Let's talk about the Accrington Stanley game

[drfchound]

Just realised it’s 20 years (season 2005/6) that we reached the quarter finals of this competition, losing at Belle Vue on penalties to Arsene Wengers Arsenal side.

If only Heffs had kept that ball in the corner in the dying minute of added on time at the end of extra time.

What a great ‘ride’ that was though.

Heffs was trying to win a corner by playing the ball off an Arsenal defender.
If only that had come off we would probably have all been praising him.

[RoversInSpain]

Just realised it’s 20 years (season 2005/6) that we reached the quarter finals of this competition, losing at Belle Vue on penalties to Arsene Wengers Arsenal side.


If only Heffs had kept that ball in the corner in the dying minute of added on time at the end of extra time.

What a great ‘ride’ that was though.

Heffs was trying to win a corner by playing the ball off an Arsenal defender.
If only that had come off we would probably have all been praising him.

Oh don’t! Get a horrible feeling remembering that sweep up the field and a Brazilian World Cup winner dashing our hopes! I could see all the Rovers subs/Manager pretty much celebrating as Heffs went to the corner flag.

Back to Tom Nixon, he has to be our super Caveman or is he more Trevor Hockey?

[IDM]

I already had a “we won.!!” text ready to send to my other half..

Hoof the f**ker out of the ground.!!

[NickDRFC]

I already had a “we won.!!” text ready to send to my other half..

Hoof the f**ker out of the ground.!!

Ah, so it was your fault! 

[RobTheRover]

I pranged my car on a lamp post after that Arsenal game. Fuming.

[IDM]

I already had a “we won.!!” text ready to send to my other half..

Hoof the f**ker out of the ground.!!

Ah, so it was your fault! 

Ha ha.. I wrote it after the one added minute was up.  The ref played more than two minutes..

[RoversInSpain]

Perhaps there’s something in a season that ends in 5/6
Quarters in 75/76
30 years later…
Quarters in 05/06 (as mentioned)
20 years later
??? ….25/26

[graingrover]

When he brought on our second half subs we soon settled it .Man of the match for me was Nixon .Ironside looked much more dangerous than Hanson though he did not replace him till 70 mins and scored a good goal but judged offside .Bailey again took full control as soon as he came on .What a player A red card tackle on Moly saw him hobble off .

[Usher wide.]

Poor game to watch first half.

First goal was always going to win the tie imo, although they hardly threatened.

Nice lay off by Owen with his back to goal from a good ball into the box (yet again) by Middleton, for Close to settle matters with the second.

Job done.

Let’s hope we’re all travelling to Old Trafford for the next round.

[drfchound]

Poor game to watch first half.

First goal was always going to win the tie imo, although they hardly threatened.

Nice lay off by Owen with his back to goal from a good ball into the box (yet again) by Middleton, for Close to settle matters with the second.

Job done.

Let’s hope we’re all travelling to Old Trafford for the next round.

They’ve got to beat Grimsby yet and this Man Utd lot aren’t really very good.

[Pancho Regan]

When he brought on our second half subs we soon settled it .Man of the match for me was Nixon .Ironside looked much more dangerous than Hanson though he did not replace him till 70 mins and scored a good goal but judged offside .Bailey again took full control as soon as he came on .What a player A red card tackle on Moly saw him hobble off .

Agree Bri, Nixon was by far my MOM tonight.

Not a pretty game but we got the job done and we roll on.

I don’t like to criticise players but I was disappointed with Hanlan tonight. Crew also had a poor game.

But, as well as Nixon, the other positives were Pearson, Gibson (I’m perplexed by those who criticise his performance tonight) Maxwell and Lawlor. A special mention also for Ben Close. It’s a long time since I saw him play and he was excellent. Calm, composed …. a really good footballer and Crew looked poor next to him.

So sorry for Joe that his goal was ruled out because he took it so well and had a real impact when he came on.

On we go to Round 3!

[drfcsteve]

Two games two goals and two great performances from Close. When does he become part of the “first” team?

[GazLaz]

When he brought on our second half subs we soon settled it .Man of the match for me was Nixon .Ironside looked much more dangerous than Hanson though he did not replace him till 70 mins and scored a good goal but judged offside .Bailey again took full control as soon as he came on .What a player A red card tackle on Moly saw him hobble off .

Agree Bri, Nixon was by far my MOM tonight.

Not a pretty game but we got the job done and we roll on.

I don’t like to criticise players but I was disappointed with Hanlan tonight. Crew also had a poor game.

But, as well as Nixon, the other positives were Pearson, Gibson (I’m perplexed by those who criticise his performance tonight) Maxwell and Lawlor. A special mention also for Ben Close. It’s a long time since I saw him play and he was excellent. Calm, composed …. a really good footballer and Crew looked poor next to him.

So sorry for Joe that his goal was ruled out because he took it so well and had a real impact when he came on.

On we go to Round 3!

Agree on all that. Gibson was the best attacking player of the starting lineup. I’d mention Grehan as well. He looks a superb player to me. His covering and positioning is excellent.

[BobG]

I just checked up. We only get £5K for winning Round 1 and another £7K for winning tonight. £10K if we win the third round. And £15K if we win the fourth. So that's only £37K for getting to the quarter finals.

Best thi g then is draw a big club, keep 40% of the gate money, get knocked out and avoid injuries in later rounds.

BobG

[Bessie Red]

When he brought on our second half subs we soon settled it .Man of the match for me was Nixon .Ironside looked much more dangerous than Hanson though he did not replace him till 70 mins and scored a good goal but judged offside .Bailey again took full control as soon as he came on .What a player A red card tackle on Moly saw him hobble off .

Agree Bri, Nixon was by far my MOM tonight.

Not a pretty game but we got the job done and we roll on.

I don’t like to criticise players but I was disappointed with Hanlan tonight. Crew also had a poor game.

But, as well as Nixon, the other positives were Pearson, Gibson (I’m perplexed by those who criticise his performance tonight) Maxwell and Lawlor. A special mention also for Ben Close. It’s a long time since I saw him play and he was excellent. Calm, composed …. a really good footballer and Crew looked poor next to him.

So sorry for Joe that his goal was ruled out because he took it so well and had a real impact when he came on.

On we go to Round 3!

Agree on all that. Gibson was the best attacking player of the starting lineup. I’d mention Grehan as well. He looks a superb player to me. His covering and positioning is excellent.

Agreed about Grehan. As I said on the Lucky Pint he will be better than McGrath!

[Ian Nimmo]

Agree with most of posts, some really good performances last night.
Nixon - another solid performance, defended very well and was good going forward.

Close - Really good game against, worked his socks off getting all over the pitch and a good goal too. He gave Charlie a real lesson, the lad seem a bit off it last night.
Ben surely after last night and his performance at Middlesbrough, must be in the squad for Saturday.

Ironside - Just unlucky with the goal, it looked a tight offside to me, he was clearly in front of his marker, but looked very close with the other defender.
What was noticeable is that after he came on he first challenged and won a throw in and then shortly after a corner, something which Hanlan failed to do in the game.

Bailey - what can you say! It was a terrific header, looked like he just ran into the middle of the two defenders to get to the ball. Guess we could add the striker position to his cv!

Mols - hope he his ok, it was a terrible challenge, thought that could easily been a straight red, not only for the challenge but mols would have been clear.

[Monolith No. 9]

Agree with most of posts, some really good performances last night.
Nixon - another solid performance, defended very well and was good going forward.

Close - Really good game against, worked his socks off getting all over the pitch and a good goal too. He gave Charlie a real lesson, the lad seem a bit off it last night.
Ben surely after last night and his performance at Middlesbrough, must be in the squad for Saturday.

Ironside - Just unlucky with the goal, it looked a tight offside to me, he was clearly in front of his marker, but looked very close with the other defender.
What was noticeable is that after he came on he first challenged and won a throw in and then shortly after a corner, something which Hanlan failed to do in the game.

Bailey - what can you say! It was a terrific header, looked like he just ran into the middle of the two defenders to get to the ball. Guess we could add the striker position to his cv!

Mols - hope he his ok, it was a terrible challenge, thought that could easily been a straight red, not only for the challenge but mols would have been clear.

Yes, hope Moly is OK. Much as I have enjoyed seeing Accrington defy the odds for so long I could help but remember it was a game v Stanley that pretty much did for Sean McDaid’s career. Haven’t seen any updates yet.

[Pancho Regan]

When he brought on our second half subs we soon settled it .Man of the match for me was Nixon .Ironside looked much more dangerous than Hanson though he did not replace him till 70 mins and scored a good goal but judged offside .Bailey again took full control as soon as he came on .What a player A red card tackle on Moly saw him hobble off .

Agree Bri, Nixon was by far my MOM tonight.

Not a pretty game but we got the job done and we roll on.

I don’t like to criticise players but I was disappointed with Hanlan tonight. Crew also had a poor game.

But, as well as Nixon, the other positives were Pearson, Gibson (I’m perplexed by those who criticise his performance tonight) Maxwell and Lawlor. A special mention also for Ben Close. It’s a long time since I saw him play and he was excellent. Calm, composed …. a really good footballer and Crew looked poor next to him.

So sorry for Joe that his goal was ruled out because he took it so well and had a real impact when he came on.

On we go to Round 3!

Agree on all that. Gibson was the best attacking player of the starting lineup. I’d mention Grehan as well. He looks a superb player to me. His covering and positioning is excellent.

Agreed about Grehan. As I said on the Lucky Pint he will be better than McGrath!

Quite right, I should have mentioned Grehan as well.
A quality performance from him.

[RoversInSpain]

I just checked up. We only get £5K for winning Round 1 and another £7K for winning tonight. £10K if we win the third round. And £15K if we win the fourth. So that's only £37K for getting to the quarter finals.

Best thi g then is draw a big club, keep 40% of the gate money, get knocked out and avoid injuries in later rounds.

BobG

Cheers BobG
That is pretty miserly prize money, didn’t realise how poor that is.
40% of the 12,000 Boro gate helps, but 40%of the pathetic crowd of 1.270 last night ain’t much help.
I hope Sky make a decent separate payment, seeing as it was only viewable on Sky.

[selby]

  We were dominant last night throughout the game, in every area of the field.
  People have rightly praised our wing backs for their form, and it was because we were so on top for the vast majority of the game, with our back four not having to break sweat to overpower Accrington's attack, and consequently very hard to assess as a defensive unit.
  The game reminded me of the preseason game Harrogate v Barnsley when Barnsley also dominated completely and demonstrated the difference in class between an average division2 side and a division 1 side, it's massive and getting wider.
  A defeat would have been a big surprise, and we provided the regulation win we required to have a chance of actually making a bit of brass out of the competition, which to us is the important side of the game in a competition where the European qualifiers don't even enter until the later, and people wonder why the same sides mostly get to the final.
  So well done, we backed up the surprise result in the first round, now we need the luck of a great draw against a massive club for a decent pay day the team last night played well for, that is what it was a good team performance. 

[ForsolongaRover]

Agree with most of posts, some really good performances last night.
Nixon - another solid performance, defended very well and was good going forward.

Close - Really good game against, worked his socks off getting all over the pitch and a good goal too. He gave Charlie a real lesson, the lad seem a bit off it last night.
Ben surely after last night and his performance at Middlesbrough, must be in the squad for Saturday.

Ironside - Just unlucky with the goal, it looked a tight offside to me, he was clearly in front of his marker, but looked very close with the other defender.
What was noticeable is that after he came on he first challenged and won a throw in and then shortly after a corner, something which Hanlan failed to do in the game.

Bailey - what can you say! It was a terrific header, looked like he just ran into the middle of the two defenders to get to the ball. Guess we could add the striker position to his cv!

Mols - hope he his ok, it was a terrible challenge, thought that could easily been a straight red, not only for the challenge but mols would have been clear.

Ironside is energetic and enthusiastic. Surely this is fundamental in the leader of the line who should always be active and ready to run and chase. With Hanlan in the team the position that Ironside and players like Marquis occupied is vacant. Hanlan is just another man up front who performs no obvious role. He does not even seem to be a provider to others.

[Plumbster]

I thought it was great to see Maxwell getting forward with purpose- suggests his fitness and confidence are coming back after a difficult time last season, and adds another dimension to our attack.

[Fal]

I get the feeling they didnt ask about Moly last night to keep Rotherham guessing as to whether he will be available for Saturday. Guarentee McCann will say hes touch and go in the pre match interview.

[selby]

We will meet much tougher opposition during the season especially going forward at our defence which was only troubled a couple of times the whole match, and then Lawlor proved equal to the situation with once again a couple of good saves.

[Ian Nimmo]

I think he will be doubtful because they wont know extent of damage until the swelling go down, which guess will be tomorrow at earliest.
Also guessing it may be more sensible to rest him against rotherham and try to get him back for the bradford game.
Hopefully its not more serious than that.