Let's talk about the Gillingham game

[Avsuptem]

Gillingham one of the dirtiest teams in League 2 so far this season, only 2 other teams with a higher card count. Some things never change.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I hope they're filthy in their own penalty area then!

[Alan Southstand]

Doesn’t mean anything, DBR, if the referee is to the usual standard!

[donnyguy]

Same ref as last seasons game that we won 2-1

[Campsall rover]

I would expect Mark Bonner to play more football than his predecessors at Gillingham.
Hope this is a good match this afternoon and Gillingham come to play rather than use all their usual dark arts.

[IDM]

Yes, blocking is a very important tactic in set pieces. It doesn't take much to give a player a yard and that's all that's needed.  I don't see much of us doing the same thing to give anyone a better chance of attacking the ball cleanly. Same with decoy runs.

It isn’t just the blocking though, you need accurate delivery as well. Something that we have fallen short on over the last few seasons. I remember Ian Harte playing against us for Reading in a night match at the Keepmoat. Every corner and free kick was right on the money with pace. Eventually Dave Kitson equalised from a corner. It was an absolute master class from Harte that night.

I remember it well. He probably had the best left foot I’ve seen.  Outstanding delivery.

[ravenrover]

Everyone whipped in right under the bar just needed the slightest touch to score

[ForsolongaRover]

Yes, blocking is a very important tactic in set pieces. It doesn't take much to give a player a yard and that's all that's needed.  I don't see much of us doing the same thing to give anyone a better chance of attacking the ball cleanly. Same with decoy runs.

It isn’t just the blocking though, you need accurate delivery as well. Something that we have fallen short on over the last few seasons. I remember Ian Harte playing against us for Reading in a night match at the Keepmoat. Every corner and free kick was right on the money with pace. Eventually Dave Kitson equalised from a corner. It was an absolute master class from Harte that night.

I remember it well. He probably had the best left foot I’ve seen.  Outstanding delivery.

I even remember the sound commentary on that game. Reading were running away with the title - the Championship I think. Relating this to the present, one Close’s strengths is his ability to deliver accurate balls at corner kicks. Once in the mix, scoring goals at L2 level is often be as much about luck as skill. So many (of our) corners just overshoot the penalty box.

[Chris Black come back]

Same side today as started against Port Vale. Close makes the bench.

[ChrisBx]

We're looking good here..

[Dutch Uncle]

We're looking good here..

SHhhhhhhhhhhh 

[Dutch Uncle]

TSL with a great take from a corner

[Dutch Uncle]

Hurst and Close on for Westbrooke and Gibson

[Dutch Uncle]

Gills having slightly the better of it at the moment

[Dutch Uncle]

TSL out early for a long ball, having a good game

[Dutch Uncle]

5 mins added

Hang on lads

Olowu on for Moly

[Dutch Uncle]

FT 1-0 

[ChrisBx]

Great win. Sterry and McGrath were superb!

[goalkick]

We were struggling a lot at the end but it happens.

[Copps is Magic]

'Ugly Win'.

'You have to win ugly to be champions'

[Dutch Uncle]

Barrow just conceded late into added time, it that stays we go top.

Edit: Barrow just finished 1-1 so we go top 

[dknward2]

That table looks good

[IDM]

Early days but it’s a lot more points in the bag than this time last year.!

I notice Morcambe lost 1-0 again, that’s 5 times in a row.  That is a crazy sequence.??

[Dutch Uncle]

Early days but it’s a lot more points in the bag than this time last year.!

I notice Morcambe lost 1-0 again, that’s 5 times in a row.  That is a crazy sequence.??

Yes we are top, they are bottom, and they have conceded fewer than us 

[PDX_Rover]

The fact that TSL hard virtually nothing to do in goal speaks volumes. Solid team performance today against a side set on spoiling.

Nice to see that w**ker Devitt on the losing side

[The Beast]

'Ugly Win'.

'You have to win ugly to be champions'

Always nerve racking with a one goal lead but I’m not sure about ugly, had 4/5 great chances. And yeah they were dirty but a very useful side, some quality players.

[ForsolongaRover]

The fact that TSL hard virtually nothing to do in goal speaks volumes. Solid team performance today against a side set on spoiling.

Nice to see that w**ker Devitt on the losing side

TSL is alert and makes it look easy and was always well placed showing good reactions to cover what comes at him.

[Chris Black come back]

Barrow just conceded late into added time, it that stays we go top.

Edit: Barrow just finished 1-1 so we go top 

How good does that table look now.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I thought we were brilliant first 65 or so minutes but didn't take our chances.

Last 20 we defended superbly and did the ugly stuff to win the game regardless of performance etc which was great to see. It's about winning games in this league and a deserved clean sheet.

It's become an excellent start now, better than I expected bar the Newport blip.

[Fal]

Thought it was a decent albeit scrappy performance, think Clifton had an off day and gave the ball away too much.

Sterry and McGrath were great.


Gillingham weren’t great but came into it a lot better in the second half without even threatening.