Let's talk about the Bradford City game

[GazLaz]

Exact blue print how to beat Bradford. Sit in, be patient and smash them on the counter.

Same against Notts County? Highest possession team in the league.

I thought that when I got in the car yesterday and thought about the upcoming fixtures. County also play 343 so he may stick with the 3 at the back. Having an element of pace up top was key yesterday and that’s what we have been missing this season. Sharp and Ironside are both slow, having Moly running in behind being supported by Hurst was a huge difference. We are essentially quite a direct team so need pace.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Exact blue print how to beat Bradford. Sit in, be patient and smash them on the counter.

Same against Notts County? Highest possession team in the league.

I thought that when I got in the car yesterday and thought about the upcoming fixtures. County also play 343 so he may stick with the 3 at the back. Having an element of pace up top was key yesterday and that’s what we have been missing this season. Sharp and Ironside are both slow, having Moly running in behind being supported by Hurst was a huge difference. We are essentially quite a direct team so need pace.

There's no substitute for pacey incisiveness and we have been too ponderous and indecisive, particularly at home recently.

What was interesting to hear, was Billy referring to sprints in training to get into position. Practicing those runs that stretch the opposition then get on the end of stuff.

V Bromley, we didn't see  many of those sprints to pull the opposition out of shape or get on the end of a cross (yes, there were some poor crosses too)

We saw players Inc Ironside on his heels, waiting to see where the ball was going to be delivered, rather than making a decisive run.

It's not necessarily about a players out and out pace, but the speed of thought and decision making. Look how Billy bust a gut to get into position for Kyle's cross.

The other pleasing thing was seeing our other players in position to follow up. Maxwell for both goals ran half the length of the pitch to be ready for any blocks or cut backs.

[Chris Black come back]

Three very interesting league games in November. Home against a strong Notts County, then home against an erratic Salford, then away day at a terrible Carlisle United. All of them Saturday 3pm and no midweek games between them.

[Pancho Regan]

Anyway, did the Jordan Gibson song get used at the game.
No one has mentioned it.

I chatted with a Bantams fan in the pub at length before the match. A really enjoyable exchange between 2 opposing fans which went on for 2 hours and 4 pints!
During the chat I mentioned we had the ‘Gibson song’ and what the lyrics were. I explained there was a bit of a debate going on amongst Rovers fans as to whether this would be inappropriate at Valley Parade and even potentially offensive to City fans.

He thought for a moment and then said he didn’t feel that City fans would be offended. He agreed with me that we now have a new generation of fans who do most of the singing and they weren’t even around when the terrible fire happened.

A very mature and gracious response, I thought.
I assured him (with my fingers crossed in hope) that if the song was sung, there was absolutely no intent to cause offence. “I don’t think any offence would be taken” was his response.

In the end, Gibson didn’t play and the issue didn’t arise.

[Chris Black come back]

Prior to our victory on Saturday, Bradford City were on a 10 game unbeaten at home run going back into last season consisting of seven wins and three draws. Only one side had scored more than one goal against them in that run, and they had kept four clean sheets.

[selby]

Our main threat are our wide players, hence Molly coming up against two players marking him forcing him inside, the same will come to Hurst if he shows his form regularly.
  The main thing is to win games from wide positions the central mid field needs to boss the game and bring them into the game, we did that Saturday dominating that area.
 Arsenal and Manchester City are the prime examples,, Debruyne and Odegaad the suppliers who dominate mid field for their teams, and supply the wide men. Central midfield has always and will always be the prime area for success, all the great sides going way back have players who are remembered as greats, the engine room of any team. 

[rich1471]

The key was having pace to break down the middle ,Smallwood is a good player but looked slow in the middle and we exploited it ,this is what teams do do us as bailey and broadbent are good but not quick enough when the get turned to get back

[karldew]

The key was having pace to break down the middle ,Smallwood is a good player but looked slow in the middle and we exploited it ,this is what teams do do us as bailey and broadbent are good but not quick enough when the get turned to get back

Watch Smallwood for Sharps goal, just gives up..

[rich1471]

The key was having pace to break down the middle ,Smallwood is a good player but looked slow in the middle and we exploited it ,this is what teams do do us as bailey and broadbent are good but not quick enough when the get turned to get back

Watch Smallwood for Sharps goal, just gives up..

3 or 4 of them dropped to their knees when Sharp scored,they looked tired and beaten

[Nudga]

Sharp!

[moses]

Great game and my lad has finally seen Rovers win outside of a DN postcode.
Just need to see them win outside of the Look North transmission zone now .

[Spud]

Extended highlights, for anyone who hasn't seen.

https://youtu.be/FL_Kh235OTc?si=EY5ab2WQa0fhrE57