Match Thread MATCH DAY THREAD: Bristol Rovers v The Mighty Blades

[Not_a_Cheat]

Back to business quickly with the long trip to Bristol, to face Rovers. Much has already been said about tonights game, and indeed this is a very difficult match tonight. Rovers are currently 6 unbeaten at home including 5 wins. One of the best home records vs the best away record, so something has to give? Well not necessarily, and a draw wouldn't be a bad result by any means. Ideally we at least match the results of our main rivals... so it gives us scope, particularly if Scunny continue to falter. But while 'we' big up Rovers home record, they are only sat in 10th having played more games than most around them. And only one team have conceded more league 1 goals....

Anyway...

Any team news?

EEL fit to return?

Immediate return for Coutts? (after his 'rest'?)

Otherwise keep it unchanged?

Or did Riley or O'Shea do enough to justify a start?

I think the relief and joy was plain to see after Billy's 87th minute goal at Peterborough, and it seems some belief is also beginning to creep in. Rovers will present a different challenge tonight, and it seems likely an open game is to come, which is good for us on the whole IMO. So I hope it is an enjoyable spectacle and a win would really be huge tonight. Feels likely to be a draw to be honest, but hopefully we squeeze through 2-1. Very safe journey all, and hopefully you'll be bringing us the 3 points home....

UTB

 

[Stretch]

I would be tempted to stick with the 11 from Saturday unless Carruthers is struggling after his knock.
In terms of the game it's hard to say what may happen, many thought the Posh match would be a goal fest and look what happened. Without Taylor I don't see Gas offering too much of a threat up top but they will be tough and energetic all over the park. However if we perform like we can do then I can't see us slipping up. 3 points tonight also takes a bit of pressure off the big 2 that are about to come. Fingers crossed.

 

[brizzle]

We were actually bossing things at your place til the red card, and your defender basicaly saved it on the line last minute. That said your a good side and should be a good game.

Rovers Fan

 

[DaveBassettsgoneonholiday]

I would be tempted to stick with the 11 from Saturday unless Carruthers is struggling after his knock.
In terms of the game it's hard to say what may happen, many thought the Posh match would be a goal fest and look what happened. Without Taylor I don't see Gas offering too much of a threat up top but they will be tough and energetic all over the park. However if we perform like we can do then I can't see us slipping up. 3 points tonight also takes a bit of pressure off the big 2 that are about to come. Fingers crossed.

Thought the same about that last part. Three points & then draws with Scunny & Bolton wouldn't do us much harm, at most they could both make up a couple of points on us over the coming two Saturday fixtures.
What it also means, and I guess this will have been said elsewhere on here, is that in reality Scunny & Bolton will have to come out and play at The Lane, which we seem better suited to deal with.

 

[Good Pinch Of Snuff]

We were actually bossing things at your place til the red card, and your defender basicaly saved it on the line last minute. That said your a good side and should be a good game.

Rovers Fan

confident lot aren't ya

 

[Ricky]

We were actually bossing things at your place til the red card, and your defender basicaly saved it on the line last minute. That said your a good side and should be a good game.

Rovers Fan

Truly amazing that you're 9 places below us isn't it?

 

[BLADES1988]

We were actually bossing things at your place til the red card, and your defender basicaly saved it on the line last minute. That said your a good side and should be a good game.

Rovers Fan

Don't keep ten men behind the ball this time lads then you may have a chance!

 

[wizadry]

We were actually bossing things at your place til the red card, and your defender basicaly saved it on the line last minute. That said your a good side and should be a good game.

Rovers Fan

I thought you were one of the best sides to come to the Lane this season, unfortunately you're going to have to play better than that just to get a sniff of a point this time around, we're a different beast mate and have plenty in reserve.

I can't wish you good luck tonight but I think you're a good old fashioned club who must be seething after the sale of your best player for absolutely peanuts to your bitter rivals.

That's the beast of the game nowadays when a manager like yours recruits aswell as he has done and still has to work wonders just to get you to be a stable league one club.

 

[Grappler]

I would keep the same 11 as last week, and if Coutts is available, then maybe him for Carruthers.

O'Shea impressed me when he came on, hoping he gets another appearance.

 

[ucandomagic]

As for Posh apart from Jayo starting for Duff and Coutts (if OK) for Samir. Both probably changed in last 20. Samir and Duff then starting v Scunny.

Reckon EEL will start Bolton game.

UTB

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Blades away = BTTS

We've scored and conceded in 91℅ of our away games.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

If Coutts is fit then he should replace Carruthers. Carruthers is not the deep lying type of player that Coutts has become.

O'Shea possibly for Duffy, but if any change, then it could be Carruthers for Duffy.

Duffy has now had 4 to 5 average games, with Wimbledon his only decent game. Perhaps he needs a rest?

We now have a much better squad after the JTW - expect CW & AK to change a few each game so as to keep everyone as fit as possible - and to keep the opposition guessing.

UTB

 

[brizzle]

I thought you were one of the best sides to come to the Lane this season, unfortunately you're going to have to play better than that just to get a sniff of a point this time around, we're a different beast mate and have plenty in reserve.

I can't wish you good luck tonight but I think you're a good old fashioned club who must be seething after the sale of your best player for absolutely peanuts to your bitter rivals.

That's the beast of the game nowadays when a manager like yours recruits aswell as he has done and still has to work wonders just to get you to be a stable league one club.

It will be a tough task for us no doubt tonight, I think its great to see a club like you do well after a few bad years and get back to where you belong, good luck the rest of the season but not tonight lol

 

[1danewhitehouse]

We were actually bossing things at your place til the red card, and your defender basicaly saved it on the line last minute. That said your a good side and should be a good game.

Rovers Fan

Indeed your lot gave us one of our toughest tests at the lane this season. But Hiram Boateng looked the standout player so without him and Taylor, I would hope we’d have enough in the tank.


Also, we played 442 that day as Jake Wright was injured. We look a far better side setting up 352 and tend to control games much more this way. If we are on it, we should win. If we’re not, you’re the sort of side that could give us a problem.

 

[BigBed]

COME ON YOU BLADES!!!!!!

 

[west_yorks_blade]

COME ON YOU BLADES!!!!!!

Don't worry mate. They will.

 

[ThroughThinAndThinner]

Lots of changes tonight

Moore
Basham Wright OConnell
Riley Coutts Oshea Fleck Lafferty
Done Lavery

Bench: Long, McNulty, Sharp, EEL, Freeman, Duffy Carruthers

Not keen on the two attacks, guess Done and OShea may change places. And it's not that I don't like Lavery or Done/OShea just changing from your best two to two next in line for a tough away game seems a bit much.

In Wilder I trust however.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

As I said before Saturday's game it would have made sense to rest a couple on Saturday and a different couple tonight.

Five changes in one go potentially risks losing a lot of cohesion.

Still, they're good reserves we're able to call upon so hopefully they'll be able to slot in ok

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Huge gamble by Wilder. If it pays off he'll look like a genius, but I can't hide the fact I looked at the team-sheet with some horror.

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

Wright is playing so we'll be fine

 

[Stuart mitchell]

Wow that's very bold . Whos going to get us a goal ? I'll definitely take a point looking at that .

 

[Iceybabey]

Team still looks quite decent . Teams in this league would love this team as their first team nevermind their second team. Strong bench as well.

Come on Blades!!!!!!!!

 

[FredZeppelin]

I REALLY hope I'm wrong........but that looks a poor selection given the match in question.
Obviously Wilder knows more than any of us about football and tactics but where is the real goal threat?
Again....I really hope i'm wrong.
UTB

 

[Ricky]

If we can be level after 60 minutes we'll be in a great position to win the game. That's something that Wilder will have in mind.

I'm optimistic we'll get a result here.

 

[JohnDenver]

Huge gamble by Wilder. If it pays off he'll look like a genius, but I can't hide the fact I looked at the team-sheet with some horror.

I'm not sure it's such a huge gamble. The back three are unchanged, and it's the most advanced three that are swapped around. Carruthers playing twice in a few days after a layoff was always unlikely, and there's no doubt a couple of other fitness issues thrown in too. It's two more changes that would be ideal, but bringing Sharp and Duffy off the bench is a scary prospect for any Div1 defence.

The key will be to stay in the game in the first half. Fingers crossed.

 

[Bridge Blade]

Well we've been saying the squads looking a lot stronger now so here's there chance for some fringe players to stake a claim.
5 changes does seem a lot tho!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I'm not sure it's such a huge gamble. The back three are unchanged, and it's the most advanced three that are swapped around. Carruthers playing twice in a few days after a layoff was always unlikely, and there's no doubt a couple of other fitness issues thrown in too. It's two more changes that would be ideal, but bringing Sharp and Duffy off the bench is a scary prospect for any Div1 defence.

The key will be to stay in the game in the first half. Fingers crossed.

It'll hopefully work, and realistically it's 4 changes from the normal XI given the return of Coutts. I'd have said it was a big gamble in itself just to throw in Lavery & Done together for the first time. Throw in the first start for Riley in what's been a key position for how we play, and it's a huge gamble given how we've just returned to form.

As you say though, fingers crossed...

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Captain Coutts. What a turnaround, really happy for him.

 

[Damski]

Not too sure how I feel about this. Back 3 unchanged is fine, but goals might be hard to come by, have Lavery and Done played up front together much or indeed at all this season? Lavery certainly deserves a start, but along side Sharp, surely? Nice of him to give Riley a start, but it is a gamble. We should be starting Freeman too. Obviously if we win it's great, but this place will be steaming if we drop points tonight.

 

[SteveBlade]

Still a strong team. Doesn't matter really anyway because Wright's playing so obviously we won't lose.