Rovers League Cup record improving

[Dutch Uncle]

Before we were relegated to the Conference our League Cup record was abysmal, excepting one terrific run to the quarter final in 1975-76. When we dropped out of the league in 1998 we had reached the 3rd round on only 4 occasions, including in its inaugural season of 1960-61 when many teams did not take part, and we had a bye in the first round. 1975-76 was the only time we went further, and there were some embarrassingly large defeats: 0-8 to Forest, 0-7 to Chelsea, 0-6 to Newcastle, 2-6 to Rotherham and several times conceding 5. This is not even including losing 2-7 at White Hart Lane in 1975 when we played well and the scoreline was very misleading.

In 1998 our record in the competition read Won 22, Drawn 28, Lost 40 (One of the 'draws' was won on penalties). We actually did not win any of our last 22 matches in the competition before dropping out of the league.

Since we have returned to the league only 14 years ago we have reached the 3rd round 6 times already, including the heroic defeat to Arsenal in a quarter final. Our record in that time is Won 16, Drawn 6 and Lost 12 (4 of those draws won on penalties, 2 lost). So in the last 15 seasons we have already won 20 ties, when we won only 20 in the 38 seasons before dropping out of the League (some individual matches won were in two legged ties we lost).

I know some will say bigger teams no longer take the competition seriously (with yesterday's fixtures being a big example), but this is IMHO a dramatic improvement on an admittedly low starting point.

 

[Monkcaster_Rover]

Great reading, that. Cheers Dutch!

[Herbert Anchovy]

Thanks for sharing that Dutch, a really interesting read. An interesting point regarding the 2-6 loss to Rotherham apparently despite the defeat, the Rovers players were each given a new telly by the then cup sponsors Rumbelows for playing in the highest scoring game in the competition!

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We've never had it so good. Who would like revenge on Arsenal!? (or Spurs for that matter!)

[RoversAlias]

Actually, considering the reputation for moaning Arsenal fans now have due to that ArsenalFanTV channel, I'd love to draw them and somehow knock them out.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Well there we go!