More Like Back To Last Season

Jones’ call before this one had been for ‘back to basics’, which rather begged the question just how basic our style of play could get. But presumably he meant just keep a clean sheet and try to score. Perhaps by it he meant a return to the grit and determination of the first three games, the puffing out of chests and obvious pride in good, disciplined defending. We came up short, with a tentative and lacklustre display with and without the ball, conceded three (including another two from outside the box), were outbattled in key areas, and aside from one header late in the first half only threatened against a limited team when all caution was having to be thrown to the wind. All very dispiriting and no complaints, just a pat on the back and best wishes to Matt Taylor.

The starting X1 – which had been changed in each department for both the Blackpool and Stevenage defeats – had to be adjusted again. Ramsay and Potts dropped out, the former to the bench the latter out of the squad, replaced by Watson and Gillesphey respectively. Presumably Jones just felt Ramsay could use a rest and that a return to the Jones-Mitchell-Gillesphey combination might shore things up. Coventry remained the unchanged one in central midfield and would be joined by Anderson and Berry, with available again Ahadme recalled and partnered up front by Campbell(T), who moved back forward with Godden returning to the bench. And the big news was that back in the squad, for the first time since last November, was Leaburn. That overshadowed the fact that we would be starting another game with just one defender in reserve, he a wing-back (Ramsay). Just what would happen if a central defender got crocked or dismissed?

The first half was just more of what we have become accustomed to. Plenty of graft, total absence of guile. It was topped and tailed by a decent chance each, with a first-minute goalmouth scramble ending with their guy shooting over the bar from close range while at the death we finally mustered a threat as Jones failed to get above the ball at the far post and headed over the bar, perhaps distracted by Ahadme converting on it.

In between we were second-best and struggled to contain them, going behind on the half hour to another quality strike. Sinclair received the ball with his back to goal but was able to take a touch, turn, and curl one into the top corner. Excellent technique and strike. We might feel hard done by, conceding another of these, but he knew what he wanted to do and we did nothing to stop him.

At the break stats showing that Rovers had five shots, three on target, against our one (and none on target), more or less summed things up. Jones might have made changes but decided against. In the end the increasingly forlorn Ahadme forced him into an earlier than usual introduction of Aneke, going off clutching his chest. Coventry did have a decent effort turned over the bar, but before the hour we were two down. This one was poor from our perspective. Ball played down their left and their guy able to collect and turn. He played it square to another on the edge of the box in space, who had all the time he needed to shape up and pick his spot. It was another well directed effort but reflected the absence of aggression in defence which marked our display.

That was the cue for Leaburn and Godden to be introduced, with Watson and Berry taken off and the formation changed to something or other. And through weight of numbers we did have a couple of chances to get back into it, with a Jones header from a corner hitting a defender on the line then the same player heading over the bar. Edwards was sending in good deliveries from the corners. Instead we went 3-0 down as a ball chipped in was headed on and their guy attacked it to head home from close range. The aggression and intent was all from them.

At that point we looked bedraggled and forlorn, as well as disjointed. But if there is any credit to be taken from the night it was that we didn’t entirely fall apart, although that may have been down to them taking their foot off the pedal, making substitutions of their own. And with around 12 minutes left of normal time we pulled one back. They failed to clear a ball into the box and Godden at the back stick was able to head it back goalwards past their keeper. It may have been already going in but Mitchell sensibly made sure.

There was still time and we did have enough forwards on the pitch, while Rovers’ nerves – after consecutive defeats of their own – started to jangle. Edwards and Coventry were replaced by Ramsay and Docherty. But it was only three minutes into the six added that we scored again. Aneke, as he did against Bolton, supplied the ball for Godden to convert. But it was all to be in vain as time ran out.

Just what does Jones do now, on the back of three consecutive defeats in which six goals have been conceded? The many changes made to the line-up of late have not worked and seem to have disorientated us. Ahadme up front is cutting a sad figure, Campbell(T) is working hard but to little effect, Aneke and Leaburn aren’t really able to start for different reasons, while Kanu didn’t impress when he started. In midfield Docherty, Berry and Campbell(A), three players targeted by Jones, have yet to really make their mark (to be fair Berry has scored a couple), while Mitchell seems more hesitant after being left out against Blackpool and those around him suddenly looking vulnerable, while Edwards is getting back up to speed after his spell out. Confidence has drained out of us it appears.

Fact is we have Birmingham coming to The Valley next and after that a two-week break. So you’d imagine we look to produce a committed and resolute performance next time out and then take the time to refresh and regroup. The early season promise has gone, we now need to draw a line under the past six games, which have delivered just four points. Exactly how that’s done and who gets selected is what Jones gets paid for.