Andy

Always improves my chances of scoring, to be fair.

Oh, 100% - they say it all levels out over a season, so we'll take it!

It's not about the position of the player playing the ball, but the player receiving it and the trajectory of the ball. If the cross had been a sideways ball, it could never be offside. But Hyam was behind the last defender and the ball is played forward, so it's offside.

Agree with this, he's been excellent on the whole since he's been with us. Comes across well, works hard on the pitch and has that bit of extra quality that most of the league doesn't. Yes, it doesn't always come off, but when he pops up with a bit of magic like today, it's completely worth it.

That's a superb goal. Cantwell and Beck outstanding in the build up.

Quite pleased with how we've played, in a tricky away game. But Dolan really has been the weak point in the side. Not just the missed header from a few yards out, but misplaced passes and soft possession loss.

Nixon will be gutted. Nobody to leak information to him now, back to the usual guesswork.

Let's see how these players fare against proper, competitive opposition before we get excited about any of them. It's one thing flattening an Ireland, but it's how you do against Italy, Spain or Germany that matters.

To be fair, Rovers U19's would beat this Ireland side. Not really a marker for how good/bad we are.

Still not particularly arsed, it's a glorified friendly game again. However, pleased to beat Ireland purely because we'd never hear the end of it - just like Scotland celebrating their 0-0 win against us last summer (or whenever it was).

Gestede: 'the fans don't actually understand the situation, you have to speak to them in a certain way' Au contraire Rudy, we're not a set of dribbling idiots. We understand the past, present and have a better idea of the club's future than you ever will. With any luck, the court case actually goes ahead tomorrow, rules against the Venky's and we maybe get to finally lance the boil.

I'm actually not sure of his name - had white hair and pink boots, I think. And agreed on O'Hashi, one of his better games for us but just lacks that strength to play as a lone striker for me.

I think that's generous - the defence is a lot more organised and well drilled and he's benefited from that. Even the Swedish lad we had last season would have kept clean sheets in those matches. He remains a liability and isn't good enough to be a top-half Championship number 1 - see Viktor Johansson for an example of what is. But, again, he did well today.

Delighted with 3 points, 2 very good team goals (and Baker's wasn't bad either). Thought Trav was excellent today. JRC didn't need to make that challenge and gave them a foot back in the game, but made up for it with the assist for the 3rd. Pears is dogshit, but he's had a good game today. Thought their number 27 up top was exactly what our side is missing. Held the ball well, intelligent distribution and brought play in around him.

Seems the death spiral has started a couple of months earlier this season; can't see us taking anything from any of the upcoming few games, if I'm completely honest. We need a different approach or we'll continue to see the same results.

He's been the fortunate beneficiary of a more organised back line this season. But make no mistake, he is a liability and will continue to be a liability. I have no idea if Toth is actually any good, but working on the basis that he's not Pears, I'm willing to give him a go. As for the other end, just play Leonard and Tyjon. Both are kids, but already streets ahead of Gay and Ohashi.

Have no words. Well, except to agree with the comment that if we'd swapped GKs at kick off, we'd be 4-0 up now.

And this is the difference between having a proper GK and having the likes of Pears.

Not just that, but being beaten at home by them.

Get Tyjon on - he's still young and a bit raw, but he's a genuine talent and knows where the goal is. As much as I like Ohashi, he could play 250 minutes tonight and he's still not scoring. (Cue him sticking one into the top corner...) Edit: alternatively, he might get played in, trip over his own feet and Stoke will go up the other end and score.

I think that's been a really good first 30 minutes, with the other 15 not being too shabby either. Ironically, Stoke should be a goal up with the one attack they've had. Cantwell is superb and he's not even fully match fit yet. Some of the football in that first 30 reminded me of the best stuff under JDT, particularly with the fullbacks taking up the wide positions. We do need to win this though if we have any ambitions of achieving anything this season.

Horrible performance today. Not a single shot on target in a home game is criminal. Cantwell looked a clear class above anyone else on the pitch, but what's the point in trying to soar like an eagle when you're surrounded by pigeons? Dolan does have some positive attributes, but his decision making and overplaying is more a hindrance than any benefit he offers the team.

If you go back far enough, it was 62,500.

I agree - I didn't intend for it to be a defence in any way, just an explanation of what happened. When he was all-in, we were greater than the sum of our parts and some of the football we played was the best I've seen in my 30-odd years of being a Rover. But yeah, as a character trait, it's certainly not a desirable and does take a bit of credit away from the otherwise very good job he did here.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of this rewriting history. JDT did an excellent job here for the majority of his time, certainly that first season. Yes, it went to shit towards the end, but he'd mentally signed off long before that point.