But I was really proud of the players and fans. If we do that against Luton we'll win I'm certain.
I've thought that for the last half dozen or so matches and we've got the square root of fuck all to show for it! Just 4 points from the last 21 available should tell a story of a team facing relegation and playing like dispirited, dysfunctional strangers. But that isn't the case is it? A couple of poor results despite bossing the stats v Brum and Norwich and then real horror shows as Huddersfield, Hull, Coventry and PNE were outplayed and out thought only for the goals for stat to tell a different story. 4 goals out of the last 7 matches is almost unbelievable for a team wanting to get into the play offs let alone get promoted outright! Tonight we were facing the best team by a mile in the Championship this season and unfortunately our sworn enemies to boot. Burnley FC are a class act without a doubt at this level (Burnley supporters are just the dregs) but they had just one shot on target all the match against a Rovers team who started slowly and were obviously uncomfortable against Burnley's high press designed obviously to stop the Rovers building their from the back. Hyam. JRC, Pickering, Pears and Carter were clearly disconcerted and ruffled by this tactic but in fairness after 15 minutes the tide turned as the Rovers inspired by the immaculate performance of Adam Wharton in the middle took control of proceedings. Burnley were still a threat of course and still playing with the confidence of an already promoted team but as the game wore of they lost a lot of that confidence, gave ground, collected bookings and were well and truly on the back foot. Cue Vincent Kompany and Craig Bellamy chucking on Cork and Benson. What an inspired substitution that proved to be! Cork is of course a hatchet man and his first tackle on Wharton should have been a booking, his second tackle was. Unfortunately he found Benson on the edge of the box after Carter had lost possession in a dangerous place, Benson cut inside and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the far corner and past Pears despairing dive. I was right in line behind the ball and it was in all the way. 10 minutes later and he did it again only this time the ball skewed high and wide into Row Z.
Life sometimes is like that but crikey where has our Lady Luck gone this last month? We are a spent force in the striking dept, a blunt instrument and it's cost us big time. With just over 1 goal per match and a minus goal difference it's laughable that we have stayed in the play off positions for so long! We simply HAVE to find a couple of strikers for next season or our Academies golden generation will be wasted. Make no mistake we have some quality outfield players and play some lovely build up play but we are way too shot shy with players electing to pass rather than 'avin a go' when a shot is on. Too many players are taking a second touch in the penalty area when all that does is allow defenders to close them down. When players do take a shot all too often they make the wrong option to beat the keeper. Too often crosses don't get past the first defender but when that's the case where is our player who should be making runs to get on the near post? How many times have we scored from a corner / dead ball this season? I don't know who our striking coach is but he wants binning off! Finding a cutting edge to complement our build up play is of paramount importance this summer, even more so than it was in January but all heard about was a winger and two midfielders. Strewth our midfield is good enough as it is! What goes on in Ewood's top offices I wonder?
Pears... 7 Goaled fine and couldn't get near Benson's wonder shot.
JRC.... 7 Put a good shift in despite being stifled by Burnley's high press. Sponsors MoM although I can only assume that Peter Jackson wasn't at tonights match.
Carter... 5 This lad has been one of the finds of the season but tonight he had Burnely's strikers harassing and harrying all night and effectively giving him no time on the ball. He lost the ball in the 64th when he should have passed and within 20 seconds or so Pears was picking the ball out of the net as the Dingle fans went wild.
Hyam 6 Again ruffled by Burnley's press and particularly by villain No 1 Ashley Barnes who rampaged around rattling everyone he came across.
Pickering... 7 Another with a shaky start but who steadied his game after the opening exchanges. Unfortunately allowed Benson to turn inside on his favourite left foot for the goal.
Travis... 7 Prepared to battle for every loose ball and had more than a few skirmishes in midfield.
Wharton... 9 ooozed class and was the best player on the park again. Most people's MoM by a mile. Tired towards the end but by that time Burnley had dished out some severe punishment to him. Ok so his performances dipped in the Autumn and he was rightly left out of the squad to find his feet again. But to not bring him back into the fold until April just seems suicidal and smacks of favouritism or even disciplinary issues? Thank goodness that he's contracted to the club until 2027.
Hedges.. 7 Had his best match for some time imo. Does need to practice his dead ball deliveries though. Too many just turned into wasted opportunities.
Dolan... 8 Lots of good things from the lad tonight. Trickery, boundless energy as he took it almost on himself to press Burnleys defenders and to do to them what their forwards were doing to us. Turned the previously stylish Taylor who started the match playing some delightful build up play into a nervous wreck who ended the match hoofing the ball long.
Szmodics... 7 Never say die and wore his heart on his sleeve all night. Unlucky not to get on the end of some attacks.
BBD ... 6 A poor first half but grew stronger in the second half and gave Burnley's right flank plenty of trouble after the break.
Subs
Thomas (Hedges 74) 5 I think I'd have preferred Hedges to stay on for another 10 minutes. Took his first corner from the left and as I predicted flighted an inswinger straight into the gloves of 6ft 6" GK muric. FFS!
Brittain (Pickering 74) 6 Again I might have left Pickering a little longer as he was playing well hovere he had been booked so I guess it was good sense by the manager.
Dack (Dolan 74) 5 Been out so long and didn't have much effect on proceedings. Again Dolan was playing well and another 10 minutes for him might have been a better option.
Leonard ( Travis 83) Last throw of the dice, it might have worked .... but it didn't.
JDT... 8 Sent out a team which must be dispirited after recent matches but they still gave their all. Some questionable subs as each one weakened the team imo but in fairness a mounting injury list has come at the wrong time for such a thin squad. Gracious to go and shake hands with Bellamy and Kompany before the match but unfortunately Bellamy showed his complete lack of class / breeding by not even getting off his arse.
Referee Tim Robinson 7 I quite like this Referee. Knew the high stakes and nature of this fixture and let the game flow without too many stoppages. Seemed to have the respect of most players too. Missed a handball penalty decision against Barnes (he had already handled it a number of times in the match) when it was obviously a pen as no one could coordinate such a spontaneous reaction from the rovers players.
1 min 40 secs
Handballs just aren't our thing are they?
Attendance 18166