Rovers v Charlton Athletic.Match Thread.

Apparently 2 Charlton coaches had to turn around and go home.Stuck in traffic and it seems left too late to deal with our Easter weekend traffic.

About 100 disapointed Addicks.

Just got back...

What a fabulous day!

Amazing an old fart can still start and finish at 11 again! Suntan, swill, shades, some great company and a defence masterclass (which I personally love) all rounded off by the bounty of the Gloucester Road. The big yellow thing up in the sky helped the amber things, many of them go down a treat!

Well well well...
Not trying to say I told anyone so (as I'm not that kinda guy) but hey, get the defence sorted and more often than not everything falls into place - it certainly did yesterday.

Luca has come back a man from tinternational duty and had a brilliant game at the back - but I think his forward play still needs a little more work. A bit leadbitter ish where his final ball delivery is left wanting.... having said that, his assist led to the handball penalty award.

For me, my m o m was Gibson.
Faultless. Covered his colleagues and dealt with everything in calm composed captain in waiting manner.

Gordon had a great day too. The whole unit had work cut out nullifying the potential potency of last week's 6 goal attack, but half chances and 1 shot on goal apart, can anyone really remember us being in a bit of bother?

I agree with JAB post match comments.
But.....even though the pitch is better, not perfect, I note this week he didn't allay any blame that way? ...even though I presume it's the same for both sides?
Or, the officials?
A few offsides that were late flagged - as is the protocol these days - but accurate. No complaints there as I thought they had an easy day and got most decisions correct. We've got to cut out the falling over ffs...

Special mention for Coburn and Marquis. Their huge bruisers at the back (really liked their number 6) physical with Coburn who just got up and on with it - nice temperament - but when JM introduced, his wilyness earned a free kick or two off the same situations. Penalty from him was never gonna miss and although he isn't adored as much as other Gas goalscorers, his contributions are proving to be vital.

Ok....we could see it a mile away.
Pack the subs bench with attackers and hold out to let them loose if we're drawing to win the match.
A blind man could see those tactics. It worked. Probably by default, but credit to the strategy and even more credit to the team performance to get out of stage one. It looked like we started with a 4-3-2-1.
We ended with 2 up front, 1 pushing on and much in the ascendancy.

I would say packing the mid and sacrificing a striker first half done more damage to Charlton than bonus for us. They couldn't move the ball they way they wanted to, we matched them and pushed onto them in their possession and quite importantly, defended high up pitch. They didn't have the pace or tenacity to get behind our back line, even one move, Belly came out to clear the ball in first half left back position!

Great research, an ex BG now sheeeeeeeeeeeedhead team sent packing with no points, in a match where we were definitely the better team, just.

One more win, hopefully Monday, should do it.
Because after that it's avalanche of promotion chasing teams we'll have to face - but you know what? - as much as we'll pay respects to opposition, I really don't fear anyone if we can reproduce the performance levels seen yesterday.

A great team day.


QUICK EDIT...
I've never seen the player going down with head injury routine and we stop with the ball to pretend to protest it, then carry on playing because they stop! 😂🤣