With that in mind I think the WBA XI is starting to take shape: JRC JRC JRC JRC JRC JRC JRC JRC JRC JRC JRC

Okay, it’s not available in any normal bookshops… I believe Rovers (store) will be selling it, plus Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tony-Parkes-Authorised-Suzanne-Geldard/dp/1910827673/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=tony+parkes&qid=1685914925&sr=8-1 I’ve just ordered 📚

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65502322 The EFL has confirmed a new Sky Sports deal which will see both a significant increase in income for clubs and matches shown. Aside from the slight issue that I think we last won a Sky featured match back in the 90s, a seemingly good deal?

Or TK has indicted he wants to leave? So Pears getting game time perhaps justifiable. Thats just guesswork, probably his better distribution giving him the nod?

It’s on Sky and we always step it up for the cameras *cough*

Well nightmare scenario, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort and theatrics from the Dingles. Ultimately the lack of a striker is why we are now outside of the play offs with it all to do and Burnley are heading up. But we showed enough tonight that we have progressed and with a few key additions it could be us next season.

We live to fight another day! Great fight back and decent performance against a team who had picked up some good recent wins. Our lack of strike power is the issue, but as a team performance we remain in the mix - just! JRC more advanced a real positive.

Palace in the play offs. Liverpool last minute equaliser in the FA Cup. The 1st PL relegation season, I was there for the Southampton 3-3 away match where we conceded 2 late goals and walking back to the station realising we really could be in trouble - though thankfully we still had to face the dreadful Forest. The Forest match. Then the following season, away to Swindon Town (where I now live) they were bottom and in administration so selling anyone they could - they beat us 2-1.

Never good to lose, but fair play to Stoke they are red hot at the moment and the spirit in the team managed to rally and make it respectable. Sometimes you will just come up against teams at their peak. The Reading match will be one we absolutely have to win.

Complete performance and great 3 points. That’s as good as I’ve seen us play this season. (Extra enjoyment as away with Dingle relatives who were expecting us to get smashed!) Pears, JRC, Carter and Szmodics have all grabbed their chances with both hands. That’s good man management. Good times!!

3 more vital points, a great performance (including not collapsing after their equaliser) and JRC continues to be the replacement signing we didn’t make!

Valuable 3 points, another clean sheet, better gate and back in the play-offs. League table though doesn’t hide the (lack of) goals for / difference, but we definitely going in the right direction. If not enough this season, certainly bodes well for next.

Vital 3 points. A lot of character shown to get those. Carter really has cemented his place and to be fair he deserved the chance after such a good spell at Pompey.

Good point especially considering we have no striker, were behind, away to WBA… Need to make sure the upcoming home fixtures fire us back into the play-offs. Surely we have to try Leonard, or frankly ask Simon Garner if he still has his boots?

Fair play there Beale.

For us against Arsenal.

Last time I was at Watford we won 1-0. Marcus Bent. I had £1 at 66-1 on this and I was a student, so great times. Mind you got some odd looks cheering throw ins in the latter stages of the match! Id take 1-0 again, suspect we are on for a thumping.