Annan Athletic v Albion Rovers POST MATCH......2-3

[Deleted]

Hi Everyone.

WHAT A WIN!!!!! WHAT A CRUCIAL WIN!!!

First half, thats easily the best Rovers have played this season. Defensively well organised without big gaps to exploit between the lines, and better in possession too. First half i thought the link up down the right hand side with Lynas and Wilson was good to watch, and in the middle Paul Allan was controlling the game well. The chances were mostly half chances, but it was the most threatening play ive seen from Rovers.

Annan had a fair amount of possession, but mostly "safe" possession in areas that couldnt hurt Rovers. Its not as if they had a host of chances.

Second half... scoreline was absolutely correct. Rovers the better team again weathering periods of Annan pressure fantastically. Scoreline makes it look closer than it really was. I dont attach any blame for the first Annan goal to anyone it was very well worked, the second was panic from the high ball.

But the Rovers goals were top quality. direct for the penalty, which was a stone wall penalty. Really impressed that the heads didnt drop after the Annan equaliser and Matt Aitkens individual goal was so well taken. Stupid foul by their number 5 for the third goal and the free kick was Beckham-esque

PLAYERS OF THE MATCH: What can you say about Matthew Aitken. A thorn in the side all day with his holdup play and directness. Wonderful individual goal showing pace and power, stunning free kick. Paul Allan in the first half was on song today. Combative in the tackle, good on the ball, and kept things ticking over. Suffered a little second half. Glover and Fagan colossal.

These players have PROVED that they can play good progressive football. The season starts here. This is the template. It makes the performances of the first 3 weeks all the more baffling when you see such an accomplished performance today.

[stewmelrover]

You are right: this should give the boys massive confidence. What a superb result for Rovers. YAAAASSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

[charlestheoptimist]

The artificial surface suited our game today. The grit and determination we showed should be a boost going forward. I think the weekly training on this type of surface suits our game and I know that there are critics of this type of surface - but Alloa/Stenhousemuir and Annan have shown the way that it CAN improve the passing game with more control and creativity- may be the way forward for our own surface in the coming years ?

[Edrover]

Surface is an interesting one, nieces and nephews all tell me they're used to playing on an artificial surface and they find grass weird. I'm old school, it should be grass but does make you think. Team looked a lot more assured today and some nice one touch passing.

[Deleted]

Nov 7, 2020 19:50:34 GMT charlestheoptimist said:

The artificial surface suited our game today. The grit and determination we showed should be a boost going forward. I think the weekly training on this type of surface suits our game and I know that there are critics of this type of surface - but Alloa/Stenhousemuir and Annan have shown the way that it CAN improve the passing game with more control and creativity- may be the way forward for our own surface in the coming years ?

Actually thought the same and given the young age of the team the majority of them have probably played a lot of their football on astro.

[Deleted]

Nov 7, 2020 20:30:32 GMT @ski64 said:

Nov 7, 2020 19:50:34 GMT charlestheoptimist said:

The artificial surface suited our game today. The grit and determination we showed should be a boost going forward. I think the weekly training on this type of surface suits our game and I know that there are critics of this type of surface - but Alloa/Stenhousemuir and Annan have shown the way that it CAN improve the passing game with more control and creativity- may be the way forward for our own surface in the coming years ?

Actually thought the same and given the young age of the team the majority of them have probably played a lot of their football on astro.

I think because the surface is good and slick, it rewards sharp passing along the ground.

Long balls will just sail through and wont get held up in the grass.

However, you could also say against better teams, you could be out-passed.

But financially there is an argument that it could be a good investment too.

[fineen]

A great result - as has been said, a psychological boost to get off the bottom. However, I don't think I saw much in the way of great football: plenty of effort from most though, and Aitken was a couple of levels better than anything else on show. Given all of Brechin's results so far (bar one!) I think we should be safe.

[fineen]

For those looking for positives, we must have the best conversion rate for penalties in Scotland (in Europe?) so far this season.

[Roy of the Rovers]

Annan have posted highlights of the match, click here!

[chris]

So we won thats good

Defending was awful for the 90 mins, I dare say a bit longer qnnan would have equalised, they had a goal chopped off as well as missing a couple of sitters,

Some of the passing we done in triangles was good quick moves,

Aitkins first is brilliant chasing down the defender in his own half hes got the strength to hold him off and slip it under the keeper, his second is good free kick

We must improve going forward

[Deleted]

Nov 8, 2020 10:35:17 GMT Roy of the Rovers said:

Annan have posted highlights of the match, click here!

I thought we were better in the first half than the highlights suggest but maybe my selective memory playing tricks.

That being said its goals that count and they were all good, even the move to win the penalty.

Lots of positives yesterday and yes maybe we rode our luck sometimes but we were always in the game and creating chances.

We do seem to struggle with high balls into the box but that is something to work on both in preventing, or at least causing opposition to rush the cross and dealing with them when they come in.

Best form of defence is attack and yesterday we did that well.