Barrow AFC v Bristol Rovers FC (match thread)

[Mancbluebird]

Better side second half not a lot in it first half. Once again the officials were a joke although Mark Ellis would have understood why he got himself a red. There was so much going on, on field during the game but the officials left theIr Peripheral vision glasses at home. Banks was once again head and shoulders above anyone else on the field today, I was wondering last season if he was really up to the task but proving his worth week in week out this season.

He choked a Bristol player

[McMark]

Aye so you have said on more than one occasion and he will have to accept his medicine. I am well aware of what went on today on the field and probably saw far more than the officials and that’s the bit that rankles most!

[Scott]

Not great from Ellis especially given his experience and can't be too many complaints looking at that photo.
That being said referee was terrible and had allowed the game to boil over with decisions not given, fouls missed, soft fouls given and not getting a grip of the game. There were moments before Ellis saw red.

I feared the worst with him off the pitch and especially when Bristol scored but that seemed to galvanize us as before that we were getting penned back a bit by the. Maybe having 10 men got an extra few percent out of us but I thought we were the better team with 10 men and Cooper's reshuffling and subs worked well with what limited choices he had. In the end we could've won it and although Bristol penned us back for the last 10 mins or so we were never hanging on.

Good football and great effort from all the players I'd say Gordon deserved MOM for his workrate and creating chances, unlucky not to score too with a cracking striker off the bar. Farman atoned for last weeks errors with a few good saves and Grayson I thought had a very solid game too, other than the slip for their goal! Bit worrying with injuries seeming to pile up again that's a downside and as others have pointed out I thought Josh Kay offered little in the time he was on, Williams looks a better bet in that position.

[Desmond2-2]

In all seriousness if that photo has come from a Barrow photographer, he needs sacking.

[McMark]

In all seriousness if that photo has come from a Barrow photographer, he needs throttling

Fixed it for you

[Moribund]

In all seriousness if that photo has come from a Barrow photographer, he needs sacking.

Why? It was being filmed, you know?

[Reginald]

I thought we’d have 2000 home fans today tbh, was a bit disappointed with the crowd. Bloody daft having us and the rugby both playing at home at the same time though

I remember years ago, whenever there was a clash with the rugby fixtures, there nearly always was a compromise-it was always the soccer who had to give way in the end though, never the rugby.

[Jim]

Just watched thevideo of the incident. The way the Bristol player crashed to the ground I assume he will be out for a while under the concussion protocol?

I do hate this aspect of the modern game.

[Big E]

In all seriousness if that photo has come from a Barrow photographer, he needs sacking.

It hasn't... It will have been a Bristol fan or tog as that was the end they were attacking. Appreciate the support

[blue nige]

Whoever took the photo is irrelevant Ellis let himself, his teammates and supporters down with a stupid reaction!

[Wintergreen]

Very good pic with Ellis caught bang to rights. The Ref was atrocious but he called that right probably on the advice of the Main Stand liner. From my perspective it looked like Ellis had been singled out by guesswork after a protracted bout of pushing and shoving involving quite a few players.

[andyg]

However, once he adjusted to the game I thought Jones was outstanding in the second half. Interesting how game management played a part. Firstly we got the equaliser then Cooper obviously worked with them at half time to get things sorted and that game management began before the second half even started. Remember we kept Bristol waiting for a good 2/3 minutes before we came onto the pitch - then Farnham came out at least another minute after the rest of the team! Felt Williams also played his part.

I actually thought we were generally quite shambolic at the back during the first half whether it was the sun or the steady (not strong) breeze even before the sending off. Felt Ellis wasn't having his best game and was quite surprised Connor started as even by his own admittance he was run ragged on Tuesday. Sure enough he broke down didn't he.

One other question does Ellis three match ban start on Tuesday or is it for the next three league games?

[pjdaly]

"They didn't do anything to break us down . . . I'm surprised at how side-to-side they were . . . they didn't try and penetrate, we were quite comfortable . . . I didn't feel under any pressure whatsoever . . . probably a couple of set-pieces they put in . . . but that's it, nothing really, we were quite comfortable"

Ollie Banks says it all, a damning indictment of the Bristol Rovers approach to the game. Who would want to pay their money and watch a team who adopt such a clueless and gutless approach to a game where they are up against 10 men? I would be so totally disheartened to be a Bristol Rovers fan if they are that lacking in winning mentality. They totally lacked heart even though they had plenty of fight about them. Our ten had so much more to be proud of.

On a lighter note, I enjoyed watching the match highlights. It reminded me of the old Two Ronnies Mastermind sketch, "answering the question before last" . . . except this is more like "commentating on the incident before last" instead.

[HenneysKnee]

For pretty much the whole 45 minutes of the second half it looked like only one team was going to win the game, and it was the one with ten men
It was only really in stoppage time that they threatened, and that was only a few set pieces

[Cromwell58]

Barrow really must be a town of thugs. Their fans expect the red to be rescinded after we threw ourselves to the floor diving and their player was only running in to break up a fight.

After our last trip to Barrow, their player got sent to prison for assaulting Rigg on the pitch.

What an awful place it must be to live.

From their forum does this mean they like us ?