BigUts

Job done. To coin a Mowbrayism - we put the points in the bag and we move on. Nervy, tense, edgey, flat. Everything I thought it might be. A tough scenario in a game you are supposed to win especially when you score so early and the game almost feels too 'easy'. After the equaliser I thought we would do what we have done so often in the past when we get a sucker punch and just find it almost impossible to get ourselves going again - but this side are now made of sterner stuff. I was aghast at the Thomas change initially as I thought, as usual, he was proving a decent outlet. Understood the Dolan one as I thought BBD looked like he was holding his hamstrings, but Hedges came up trumps with a lovely finish just inside the corner (from my angle in the BBE I thought he had put it wide). Special mentions for me for Travis, Gallagher and Szmodics. Travis looks rejuvenated and Gallagher is starting to look like the centre forward his physique will allow him to be. He's putting himself about and is winning aerial duals and flick-ons that are aimed towards him. Szmodics is a revelation and his energy and cute little runs are causing teams all sorts of issues. The way the team is playing I think we can put down to he and Thomas being in the side brining energy and verve. Hoping SS, and we, can maintain the energy on Sunday.

The state of the trains on Sunday are a big worry. I don't care about getting home but getting there on time is the most important thing 😄 You're correct that will be the first leg of my journey to Lime Street. Northern really are the bottom of the barrel and have been for a long time (I used to work for a travel company that dealt with nearly all of the TOCs). #pray4BigUts

Same. I'm bringing 3 Everton fans with me 😁

Already buzzing for this and we are still 4 days out. Jumping the train from sunny Southport at 8am for a 3 hour journey to Sheffield. Hoping a few Rovers join the train as it passes through Manchester to land in Sheffield at just after 11. COYB!

It isn't "must-win" but we absolutely have to win this game if we have any designs on finishing within the play-offs. There will indeed be further twists and turns but you can't always guarantee they'll drop in your favour. The more we can do to mitigate them affecting us as the season draws to a close then it'll make our job a hell of a lot easier and a lot less stressful.

Travis is fine. He is on 8 bookings so far. Unsure when the cut off might be for the 10 bookings but I'm sure I read somewhere its after the game tonight...so unless he gets 2 tonight, he's all good.

Shite 😔

Looks like lots of rain after 6pm Wednesday. We've seen a few times over the last 18 months that significant rain in a short period is pitches achilles heel...could be again especially after the last few days

I think we win this but maybe not as comfortably as we would all hope. Get a feeling we might end up with a late winner to send us home happy but frustrated for 85 minutes. Rovers 1 - 0 Royals Brereton-Diaz 86' Attendance 15,227

The Doobie Brothers - Long Train Runnin'

Potters 0 - 2 Rovers A Pickering wand of a left foot finish for 2 in 2, and a thumping Hyam header both in the first half mean we come away with all 3 points, with a smash and grab victory after having <40% possession and only 3 shots on target.

Almost the perfect performance on Saturday. The only thing lacking was putting The Blades to the sword in that spell of 20 mins just after half time. What I enjoy at the moment is the relentless pressure. Press, press, press and attack, attack, attack. Don't let them have a minute and they simply couldn't cope. There was a moment, I think after Szmodics hit the bar, were the whole United back line were bent over hands on thighs looking at each other looking gassed. The front 4 of Thomas, Gallagher, Szmodics and Dolan were unbelievable. Their collective and individual energy levels have really made us turn that corner. Hoping we can maintain the energy and the confidence over the next 10 games. We won't win them all, but play like we have done over the past few and and we will win the majority.,

Really fancy it. They had a very tough game themselves on Wednesday with a few out injured / illness and with it being an early KO this could swing the pendulum in our favour. The squad is looking thin though but a lot, and I almost can't believe I'm saying this, could rest on the shoulders of JRC being fit. He adds something to both the full back and midfield positions at the moment. You could see on Tuesday just how influential he has become when he got taken off Leicester really started to create some chances. Going for a nervy 2-1 victory which will hopefully keep up the momentum COYB!

The apparent "whoosh" makes no sense You know what that means, right?

I'm sure if your wife / girlfriend / partner was half a decent person they'd understand their own husband / boyfriend / partner in going to arguably our biggest game in the past five or more years. You can treat your significant other any day of the year.

Don't disgaree Matty. I sent Mr. W****** an email outlining why I thought this was a futile approach (see the Waggot thread) and if everyone feels the same I would implore them to to the same. I didn't receive a response and doubt it got even more than a cursory glance but if a shed load of us do the same then it might make him take some notice at least

Hopefully Steve heeds advice from basically the whole of the world that season tickets are released early (well, early for us and within in a normal time frame for the rest of the footballing fraternity) and with a reasonable price point. £299 for basically everywhere in the ground other than the JW upper at £350 would be a good offer I bet a good number of people will take up.

Sensational. Probably the best 65 minutes I've seen us play for many years. We didn't give them a second and pressed so well it was frightening. We could genuinely have been 4 or 5 up before Leicester got a foothold. Szmodics, Dolan, JRC and Gallagher were the stand outs for me. Szmodics really is the difference maker I think. His energy really allows the team to press with much more vigour compared when Dack is in the side. Bradley is technically superior but he doesn't have the legs to do what Sammy does. Gallagher really looked like the centre forward we all want him to be and has all the physical attributes to be. Big, strong, fast, imposing. I'm hoping the last couple of games and working with a real top class centre forward in JDT is finally bearing fruit. I'll hold my hands up and admit I was basically laughing at JRC last season he was so bad, but he kept Barnes so quiet before he went off injured and he along with Hyam would be the first names on my team sheet at the moment.

Spot on

Looks like they've all gone now. Went online to get one and the option is no longer there

I was thinking about this myself. I'm sure there would be a way of calculating this but we seem to be facing this nearly every 3rd or 4th game...it's likely confirmational bias on my part though 😁

You will be able to buy a walk on ticket at the game tonight no problem. I would just recommend trying to get there in plenty of time as a good number of people seem to like leaving their ticket purchase until the last second!

I don't claim to be an 'ITK' in any way but a birdie told me tonight that the pendulum is looking like it will swing in our direction.

What chump has taken those pictures 😂

My conclusions from last night: 1. Vale is nowhere near good enough for this level of football and I do wonder whether persisting with him is more about JDT sending a message then thinking he's good enough 2. BBD is finished here. We would be better leaving him out now and changing system 3. Something is definitely amiss. Malaise has set in and from top to bottom something is wrong. 4. The season is over.