Didn't see a BTFG thread so.......

Wow.

Back in the old days of Clive "The Hound" Baskerville, his report would have been headlined "Smash and grab" - basically, we got battered and yet still - on paper - run out comfortable winners. Funny old game really......

In with the Bristol fans right behind our dug-out; their fans felt they were down before kick off, so when Knibbs hit the post in the first minute they were like "here we go". But then we played as poorly as we did against Northampton and Lincoln, but with the added grief that unlike in those 2 games, our opponents played really, really well against us.

Frankly, they could - should - have been 3-0 up at half time; 2 amazing saves by Pereira and an embarrassing mis-hit saving our blushes. We couldn't get anything going, with the midfield anonymous, and the only tactic the diagonal for WiFi to try to nod down to Wareham. Against a couple of huge defenders, it was always a tactic that had limited chances of success. As well as Pereira played, Bindon and Mbengue also held the defensive line really well, and though Bristol were clearly on top at half time, I didn't feel that worried.

Second half was more of the same; but then, slowly, we started to get more into it. Playing the ball on the ground to feet with quick one touch passing not only looks great, it unlocks packed midfields, and we began to threaten. Another wonder save from Pereira, and then - against the run of play - we were ahead after the classiest passage of football delivered by either team all afternoon. Slick passing across the middle to our left, a good ball inside into an unmarked Wing and 1-0.

That will be it then? Nope; almost on their next attack Rovers had a good move down our right, and the effort was headed off the line by Bindon.

After that, we got more comfortable and were seeing the game out when another good move from right to left found Campbell and unlike his goal against Shrewsbury, he connected sweetly and that was 2-0.

As I said, an odd game; for a lot of the time we didn't seem to be at the races but the quality we had (which Bristol didn't have) decided the game.

MOTM - Periera; his saves kept us in it.

The ball punctured.

I’ve not posted for ages on HNA (lethargy, forgot password, etc.). But the spirit being shown by the current team has re-energised me. Just popped on to say, thanks Mr A for attempting BFTG thread. I’ve missed them.

The ball punctured.

If it had gone in, I think it wouldn't count as a goal. I seem to remember seeing something once about that - if the ball bursts before it goes over the line, it won't count as the ball is deemed 'dead' (in more ways than one). Not sure what happens though - I guess a drop ball.

The ball punctured.

If it had gone in, I think it wouldn't count as a goal. I seem to remember seeing something once about that - if the ball bursts before it goes over the line, it won't count as the ball is deemed 'dead' (in more ways than one). Not sure what happens though - I guess a drop ball.
That’s the sort of obscure rule I wonder if a ref would know/ remember in the heat of game situation.

Same... here's my post from the Match thread just to help push this thread along a bit:

Amazing atmosphere in the ground and my first ever visit to Bristol Rovers. Seems a great club and a shame our result puts them firmly in the relegation spots. The atmosphere was absolutely top notch - a real proper away day, with a packed away end (both parts), with inflatables adding a bit of extra sass.

I spent most of the first half once again asking myself "how can we be this utterly sh1te". Rovers were by far the better team and as others said, the GK really did save our skin several times - from across the ground, the saves looked great too.

Second half we came out a different team really. Way more confidence, more control and once we started to grip the game up and get the second goal, we looked in total control.

It was absolutely gutting really to see the goal, then see seconds after that Orient scored - exactly the same time.

I'm very nervous about next Saturday. Going to be a really decent attendance in for the game, hope the players perform and do their job. Obviously the Orient game can go either way, I don't know enough about them but I don't feel confident we'll get the playoff spot as it's in their hands to lose. It's whether they have the bottle to perform and get the points needed.

Huddersfield are at home, but they've got nothing to play for. I keep cursing the 1-0 loss at home to Lincoln - what a screw up that was and a gift for orient too.

If it had gone in, I think it wouldn't count as a goal. I seem to remember seeing something once about that - if the ball bursts before it goes over the line, it won't count as the ball is deemed 'dead' (in more ways than one). Not sure what happens though - I guess a drop ball.
That’s the sort of obscure rule I wonder if a ref would know/ remember in the heat of game situation.

Yeah I think that's when the earpieces come into it - one of the four officials would probably remember it. The crowd would go absolutely nuts if it happened.

That’s the sort of obscure rule I wonder if a ref would know/ remember in the heat of game situation.

Yeah I think that's when the earpieces come into it - one of the four officials would probably remember it. The crowd would go absolutely nuts if it happened.

Suppose a ball deflated as it hit the net, who’d win the expected argument over when it deflated ?

Yeah I think that's when the earpieces come into it - one of the four officials would probably remember it. The crowd would go absolutely nuts if it happened.

Suppose a ball deflated as it hit the net, who’d win the expected argument over when it deflated ?
The ref

Yeah thankfully I don't have to make that kind of decision, and I am sure it's not happened very often.

Presumably the officials would come to a decision together and perhaps explain it to the benches. Still wouldn't go down well but it's not something I have ever seen so thankfully it doesn't come into things very often.

I don't think I've ever seen a ball burst - even missed it watching our game. Only game that springs to mind is this classic: