For those of us who couldn’t watch the Luton game.

[Usher wide.]

Has anyone who was there or who could watch it on tv possibly give us a summary of how we played?

Did we offer any threat going forward?

Poor defending for their goal, or another keeper error I believe?

Midfield overrun or matched what Luton had?

Thanks.

[Chris Black come back]

First half wasn’t great for either side. Second half we had more of play and were the one side trying to score but didn’t really get close. Defence did well. They were quite disappointing upfront for all their cash. 

[Reg of the Rovers]

We weren’t terrible, bit of a mix up for their goal, but we look very toothless and low on confidence up top. Olusanya and Hanlan both worked hard when they came on but first touch seemed a bit lacking. Olusanya missed a big chance when Gibson had done really well, and Moly missed a great chance at the end - rushing it and slashing at his shot.

Need to find the formula up front as that’s our weakness. Apart from the goal I thought we kept them well at bay.

Great save from the penalty from Lawlor. He’s done enough to keep the shirt for me.

[jmt23]

Hi Usher - I wasn’t there but watched it…

Their first was never a free kick to begin with, the guy knocked it a bit too hard past Middleton on the wing, was never getting it and realised it then threw himself down. Middleton didn’t touch him watching the reply a few times, and also got a yellow for it! They scored from the cross, with the ball going over Billy’s head and a player running in front of Pearson to score a header from 5 yards, nothing Lawlor could do for me, unless he comes for the cross?
Then Luton gathered momentum and I was fearing the worst when Sterry made an obvious foul for a penalty. Thankfully Lawlor made a tremendous save - it’s not the best penalty but it was a terrific one handed save.
A big miss was Connor OReadon coming off injured, possibly our player of the season so far did not help us at all, although Greham  came on, and he is some player too, so calm on the ball! He is definitely one to watch for the future.

Second half we were better and more in their faces, but their pace and power was too much to over come. It was a bit huff and puff with only one  clear cut chance that the new forward failed to control when in one on one. Moly had an excellent chance towards the end but sliced it over.  It has to be said they never really looked like scoring in the second half either.

We don’t create, we don’t have any real pace - apart from the  new guy we got from the US who I can never get his name right, he does have pace, but seemed to struggle with controlling the ball a few times.

Luton were better than us and no shame in saying that given their budget and spend, but a very frustrating couple of weeks ending in this powder puff display.

[drfchound]

We weren’t terrible, bit of a mix up for their goal, but we look very toothless and low on confidence up top. Olusanya and Hanlan both worked hard when they came on but first touch seemed a bit lacking. Olusanya missed a big chance when Gibson had done really well, and Moly missed a great chance at the end - rushing it and slashing at his shot.

Need to find the formula up front as that’s our weakness. Apart from the goal I thought we kept them well at bay.

Great save from the penalty from Lawlor. He’s done enough to keep the shirt for me.

BBC sport site said that Bails hit the bar late on too.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Probably could have done without playing Luton after the last 3 games. Burton next week is important. Really can’t lose that or we’ll have lost so much momentum and form

[donnievic]

We wasn’t terrible but too slow passing at times,apart from pen save neither keeper really had much to do,1st half sharp never had anything.i thought it was a foul by Middleton (although at other end with a shit view)whether he makes contact or not it can still be a foul.no fault by lawlor good header by defender who runs into space at near post like Bailey does for us.

 2nd half better  and would start Close next week with Bailey further forward  but still struggling in the final 3rd,osulanya looked quick when got ball at his feet going forward but as soon as he has to think about it or slows down he doesn’t have a clue plus he couldn’t trap a bag of sand,looked better aswell when we went 3 at the back.Not all doom and gloom though even though it’s another defeat

[jmt23]

Good point I missed from my summary,  Ben Close was the best rovers player on the pitch, so so good with the ball! He really has hit form and hopefully for him he can stay fit.  He was only on for part of the second half, but his passing and calm control was supreme.

[Padge_DRFC]

Close has to start and I'm starting to believe we now have our first choice midfield 3.

Our back 4. 3 of the 4 look like they're known now. Oriordan is obviously in but McCann keeps switching between Pearson and McGrath. Personally I prefer Grehan. Odd we turned down 500k for McGrath but can't get in the squad some weeks.

Front 3 could be anyones guess next week.

[Plumbster]

Has anyone seen whether the offside against Moly was correct when he got fouled in the box

[mushRTID]

Has anyone seen whether the offside against Moly was correct when he got fouled in the box

I was/am absolutely convinced he was onside.

We huffed and puffed but it feels like we’re getting bullied a little. We’re badly missing some big strong lads.

Doesn’t help when none of your strikers look like scoring.

Close and Gibson massively improved us.

We also don’t seem to create much from a central position. Everything has to go wide and I think we’ve been worked out.

Would like to see the handball again as it looked a penalty to me.

[Chris Black come back]

All their players were big units. Every position.

[mushRTID]

All their players were big units. Every position.

We just bounced off them at times. Men against boys for much of the game.

[Usher wide.]

Hi Usher - I wasn’t there but watched it…

Their first was never a free kick to begin with, the guy knocked it a bit too hard past Middleton on the wing, was never getting it and realised it then threw himself down. Middleton didn’t touch him watching the reply a few times, and also got a yellow for it! They scored from the cross, with the ball going over Billy’s head and a player running in front of Pearson to score a header from 5 yards, nothing Lawlor could do for me, unless he comes for the cross?
Then Luton gathered momentum and I was fearing the worst when Sterry made an obvious foul for a penalty. Thankfully Lawlor made a tremendous save - it’s not the best penalty but it was a terrific one handed save.
A big miss was Connor OReadon coming off injured, possibly our player of the season so far did not help us at all, although Greham  came on, and he is some player too, so calm on the ball! He is definitely one to watch for the future.

Second half we were better and more in their faces, but their pace and power was too much to over come. It was a bit huff and puff with only one  clear cut chance that the new forward failed to control when in one on one. Moly had an excellent chance towards the end but sliced it over.  It has to be said they never really looked like scoring in the second half either.

We don’t create, we don’t have any real pace - apart from the  new guy we got from the US who I can never get his name right, he does have pace, but seemed to struggle with controlling the ball a few times.

Luton were better than us and no shame in saying that given their budget and spend, but a very frustrating couple of weeks ending in this powder puff display.

Thanks for that brilliant summary jmt, along with your piece on Ben Close.

We were facing a side that two seasons ago were playing in the Premiership. Their parachute payments from that one season in that ‘poisoned chalice’ are still there, in effect they could buy our whole team with a sale of just one of their players & come back with enough ‘change in their pockets’ to buy Rob Street.

So, we lost by a single goal to a team that upon reading all the posts on here weren’t ‘bombarding’ our goal. So we lost another game again through small margins of error defensively PLUS, our ongoing Achilles Heel of being ‘toothless’ up front.

How long do we give Hanlan, Olusanya & Ajayi to show they would be credible front men to replace a 39 year old (sorry for mentioning your age Billy, it bugs me too!) should he get an injury or three match ban for ‘over exuberance’ (clawed it back a bit there Billy!)?

We need a ‘proper’ striker come January to supplement what we have……i.e. Billy Sharp.

I’m ‘warming’ to Close, alongside Broadbent & Bail’s in midfield. Sbarra, don’t get it, never have. Charlie Crew is a ‘luxury’ we can ill afford & I hope Grant has explained his shortcomings to him despite Charlie ‘appearing’ to play as though he’s ’been there, seen it, worn the T shirt’ which he clearly hasn’t.

A fully fit Sterry (mentally as well as physically given his facial injury) or indeed a more than competent Nixon in that right back berth is fine for me, on the other side Maxwell with Senior pushing him close ‘I’m happy’ with.

O’Riordan in the centre back is a must & personally I would play Pearson alongside him for now given the latters experience & the fact that Jay & Grehan are still yet learning their trade at the highest levels either of them have ever played in.

Apart from that, all’s well.