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Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Reports and reaction from the 2017-2018 season as Walsall finished 19th in League 1
Welsh_Saddler
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Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Mon Dec 25, 2017 9:31 am

"Arab boys at sport"

(Rossetti)

Having just contributed to Rochdale's title of "League One draw specialists" we now have the other end of the spectrum with the visit of the Gasheads, who have yet to draw a game with half the league season behind them. Rovers sit 6 places and 2 points below us in the table, but have won 2 more games than we have ..... but the absence of draws means that they've lost 14 games as opposed to our 7. There are few (if any) connections between the two clubs in terms of players, but one managerial appointment stands proud - Ray Graydon managed the Gas from 2002-2004, and if ever there was a list of men to inspire devotion in Saddlers' fans Ray Graydon has to be near the top. Oh, and Kevan Broadhurst was joint caretaker manager with Russell Osman later in 2004 but we won't dwell on that.

Like most teams in League One, Rovers results are a real mixed bag - think of Northampton Town ... we lost 2-1 there, yet Rovers recorded a 0-6 away win at Sixfields earlier this season. yet only a week ago Rovers were thumped 4-1 at Gillingham. ("It's a funny old game"). Travelling Saddlers will want 3 points out of this one if only to act as a correction to our result at their place in September when their goalkeeper was sent off after an hour with the score at 1-1 but we went on to lose 2-1. Rovers have only won twice away (Bury and Northampton Town) and their recent form hasn't all been sweetness and light:-

18 Nov AFC Wimbledon (H) Lost 1-3
25 Nov Blackburn Rovers (A) Lost 2-1
2 Dec Rotherham United (H) Won 2-1
9 Dec Southend United (H) Won 3-0
16 Dec Gillingham (A) Lost 4-1
23 Dec Doncaster Rovers (H) Lost 0-1

What can we expect from Jon Whitney on Boxing Day? As always it brings a response of a shrug of the shoulders and a questioning look. The only certainties are that Bakayoko will sit this one out for the 2nd of his 3 match suspension, and that Cuvelier will attend with fitted leg strapping. Wilson should be back to shore up the defence (congratulations on the arrival of his baby daughter) and perhaps Maz Kouhyar will get a start after his well-taken goal at Rochdale.

Prediction? Well, as Rovers have almost the leakiest defence in League One (41 goals conceded, only Oldham Athletic with 44 can beat that) it would seem that we do have a chance of scoring. Having said that, they have actually scored more than we have (33 to our 30), so who can tell? On the basis that they are relatively poor travellers I'll go for a reversal of the result at their Memorial Stadium, so 2-1 to the Saddlers with Oztumer getting a brace.

UTS :D

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SaigonSaddler
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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Mon Dec 25, 2017 9:35 am

We'll have to get rid of the Gas first Welsh. :wink:

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:34 am

Talking to a Gashead mate of mine last night and he reckons the way they're playing at the moment they could get relegated. I recall a Northampton fan saying the same sort of thing on here a couple of weeks ago and we know what happened next.

Interesting to note that Rovers have gone half the season and not drawn a match yet.

1-2, with Oztumer scoring for us, in front of 5,406 ( 1,052 away).

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Mon Dec 25, 2017 1:24 pm

I predict a thumping Saddlers victory !!

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Mon Dec 25, 2017 8:27 pm

Mike Vale wrote:I predict a thumping Saddlers victory !!


A little too much Christmas spirit consumed methinks?

Play like we did on Saturday and we will have 75% possession, 30 shots on goal, none on target, our defence will then gift wrap a simple tap in past a statuesque Gillespie, to see the Rovers steal their 3rd win on the road.
We are the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. :wink:

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deldras
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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 1:39 am

Leaky defence, haven't drawn all season..........0-0 it is then :lol:

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 1:45 am

We owe them one following the game earlier this season when they beat us with ten men.

Obviously in Whitney world them having ten men gave them a lift much in the same way our early goal at Northampton was just the tonic they needed.

So hopefully they don't secure an advantage by going down to ten men and we don't do anything daft like scoring early on and you never know, we could sneak a win here. Fingers crossed. 2-1 in front of 4,657.

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 9:34 am

deldras wrote:Leaky defence, haven't drawn all season..........0-0 it is then :lol:

My thoughts exactly.

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chunkster
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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 12:19 pm

It all depends on whether we have a recognised striker up front? we just don't have any fire power, i would normally expect us to win this, and i can't believe i am saying this, but the team are set up to play with baka up front now, and without him i think we will struggle :|

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 12:49 pm

Brizzle Rovers >

Image

Welsh_Saddler
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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 2:32 pm

Starting line-up against Bristol Rovers:

Gillespie

Devlin
Roberts
Guthrie
Leahy

Ismail
Chambers
Edwards
Morris

Oztumer

Agyei

Substitutes: Ganley, Jackson, Kinsella, Flanagan, Kouhyar, Donnellan, Candlin

With a few minutes to go until kick-off, the betting exchange has Bristol Rovers as narrow favourites to win this one. Walsall currently 2.8, Rovers 2.7 :?

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 3:00 pm

Early kick-off results:

Gillingham 1 Oxford United 1

Southend United 3 Charlton Athletic 1

Southend's win pushes us down to 12th place as things stand, but we do have 2 games in hand over them.


Very early goal at Bloomfield Road .... Blackpool 0 Scunthorpe United 1 (1 min) EDIT .... 0-2 now (7 min) EDIT ... now 1-2 (25 min)

Bury 0 Rotherham United 1 (4 min) ..... EDIT .... now 0-2 (13 min)

Bradford City 0 Peterborough United 1 (14 min)

M K Dons 0 Plymouth Argyle 1 (15 min)

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 3:20 pm

The first accurate shot at Bescot comes from Bristol Rovers (Bodin) on 15 minutes ... saved in the bottom left corner.

On 17 minutes we have our 3rd corner........

Our first shot on target, 19 min from Agyei, saved in the top right hand corner

Walsall yellow card, 22 min ....... (Luke Leahy, 26 min)

Doncaster Rovers 2 Northampton Town 0 (42 min)

Blackburn Rovers 2 Rochdale 0

Bradford City 0 Peterborough Utd 2

Portsmouth 1 AFC Wimbledon 0 (43 min)

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 3:40 pm

Bristol Rovers substitution, 36 min (Marc Bola on for Leadbitter, injury)

Half-time and it's goal-less. Seems from the stats to be a negative game - we've had 1 shot on target, they've had 2. Lots of niggling fouls......

Blues seem to be in freefall ... currently 0-1 down at home, and realistically 6 points from safety.

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 3:54 pm

Maybe not such a good game to keep you warm on a cold December day.

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 3:55 pm

Welsh_Saddler wrote:Bristol Rovers substitution, 36 min (Marc Bola on for Leadbitter, injury)

Half-time and it's goal-less. Seems from the stats to be a negative game - we've had 1 shot on target, they've had 2. Lots of niggling fouls......

Blues seem to be in freefall ... currently 0-1 down at home, and realistically 6 points from safety.



I’ll be disappointed if we don’t beat these.
They’re rubbish. We’re not much better at the moment.

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 3:57 pm

Time to introduce super-sub Maz Kouhyar??? Or even give Mitch Candlin a go?

Oh, and no doubt it will change, but at half time Manchester United :lol: :lol:

Blackpool 1 Scunthorpe Utd 3

Portsmouth 1 AFC Wimbledon 1

Oldham Athletic 0 Fleetwood Town 1 (50 min)

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 4:18 pm

55 minutes, we have a shot blocked (Edwards) followed by a shot on target (Chambers) (our 2nd of the game !!!)

Yellow card Bristol Rovers, 57 min

59 minutes, and we have our 3rd shot on target

60 minutes, and a 2nd substitution for Bristol Rovers

61 minutes, Walsall's 1st substitution ...... Simeon Jackson replaces Daniel Agyei

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 4:21 pm

Attendance: 5,759 (1,103 Bristol Rovers)

SoccerHQ
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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 4:23 pm

The Gas have amazing support considering how bad they are, usually get regular 8k at home.

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 4:25 pm

Jackson on as the lone forward for the last half hour. :lol:

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 4:30 pm

jackson :shock:

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 4:31 pm

SoccerHQ wrote:Jackson on as the lone forward for the last half hour. :lol:


The height of ambition, 1 up front playing at home against a team below us in the table. :oops:

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 4:34 pm

Rovers make their 3rd substitution, 71 min

Doncaster Rovers 3 Northampton Town 0

Bradford City 0 Peterborough Utd 3

Portsmouth 2 AFC Wimbledon 1

79 minutes, and Rovers have their 1st corner of the game (we've had 5)

84 minutes, and Rovers have their 2nd yellow card

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 4:46 pm

We could do with a goal 2 points from 9 isnt good.
Im getting worried again for the new year if we lose the loan players we just dont look like scoring and the bench looks weak !

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 4:47 pm

BarnsleySaddler wrote:
SoccerHQ wrote:Jackson on as the lone forward for the last half hour. :lol:


The height of ambition, 1 up front playing at home against a team below us in the table. :oops:
Because he is to scared of losing the game, he want's to secure a point to keep us on course for mid table mediocrity :|

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 4:51 pm

"Cow's bum" and "banjo" come to mind.........

Full time, and it's 0-0 ... what a good job that teams below us lose occasionally.

Half-way through the season and we have 30 points, so it's not quite all doom and gloom, but we just don't seem to be able to win the kind of games we should!!

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 4:53 pm

Why only bring jackson on as well why not maz and mitch !!

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 5:07 pm

I’m glad now I didn’t bother going. We are a very average side, with very little creativity in midfield. If Oztumer goes then we really will be up (no) shot creek. We need at least two players in January: a creative midfielder and a decent striker (assuming that Roberts is off). We could do with a decent left-winger as well if our half-a-shoestring budget will allow.

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Re: Bristol Rovers (H) Tue Dec 26th, 3pm

Tue Dec 26, 2017 5:08 pm

Very surprised Kouyhar didn;t start, never mind actually come on after his goal.

Tyler Roberts is much missed. I presume he won't play again as his loan spell is nearly up.

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