Best Of

In the end a good night. We started so well and we simply expected the goal to come. When it didn't I was worried that we would revert to long balls like we have tended to do time and time again. But we stuck with it and when the goal came there was never a chance we were going to lose. Opponents now play us like we played for years by stopping others play. And this might be why we fare better against teams who think they can go toe to toe with us. Back was very good against Sinclair. Robust in the tackle, getting forward, and when it was needed simply doing defensive stuff. But Simons was the key for me. He anchored the midfield and allowed Josh to burst forward and Humphreys to roam and be magical. And of course had a killer pass for the 2nd goal.

Good interview with Dodds at full time. You could see that Humphreys was playing slightly differently compared to Saturday. And you could see that in the second half the players retained their shape, tactics and belief.

Disappointed in Fred, and I hope that Dodds can see something that will get him firing again. He's such a threat but seems to have gone into his shell.

Smiling faces all round, on and off the pitch.

I quite like Dodds interviews. He actually seems to be thinking about the answering and trying to say something moderately meaningful, rather than just trotting out a cheap line.

Also like the answer re Udoh/Kone. Dan has come in to fill the boots of the league's top scorer. Lots of pressure on him and he's managed to bag 2 in 2, as well as leading the line well away at Crawley on a poor pitch against a scrappy side. It's very rare that we'll ever be able to field the first choice 11 so need the backup players to step up and deliver when the moment comes. Dan has done exactly that and rightly deserves to keep his place in my view. I'd expect Kone to reclaim the starting spot in the end but it sends an important message to the other squad players that Dan's contribution over these games is rewarded.

What Dodd's has done is make us extremely solid at the back since he has arrived. Know as he has said in interviews he can work on the with the ball stuff which will take a little longer. Yes he is not the best in interviews, but I think he is the right man for the job.

Very very interesting interview. A bit jittery and coy about the Danes. Clearly pre-planned his answer on Kone though. Can’t imagine we’ll be seeing Skura any time soon - Freudian slip of ‘drops’ to the bench, ‘oh wait I mean moved to the bench’. Seems to be big on control. Well he’s got that in abundance with Xavier Simons.

Get in - what beautiful pass from Simons to release Udoh who stayed calm and slotted home for our second.

One could almost wonder what the point of Rovers is when there is a better team higher in the league system within the same city of Bristol.

Regarding Dodds comments on Kone - there’s a little problem in Kone coming back into the side and that’s called Danial Udoh that’s now scored two in two.

I personally think that’s what he was hinting at when he said Kones got to get himself back into the team.

Would I drop Udoh for Kone? Absolutely. But I wouldn’t say it that quickly and easily when I have another striker on an, albeit it small, goal scoring run and likely need to be in that frame of mind in the next game.

If he keeps the lads playing like this. .. we can Christen him

"The Dodd Father"

On the pronunciation of Simons, Phil admitted that one of the players had done him up like a kipper by telling him the correct pronunciation was Eck-zayvea Simmonns.

Was Dodds a little prickly over the question about Kone? “He’s back in training so he’s got to get himself back into the team…”. Seemed very short with Sam Avery despite the perfectly reasonable question. Or maybe I misinterpreted it?

Really impressed with our performance last night. Simons looks exactly the kind of midfielder we need. Composed on the ball, strong in the tackle, and frees up Scowen and Humphreys to do what they do best. It's exactly what our team has been missing since Morley left, and I'm pretty confident is the primary reason for our slip in form. If he starts most games, I'd be much more confident of our chances of holding on.

I thought Back looked superb for a debut. Positive going forward and good enough defensively (though rarely tested in truth) and as others have said, it allows Harvie to do what he does best.

What those signings have done is improved the balance of the team. Other posters didn't like it when I said it, but Skura at right back is not an ideal substitute whilst Grimmer and Pattenden are out as it affects our shape and style of play, in the same way that Leahy in midfield for someone like Simons / Morley does. A natural right back comes in, and we look much better.

A word for the Rovers manager changing to a back 5 at half time. What was that all about?! Yes, we were by far the stronger side at half time, but that just invited us on even more and eliminated any potential threats they had out wide from Thomas and Sinclair. Strange decision.

On to Wigan - another 3 points set us up nicely for Birmingham away.