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‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread on 17:10 - Feb 15 with 201 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread on 17:15 - Feb 15 with 199 views
Bristol Rovers 2-1 Blackpool: 10-men Seasiders taste defeat in David Dunn's first game in caretaker charge
David Dunn tasted defeat in his first game as caretaker manager as the 10 men of Blackpool lost late on at Bristol Rovers.
The managerless Seasiders squandered an early lead for the second game running, Gary Madine giving them the lead after just two minutes.
But the game turned on its head on the stroke of half-time when Ben Heneghan was shown a straight red card.
The Gas, who were without a win in 14 prior to this game, took until the 73rd minute to get back on level terms, before winning it with only six minutes remaining.
The result, Pool’s first game since the sacking of Simon Grayson, means the Seasiders have now only won one of their last 13 games.
It also means Pool, who have lost eight of their last 10 league games, are still without an away win since Doncaster Rovers in September.
Dunn made three changes to the Pool side in his first game in charge as caretaker boss.
One was enforced, with Matty Virtue replacing skipper Jay Spearing who was ruled out with concussion.
Elsewhere, James Husband and Calum Macdonald came into the side in place of Ollie Turton and Marc Bola - who both dropped down to the bench.
Jak Alnwick (arm) and Sullay Kaikai (groin/abductor) remain sidelined with injuries, while the likes of Mark Howard, Jordan Thorniley, Ryan Edwards, Ben Garrity and Sean Scannell all missed out.
Despite conceding a corner inside the opening 15 seconds, it was the Seasiders who got off to the dream start in the stormy conditions.
Connor Ronan delivered a low cross in from the right which got caught up in the wind before landing at the feet of Gary Madine, who slammed home an emphatic first-time finish into the roof of the net.
With Storm Dennis causing havoc every time the ball went up in the air, it was imperative the Seasiders got the ball down and attempted to play passing football.
That’s what led to a half-chance of sorts on 10 minutes, when the returning Macdonald - in for his first start since Ipswich in November - overlapped Virtue down the left before delivering a dangerous cross that was headed behind at the back post.
The hosts had what looked to be fairly strong penalty appeals turned down after 14 minutes when dangerman Jonson Clarke-Harris went down in the box under pressure from Husband,
But referee Brett Huxtable remain unmoved and allowed the game to continue, much to the anger of the home faithful.
Chris Maxwell was almost caught out by the swirling wind as Ed Upson delivered an inswinging free kick that the keeper had to boot away.
Going forward, Pool continued to look dangerous from wide areas, Madine almost beating the goalkeeper to Macdonald’s near-post cross.
Pool began to ramp up the pressure before the half-hour mark, Liam Feeney seeing a corner cause havoc inside the six-yard box before the home side somehow managed to scramble their lines clear.
Armand Gnanduillet then had the opportunity to slip strike partner Madine clean through on goal after outmuscling his marker only to overhit his pass, which ran through to the keeper.
Bristol Rovers came close to a leveller eight minutes before the interval, Mark Little powering a rising effort just past the post, with Maxwell at full stretch.
The half ended on a sour note for the Seasiders when Ben Heneghan was shown a straight red card for a needless foul on Clarke-Harris.
The centre back, who will now miss next weekend’s trip to AFC Wimbledon, was penalised for going straight through the back of the Bristol Rovers man by the touchline.
Dunn wasted no time in switching things up, making a double change at the break with Ollie Turton and Nathan Delfouneso replacing Connor Ronan and goalscorer Madine.
It left the Seasiders with a lack of height in their back four but, with no other centre backs on the bench, it left them with no other option.
Despite being a man down, the Seasiders went in search of a second goal and they had three priceless chances to do so.
Blackman was involved in all three, tipping Gnanduillet’s looping header over the bar before denying Virtue twice in quick succession.
The home side returned with some pressure of their own, but all in all the Seasiders appeared to be dealing with it fairly well by taking the sting out of the game.
But there was absolutely nothing they could have done about Bristol Rovers’ leveller on 73 minutes, which came from the boot of defender Alfie Kilgour.
The defender had time to pick his spot and that’s exactly what he did, finding the top corner from all of 30 yards.
The Gas almost completed their turnaround four minutes later but Macdonald saved Pool’s blushes, clearing off the line from Clarke-Harris’ header.
They didn’t have to wait much longer though, Ben Garner’s men getting the decisive second with six minutes left.
It came with a huge slice of luck too, Clarke-Harris’ 30-yard effort taking a touch off substitute Josh Ginnelly, who had attempted to control the ball, only to see his ricochet wrongfoot Maxwell and roll into the back of the net.
Pool ought to have snatched a point in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time when Delfouneso was sent clean through on goal, but he somehow managed to shoot wide - condemning the Seasiders to another costly defeat.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread on 17:36 - Feb 15 with 188 views
Blackpool suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers at a blustery Memorial Stadium.
Gary Madine gave Blackpool an early lead before Ben Heneghan’s red card just before half-time. Two second half goals from the hosts ultimately secured the win.
Blackpool took the lead within just two minutes, thanks to Gary Madine’s second goal for the club.
Connor Ronan did expertly on the right to find Gary Madine totally unmarked in the area and smash in an effort from ten yards out.
Blackpool were impressing in the first half, with the vicious wind going with them in the opening 45 minutes. Half an hour was on the clock when Armand Gnanduillet used all of his power and pace to out muscle a defender and square a pass to Gary Madine who would have been clean through on goal, but for the pass to have just too much weight on and the goalkeeper rushed out to claim the ball.
With just over five minutes of the first half still to go, Mark Little had a good effort for the hosts which whistled just wide of the post.
With minutes of the first half remaining, Blackpool were reduced to ten men. Ben Heneghan was shown a straight red card for a sliding challenge on Jonson Clarke-Harris, with the Seasiders forced into playing the rest of the match a man down.
Half Time: Bristol Rovers 0 Blackpool 1
David Dunn made two changes at half time, with Nathan Delfouneso and Ollie Turton both coming on.
Blackpool faced a difficult challenge in the second 45 minutes, with the wind going against them and being a man down. Mark Little’s cross on the right hand side was whipped towards goal on 49 minutes, with Chris Maxwell having to be alert to the danger and did well to save and hold on to the ball.
Despite the difficulties, Blackpool continued to impress in the second half. Nathan Delfouneso played a great pass to Matty Virtue on 65 minutes, but Jamal Blackman was there to tip away a Virtue effort.
As the half went on, the hosts created a fair few chances but relied on an incredible strike from Alfie Kilgour on 75 minutes to get them back in the game. The midfielder was urged to shoot by the supporters and did so, smashing an effort into the top corner from 25 yards out.
From there on in, the hosts were on top and took the lead with just five minutes remaining. Josh Ginnelly flicked on a half effort which was heading towards goal, sending Maxwell the complete opposite way and into the net to ensure the hosts took all three points.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread on 18:05 - Feb 15 with 184 views
Josh Ginnelly ended Bristol Rovers' 14-match winless run with an 84th-minute goal in a 2-1 win over 10-man Blackpool.
The substitute got the decisive touch to a Jonson Clarke-Harris shot from distance to wrong-foot goalkeeper Chris Maxwell and give manager Ben Garner his first win since taking charge in December.
David Dunn had to wait less than two minutes for his first goal as caretaker Blackpool boss, with Connor Ronan breaking down the right and crossing for Gary Madine to net with a fierce first-time shot from 12 yards.
But the visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 43rd minute when Ben Heneghan was shown a straight red card for a sliding challenge from behind on Clarke-Harris.
Rovers equalised in the 73rd minute with a breathtaking strike from centre-back Alfie Kilgour, whose wind-assisted shot from 35 yards arrowed into the top corner.
Josh Ginnelly then won it for Rovers late on.
The game was dominated by a strong wind and driving rain.
Matty Virtue missed two second-half chances for Blackpool and at the death substitute Nathan Delfouneso failed to beat Rovers keeper Jamal Blackman one-on-one.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread on 19:20 - Feb 15 with 176 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread on 19:21 - Feb 15 with 175 views
Even though we lost again, the post match interview was a bit more positive than you'd have got from Larry.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread (n/t) on 19:33 - Feb 15 with 171 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread (n/t) on 07:57 - Feb 16 with 153 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread (n/t) on 08:02 - Feb 16 with 151 views
Caretaker boss David Dunn on Blackpool's defeat at Bristol Rovers and delivers his verdict on Ben Heneghan's red card
Caretaker boss David Dunn admits he couldn't have asked for much more from his Blackpool players following today's 2-1 defeat to Bristol Rovers.
The Seasiders slumped to an eighth defeat in 10 in their first game since Simon Grayson's sacking as Bristol Rovers came from behind against the 10 men of Blackpool.
Pool took a second-minute lead through Gary Madine and looked in charge of proceedings until Ben Heneghan was shown a straight red card on the stroke of half-time.
Dunn's charges still had their chances to make life more comfortable for themselves with 10 men, with Matty Virtue in particular squandering two chances.
But the home side, who were without a win in 14 prior to kick-off, got themselves back on level terms courtesy of Alfie Kilgour's wonder-strike - the defender picking out the top corner from 30 yards.
The Gas then won it with a slice of fortune six minutes from time, Preston North End loanee Josh Ginnelly diverting Jonson Clarke-Harris' long-range strike into the back of the net.
The Seasiders, who have now won just one of their last 13 encounters, still had time to miss a late chance to snatch a point as Nathan Delfouneso steered wide.
Dunn, speaking post-match said: “I thought the lads were excellent.
“The way we passed the ball, the way they worked hard for each other, I couldn’t have asked for much more really.
“The decision to send Ben Heneghan off changed the course of the game because at the time we were in a really good position and controlling most of the game.
“I haven’t seen it back, so I’m not sure if it is or it isn’t, but I thought a booking he might have got away with. Sometimes when two big lads collide it looks worse than it is.
“But Ben has slipped and obviously the ref has made his mind up to show him the red card.
“Overall I’m pleased with the performance but I’m obviously disappointed with the result.
“When you see their first goal, I don’t think their lad is going to score another one like that from 30 yards ever again.
“Then there’s a fluke goal with a deflection for the second one.
“But I can’t ask for anymore from the players, they were terrific. We created chances with 11 men and I thought we even created good chances and broke them down when we were a man down.
“They popped the ball round but the pleasing thing for me was how the lads stuck together because in terms of workrate we couldn’t have asked for much more.”
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread (n/t) on 08:07 - Feb 16 with 149 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread on 08:59 - Feb 16 with 144 views
A miserable afternoon that sum up Blackpool's predicament: Matt Scrafton's verdict on 10-man Seasiders' harsh defeat at Bristol Rovers
If ever a game of football summed up Blackpool’s last two months of woes, then this was it.
For this was a much improved display from the Seasiders. They were gutsy, they played some eye-catching football and they created enough chances to score three or four goals — even with a man down.
Even when Pool seemingly get a lot right, events continue to transpire against them.
The men in tangerine were in control of proceedings up until the stroke of half-time, when Ben Heneghan was given his marching orders after being shown a straight red.
But even after the defender’s dismissal, it was the Seasiders who created the clearer-cut chances but they were once again made to pay for their lack of ruthlessness in front of goal.
Bristol Rovers, without a win in 14 prior to kick-off, got out of jail when centre back Alfie Kilgour thumped one into the top corner from 30 yards. They had previously looked devoid of ideas.
The cherry on the cake of Blackpool’s miserable, rain-sodden and windswept day came when Preston North End loanee Josh Ginnelly inadvertently toe-poked a wayward shot into the back of the net.
It was a fluke goal that condemned the Seasiders to an eighth defeat from their last 10 league games, leaving Pool without an away win in five months of football.
David Dunn, who received praise from supporters for naming a more balanced line-up with players playing in the right positions, couldn’t have asked for a much better start in his first game in caretaker charge.
With barely two minutes on the clock, Connor Ronan’s cross in from the right got caught up in the swirling wind, falling nicely for Gary Madine to slam home an emphatic finish from 10 yards out.
With Storm Dennis threatening to make a mockery of the game, it was imperative the Seasiders kept the ball down on the deck. That’s exactly what they did, and they did it well too.
Calum Macdonald was a threat down the left flank on his long-overdue return to the starting line-up, his last start coming at Ipswich Town in November.
He linked up well with the midfield trio of Ronan, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Matty Virtue, the latter causing all sorts of problems with his trademark late runs into the box.
Liam Feeney, meanwhile, was back to his best down the flanks and caused the home side problems all afternoon.
Pool had a calmness and composure about them we’ve not previously seen. They were happy to remain patient and keep hold of the ball rather than get it forward as soon as possible and risk losing possession over and over again.
With the wind behind them, Blackpool desperately needed that second goal to kill off the game. But how often have the Seasiders been made to pay for their failure to kill off teams when they’ve been in the ascendancy?
The game inevitably turned on its head two minutes before the break when Heneghan was sent off.
Initially his scything down of Bristol Rovers dangerman Jonson Clarke-Harris by the touchline looked completely needless and unnecessary.
But according to both Dunn and Heneghan, the defender slipped in the treacherous conditions and couldn’t stop himself from sliding in. Surely a yellow card would have sufficed?
But it meant Pool faced an uphill battle from here on in. Yet they looked to be marching up that hill fairly confidently, even with a man down in the second half.
Armand Gnanduillet saw a looping header clawed away from under Jamal Blackman’s crossbar before the Bristol Rovers goalkeeper went on to make another two important saves in as many minutes.
Virtue was the man to be denied on both occasions, poking an effort towards goal from 10 yards that Blackman saved well before the keeper was at full stretch to deny the midfielder for a second time.
The longer the game wore on, the more inevitable it became that the home side would produce an onslaught of pressure at some point given their man advantage.
But in truth, it never really came. Pool were managing the game well, taking the sting out of proceedings and winding the clock down fairly successfully much to the frustration of the home support
That was until the 73rd minute, at least, when the Gas pulled themselves level with an absolute thunderbolt from the unlikely source of their 21-year-old centre back Kilgour.
Perhaps Pool could have got out to him quicker and closed him down? But no-one would have been expecting a strike of that quality and power.
Inevitably the wind was in Bristol Rovers’ sails at this point and there was plenty of it to go around.
But the manner in which their decisive strike came was tough to take, Ginnelly’s attempted control from Clarke-Harris’ wayward long-range strike deceiving Maxwell and rolling into the back of the empty net.
At this point, Pool’s players would have been forgiven had their heads dropped, but they still found time to go agonisingly close in the 94th minute.
Substitute Nathan Delfouneso was sent clear through on goal by Joe Nuttall’s well-controlled through-ball, but the forward’s effort took a slight deflection and bounced wide of the wrong side of the post.
The Seasiders have had plenty of painstaking defeats to mull over in the last few weeks, but this one in particular was tough to take.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bristol Rovers Post Match Thread on 18:33 - Feb 16 with 134 views
Bristol Rovers opened their 2019/20 campaign with a trip to the seaside, Blackpool. This weekend the teams clash again, this time in Bristol. Since that first match both teams have changed their Manager. Simon Grayson was sacked after seven months in charge following a run of only one win in 12 games in all competitions. The 50-year-old returned to Bloomfield Road in July 2019, having previously led the Tangerines to promotion into the Championship in 2007.
Following a 1-1 draw with Sunderland on 14 December, the Seasiders had 33 points, with eight wins and just three defeats in the league. However, the accruing of just four points from a possible 27 since then and a lack of goals from other players to complement Armand Gnanduillet, who has 18, have contributed to their decline.
At the beginning of the season there was a real sense of rebirth for the Fylde Coast team’s fans after the spectre of the Oysten family finally departed. The damage done to this proud club cannot be overemphasised but the unity of the fans has finally seen the club back in ‘safe hands’ after 32 years of mismanagement.
Grayson’s final match in charge was a mid-week home loss to Gillingham. Blackpool took the early initiative as ex-Gas keeper Jack Bonham stopped Gary Madine firing the Seasiders ahead, top-scorer Gnanduillet did just that moments later, in the 7th minute, with a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
Chances for Connor Ronan and Madine went begging for the Tangerines before John Akinde drifted in behind and slotted home a 73rd minute equaliser, despite Chris Maxwell's best efforts in the home goal. The hosts were stunned when three minutes later Regan Charles-Cook blasted home to put the Gills 2-1 up.
Gillingham nearly grabbed a third as Jack Tucker's header struck the woodwork, but at the other end Nathan Delfouneso nodded home the equaliser in the first minute of added time. The late drama was not over, though, as Brandon Hanlan's close-range header four minutes later secured a 3-2 victory and all three points for Gillingham.
Speaking immediately after the game Grayson said, “You look at the performance in the first half, I thought we were good and we were comfortable. They never really threatened too much other than set pieces. We got the goal, but we could have had at least another couple to make it comfortable at half time.
“We missed some good opportunities and when you play a Steve Evans side you know exactly what you’re going to come up against. Second half I said we needed to keep the ball slightly better but make sure we competed. But individual mistakes have cost us.
“It gave them a lift and they get back into the game and before you know it, you’re 2-1 down and you’re chasing the game when really it should have been over. It becomes a difficult night.”
“You equalise late on and you say ‘we’ll take the point now’ and make sure you don’t lose the game. But there are individual mistakes for all three goals and they have cost us a point at the very least, whereas up to the first goal we were quite comfortable in the game.”
“You have to defend everything Gillingham throw at you. In the first half we did that, we were compact and we dealt with second balls. But we went to sleep and allowed John Akinde to run through when someone should have stayed with him.”
“Then for their second the lad chests it down in the box when he’s got three or four yards of space. You didn’t see us getting that sort of opportunity when we were attacking. Then you just do whatever is required to get the draw. After the run we’ve been on, you’ll take four points out of six after scoring an equaliser so late on and you move onto the next game.
“To concede the late goal as we did, with a free header in the six-yard box, in the 94th minute is criminal defending from individuals.”
There has been a total of 37 meetings between the clubs over the years and the record is exactly even with 14 wins to each team and 9 draws. The first game took place at Eastville on 28 September 1974, in the old Division 2, and the newly relegated away team came away with both points (just two for a win in those days). Paul Hart, Micky Walsh and substitute Stuart Parker scoring for Blackpool and Bruce Bannister scoring a penalty for Rovers. The return match at Bloomfield Road on 15 March 1975 saw a battling 0-0 draw.
It took Rovers 4 attempts before they recorded a home win over Blackpool, a 2-0 victory on 21 January 1978 with goals by Bobby Gould and Paul Randall.
Last season’s 4-0 victory was the biggest score Rovers had recorded against the Tangerines. The Gas took a sixth-minute lead when Liam Sercombe's low cross from the right corner of the box took a deflection into the path of Jonson Clarke-Harris, who fired home from close range.
It was 2-0 on 37 minutes as Ollie Clarke's pass put Clarke-Harris in on the left and the striker thumped an unstoppable shot across goalkeeper Mark Howard into the far corner. The big striker completed his treble on 68 minutes, lashing in the rebound after Clarke's volley had brought a brilliant save from Howard.
Liam Sercombe completed an emphatic win in stoppage time, shooting low past the Blackpool keeper from substitute Alex Jakubiak's cross-field pass.
David Dunn has taken over temporary charge of the first team following Grayson’s departure, asked if he would want the job beyond his caretaker spell, he replied “No. The owner and (chief executive) Ben Mansford have just told me to take the reins and just to be positive and get as many points as I can and that’s what I’m going to do. I’ve no intention to become the manager.”
“I’m enjoying my time back in football, it’s six weeks now being back on the grass and I want to coach. But in terms of being a manager, no I don’t want that.”
Asked if he’s being given a certain number of games, Dunn replied: “No, not really. I’ve just got to do my best, try and prepare the players the best we can on the pitch and let’s see where that takes us.”
“But hopefully there will be a new manager coming in shortly and then we can see what that brings. I just want to give my best, prepare the team as best as I can and hopefully pick a team that can put a good performance in, that’s all I can do.”
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