Crawley v Rovers

Last Time out...

A MK Dons team, who's form in the league is dipping seemed ideal opponents to get Rovers out of their own current dip in form.  By the final whistle, I'd listened to Donny get three shots (none on target) compared with the Dons' 13; commit 16 fouls to the Dons' 8 and win just one corner in the 90 minutes.  Reflecting on that, I was delighted with the goalless  draw.  But I can also say that that was 120 minutes I'm never going to get back!  

At the end of the game, because of an error by the commentators, along with many Rovers' fans, I thought we had gone top.  As if to demonstrate a little justice, the football world was spared our taking over at the head of the table in what would have been the most unimpressive manner imaginable.  Somewhat mercifully, only two and a half minutes of footballers shooting unimpressively were described as highlights by Rovers' player, so we will move on.

Prior to the match, I made light of our current situation and whether the wheels had come off the promotion wagon.  I haven't changed that opinion.   But for the first time, I do have to question the team Brian Flynn sent out.  Six defenders at home?  Lee Fowler, who has been impressive since joining from Wrexham on the bench?  There would even be arguments for leaving one defender at least out for either Kyle Bennett or James Harper even if those two players haven't had the best of seasons.

But in the end, its one game.  Even if you want to call it a bad three-game run, it's not a reason to be starting to criticize the management of the club for appointing Brian Flynn.  Its not as if they'd made a decision that threw away the whole culture and philosophy of the club.

....Meanwhile

Crawley Town were sitting at home, mercifully spared a cold Tuesday night of watching something with the entertainment value of Holby City.  

They were in action on the previous Saturday however, traveling to sunny Scunny to take on the Iron.

Sides that are in the lower reaches of the table are not ideal opponents for anyone at this stage of the season, especially opponents like the Iron, who are far from convinced at the necessity of competing in a relegation battle.

Scunny dominated the first half but Crawley were able to limit them to half-chances. This didn't stop Sodje and Hawley from scratching the paint of Crawley's crossbar however.

Matt Sparrow then did what players do when playing against their former clubs and put Crawley ahead early in the second half.  It was a straight forward goal as he was left unmarked in the area.  Crawley, with one attack all game had the lead.  But Scunthorpe were deservedly back in it when a determined run and cross down the Crawley right found Michael Collins.  His shot was parried into the path of James Ryan who had a very easy finish.  Crawley very nearly restored their lead when a fabulous cross from Nicky Adams found Jamie Proctor stopping to head against the crossbar.  But a set-piece goal in the end gave the Iron the points.  Niall Canavan rising highest to head in Proctor's deep corner.

Scunthorpe United 2 : 1 Crawley Town.

Earlier this season....

Crawley became the first team to suggest that Rovers might have an issue at home in the first ever meeting between the sides.

Rovers were lively enough in the first half, with Billy Paynter in particular proving a real handful for the Crawley defence.  But As they say in these parts of the world, "Das Runde muss ins Ekige" and it didn't.  But it wasn't for lack of want or trying.

At the other end, Crawley also looked reasonable and they certainly finished the better.  It took until 87 minutes for Nicholas Ajosé to claim the goal after Josh Simpson had done the work.  A bit of smash and grab in the end for Crawley and Rovers were left to rue the chances they had squandered.

The season so far...

Newly promoted Crawley started well enough and generally maintained a place in the play-off places until mid-November.  But since then, their form has dipped.  From a Rovers' point of view, their form graph looks worryingly like that of MK Dons.  Crawley were just a little more consistent in the first months of the season.  Now they have just three wins since November and have dropped to a season-low 15th position.

Season High: 1st (August)

Season Low: 15th (February)

Rovers have now finished their last 7 games in 2nd place but as the Rovers' fans know its not been the story of the last three games.

Its all going wrong isn't it?  Well perhaps not all.  Looking at the vast range of Stats that I use to produce this thread, I'm seeing that Rovers are in general shooting more (Tuesday's match aside) and gaining more possession than they were under Dean Saunders.  With more shots going in, you would think that the generally excellent shot conversion rates that the Rovers achieve will lead to more goals.  The only question for me is whether these players can play a more possession type of game.  

...and so to the Game

Really looking forward to this one, as I do every rare occasion that I get to see the Rovers play live.  I just hope we put on a show that doesn't tempt Sky into removing our match from the Bank Holiday Monday schedule.

Crawley haven't got a history of starting too well.  Only the 17th best 1st half record in the league.  But Rovers need to be careful because in the 7 matches where they have gone in leading at the break, they have never lost.

There's lots of positives for the visitors.  Crawley's form has put paid to any play-off chance as even if they gain 6 points from their games in hand, they will still be six-points short of sixth place.  That's a lot of sixes.  But being 12 points clear of 21st with two games in hand, they look a safe bet for a second season in league 1.  The season is all but over for them and they are not trying to impress to gain a place in the team for a cup tie.

As for Rovers, well despite that loss to Bury, its still an excellent away record.  The game has more riding on it for the visitors as a win would take us two points clear at the top.  But then there's the injury situation.  Iain Hume, Chris Brown and David Syers, players we have missed badly of late will be out for Monday's game.  Paul Keegan missed the MK Dons match after suffering a dead-leg against Walsall.  If it's just a dead-leg, I'd expect him back, which would very welcome.  

But it's up front where we have problems.  Billy Paynter's performance on Tuesday was a long way off his best and Emile Sinclair has yet to impress in a hooped shirt.  Flynn has spoken of bringing in two loan-players for Monday night's game.  While typing this on Sunday evening nothing has bee announced.

Taking charge of the game is Andy D'Urso.  Andy has taken charge of 27 games this season (12 Championship, 6 League 1, 5 League 2 and 4 cup-ties).  He shows an average of  2.25 yellow cards per game.  5 players have received their marching orders from Mr. D'Urso, 4 with straight red cards and he has awarded 4 penalties.

Forum Corner

There's been a conspiracy of late to pee off the Donny fan.  Poor results and equally poor football of course triggered it.  But the irking has found other angles from which to approach the average Rover.

Fans at the MK Dons game were first subjected to the logic of Rovers' refreshment booth staff who told them that they had to queue again if they wanted a chocolate bar with their beer.  Bovril and beer served to the same customer was also a no-no.  All of these refreshments are available at the same booth of course.  It's just that you don't mix your beer and your bovril!  

Having negotiated that issue, usually by not bothering with one refreshment or the other, fans were pleased they had saved their money when they found their cars had been ticketed in a Blitz by a parking consultants.  Good advice on Viking Chat for this one.  If you did get ticketed, just ignore it.  The ticket is actually an invoice, which you can chose to pay or not.  Chuck it in the bin if its not from the council or the police.  The company concerned will threaten you, bug you, irk you but they'll get bored eventually.

So lets improve the footie Rovers.  Start there and everything else will get better, I promise!

Interestingly, the VSC forum has run a poll on where Rovers will finish this season.  As I voted (for champions) I noticed that despite the last three games, the majority of voters still believe Rovers can do it.  1 in 3 have Donny gaining automatic promotion.  

Lets hope we're right!