Let's talk about the Blackpool game

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Yes, it's a simple task for the players to understand so hopefully we'll see a repeat of Tuesday with the addition of a goal or two more.

I thought we looked better balanced all round and improved as the game progressed. Couldn't believe how poor Luton were considering but our play had some good variety, it was just the killer instinct lacking again.

[ForsolongaRover]

They are playing tonight down at AFC Wimbledon. Can’t be helpful for them.

Another side with terrible recent away form in the league. Last 6 away from home have been 4 defeats and 2 draws.

Its a big advantage for us with them playing away Wed/Sat and us being at home Tues/Sat. Its a huge game in the scheme of things.

Slight concern to me is the form of Mols and Bailey. They look tired men to me. Not sure why they get much less rest than the others even if they are considered the best two players. There have been lots of games this season where Mols could have been substituted to manage his load and it wouldn't have affected the outcome of the game.

Do you not think that it could be because those two expend more energy than a most of the others. Maybe, as supporters, we don’t notice that we do not seem to put in as much effort as (for example) the Luton defence did, which I think was one of the reasons their “luck” with those last ditch clearances thwarted us. As Scawsby Steve remarked recently our defenders in particular can be statuesque. The uppermost thought of defenders in the penalty area cannot be “don’t give away a penalty” - they must engage rather than “shadow” attackers. Quite often they are marking no one.

[selby]

  Concentrate on one game at a time.

[Frankie Rennie]

Give the donkey lashers a good stuffing on Saturday guys and put Evatt back where he belongs, destined for the National League. In fairness I really don’t know why they’re down there with the squad they have. They’ve had a few injuries but then so have we all but the likes of Ennis and Coulson haven’t really delivered though Fletcher has been good. They can be dangerous though and can suddenly burst into live as they did at the Reebok recently. We battered the first half and should have been 3 or 4 ahead comfortably but they came out second half a different team and we were lucky to come out with a 2-2 in the end. That said they’re poor at the back and Evatts sideways and backwards rubbish concedes goals as it fi the other night against Wimbledon yet he just never learns. Anyway apart from our own game at home to Rotherham where I’m hopeful we’ll do you a favour, I’m hoping you do us one and push Evatt deeper into the relegation mire, in fact maybe even out of a job?

[Fal]

Give the donkey lashers a good stuffing on Saturday guys and put Evatt back where he belongs, destined for the National League. In fairness I really don’t know why they’re down there with the squad they have. They’ve had a few injuries but then so have we all but the likes of Ennis and Coulson haven’t really delivered though Fletcher has been good. They can be dangerous though and can suddenly burst into live as they did at the Reebok recently. We battered the first half and should have been 3 or 4 ahead comfortably but they came out second half a different team and we were lucky to come out with a 2-2 in the end. That said they’re poor at the back and Evatts sideways and backwards rubbish concedes goals as it fi the other night against Wimbledon yet he just never learns. Anyway apart from our own game at home to Rotherham where I’m hopeful we’ll do you a favour, I’m hoping you do us one and push Evatt deeper into the relegation mire, in fact maybe even out of a job?

Can you organise 3 points for us on Tuesday night aswell?

[andysly]

Is it just my thinking or is it pretty rare we beat Blackpool ?

[MachoMadness]

Remember we beat them comfortably in our first game in L1 under Penney. Have we beat them at home since then?

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Remember we beat them comfortably in our first game in L1 under Penney. Have we beat them at home since then?

Yep;

4-1 in the FA Cup in 2005.

More recently;

2-0 in 2018 (Marquis and Kane scored)
3-2 in 2020 (Covid game the last time we played them at home) - we came from 2-0 down to win 3-2

We don't have a great record against them though;

Games won:   13
Games drawn:   14
Games lost:   30

[jmt23]

I think the crowd has a big part to play. The second half against Luton, I am certain the relentless chanting helped build the pressure and really helped lift the lads.

[steve@dcfd]

There's a list of teams on X to create big chances this season. Cardiff are top with 106 we are equal second with Plymouth with 89. Yet we have only scored 38 goals were Plymouth have scored 54.
We must take more chances in our last 11 games

[ForsolongaRover]

There's a list of teams on X to create big chances this season. Cardiff are top with 106 we are equal second with Plymouth with 89. Yet we have only scored 38 goals were Plymouth have scored 54.
We must take more chances in our last 11 games

I suspect that our stats on these criteria were very different for the first few games in August and September when we were in play-off territory which puts our subsequent success rate into an even worse light.

I wonder if whoever is employed as analyst or analysts has/have carried out a serious study of the opening few games compared with the subsequent ones. It would be interesting to hear from them about their methods, because from afar you might deduce that they aren’t very good at their jobs considering that there seems to have been a serious deterioration in the chance conversion rate.

[Usher wide.]

A big win for the Rovers.





But I’ll settle for a 1-0 win from an own goal!

[Barmby Rover]

I broadcast to the nation that Rovers will win today, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002s7w9 (1:15;30)
so now they are OBLIGED to prove me right! I will be there to inspect the victory, get them going GM!!!

[vaya]

I broadcast to the nation that Rovers will win today, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002s7w9 (1:15;30)
so now they are OBLIGED to prove me right! I will be there to inspect the victory, get them going GM!!!

Was going to ask if it was you. Full marks for ensuring the nation now knows Blackpool fans as 'Donkey lashers' and great choice for The Chain. Listened to the album this morning as a result.

[goalkick]

Looking at fixtures a six pointer today with a must win today. Need that gap between those below us.

[Prez]

Give the donkey lashers a good stuffing on Saturday guys and put Evatt back where he belongs, destined for the National League. In fairness I really don’t know why they’re down there with the squad they have. They’ve had a few injuries but then so have we all but the likes of Ennis and Coulson haven’t really delivered though Fletcher has been good. They can be dangerous though and can suddenly burst into live as they did at the Reebok recently. We battered the first half and should have been 3 or 4 ahead comfortably but they came out second half a different team and we were lucky to come out with a 2-2 in the end. That said they’re poor at the back and Evatts sideways and backwards rubbish concedes goals as it fi the other night against Wimbledon yet he just never learns. Anyway apart from our own game at home to Rotherham where I’m hopeful we’ll do you a favour, I’m hoping you do us one and push Evatt deeper into the relegation mire, in fact maybe even out of a job?

Well Bolton are doing us no favours at the moment, 2-0 down to Rotherham.

[Chris Black come back]

Especially given Bolton have one of best away records in League One. Very poor today.

[Chris Black come back]

2-1 now.

[GazLaz]

Looks like Pool may be changing formation.

[Chris Black come back]

Ended 2-2 thankfully.

[goalkick]

Watched game Rotherham lucky to get a point in the end.bolton good side and will be difficult to defend.

[i_ateallthepies]

Blackpool showed us how goalmouth scrambles are turned into goals.

[StocksArmy]

It’s all about winning ugly in this league. How many times have we lost this season when the games been in the balance? Can’t think of many games where we’ve comfortably beaten somebody. Jamie Sterry….. just clear it!!!!

[PDX_Rover]

I thought we were very good today, against a physical Blackpool team. Hanlan was getting pulled all over the place and showed some real strength - very good performance.

Very well earned win.

[Chris Black come back]

They were a terrible side. Has any side come to the Eco-Power this season with less attacking intent?

We did a professional job today against exactly the type of side we struggle with. Gotts was superb. Pearson and Byrne did well against the massive beanpole they had up front.

[steve@dcfd]

Molyneux until late in the second half was nonexistent along with Lee ( disappointing) and Middleton. Hanlon was dragged about on the pitch. Therefore the defenders with Bailey and Gotts were  good for nearly 90% of the game. We won that's all we needed.

[danumdon]

We'll take this win, scrappy as it was. We always seem to struggle against these big physical sides but we stuck to it manfully and matched them or better throughout. Game didn't have a great deal of quality which was understandable when you look at the perspective league positions, it was a match we desperately needed to win and we did without too much trouble.

Onwards, to safety and a reset for next season.

[Blue Green Algae]

To be fair to Blackpool, they'd played in London on Wednesday night, but they didn't offer much.

Pearson today showed what he can, and cannot do. Exemplary in the air, blocking etc, coupled with terrible distribution.

Delighted for Haks to get that goal. He gave the ball away twice as soon as he came on and you could hear folks getting on his back, but he then showed what he's all about.

[Chris Black come back]

10 games left. Point a game from that and we are surely safe. So far in 2026 we are averaging 1.6 ppg.

[Reg of the Rovers]

Hopefully Grant’s ability to make it work in the final third of the season is happening again. We were comfortable, dominant in the middle which we aren’t usually, and looked decent going forward and steady at the back. One brain fart from Sterry made it more interesting than it should have been, but otherwise pretty decent all round.