Let's talk about the Luton town game

[steve@dcfd]

We have scored less goals than Luton 37 to 45.
We have conceded more goals 57 to 44.
Most disappointing thing across all the season so far we have dropped points from winning positions on 28 occasions. So it proves in our case that 1 goal is not enough and 3 wasn't enough against Wigan.
So how bad Luton stats are away from home we will have to be at our best both in creating and scoring aswell as defending our goal.

[ForsolongaRover]

We have scored less goals than Luton 37 to 45.
We have conceded more goals 57 to 44.
Most disappointing thing across all the season so far we have dropped points from winning positions on 28 occasions. So it proves in our case that 1 goal is not enough and 3 wasn't enough against Wigan.
So how bad Luton stats are away from home we will have to be at our best both in creating and scoring aswell as defending our goal.

We won’t meet many teams that have won only 5 points in their last 6 games and have 2 points from their last 5. Although I share some of the pessimism, if we can’t win this one, it does not auger well for the rest of the season.

[NickDRFC]

We have scored less goals than Luton 37 to 45.
We have conceded more goals 57 to 44.
Most disappointing thing across all the season so far we have dropped points from winning positions on 28 occasions. So it proves in our case that 1 goal is not enough and 3 wasn't enough against Wigan.
So how bad Luton stats are away from home we will have to be at our best both in creating and scoring aswell as defending our goal.

Do you mean dropped 28 points from winning positions? 28 occasions is over 80% of our games!

[Avsuptem]

I thought the benefit of signing Haks was that when both he and Mols are on form the oppo need to double up on defenders against them both leaving space in the middle. Much as I admire Hanlon for his presence and strength on the ball his first touch is elephantine and close control not much better. So, for me we should start with Haks, Mols, Bailey, Clifton, Gotts, Byrne, Sterry + any 4 others, it wont make much difference who.

[steve@dcfd]

We have scored less goals than Luton 37 to 45.
We have conceded more goals 57 to 44.
Most disappointing thing across all the season so far we have dropped points from winning positions on 28 occasions. So it proves in our case that 1 goal is not enough and 3 wasn't enough against Wigan.
So how bad Luton stats are away from home we will have to be at our best both in creating and scoring aswell as defending our goal.

Do you mean dropped 28 points from winning positions? 28 occasions is over 80% of our games!

Yes sorry Nick I put it down wrong 28 points from winning positions

[Donnywolf]

I thought the benefit of signing Haks was that when both he and Mols are on form the oppo need to double up on defenders against them both leaving space in the middle. Much as I admire Hanlon for his presence and strength on the ball his first touch is elephantine and close control not much better. So, for me we should start with Haks, Mols, Bailey, Clifton, Gotts, Byrne, Sterry + any 4 others, it wont make much difference who.

Unless it me , Bentley Bullet , Scawsby Steve and 1 other ( doesn't matter who ) 

[selby]

Wolfie, you might have more idea between you though, at least it would be entertaining.

[ScillyRover]

Team news… McGrath on the bench. Pearson and Byrne start. Middleton also in starting lineup.

[ForsolongaRover]

I thought the benefit of signing Haks was that when both he and Mols are on form the oppo need to double up on defenders against them both leaving space in the middle. Much as I admire Hanlon for his presence and strength on the ball his first touch is elephantine and close control not much better. So, for me we should start with Haks, Mols, Bailey, Clifton, Gotts, Byrne, Sterry + any 4 others, it wont make much difference who.

Unless it me , Bentley Bullet , Scawsby Steve and 1 other ( doesn't matter who ) 

To me , Adelukan's qualities are of the kind that you would expect McCann recognised in signing him; he should be starting - that he is only brought on as a substitute or not at all reflects on the manager's dubious judgemnt.

[ncRover]

Interesting that Wilshere has gone with 35 year old Wells up top given our lack of pace in central defence. He may still be nippy, I don’t know.

[scawsby steve]

Wolfie, you might have more idea between you though, at least it would be entertaining.

Just seeing Wolfie, BB, and me in shorts would be entertaining, Brian.

As long as people have plenty of smelling salts and Diazepam ready.

[Bessie Red]

Cant believe we havent won that!

[GazLaz]

Cant believe we havent won that!

Much the better team. Very unlucky not to win. Even with the scramble at the end…

[colincramb]

Very unlucky. I think it’s absolutely critical we win on Saturday now. Biggest game of the season so far without a doubt.

[PDX_Rover]

How we didn’t win that… But very positive performance. Keep it up lads.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Yes, we feel we should have won that with those glaring chances spurned in the second half.

Very encouraging as we made better use of the wind but, I'm reluctant to call it unlucky when just a bit of composure would have converted one of the 5 or 6 efforts from within 15  yards out  but instead we saw a game of pinball.

[Juddy]

Did we win the toss at the start of the game and opt to play first half towards the South ?

[StocksArmy]

I think not putting Luton to bed tonight just sums us up. That’s why we are in a battle at the bottom. There’s plenty of fight and desire but, in those moments that matter when we are trying to bust the net rather than being composed in pressure situations, unfortunately we absolutely sh!t ourselves. And fans can moan that McCann should have done this, played him, dropped so and so or blame the budget, it just boils down to a professional footballer not taking responsibility. That’s why a lot of them will peak at this club and then drop back through the leagues.

[Donnywolf]

There will be a Turquoise "fly" in the Ointment as well probably

https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=294863.msg1408424#msg1408424

I hold my hands up . I was wrong.

It was a Yellow fly not a Turquoise one !

[Pancho Regan]

A very spirited effort and a good performance tonight.
It’s very frustrating to come away with only a point, how on earth didn’t we win that?

And Jack Wilshere should be ashamed at the spoiling tactics deployed by his team.

[EasyforDennis]

just looking at the BBC stats for last nights game.

Defensive clearances Rover 7. Luton 55. I know we were all over them in the 2nd half but 55!!!!

[ForsolongaRover]

just looking at the BBC stats for last nights game.

Defensive clearances Rover 7. Luton 55. I know we were all over them in the 2nd half but 55!!!!

Luck, fortune, whatever you may call it, can be shown to even itself out and it is not always easy for the supporter to quantify the same measure in your opponents. Clearly we had more than  an average dose of the bad variety last night and perhaps to balance it, we should think back to those early season wins when we seemed to be picking up points in games which were pretty evenly balanced to say the least. The fact that people were saying that they could hardly believe it probably revealed the reality that good luck played in our favour. The other factor was confidence which abounded in August and early September and is probably at a low ebb right now.

[Blue Green Algae]

I don't think luck has much to do with it, I'd say composure (or lack thereof) is a much greater factor.

Middleton skying a volley from 8 yards out or Pearson standing on the ball when he's 4 yards out aren't aspects of bad fortune, they're players failing to take opportunities when they're presented to them.

Of all our players I'd say Clifton is the most infuriating for this. He finds so many different ways not to score.

[i_ateallthepies]

He was one of very few last night who did get a shot on target, and it took a good save to keep it out.

[Blue Green Algae]

He didn't score though did he?

I actually thought he did well with that to force a save, but with him it's more about his game in general. As far as I can recall he's scored twice all season. It's not great is it.

[i_ateallthepies]

And there are plenty in the team who haven't scored even twice.  His importance to the team despite his meagre goal return is massive.

[drfchound]

He didn't score though did he?

I actually thought he did well with that to force a save, but with him it's more about his game in general. As far as I can recall he's scored twice all season. It's not great is it.

More than once, I have said that if Clifton could improve his finishing then he would be playing at a much higher level.

[drfchound]

Did we win the toss at the start of the game and opt to play first half towards the South ?

I think that would be highly unlikely.

[Juddy]

I just wondered Hound as Luton kicked off the game I thought if they won the toss and turned us around we would have had the kick off ?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Did we win the toss at the start of the game and opt to play first half towards the South ?

I think that would be highly unlikely.

News drifted across the West Stand, we did win the toss and elected to switch ends, assuming because of the impact of the wind. Very shrewd if true.