Current top 3

[drfchound]

Sure we’ve beat Port Vale

And Bradford.

[scawsby steve]

And Grimsby. However, were all those 3 teams in the top 7 at the time we played them? I'm not sure.

[EasyforDennis]

Sure we’ve beat Port Vale

At the time of playing them Bradford were in the highest position at 7th.

[drfchound]

And Grimsby. However, were all those 3 teams in the top 7 at the time we played them? I'm not sure.

There was no mention of teams being in the top seven when we played them, only that we hadn’t beaten anyone in the top seven.
In which case, we have beaten three of them.

[EasyforDennis]

And Grimsby. However, were all those 3 teams in the top 7 at the time we played them? I'm not sure.

There was no mention of teams being in the top seven when we played them, only that we hadn’t beaten anyone in the top seven.
In which case, we have beaten three of them.

Let me put it another way then. Whenever we have played a team above us we have failed to beat them.

Whichever way you look at it, we struggle against good teams.

[NigelJ]

And when we win the title, you'll still be saying that we didn't beat anyone above us....

[Padge_DRFC]

And when we win the title, you'll still be saying that we didn't beat anyone above us....

Pretty impossible to do that now

[drfchound]

And Grimsby. However, were all those 3 teams in the top 7 at the time we played them? I'm not sure.

There was no mention of teams being in the top seven when we played them, only that we hadn’t beaten anyone in the top seven.
In which case, we have beaten three of them.

Let me put it another way then. Whenever we have played a team above us we have failed to beat them.

Whichever way you look at it, we struggle against good teams.

Most teams struggle against good teams.
However, we have been in the top five (and also top,three) for most of the season so there won’t have been too many times that we have actually played a team above us.
Having checked, we have only played against teams who were above us at the time on three occasions so far this season.
Gillingham who we beat 1-0.
Notts County who we drew 1-1 with.
Walsall who we lost 2-0 to.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Whichever way you define it, EfD has it bang on. Our record against good sides is dreadful.

Record against sides currently in the top half:

P16 W4 D4 L8 GF17 GA25 Pts16 PPG1.00(*)

Against sides in the top half on the day we played them, we've won 2 points in the past 5 months.

That record has to change dramatically if we are even going to make the playoffs.

(*) compare against our record Vs sides currently in the bottom half.

P21 W14 D5 L2 GF37 GA19 Pts47 PPG 2.24

There's no escaping it. We are the ultimate flat track bullies this season. And we have to massively improve on that over the last 6 weeks.

[drfchound]

Picking the last five months is cherry picking though to  suit your argument.
I noticed you didn’t apply the five month rule to the  second part of your stats.

In the sixth month back (October) we picked up ten points against teams who were in the top half when we played them with three wins and a draw.
By then we were into ten games (plus) played so,that is a fair reflection of teams capabilities.

[Ian Nimmo]

We need to start with Ironside, Street centrally and with moly roaming across the front line. If we do this then we will be less predictable, and of course we will have billy in reserve, but not just for the last 10-15 mins.

[andysly]

And Bradford, oh and Grimsby.

[scawsby steve]

And Bradford, oh and Grimsby.

You're a bit late with that, Andy.

[BillyStubbsTears]

And Bradford, oh and Grimsby.

Yep. Both superb performances. Ones that made me think we had the measure of the better sides in this division.

But since we won at Bradford 5 months ago, we've played (I think, too late to check every match) 8 games against teams in the top 10 on that day(*). We've drawn against Notts C and Crewe and lost to Port Vale, Walsall, Chesterfield, Bromley, Grimsby and Wimbledon.

In most of those matches, we've certainly been competitive but frequently looked blunt against a side with a low block, and very vulnerable at the back (GF6 GA15).

(*) My mistake earlier. Top 10, not top half. We also beat MK Dons when they were in 11th. So our record against top half sides in the last 5 months is

P9 W1 D2 L6 GF8 GA16 Pts5. PPG 0.56.

We need a big improvement on that from here on, given that 6 of our last 9 opponents are currently in the top half and 5 of those in the top 10.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Past is past. Whatever the previous results or performances matters not.

It's cup tie football from here on. On the day it's generally the team who makes fewest mistakes and capitalises on those given.

We've had a reset. There should be no doubt in the players minds about what's required and maybe, recent sad events off the field might galvanise them even more.

Nothing to fear. Everything to gain. Let's go do it.

[drfchound]

Past is past. Whatever the previous results or performances matters not.

It's cup tie football from here on. On the day it's generally the team who makes fewest mistakes and capitalises on those given.

We've had a reset. There should be no doubt in the players minds about what's required and maybe, recent sad events off the field might galvanise them even more.

Nothing to fear. Everything to gain. Let's go do it.

Well said Baz.  Nice to see that some of us can have a positive attitude.

[roversdude]

Yep 9 cup finals cmon Rovers

[EasyforDennis]

I wish I had the same confidence that some of you have but Im afraid nothing I have seen over the last few months has me thinking we will get automatic promotion this season.

[Padge_DRFC]

Swindon game we'd have won that with our first choice back 4.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Being pedantic Gillingham were top when we beat them at home.

[Padge_DRFC]

Port Vale could and probably will be top 3 tonight. Come on Barrow! Same again as Saturday please

[Bills view]

Winning the games you should win or putting it another way not dropping (many) points against weaker teams is also important when wanting promotion.

Not denying we need to improve against the better teams but if you win  enough you will go up.

[grayx]

We need all three of our strikers on the pitch with Street playing the wide role. We need a consistent run of wins, you only do that if you’re brave and go for it.

You have to have balance. Can’t score without creativity. Neither Ironside, Sharp or Street are creative. Neither is our midfield. Add to that Street looked poor on the wing.. it’s a no from me.

Totally agree. Street has to be played as a number 9. Not sure who else i’d play up fron tbh, ive been really disappointed with both Sharp & Ironside so far this season.

[Ian Nimmo]

Just viewed the remaining L2 fixtures where in addition to us playing the top 3, they have tasty fixtures, and looking through the match-days to the end, it clear we have to concentrate on winning our games, we can’t afford to drop points from our home games and need to limit any away losses if we want a top 3 finish.
All the fun starts on Saturday
Accrington v Bradford
Crewe v Port Vale
Newport v Notts County
Walsall v AFC Wimbledon

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Port Vale could and probably will be top 3 tonight. Come on Barrow! Same again as Saturday please

Barrow take the lead.

[Bessie Red]

Port Vale could and probably will be top 3 tonight. Come on Barrow! Same again as Saturday please

Barrow take the lead.

Barrow been the better team by a mile!

[Padge_DRFC]

Never doubted them

[ncRover]

Darren Moore should really be doing better with that squad.

[Champagne Super Rovers]

Darren Moore should really be doing better with that squad.

Leave him alone.  He's doing a fine job

[Juddy]

Port vale lose