Thetownend.com

Better start an official thread.

Swindon 3-1 Rovers att: 12,897 (2,640 them)

2-1 Town, 13,287 (2,672 Gas)

We’ve scored 10 in our last 3 league games - I expect more goals.

Another 3 should be enough. Can see breaking 13,000.

Tense 3-2 win

12,907

Swindon to suffer a single goal defeat in front of 12,145 fans with 2,585 Gash heads there.

0 - 0

Att:11,502

Fairly sure we have already sold more tickets than that looking at the seat map.

If so, that's a great effort

My eldest son can't wait for this so said he wanted to do the maths.
He reckons we still have about 1750 tickets left to sell. He doesn't know how many seats rovers have been allocated but if they're bringing 2800 as has been mentioned elsewhere I (he) thinks we're odds on for 13000.
Going to be immense and both the town end and DRS need to be in full voice.
Not sure who's more excited him or me. 🤔

Think he is spot on.

We'll sell another 500 today  ;)

With the cost of extra policing and threat of potential trouble it makes you wonder how we were allowed to give them so many tickets.
https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/19862765.swindon-town-v-bristol-rovers-pubs-shut-away-fans-police-force/

Especially when we were reduced to 700 at their place. Makes a bit of a mockery of it all.

Yes spot on it makes a mockery of it all plus they can still drink early so don't see the reason for a 1pm kick off.

As you keep telling us Jimmy  :doh:

Early kick offs have been used by the police for years so are clearly considered an effective way to help manage potentially volatile matches.

Another one waiting to have a dig

You are like a broken record - you’ve made your point repeatedly, so wind your neck in  :smugfu:

Why don't you

.
https://youtu.be/3FQktsKvXcg

from the presser apparently

Ben Garner pre match presser

- Jack Payne Out tomorrow , Baudry back training,

- close to signing 2 players & likely done next week

-Wollacott came back last night but no answer on wether he’ll play.

-still in regular contact with Aston Villa regarding KKH

I wonder with the news that Fraggle Rock is being reinvented, whether other programmes of that era may follow. I remember Why Don't you as a particular childhood memory!

Must be 'cause we're pwopa nawty and they're only a little bit nawty

Looking forward to a busy CG tomorrow  :pint:

Just 45 minutes left to get a ticket. Be there or be a cunt  :)

That's your card marked.

in person, still available online according to ticket office on twitter

Looks like the crowd will be 13,500+ wihch is a decent effort

In person maybe.

Ah right, it wasn't clear. Would be good to sell as many as we can

Town End looks pretty full. Certainly the biggest league attendance for a couple of years.

Oh it was marked a long time ago  :D

I choose the latter! :)

11,500 home tickets sold. Looking at 14,000+ tomorrow.

Fantastic!

Just looked online and the only groups of available tickets are the corner between the TE and Arkrells. Fill that area up a bit more with online over night sales and we’re not looking a million miles off a sell out here! COYR

Only issue there is the tickets have gone off sale.  :)

Nope they're still online (just checked)

Yeah still available online I believe, just not in person. Not 100% when the come offline mind.

Where did you get that from Aud? Capacity is only around 14.8k and the away end is around 3.2k. Defo more than 100 seats left. Plus I guess 500 seats are not being sold to Rovers

From Twitter

‘Around 11,500 sold for tomorrow from the #STFC Faithful. Just 30 minutes to get yours online if you are planning on joining us!

If there's someone you know that might be tempted... make sure they know there's no tickets on the gate tomorrow.’

Ta. I see that's a quote from Great Western Reds.

Oh, so online is going to be closed shortly too? Strange.

14,753 for Man City as a virtual sell out (may have been a few singles left?) but remember that reduced capacity on TV due to the cameras. Max capacity should be right around the 15k mark.

So I am curious....this match is a "derby" i believe....are there many of you that know fans from the other team and talk shit back and forth all in good fun or is this just simply a flat out rivalry that hate is involved?

Derby's over here are a bit tastier than games in the US.

If away fans find themselves in/ infiltrate the home terrace (Town End) there is a distinct possibility of blood and arrests.

Yeah, I suppose its a derby due to proximity. It's not a main one obviously with Oxford being the main.

Distance doesn't always mean rivalry though. Gillingham probably has a bit more needle to it than Reading, Cheltenham or Forest Green, for example.

I see....

I'm probably in the minority, but if given the choice, I'd much rather go to this game over the Man City one.

Part of me is greedy and disappointed it's not a sell out, but then I checked our past home attendances vs Rovers over the past 15 years and it never seems to do that well. Or not as well as it could anyway.

A fantastic effort regardless.

I can see why, it means more than man city.

Anyone from West Wiltshire or parts of Gloucestershire will almost certainly know some Bristol Rovers fans, myself included. It's not that tribal, everyone basically gets on and takes the piss. Rovers are probably only third or fourth in most Swindon fans' list of rivals though.

With you here.

Will BR go for the high press or go toe to toe and play football?
I missed the Northampton game and still think it was a fluke so I'm going for a home defeat 2 1 maybe 3 1

Despite a slight upturn in their results since we played them at The Mem, they are still, essentially, a bag of shit.

Hartlepool should have easily beaten them last Saturday. They could still be a bit rusty having only played twice since Dec 11.

Comprehensive and decisive win today. 4-1.

How’s the weather, just about to leave & it’s like the frozen tundra up here

Gutted to be missing today's game due to COVID, so it'll be VPN / i-follow and drinking at home. 

Dry, cloudy & +2 degrees with no frost around.

OB obviously out in force at the station already. early kickoffs,  don't you love em

No frost, even in Highworth. Game on.

Not beaten these at home in front of a crowd since 2010, although not played them much in that time.
Could be biggest crowd at home v Rovers since 1969.

Typical Swindon would be to flop at home in front of a big crowd.
Hopefully that won't be the case today.
We beat them easily in the end in the first game.

Ale doesn't taste the same out of a plastic glass.

Online and phone ticket sales still available today apparently.

wtf!

I mean good. But poor comms if so

Seems odd, but I guess as tickets are still available to Gas fans it's a risk worth taking

Swindon Town FC Ticket Office
@STFC_Ticket
ITS DERBY DAY! Our phone lines will be open from 9am and we WILL be selling tickets over the phone! Lets pack the County Ground!Red circleWhite circle

Brizzle fans starting early, lots just got off the train very rowdy and singing 'Swindon's a shithole I want to go home!'  
My wife said to me, as we carefully avoided them, that they'd make a good male voice choir.

Albeit probably one sounding a lot like The Wurzels.

Spare ticket for drs £20 if any one needs one.

For a team who have only won 8 in 22 their fans are unanimous in predicting a gash win  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Win. 3-1

On current form its pretty even with 2 wins and 2 draw each in the last 5 league games.

Last 5 league games for them DLLWW.

Our last 5 league games LDWLW.

You had to go and spoil it

Great to have a normal 3pm KO for me!

Just as cold here, too. Hunkered down for the afternoon!

:)

Apparently Leon Clarke is back in contention for today for them.

He cried on our pitch......

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FJtGjB6XIAIEB35?format=jpg&name=medium)

Unchanged.

Clarke and Pie man on the bench for them.

On their bench along with PPP.

See last post ;)

Two more committed runners you'd struggle to find. The polar opposite of fresh legs off the bench!

Perhaps they would like to return to St Pauls, Horfield and Kingswood - the true Monte Carlo of the west

Not forgetting the St Tropez of Bristol, Knowle West.

Early morning fixture    :D

Its too early for football here let alone there!

2-1 Town. Conroy to score after his couple of "markers" last week

am I the only one that hates all the "official partners" screen that covers the pitch pre-game....already pay for the ifollow service do i really need to not see the players and fans pre-game....atleast make a ribbon around the screen so i can see some of the activities....

Apparently according to their forum Rovers are looking like lining up as a back 4 today with one of their youngest ever defences.

Other sources say its 5 at the back!

The bit that pisses me off most is the "Thanks for tuning in your matchday commentary show will start soon" fucking constantly on loop.

I was just going to post the same - When the matchday commentary started! :-)

The CG doesn't currently look as full as I hoped it would.

The easy solution is to stay with radio until kickoff.

There are so many things to get pissed off about. Save yourselves one more source.

On the bright side, early kickoffs mean I spend less of my Saturday faffing about not really doing anything useful while I wait for the  start.

Thats what I normally do but there was little matchday build up so I never bothered, no need to put the message on just play crowd noises pre game.

Hundred still outside the Town End trying to get in apparently.

Harry currently on two whinges since kickoff.

WTF is Iandolo doing with that throw.

McKirdy felled 40 yards out.

Ben Purkiss a left field summariser

Good free kick but Gladwin unmarked from 15 yards shoots over the bar wildly.

Iandolo with a nice pass to McKirdy but he cant beat his man.

Just noted a constant stream entering the Townend as we got our first chance from a free kick

McKirdy felled again, town FK.

They are definately targetting McKirdy.

Hunt heads into their box but McKirdy cant quite get to it.

Hunt wins a corner.

Still in the pub  :pint:

7 mins and fans still streaming in to TE

Good corner from Reed finds McKirdy but his shot is blocked for another corner.

Great cross by Rovers inches away from connecting with Loft 3 yards out, good chance.

Too casual from Gladwin.

Lucky not to concede there!

The ref blowing up every time Simson gets near the ball.

Samson gets punished for his strength.

Good take by Ward there.

Gladwins sloppy in possession gives the ball away but Rovers dont punish us with a terrible long shot.

Twice Ben ffs

Gladwin taking too long on the ball

Me taking too long to post!

Great goal

1-0 Simpson, great goal.

1-0 Simpson

Whose on comms today? Cant place the voice at all

Smoooooth.

nice left foot shot!!!! :beers:

Bent it round the keeper from 25 yards

Purkiss.

Ben Purkiss for the first time. Bright guy.

Good tackle by Iandolo.

Lovely little touch by Reed in the lead up to the goal.

He doesn’t like Flitcroft much.

McKirdy wins another corner.

Beautiful cross field ball from Reed to Hunt in the build up

JOB wins a header that goes just over the bar.

Should have been a corner

Simspon beats his man and crosses for McKirdy but its defended out for a corner.

Purkiss calling Rovers Bristol is annoying me more than it should.

Simpson breezes past his man again. Corner

Poor deep corner that time.

McKirdy to Iandolo and he crosses inches beyond Simpson, great chance.

McKirdy puts Iandolo through. Could have scored. Simpson couldn't get on the end. Corner

Williams crosses and we win yet another corner.

JOB wins the header but its soft at the keeper, easy save.

it seems like since the City game, Town has been controlling ball still but willing to send the ball more direct when opportunity is there...earlier in the season seemed like they just wouldnt do that..

i think this is good , exciting , and will lead to more and more goals!

We’re winning headers from corners.  :eek:

Yellow for the Rovers player for a foul on Simpson, at last.

seems weird!

Slightly harsh yellow.

I think it was a cumulative yellow.

The JOB effect

Odimayo ( who I thought had been looking imperious) plays a short ball that lets Rovers in to cross too high and out

What a ball by Reed

cross didnt work out but i like the idea....send ball in quickly to strikers

Barton calling for a yellow at every challenge - orrible twat

JOB slices a cross out, corner to them.

Another yellow for Rovers.

Bartons Rovers doing Barton syle moves on us.

Corner to them off Iandolo.

FFS 1-1

that was a shit goal

It was coming

Keeper error?

Defenders way off that.  :crash:

Ward should have done better and it looked offside to me on 1st look.

1-1 Bit disappointed we looked coverlets on the left as Odimayo had gone to the right to cover Loft and press the ball

Quality by Gladwin

Great ball from Gladwin to McKirdy who runs with the ball but he takes 1 too many touches and the chance is wasted.

Mckirdy needs to have a shot or cut it back.

Purkiss continually calling Rovers 'Bristol' is pretty painful

McKirdy was definately going for glory but he should have crossed it for Simpson.

Console yourself that they’ll hate it more.

Another cynical foul this time on JOB.

Loft is a dirty prick

I prefer Wife Beaters Rovers.

Town needs to talk and get in their head but keep their game fair ...a red is coming for rovers if this keeps up and town keeps their cool

Every Rovers player is going in overly hard and leaving the foot in ala Barton.

2 mins added.

Agree 100%

HT 1-1

is this the same formation as last game?

Strange game.  We look very poor out of possession, giving then far too much time and space.  Defenders look like we don't coach defending.

On the flip side Rovers are so keen to engage that they are a red card walking and easily moved out of position.  The space they leave has led to several good chances as a result.

I want to say we need to get on the ball more and get control but the way to win this could just be to let the Tazmanian Devil approach of Rovers cause their own downfall.

Disappointing that we have let Rovers get back level.

Thought we had looked quite solid down the left until that point.

Simpson had a 10 min spell where he looked unbeatable

Williams a 5-10 minute combat lesson too - both going in hard and getting clattered

Gladwin has tried to slow things down. Looked good at times, but left us dangerously exposed at others.

Thought Conroy and Odimayo were playing well. O'Brien has had a couple of moments. Hunt doing well in attack.

McKirdy is McKirdy! Could have had a couple but has run off the ball well and played in others (Inc Iandolo)

Att: 12,695 (2,473 Rovers)

Should have been 2-0 and would be a different game as started well for the first 15. Out of possession Gladwin is having to play as a proper centre mid but he’s miles off the pace which is causing us major problems. Defence still has no leadership or communication as shown by the goal, someone should have pushed out to stop the cross and either a centre back or Ward needed to commit instead they just left it for each other.

Lyden for Gladwin is needed for me to get some more control in midfield.

Also what’s with Iandolo? He looks like he’s running in treacle when he runs back.

He’s proper trolling them now, calling them Bristol City.

Good anticipation from their keeper coming out to head that.

That’s the Ben Gladwin we signed.

We haven't started this half that well, need to get back to keeping the ball

We have started really poorly, looking disjointed all over the pitch.

Getting annoyed with Ward going long every time and giving up possession.

Iandolo booked for an earlier challenge.

I suppose its better than him gifting them goals with poor short passing.

Corner to Town.

JOB wins a header but its looped into the keepers hands.

Shows us what we’re missing.

need to find a corner set to feature obrien...

Good recovery Akin

Odimayo makes a mistake but wins the ball back in our box.

Very niggly - the ref could help here by letting some of this go, nothing challenges with players falling over

Rovers player falls to the floor and the ref gives then a FK, Galdwin barely even breathed on him. The ref has started giving them all the 50/50 decisions.

This is not looking good.

Gas twats on top this half

Past the hour. Time for Lyden.

So who is Lyden going to come on for?

Gladwin or Williams?

Simpson curls just wide after winning the ball in the box. Good chance.

Should have passed it.

selfish choice

Gladwin for me.

McKirdy unhappy with Simpson. Really should have played McKirdy in for a tap in rather than trying to curl another ok one home

This game is passing Williams by

Whoever’s less broken.

McKirdy tries a curling 20 yarder but its easily saved.

Because they've been kicking lumps out of him all game.

i think formation needs williams in the middle midfield so he can control the game...his position is taking him out of the play

Don't disagree

How many times are our defence going to give it away??

Rovers are pressing well this half which we are not dealing well with

We are giving away the ball far too easily today.

Fuck me!!! when all 20 players are in your box just fucking clear it out

Williams is going to get injured at this rate, targetted fouling.

Williams fouled again, yellow for the Rovers player that time.

Every. Single. Time.

how many yellow cards can you give for shit play....time to get the red out or lose control of the game ref

JOB overseeing Williams with the Rovers twat just in case it kicks off :)

Great JOB.

For me its time for Lyden for Gladwin.

Excellent saving challenge

About 10-15 mins ago

I would keep Williams on as hes winding their players up.

McKirdy pulled down by the neck yet the ref lets it go.

Agree - we need to get him on the ball, been much better last 10

Good move by Town but we cant get a shot in.

JOB has been fantastic today.

Corner to them.

Yeah he's done well

Upgrade on Crichlow

Iandolo looks spent

Iandolo with a poor long shot loses possession from a decent position.

100%

We need a Reed FK

Hunt’s made one or two naive challenges like that today

McKirdy and Simpson have a great understanding on where they need to pass the ball to to create attacks, we just need to get the ball to either quicker.

We look poor this half

That was never a foul by Odimayo.

i think simpson needs to make runs earlier when mckirdy gets the ball on the other side from him so mckirdy can serve the ball into space for him.

Not going to happen today.

Are all the subs injured or something?

It was a foul ON Odimayo

What is the point of the physio's wearing face masks under their noses - might as well not bother

He cried on our pitch.....

Clarke coming on. This'll end well.

Should be about 7 mins ET.

Just don’t get it. Feels like Garner is just letting the game drift costing us a chance of winning.

6 mins added.

We have little on the bench to press or change the game though, other than maybe Lyden who can break up and create stuff.

Adding legs to the midfield would improve us though

McKirdy felled not far outside the box, another booking.

Be interested to know when was the last game we didn’t make any subs.

Come on Reed just get it on target the keeper looks a bit shit.

Borderline red that.

Undeserved winner?

i was wondering if he was last defender as well

On target but at the keeper.

Rubbish

I really dont remember it happening.

Yet another booking for Rovers, thats 6!

Barton being a fuckwit.

Fucking ref has missed so many fouls by them.

Who would have guessed that a Joey Barton side would be so vile?

FT 1-1

Eh, could have been better, could have been worse. Realise success buys you a lot of support in football, but I hope Joey Barton never manages us. Or ideally anyone.

What a bunch of cunts this club is, from staff to players - horrible club

Poor game, O’Brian MoM good to have a defender that can first and foremost actually defend.

Typical rovers, only heard em celebrate a draw at the end. Thick cunts.

Difficult one to take. Poor Rovers side controlled the second half. Should have been out of sight by half time.

Bitterly disappointed but, controversial or not, I will credit Barton for getting a more limited side to outfight STFC and dominate play on the day.

A very well deserved point for Rovers.  No arguments.

Why no subs or positional changes though, Garner?

Mine too.

But they are going to “piss the league” don’t you know? Bunch of dirty bastards just like their dick of a manager, clever to spread the cards around though!

Oh well that’s their cup final out of the way!

JOB my MotM easily.

Bartons' wife should be safe this evening

I don't really know what to make of that.  They ruffled us, Gladwin and Williams won't work when a team closes us down, we defended far too passively yet again and seemed to have no idea what to do to get on the ball and made no changes.

Saying all that we had three really good chances and rarely looked like conceding.  If you just play the key moment highlights we would look like the better team.

Very odd.

I think a good Manager would have made a change after half time.  We needed someone in midfield to provide more of a press on them when they had the ball.  Someone niggling them would create more turnovers in possession and possibly give us a way to get some control.  Less talent on the ball but we didn't need that because Rovers were far too focused on going man to man.

They're shit but they won that 2nd half. Thanks for the 4 pts this season,  you scruffy twats

Solid. Good to see.

And yet we had the better chances

Very un-Garnerball performance.

Felt we were crying out for Lyden to come on for Williams or Gladwin to wrestle a bit of control in midfield.

Could've also done with Woolacott so we could build up attacks.

Lost that in midfield today.

100% this. Lyden for Gladwin for me as Williams revelled in winding them up but Gladwin was poor most of the game TBH barring 1 or 2 little passes.

Pretty honest sum up by Garner - which isn't always the case

Garner:
- Really pleased with how we competed
- Difficult game
- They were aggressive all over the pitch
- Weren't as good with the ball as normal
- Would like us to be braver
- Became bitty due to stoppages
- Take positives that this is 4 points against one of the teams with the biggest budget
- Pitch was dry due to frost. Ball didnt roll well
- Allowed them to press
- Needed a second goal in first half
- Made too many technical errors that is unlike us
- Didn't get up quick enough as a defensive line for the goal
- Didn't get pressure on the ball
- Didn't give them many chances
- Defence was pretty good
- Thought fitness would show at the end
- Should have had 16 rather that 6 mins added
- Needed to do more playing into front 2.
- Their player took a good booking taking McKirdy down
- Thought it was right team for the game. Difficult to make changes
- Didnt get our press right
- Less than 50% possession which is unlike us
- Disappointed not to win even though we know we could do better
- Front 2 looked good.
- Didnt want to go away from shape that we had worked on
- Thought we'd finish stronger
- But game shorted by Loft injury that want added on
- Wollacott disappointed to go out at group stage
- Trained yesterday and will be back in the fold next week
- Need to be fair to the players here and in training
- Both on a level playing field competing for next week
- Hope to get 1 or 2 early next week. And then a couple more after that
- Chorley doing a lot of ground work
- We are in a good place.
- Like to think we'll be in a good place and stronger next week

The contrast between Vale last week giving us time and Rovers today closing down and very niggly, disrupting play was stark.

How we haven’t managed to work out how to combat the pressing is a constant irritation.

Maybe a couple of reinforcements this coming week will help.

Worst ref I’ve seen in a long long time

Got the impression that Garner is confident on reinforcements, and just didn't want to lose today.  Thanks for the four points, Joey.  Will Hayden be returning?

I thought he started very well. He played the advantage and was strong when he needed to be in the first half. However, second half, I think a red could have been produced on a couple of occasions. I also think that he could have added more time on for timewasting.

Didn't enjoy that at all, after the first 20 mins. Once they worked out they had to close us down quicker and drop the ball over the top into the corners, we were never really in the game, bar one or two good chances in the 2nd half. Gladwin back to his frustrating worst for most of the game, but did manage one or two Hoddle-esque moments. Poor shape, lack of urgency and no Lyden in the 2nd half cost us a potential 3 points.

If he had brought Lyden on second half to shore the midfield think we would have won that

Angus:
- Great atmosphere
- Good to see a full ground for the second time in a row
- To get over 10k home fans is great
- Would like to see that every week
- Should be able to with the catchment area we have
- With the performances on the pitch and work in the community we should
- Twine: Fair result. Been better if we could have kept hold of him
- Clem invested in good lawyers. Coming in we didnt have all the paperwork on Twine
- Looking at March cabinet meeting to look at valuations for the ground
- Man City learning?: Its been testing off the pitch to get ready for large crowds
- Staff on pitch have done an amazing job to get games on.
- 3-4k? Working it through. Will share with advisory board.
- Need to look at extra policing costs and seating costs
- Embargo limits money on playing side: We have debts to manage. We have ability to strengthen squad
- Looking at training ground improvements
- Still have significant legal costs
- Money helps to repair costs that have been inherited
- Still find the odd unexpected costs. Said they are pebbles rather than rocks now
- Debt from £4 million down to £2.3 million
- Still legal battles and debts to work through
- In a much stronger position than we were.

First 30 minutes I though we were quite good. Created a few chances and a great finish from Simpson gave us a deserved lead.

Rovers equaliser was very soft, but they had started to play a bit before that - just created very little. The lack of Rovers chances continued throughout really.

Second half was a scrappy stop start affair, not helped by the ref giving a few very odd free kicks. If I'm brutally honest Rovers were better on the ball than us, which was a surprise.  Thankfully their lack  of quality quality and some good defending kept them at arms length. Early worries about O'Brien in the first half of his first town game are a distant memory.

The front two looked dangerous and so nearly unlocked Rovers, the best chance narrowly spurned by Simpson. Hindsight says perhaps McKirdy was a better option.

But it was obvious from 55-60 minutes we needed more energy in the midfield. But that would surely come when either Gladwin and/or Williams would get replaced as is the normal. Only they didn't. For reasons only known by Garner he didn't make a change. The scrappy nature was calling out Lyden to come on to gain control over a battle we were losing. I've no idea why we carried on regardless.

Anyway no complaints about the result. Rovers didn't create enough to win it, we didn't deserve it either in truth even if we could have nicked it.

Rovers were poor compared to what we have seen here, we just had an off day.

I hated every minute of that, a really frustrating watch. We were poor, but my god Rovers are bad, fuck watching that every week.
Quite embarrassing watching Barton celebrate a point like a win at the end.

Surprised with all the O’Brien comments, I thought he was absolutely appalling in the first half. Also thought we needed to bring Lyden on for Gladwin at half time, so was very surprised to see no changes.
Simpson was my MOM, thought he was superb.

I thought we looked very leggy in the second half, was that just me?

Also, 600 tranmere fans made more noise than them, on a Tuesday night aswell  :)

@quagmire definitely looked leggy to me too

We lost the midfield from about 30 minutes. Reed and Williams both poor - lyden should have come on for William, to try and regain it

Everyone else was so-so. Simpson MoTM, bullied their defenders and we probably should have made more of the balls into the channel.

Perhaps it’s more of a case of having a defender that can actually defend as opposed to what has come before him has led to O’Brian standing out for many.

We were leggy which made the lack of subs more baffling, Iandolo looked like he was running in treacle even in the first half.

Clem is at Marine. Stood right by him.

Nearly all of the teams in the top half are winning, sadly.

Not often we lose out on possession stats at home. 44% - 56%

i agree....Gladwin is just to slow of foot with or without the ball...a guy his size needs to be the punisher if they can't move swiftly...

O'brien is young..only a few games in but you can see the impact he will make...is a massive defender...gets his head on the ball on corners..I am hoping for a long loan with this kid....

Ref started off well, second have bottled some key decisions.
Solid at the back, they scored from one of their rare chances however deserved the point.
They had the extra player in midfield and Garner clearly didn’t want to risk the shape by changing it.

Pity as when we scored we had that purple patch and couldn’t get that much needed second.
6 yellows for Rovers (or 5) ? They were certainly living it dangerous and clearly wanted to break up our possession which they did well.

Disappointed to drop 2 points but a point gained.

Tough trip to Colchester next weekend but hopefully will have a few more in as we need more quality in-depth. Thought Lyden could have made a difference around the 65th minute.

Town End what happened? Very quiet and the Don Rogers were the only ones singing today.

Town End was loud first 25/30 minutes until the match petered out into a fairy dull affair - I don’t blame Rovers, clearly a set of mostly limited footballers so Barton has set them up accordingly. They’ll be comfortably mid table I expect.

You must have been stood next to me then as well.

I think that it is fair to say that this is the case with many lower league sides

Chalkies Shorts is Clem!

Shame about the result but am I honestly the only one who left the ground happy because I actually enjoyed the game? Not a lot of disappointing negative passing and a good old fashioned English derby game.
Blood, thunder and commitment. Brilliant, more of the same please.

I did move around a bit and ‘stood next to him’ maybe a bit of a stretch, close proximity may be a more accurate assessment.

Did you have a chat with the exulted one? I had a nice chat with Jez.

Nope but he was stood behind me most of the second half with a couple of mates. He certainly has no airs and graces. I think him and jez have become good mates, not a bad thing.

‘I think him and jez have become good mates, not a bad thing.’
Put it this way. At long last it would seem a proper multi level relationship is being forged between the owners of both clubs to the mutual benefit of both, about bloody time too IMHO. Seems bizarre that the Gas have a number of youth loanees at Marine and we don’t? Good things coming I think. No I’m not ITK, just a sense I get.

Bigger picture. A point is ok.
Ended up playing like the away team, probably not by design though.
Lyden should play if fit.

Not the most difficult of tasks coming up at the edge of nowhere stadium next Saturday.

Thought the Town End were great for the first 30 mins. Truth be told, the team didn’t give us much to get behind after that.

Lost the vast majority of 50/50s and constantly getting over run. We were guilty of playing the game Rovers wanted and not our own. To everybody who wants plan B - we went a lot longer today to try and bypass their press and it didn’t work. So either let’s do plan A better or perhaps introduce plan C?

For as good as Simpson’s hold up and ball carrying is, I’m still waiting for him to win a header. In fact I’d be content if he just contested for one instead of ducking under his man every time. He was good today but this area of his game is a big concern. Still one of the best players on the pitch today.

Defence was generally fine. Jonny Williams’ first touch let him down a few times today and as usual he was kicked out of the game. Gladwin was Gladwin. The odd flash of brilliance but caught on the ball far too often. Missed Payne today.

I think we went longer mainly because Ward is uncomfortable with the ball at his feet - the fact that Woolacott is better at this part of the game is important in the way we are set up to play.
The ref was poor today - the late challenge on O’Brien in the 1st half should have been red, and some of the second half decisions were bizarre. The amount of holding, blocking and shirt pulling which went unpunished was ridiculous - Rovers set out to break up play and slow the game down and we’re allowed to do so. I also agree with Garner that the amount of stoppage time was less than should have been allowed - one example -  they sent on 2 subs after 90 mins and no extra was added for those.
We also had limited options to change things today - only Lyden or JML realistically - so reinforcements (alluded to by BG post match) are certainly needed.
That may well prove a valuable point at the end of the season.

Im not sure Lyden is actually fit. To send him on in a game when clearly the opposition tactic was to 'do' players would have been foolhardy.

Garner told Lyden to go and get warm at approx the 60 minute mark, only to then decide not to bring him on, which I found strange.

I refer the gentleman to my Twitter post... Not sure who the Donna is that replied but the surname can't be coincidental.

https://twitter.com/BatchStfc/status/1484900826850209794?t=G3SGCOlZxJuISI0w2YrsPw&s=19

Johnnie ?

Perhaps Berni can enlighten us on that?

Hate it when family members start getting involved in this sort of thing. Usually ends up with the player fucking off tbh.

Not saying that this is the case here with Lyden and really hope not but usually does not end in a great way does it

Not much to say on the game, though I thought Rovers came to do a job and did it - they were like a swarm and never really lets us dictate the play, sensible on their part.

And I'm not here to moan about 'plastics' inflating the crowd - great, get em in, all for it. But I would like it if they would go to their actual assigned seat, rather than cramming in and doubling up in rows, smoking/vaping. Or spending 90 mins stood on the stairs in the Town End. Years ago the stewards used to be shit hot on this, but clearly didn't give a shit.

I found it fairly irritating (especially as Mr Orange Jacket spent the second half moaning about the lack of a bar in the TE) but bet it was more of a pain in the arse for the little kids behind me.

Was Tom Broadbent in the CGH pre match?

get what you are saying, and perhaps i shouldn't have posted here - though it's open on Twitter

I would say it was only confirmation he's not injured in their eyes. Not a moan from them, not a 'like' when I said I thought they should have come on. 

I know how it could look simply by the reply.

ignoring the reply, the medical team are shit hot this year. they would surely not be allowing him to be on the bench if there was a risk

He should be one of the first names on the team sheet when fit.

Weird one because we played so well without him at PV, but when he's played this season he's been very good.

Wonder if we should try 4 at the back, but for me that would mean dropping Conroy...

                      JJ
Hunt   O'Brien      Odimayo   Iandolo
           Reed       Lyden
Payne        Williams    McKirdy
                  Simpson                         

(the 3 behind Simpson could play anywhere across that 3 in reality but this team feels like it has better shape)

Theres a video of him in there

Yeah it could be mate not a pop at you at all for posting just think when family members start posting it usually ends in a downwards spiral

Lyden, just like Williams and Gladwin, needs to be managed carefully. Makes sense to me that he’s sat out the last couple - he’s played well recently, but is fuck all use to us injured. Wouldn’t be shocked to see midfield rotated next week.

Share lots of the same comments above. Enjoyed a couple of beers in Legends Lounge before the game, only marred by some idiots coming in about 20 minutes before kick off and moaning how busy it was! Went in The Arkells on this occasion, seemed quicker to access than DRS than previous games, have they sorted out ticket problems? Was actually the first time the turnstiles could successfully scan the QR code on my phone. Straight to the toilet for a piss before a pre match burger and a coffee. Again served fairly quickly. Walked back along the concourse, a small argument between a couple of middeaged men over the (non) wearing of masks. Game not even kicked off yet! Into my seat to be reminded why I don’t like The Arkells, that damn post that obscured the view of The Town End goal. As for the game only really enjoyed the first 30 minutes, the rest not so. Disappointed but not downbeat. We’ve a decent team and with a couple of quality additions we will be up there come May.

Nope, i followed her after I saw her reply to batch :D

Ah :D

Yesterday was the perfect game to show why Rugby has the sin bin.  I'm not knocking Rovers to be honest, they played just within the rules to ensure they ruffled us but didn't lose a player.  And I don't really blame the ref, they did a good job of fouling in a way to avoid yellows, or when it was a yellow they passed them around so nobody got sent off.  If it was a game of Rugby you can well imagine the Ref speaking to the captain and letting him know the entire team is on a warning.

They are a team in the image of their manager, a niggly, spiteful nasty bunch of cunts.
But we can’t complain about the result

Haven't read back.

All very 'meh' on Saturday really. Both sides setup to press high and as at Mansfield, it disrupted the way we wanted to play. That said, I think we tried to get it longer up the pitch with purpose, get McKirdy running into the channels etc, it just never really looked that great. We played quite well first half and Simpson scored a brilliant goal, what a way to sign off his STFC career. (hoping he might be back, but think it unlikely given he's a 19 year old scoring 11 goals by January, he'll have suitors)

Second half was very bitty. Rovers stopped us playing and I thought their midfield 3 of Finley, Evans and Coutts played quite well. If they had had anyone even remotely decent up front instead of Alisha's Attic they might have been going home with all 3 points. I'm no keeper but can't help feeling Jojo might not have conceded that goal on Saturday. Obviously it's a decent ball flighted in with runners making it harder, but Ward's feet were cemented. I think Jojo might have dealt with it better and will be back in on Saturday.

Relatively happy to take a point at home in a frenetic derby game but Rovers were definitely there for the taking had we been able to up the performance. It was also great to see a large crowd which is needed for the coffers.

Counter argument, why are the three defenders watching it come in and then bounce not doing anything apart from watching the world go by.

Not saying that ward could not have done better, but time and time again he seems to be getting the blame when those in front of him are equally capable.

That's a very good point. I guess it's always easier to blame the keeper and I may have done him a disservice here. Having never played the game I don't really know whether the keeper, or the defender(s) should be doing better, or both/all of them should have done their job better?

Not the first time we’ve seen an innocuous ball knocked into and across the penalty area that no-one gets a touch on when you’d expect an attacker or defender too, then watch in amazement when the keeper is rooted to the spot watching in slow motion as the ball goes past into the net. Similarly scoring from a corner when no-one again gets onto the cross but the ball again ends up in the net, it happens.

Havent read back.

Late getting in as didnt want to queue from the Club shop for the TE.

BUT...got to my seat and we scored a minute later!

After that we sort of fell apart. I know we had played quite well up to that from the info from those around me.

No midfield per say and arc long ball to Simpson was predictable.

Gas were physical (the cards reflect that)and as usual we shrank back from that tactic.

The equaliser seemed to be coming...did it go straight in?

Ref was usual crap and it seemed that Town Gas, Town and himself agreed to blow up early..couple of minutes on my timer thingy.

Point a piece about just and 4 off Gas this season is an ok return in my book.

Anyway, with Simpson going back, we are now very thin with forward options....i hope this unexpected season doesnt now disintergrate.

Looking back, jesus we were light on the bench on Saturday!

fans on the bog steps annoyed me too.

Culpable too.

The problem on Saturday, as Purkiss pointed out at the time and Garner said afterwards, is that they ball-watched rather than pushing out as a unit, which would have left Ward with only one option to worry about. This in turn comes back to poor comms between them, and the leadership deficit which it should really fall to Conroy to provide. We've needed an organiser back there for the last two years.

Was a shite goal to concede. No one in the defence took responsibility and we got punished.