Drat! Drat and Double drat! https://www.google.com/search?q=dic...#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b13c3920,vid:UAvGErOP-iE
Well we dared to believe after Gallagher picked up a loose ball and rammed it home on the 74th minute but victory was tragically snatched from our grasp by a player with true Premier League finishing quality. I noticed that Bad Boy Aaron Connelly came on as sub in Hull's last match v Sheff Wed on 79 minutes and scored their 4th on 85 minutes to put the match to bed, his second half appearance turned up trumps again today. Both goals taken with real aplomb after it looked for a short time that the 10 men might snatch an unlikely victory!
From 16 minutes into the game the 10 men Rovers gave blood, sweat and tears today against a fairly ordinary Hull City eleven in decidedly hot and humid conditions. Pickering's misjudged tackle on Delap as last man in the 16th minute meant an automatic red card and sentenced his teammates to a difficult task. Fair play to the team they dug in, gritted their teeth and defended their goal as if their lives depended on it. The break came with Hull looking distinctly shore of ideas on the 74th minute as Sam Gallagher latched on to a loose ball to shoot the Rovers into man unlikely lead. How Ewood cheered and how soon the cheers were stifled by party pooper Connolly's brace in the last 10!
I have to say that all post match comments that I heard were lavish in their praise of the Rovers efforts but whatever the situation it ended in a disappointing home defeat and a slip to 12th position. I'm left wondering it it's a case of "live by the sword, die by the sword" as our point at Rotherham last week owed much to a sending off for the home side.
Pears.... 7 Kept goal well and could do sweet FA about Connolly's brace.
JRC..... 5 Not his best match but tbh he was shackled in defence once Pickering had been sentenced to an early bath.
Carter... 7 Sponsors MoM and a strong man in defence. Had a Great opportunity to level the scores on the dying minutes but typical of real 'centre half finishing' he screwed his shot wide.
Hyam ...7 Strong game today and like Carter got plenty of blocks in to thwart Hull's attack.
Pickering... N/A Poor Harry mistimed one tackle and was sentenced to an early bath. Q. Did JDT blank him on purpose as their path's crossed?
Travis... 7 Covered every inch of Ewood in stifling heat. Looked to noticeably wilt in the couple of minutes before Hull equalised.
Wharton A.... 7 Calm and assured in the centre of midfield.
Hedges.... 6 Continues to frustrate (me?) as his physique, fitness and ability should present more threat on opposing teams.
Dolan.... 4 Very poor opening spell today and once Harry Pick was sent off it was easy to predict the fall guy for Brittain to joinn the defensive party.
Szmodics... 7 Subbed on 52 minutes by Ennis. I'm not sure why this happened as Sam had had a decent enough first half. Was he injured? Suffice to say that he looked frustrated and angry to be subbed.
Leonard.... 5 Tried but failed to put any sort of pressure on Hull's back line today.
Subs
Brittain (Dolan 17 mins) .... 7 Slotted nicely into the defence to replace Harry Pick.
Ennis.... 6 Replaced Harry Leonard on 52 minutes and looked a slightly better option.
Gallagher... 7 Replaced Szmodics on 52 minutes and his pace and power served to swing the match the Rover's way. Bossed Coyle on our left wing and took a good goal too.
Manager JDT... 6 Hard luck to come away with nowt which we all shared. Should he have chucked Buckley and Garrett on when (imo) our lads visibly wilted in the 80th or so minutes?
Referee Oliver Langford... 4 I've checked back and I've varied from 3 to 7 in the past. Today I'm erring to the former after he waved away a couple of fairly valid penalty claims from the Rovers. Also just seconds before he blew for HT he completely ignored the already booked Jacob Greaves hauling down Hedges.
Well we dared to believe after Gallagher picked up a loose ball and rammed it home on the 74th minute but victory was tragically snatched from our grasp by a player with true Premier League finishing quality. I noticed that Bad Boy Aaron Connelly came on as sub in Hull's last match v Sheff Wed on 79 minutes and scored their 4th on 85 minutes to put the match to bed, his second half appearance turned up trumps again today. Both goals taken with real aplomb after it looked for a short time that the 10 men might snatch an unlikely victory!
From 16 minutes into the game the 10 men Rovers gave blood, sweat and tears today against a fairly ordinary Hull City eleven in decidedly hot and humid conditions. Pickering's misjudged tackle on Delap as last man in the 16th minute meant an automatic red card and sentenced his teammates to a difficult task. Fair play to the team they dug in, gritted their teeth and defended their goal as if their lives depended on it. The break came with Hull looking distinctly shore of ideas on the 74th minute as Sam Gallagher latched on to a loose ball to shoot the Rovers into man unlikely lead. How Ewood cheered and how soon the cheers were stifled by party pooper Connolly's brace in the last 10!
I have to say that all post match comments that I heard were lavish in their praise of the Rovers efforts but whatever the situation it ended in a disappointing home defeat and a slip to 12th position. I'm left wondering it it's a case of "live by the sword, die by the sword" as our point at Rotherham last week owed much to a sending off for the home side.
Pears.... 7 Kept goal well and could do sweet FA about Connolly's brace.
JRC..... 5 Not his best match but tbh he was shackled in defence once Pickering had been sentenced to an early bath.
Carter... 7 Sponsors MoM and a strong man in defence. Had a Great opportunity to level the scores on the dying minutes but typical of real 'centre half finishing' he screwed his shot wide.
Hyam ...7 Strong game today and like Carter got plenty of blocks in to thwart Hull's attack.
Pickering... N/A Poor Harry mistimed one tackle and was sentenced to an early bath. Q. Did JDT blank him on purpose as their path's crossed?
Travis... 7 Covered every inch of Ewood in stifling heat. Looked to noticeably wilt in the couple of minutes before Hull equalised.
Wharton A.... 7 Calm and assured in the centre of midfield.
Hedges.... 6 Continues to frustrate (me?) as his physique, fitness and ability should present more threat on opposing teams.
Dolan.... 4 Very poor opening spell today and once Harry Pick was sent off it was easy to predict the fall guy for Brittain to joinn the defensive party.
Szmodics... 7 Subbed on 52 minutes by Ennis. I'm not sure why this happened as Sam had had a decent enough first half. Was he injured? Suffice to say that he looked frustrated and angry to be subbed.
Leonard.... 5 Tried but failed to put any sort of pressure on Hull's back line today.
Subs
Brittain (Dolan 17 mins) .... 7 Slotted nicely into the defence to replace Harry Pick.
Ennis.... 6 Replaced Harry Leonard on 52 minutes and looked a slightly better option.
Gallagher... 7 Replaced Szmodics on 52 minutes and his pace and power served to swing the match the Rover's way. Bossed Coyle on our left wing and took a good goal too.
Manager JDT... 6 Hard luck to come away with nowt which we all shared. Should he have chucked Buckley and Garrett on when (imo) our lads visibly wilted in the 80th or so minutes?
Referee Oliver Langford... 4 I've checked back and I've varied from 3 to 7 in the past. Today I'm erring to the former after he waved away a couple of fairly valid penalty claims from the Rovers. Also just seconds before he blew for HT he completely ignored the already booked Jacob Greaves hauling down Hedges.
