Fine margins

[Copps is Magic]

First half, good game to watch, very competitive and very even until we had those two one on ones at the end of the half really should have buried one or both. Second half starts with Andrew diving in (again), sorry that cost us the goal, then the defense switch off from the rebound.

Rest of the half we could be still playing and we wouldn't look like scoring. An excellent show of game management from Sunderland.

[Nudga]

Sunderland were much sharper and faster than us at everything, that was the difference.
Rovers ran out of ideas in the second half.

[eastender]

Not seen a replay yet ,butit looked like Gouch got lucky with his first touch.

[mushRTID]

They were just so solid, resilient, professionals etc.

I think we’re a top 10 side, nothing wrong with that but for me that’s what we are.

[Copps is Magic]

Not seen a replay yet ,butit looked like Gouch got lucky with his first touch.

Gooch was a threat all game. Pretty much their only play maker in the first half.

Other than that they were looking for the ball in behind which didn't  work. An unspectacular Sunderland team but if they can do a job on us they'll do a job on most teams in league.

[Filo]

I thought they were a massively dirty side helped by a very weak ref

[colincramb]

I didn’t think they were very special at all and if we had taken one of our chances in the first half I think we would have won the game. They did very little and got very fortunate with the goal. We deserved at least a point

[Padge_DRFC]

We were terrible in the last 20 mins, made it very easy for them to see out. Lost any momentum with the subs. What is the point of Anderson? Just jigs around through the motions.

I personally think we’re a decent striker away from being top 6.

[mushRTID]

I thought they were a massively dirty side helped by a very weak ref

When we battled to a victory at Walsall a lot of fans were buzzing we were “shithouses”.

They did it even better tonight.

Let’s be honest we barely troubled them

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

We tired likely because again we were chasing a game.  Our issue is not taking chances and ending up behind. We need to get in front and then see a game out.

[Filo]

I thought they were a massively dirty side helped by a very weak ref

When we battled to a victory at Walsall a lot of fans were buzzing we were “shithouses”.

They did it even better tonight.

Let’s be honest we barely troubled them

The Wilkes one on one, the ref let it go when Wilkes got pulled back, but then failed to bring the game back and give their player a yellow, the ref let them get away with things all game, how they ended with all 11 on the pitch at FT is a mystery

[PDX_Rover]

Bear in mind too the strength in depth Sunderland have too. They brought on players that would walk into most championship teams. We didn’t. That’s the gulf that parachute payments make, not to mention the fact that they’re a much bigger club historically. We take the chances we had first half, we win. Agree about them managing the game. Their squad makes that possible.

[PDX_Rover]

I thought they were a massively dirty side helped by a very weak ref

When we battled to a victory at Walsall a lot of fans were buzzing we were “shithouses”.

They did it even better tonight.

Let’s be honest we barely troubled them

The Wilkes one on one, the ref let it go when Wilkes got pulled back, but then failed to bring the game back and give their player a yellow, the ref let them get away with things all game, how they ended with all 11 on the pitch at FT is a mystery

That was red Filo. Professional foul.

[bpoolrover]

I thought we were excellent all game, against the best team in this division by far we more than held our own

[GazLaz]

The two misses just before half time cost us.

[pib]

First half was a really good half, very competitive, and I thought we matched them

The two one-on-ones at the end of the half proved crucial though. Once Sunderland got the goal we never really troubled them. They knew every cynical trick in the book, but we have to look at ourselves and on the ball we were nowhere near good enough 2nd half.

Priority for January - trade Alfie May for someone who can actually come on and influence a game. We are bereft of quality in those forward positions beyond the first choice front 3, which we can't afford to be because Coppinger isn't going to play 90 mins every game. Could at least give Alfie Beestin a go until January because May offers absolutely nothing. He's a trier but unfortunately not good enough.

[since-1969]

Sunderland were much sharper and faster than us at everything, that was the difference.
Rovers ran out of ideas in the second half.

it’s McCann that ran out of ideas . Crawford should have played , he’s more forward thinking and his passing is his strength. Too many touches wanted all the time from Kane , Whiteman , Copps and Blair They hung to the ball too long and left Marquis waiting and waiting. Blair missed a great opportunity where Crawford wouldn’t have . All in all a good game made frustrating by an over zealous referee .

[Akinfenwa]

We got after them in the first half and were probably the better side. Really, we had to score one of those two chances before half time.

Second half, so disappointing. We never got into it, ran out of ideas. They controlled it once they went in front and looked a much more assured side than we did.

Subs were piss poor.

[nortikorner]

If you  don't take your chance you will lose we had more chance than Sunderland  having said that this season so far. Is 100% better than the last two under the last manager

[roverstillidie91]

Thing is as well is what was it 33 shots in the last game and 18 for tonight's? And only yielded 1 point from 6.

[drfchound]

The first goal in a game , especially a tight game, usually changes the complexion of it.
That is why it was harder for us in the second half.
Sunderland could then play in a more controlled way because the emphasis was on us to break them down.
Had we scored one of those chances just before half time it could well have had the opposite effect and we could have been in their position.
To say we barely troubled them is a crazy statement to make.
We went close quite a few times before half time while the best they could offer was two headers, that they should have done better with to be fair.

We were at least as good, if not better, than Sunderland in the first half.
The goal made all the difference though and credit is due to them for holding out for the victory.

We have had three, clean trough one on ones in the last two games and not scored any of them.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Yep, got to agree with most that's been said above.

The way Sunderland managed the game after we gave them the goal is something we need to aspire to if we need to be successful. They were intelligent, energetic and did enough to make sure we didn't get any momentum going.

As said, I would have liked to see how they responded had we have taken one of those chances, as briefly it looked like we were getting on top of them and they were committing alot of fouls.

Not sure what's up with Danny Andrew but he's not doing it forward or back. I'd be tempted to give Amos a run out.

[drfchound]

If Evina or ATS had made the slip to allow their player to break clear leading to their goal this forum would have been blasting them.

[GazLaz]

If Evina or ATS had made the slip to allow their player to break clear leading to their goal this forum would have been blasting them.

Not seen a replay but it looked a bad mistake.

[PDX_Rover]

If Evina or ATS had made the slip to allow their player to break clear leading to their goal this forum would have been blasting them.

The difference being that Andrew is a very good player.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

He is a good player but he's not performing at the moment.

[Lesonthewest]

They were just too good for us, closed us down, more energy, far quicker, stronger, won most second balls too. The chances near half time would have changed how we would have played second half, but after the goal they were much better than us, no shame in that, we had a go but just lack the quality they have.

[RedJ]

Andrew has been poor recently. And he got left for dead before the goal. I saw it coming the moment he was beaten that a goal was coming.

[drfchound]

They were just too good for us, closed us down, more energy, far quicker, stronger, won most second balls too. The chances near half time would have changed how we would have played second half, but after the goal they were much better than us, no shame in that, we had a go but just lack the quality they have.

I don’t think they were too good for us in the first half,in fact I had us as the better team and most likely to score.
The goal changed things though and because of that the complexion of the game gave them an opportunity to play in a more controlled manner.
Had we scored first things would have been different.

If they are supposed to be the best team in the division then we have a good chance of being in the top six in May.

[dickos1]

I was sat next to the incident where hooch went past Andrew and it was very lucky.
Andrew got a touch and it came back off gooch and went past Andrew.
He didn’t slip or dive in was just unlucky