Bristol Rovers vs Plymouth Match Thread

That was a good watch. FWIW:
I’m not sure we played much better than we’ve done recently but getting an early goal and another by the half hour mark made it a more enjoyable watch and was the big difference.
It seems a back 4 suits the players, they’ve played far better as individuals in it and far better as a defensive unit.
Our defence today put themselves on the line and defended ok but JVS had his best game and but for him we might have lost. No one thought we’d be saying that at 3.00!!
ZW played really well and was playing his passing game in the front third of the pitch which made a big difference. And his dead ball Delivery was good esp in the first half and had he kept it up in the second we’d have won by more perhaps! But I’m glad he’s playing, he’s looking a far more committed player now than he did.
Luke Mc C was very good. He’s always looking for that forward pass and he works well with ZW as well as he does with Oztumer. Great he got his first league goal. He gets better and better with each match.
Upson and Grant are a good pairing in front of the back four and are a big reason for our improvement imo.
Hanlan was a handful and kept their defence occupied and allowed the midfielders to have more time and space.
Sam N is one of the most skilful players for is over the past 10 years. He was very good today and that piece of skill near the end was wonderful. I thought he was going to dummy a pass to Ayunga and then pass it into the net but he passed!
We played with the intention of winning, we played on the front foot and our players now seem to be playing in positions and a system that suited them.
But, I don’t like being too critical on a day when we won 3-0.....
Alfie K although he played well needs to be aware of those through balls. Sometimes his positional play and his play going backwards isn’t as good as his play when going forwards. But it was great dead ball goal and will give him confidence, a solid 7/10 performance.
Our passing is good but on 3/4 occasions we underhit a pass in the middle and we could have been punished for it. Do it elsewhere you get away with it, but do it in the middle and you can be vulnerable. We got away with it because Plymouth’s forwards were pretty poor. They missed two 1on 1s in the first half when they should have scored and another two good chances in the second half.

Well done Tis, well done the team. A served win to make a good Saturday night.

UTG!

What a difference having a manager that has a scooby about what he’s doing makes. The commentary team of Hadwin and Brookman on Radio Bristol mentioned the difference between Garnerball and what we’re seeing now about 20 times today, such is the huge turnaround in what’s happening on the pitch!

You cry about match threads.

All that needs to be said really.

Three of the players that often get the most criticism, were probably three of out best players today, JVS, Leahy and Upson. Nicholson was class and with him and Hanlan in the side we are going to always be in with a chance of getting goals even when under the cosh. Plymouth were a better team than Wimbledon but some of their defending and crossing was poor. Charlton game will be tougher and if i have one criticism of Rovers today it is that we give the ball away to much in the midfield inviting pressure on ourselves will need to improve on that against Charlton. Overall an entertaining game,with every game we seem to improve some part of our play, long may it continue.