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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 22:09:09 GMT
Still gutted after Saturday but going by the boys performance some team in the not too distant future is gonna get some hiding when we get our shooting boots on
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 22:15:25 GMT
Much the better team. 2 cross balls that we failed to deal with. Look much more potent when Gemmell plays and on his game. Airdrie subs were made at a critical time and did make a difference. if anything we could learn from that aspect.
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Post by Roy of the Rovers on Jan 5, 2016 7:38:46 GMT
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Post by stewmelrover on Jan 5, 2016 7:48:36 GMT
Rovers played the best football of the season; we were just extremely unlucky. It could easily have been 4-0 at half-time. No need to be downhearted, but a tough one to take.
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Post by d7 on Jan 5, 2016 7:52:16 GMT
Make no mistake we were robbed on Saturday; absolutely robbed. And the really sad thing is we were the architects of our own downfall to a large extent. We had enough chances to win umpteen games but couldn't convert them; nor could we defend our lead effectively.
Rovers were by far the better team from beginning to end. Further, Airdrie were utterly dreadful. Their style of 'football' wasn't pretty - basically no finesse, just long hopeful punts up the park. It was embarrassing to watch at times. You couldn't pay me to watch them every week. But credit where it's due. Airdrie hung in and the longer the game stayed at 1-0, the more you felt they might get something from it.
We took the initiative from the beginning but it was Airdrie who had the first decent chance. We gave away a cheap foul just outside the box and the resultant free kick rattled the cross bar. I'd like to say we learned our lesson from this but that would be wrong. We gave away at least another two free kicks in similar positions and on each occasion Airdrie came close.
The rest of the half though belonged to us. A great move ended in Willis beating the keeper only to see the ball cleared off the line. Then from a corner Gemmell headed over. We then had a great chance when Josh won the ball on the halfway line only for Willis to take it off him going forward. Willis should have passed back to Josh who would have been clean through but instead Paul elected to go himself. In truth he ran out of steam on the edge of the box and hit the tamest of tame shots wide. It was a poor decision and wasted a great chance.
Midway through the half we took the lead and it was a goal worthy of winning any game. Another hopeful long ball from Airdrie was taken down by Reidy. He played a 1-2 with Josh who then hit a corker of a cross field pass to Scott McBride. McBride whipped in a great ball to Gemmell who finished with a classy diving header. That will be goal of the season I reckon but ultimately it counts for hee haw. Gemmell was booked for over celebrating the goal but that mattered not a jot. Airdrie had their chances and hit the post before half time. They also put in some meaty challenges most of which went unpunished by a lenient referee. We gave the ball away cheaply at times but were well worthy of our lead at half time.
Into the second half and again we were the better team for long periods. We created some good chances and unfortunately for us our old keeper came back to haunt us. He made a string of great saves but in truth we lack composure in front of goal - and not just in this game. All too often when we are through one on one with the keeper we hit the ball straight at him. It's frustrating to watch and it cost us dear again today. To make matters worse we also saw another effort cleared off the line.
As the half wore on we lost our way a bit, and began sitting deeper and deeper. Airdrie made a few substitutions and seemed to play a bit more football after that, which to be fair wasn't hard! They then won a corner and when the ball was played in it seemed to come off Reidy and into the back of the net for an own goal. It was a goal out of nothing and not even remotely deserved. After that we sat even deeper if that is possible and when a long hopeful ball into the box wasn't defended well they poked it home for 2-1. We threw everything forward in the last few minutes but it was too late and as Airdrie ran the clock down we ran out of ideas. The irony of us chasing a game we should have had wrapped up by half time was not lost on anyone. Right at the death Paul Willis nearly finished off a great move with a cracking shot from the edge of the box that went just wide and that was that.
So, 2-1 it finished and Airdrie will not get a more fortunate victory this season. There are some clear learning points for us from this game but we shouldn't be too critical. We'll play a lot worse than that and win and they will play a lot better and lose! No real heroes on the day and no one should hang their head in shame. Josh won man of the match but didn't look completely fit to me. He'll be full time next year and not with us unfortunately. Kyle had a good game and Gemmell did well up front. Davidson had a good first half and there's definitely a player in there. He needs to develop a harder edge though as he's too easily pushed about. Fish never puts a foot wrong. Willis worked hard and created a few chances. The stand out player for me was our ex goalkeeper unfortunately. He kept them in the game.
We've had a more than decent run up until now. We play some really attractive football and we've had some great results. Too early to say if we're in the middle of a mini slump at the moment but we were due one - no one goes through a season without hitting the odd blip in form. We went through a couple of periods last season where things weren't going our way and look how that turned out?!!?
So not the best start to the year but we could be a lot worse off. 1144 souls braved the biting wind, more than half were away fans.
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Post by stewmelrover on Jan 5, 2016 9:35:46 GMT
The crowd seemed a lot more than 1144; and the Rovers end was absolutely packed.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2016 9:57:03 GMT
Was my first ever Rovers game and despite the defeat I am hooked! Gonna look into a season ticket. Anyone know if its discounted half way through season? Also anyone know if there is a supporters bus on the go for away games?
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Post by robert67 on Jan 5, 2016 11:25:54 GMT
was gutted after saturdays match. mugged is the only word i can think of to cover it. played them off the park first half,just wish we could take more of our chances in games,should have been about 4 or 5 up by half time.
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Post by Roy of the Rovers on Jan 5, 2016 12:31:29 GMT
Was my first ever Rovers game and despite the defeat I am hooked! Gonna look into a season ticket. Anyone know if its discounted half way through season? Also anyone know if there is a supporters bus on the go for away games? Yes a half-season ticket is available for £90 - details were on the previous board. There is a bus, details of which will be posted on this message board the week prior to the game.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2016 13:56:24 GMT
Thats excellent, thanks! Unfortunately I was not a member on the last message board, when I went to join it was down. Where can I get the season ticket, could I arrive at a home game and purchase it in the shop/kitchen? Would I get in without paying the gate receipt to buy the season ticket do you think?
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Post by fineen on Jan 5, 2016 13:56:34 GMT
Like everyone else I was hugely disappointed at the result, but if the performance has recruited even this one committed fan for the future that is a success of sorts. Welcome, keltisk.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2016 14:12:10 GMT
What a welcome! Thanks fineen! I only moved to Coatbridge about 2 years ago from Glasgow.
Was a Celtic fan but started taking an interest in Albion, however the final blow for me in terms of supporting Celtic came when their Chairman (David Camerons pal) smeared fans groups for wanting rid of the Tory lord that voted to cut tax credits for familes. Even though I dont get tax credits it was the moment I realised that Celtic arent even able to pretend to be a proper community club anyone. I was impressed with Albions charity contributions; a football club should represent the community.
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Post by mildrover on Jan 5, 2016 21:02:43 GMT
Keltisk Half season ticket still available. Meet me at the gate at 2.30 at next home game and I'll have it sorted for you. It will be valid from that game. Welcome to the club! Ronnie Boyd
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Post by sam on Jan 6, 2016 10:10:53 GMT
Thought it was the best I had seen the lads play, certainly in the first half, of the games I have managed to take in this season. However its not the first time when we have been the dominant team in the first half only to start playing defensively as if we are trying to protect a lead. This gives the other teams the opportunity to get back into the game as Forfar had done previously and the manky mob did on Saturday and when they bring Lister on you know the only way their going to go is the high route so why give them more time to fire high balls into the area, especially when you know that our keeper isn't the best under those situations.
Our general play is very good, but as has been mentioned earlier we need someone who can put the ball in the net regularly.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2016 10:17:47 GMT
Very good and insightful analysis Sam. Coming from supporting Celtic that was exactly the same problem that they had in recent years, certainly before Leigh Griffiths they relied on midfielders to Score the goals. I felt exactly the same as you in my limited experience watching Albion, (1 game lol) There was some fantastic midfield play with really impressive passing!
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