1967Ram

Only one team tried to play any football tonight. Reading had just the one shot on goal which tells its own story really. I think we need to consider how different that game was to the fixture at the Madjeski. Night and day for me and while we could have been more clinical, the best side won. Reading came to spoil and disrupt and in the past that has worked. Tonight, we stayed calm, played our game not theirs and got our just deserts. There's an air of confidence about this side and I like it. A lot.
COYR

wheres the picture of diego maradona with gayles head? 

I hate these match starters who just go through the motions.
 
 
 
 
Well done @Rampant

I've said all along we should fear nobody and I sense the players are now starting to feel that way themselves which is critical in a game where confidence and form are almost as important as ability. Portsmouth are sitting pretty up top right now, but in no way are they home and hosed yet, not by a long chalk. 
As for the game, well I didn't see it being an easy match at all, but in hindsight, I think this was likely our most complete performance of the season. Our back three, led by the much maligned Sonny Bradley, looked really solid again and whilst not quite hitting the high notes of last week's game, in Sibs and Ward we seem to have a pair of wing backs who can trouble any side in this division. Ebou is the enforcer in midfield so many told me was not required and 'not a Warne player', while Gayle's intelligence and endeavour is surely now clear for all to see. There was some really silly stuff posted about him joining the club and it's pleasing to see him make a mockery of those rather one-eyed assessments. He has a a huge class edge over the vast majority of this league and as predicted, is scoring for fun. He's also improving the players around him and this only a few games into his time here too. 
Cash and Nelson scarcely need mentioning; two more consistent defenders, you'll absolutely not find in this league and they will more than hold their own at a higher level. Barks, whose form has been in and out this season to the point I was ready to give up on him, is now flying. I'd actually had him as MOTM yesterday and that's not something I would have seen before the game. Nate is building rapport with Gayle and finding more space with Gayle dragging defenders left and right and we have all manner of options in midfield. How things have changed in that regard.
Last, but not least, there's Warne. I've never seen a manager at this club take so much flak. He made a comment about the fans chants (during the Stevenage game) in a recent interview and how he was glad his family were not at the game as it would have, 'broken my heart'. I f****** hate to hear that to be honest and I think his treatment on balance, and not just by a small minority either, has been a disgrace. For that reason, it was lovely to see our seemingly always staunch away fans giving him a good cheer post-match yesterday. He's earned it and whilst I never wanted him here, he's very much earned my respect. 
Looking forwards, we have 3 tough home games to navigate (Reading, Bolton & Blackpool) prior to month-end and if we play well enough to sit 2nd when they're done and dusted, the title is there for the taking. It'll take a herculean effort from the chaps, but I think they can do and I shan't be giving up on us until topping the table becomes a mathematical impossibility.
COYR

I think the Derby badge with the text B4 at the top/corner, and Forever a Ram at the bottom. With some colour on it somewhere would be lovely 🥰 

No words.

A solid, comfortable performance. 
On a side note, impressed yet again with Sunny Singh Gill, let the game flow and not made it about him. He's welcome to ref at Pride Park any time. 

Rams 3 Port Vale 0
FRGS Sibley

I enjoyed Kane’s chat earlier, the comments he made about his teammates and nicknames struck me as there is unity within the dressing room and staff, despite suggestions from some posters elsewhere.

Edit. Also like his humility in holding his hands up to the pass into Adams on Tuesday that led to the second. 
Interesting to hear him mention the pressure that wobbled FGR when they were pushing for promotion during his time there, it’s one of the things I can’t work out with the current squad and management we have. There is supposedly knowledge and know how within the squad and staff, I know a growing number doubt Warne and have no interest in joining that argument anymore, I personally don’t see it being solely his fault that we’re having this sticky run, just interested in IF he and the players can find a way to get over the mental block to see games out from winning positions and get home in the auto places. 🤞 

When I was sat down at the front of the stand in October/November we had a decent run of results against lower teams, playing a 4-2-3-1. 
I recall Fozzy and NML playing really well at that time, probably encouraged by my very loud vocal support for said players (I could almost reach out and touch them!) 😂
Now I'm back up in the lofty atmosphere of the West Stand Upper we need someone else to make that racket. It obviously worked! 😉
Or perhaps PW just needs to play a more positive formation? 😄
Incidentally, the game we won 4-0 against Northampton Conor Washington led the line, with Barks and NML either side and Bird in that advanced role. I see no reason why Gayle can't do what Washington did that day. 

I'd like to see a different approach.
Perhaps a slow, laborious first half, with maybe 2 corners and one half-hearted shot on goal.
Then a good 30 mins of the second half being... erm... even less productive.
Then bring on a ruck of defenders to hopefully seal the draw, after 14k fans have already departed "to beat the traffic"*, before... wait... wtf... it's just gone in off Gayle's ar5e!

By Jove, It's back on!  Arise Sir Warne of Bobbleshire!
 
 
*Traffic my ar5e!  🙄

Formation ? Names in a hat.. Result ? No bloody idea. That's not being negative, I genuinely have no clue. Bounce-back victory and comfortable win or back to dross again, or anywhere in between. Whatever else we need a formation where the players understand what they are doing and for several players to significantly raise their game. Oh and don't hand the opposition soft goals... oh and score some... er.. sorted.. possibly

Honestly, there is so much tripe posted in here after a defeat it is laughable!
We've lost back to back league games for the 1st time.
We are 2nd in the table despite having to deal with a lack of attacking options.
Yes, we would all like to see more flair, more attacking football, but we just don't have the personnel for it atm, our financial restrictions have limited who we have been able to recruit and more importantly, IMO, who we were able to keep hold of.
I really wish we had played a 5 at the back last night with the lack of a left back being available, Sibley at LWB and Wilson at RWB would have given us more attacking options IMO, but he chose to play a 4 with Cashin at LB, a 4 that the vast majority are screaming for despite the personnel not being available.
No matter how poor the football is perceived to be by some, we ONLY lost to stupid, amateurish individual errors again, just like at the beginning of the season.
Is it Warnes fault that Wildsmith had another brainfart? We could see from the South stand that when the ball went forward he would never get there in time as he wasn't on his toes in anticipation, so he should have got close and stood his grd to make the player have to beat him.
Was it Warnes fault that the numerous mistakes from individuals cost us the 2nd goal, fgs, I came from us trying to pass it around at the back instead of launching it forwards (what most people complain about as Warne ball.... so it feels like all those moaners got what they deserved by trying to pass it around with league 1 players!).
I for 1 will be there on Saturday and give him my full support, despite not agreeing with some of his decisions,  after all, what do I know compared to the man that has us 2nd in the table?
And for all those that say any other manager would have us 1st, prove it, Where's the evidence? Who's to say we wouldn't have lost more games? Or is it just your opinion, a bit like mine, so worthless other than being an opinion of a fan that has watched thousands of games but never had access to the inner workings of a club out of administration and the coaching badges to allow me to be on the training ground. 
 
 

Had time to calm down a bit now after yesterday to give my honest opinion.
First 20 minutes of the first half, I thought we looked good. It was all us, but we didn't create any chances at all. Scored from a corner. 
We go in at half time and you just think come out and get the second goal. But we started so poorly. Despite us being poor, we were still ok and Charlton did not look dangerous at all. 
Then Wildsmith decides to give the most ludicrous penalty away you will see (exactly the same as Oxford away) unforgiveable. Clearly not learnt his lesson. You cannot legislate for that at all. As soon as Vickers is fit, he would be going back in. Then i'd be looking for a new number 1 in the summer. 
Then it just gave them hope, when they had none. Another mistake and another goal.
I was ok after the Barnsley game, thought it was tight, neither team created a lot. Both scored a set piece. The difference was they scored a really great finish, Neither keeper had anything to do. Draw would have been fair.
But last night, we are playing against a team that has not won for 18 games. Regardless of the fact that they have good players and are underperforming. I cannot remember their keeper making a save or us testing him at all. At no point did I think we would score in open play, we could still be out there now and not scored. Which against a team 20th in the league is unacceptable. 
Warne comes out after every game saying we moved the ball to slow, we weren't brave enough on the ball. Yet every game we do it again.
I am not a fan of Warne or the football. You can forgive the football if we win games. But last night was hideous and inexcusable.
I saw people moaning he took Smith off. But Smith was blowing out his arse and was done after 50 odd minutes. Not sure why Thompson didn't get on to replace the energy vacated by Smith. Really not sure why Cashin was left back either. 
We simply have to win the next 3 games. All winnable. But my biggest concern is that we just are not creating any chances at all. 2 games in a row now I can't remember the opposition keeper having to make a save. Even last night if their keeper had made save after save and we were creating chances. You would have come out thinking, its one of them days, Gave 2 poor goals away but we are creating chances so carry on like that and we will be fine. 
The best I have seen us play this season was the second half at Oxford. We were on the front foot, brilliant. That's what we need.
We have nothing to lose now, I want to see us come out, create chances and put teams to bed.
Sitting on a 1-0 lead at home is criminal and has cost us so many points this season. 3 last night, 2 against Wycombe, 2 against Shrewsbury. 
We aren't sacking Warne now. So we have just got to get behind them and hope we can do enough to get up. 
 
 

I wonder how many supporters would have selected that back four last night based on what we have seen this season with who was available? 
                  For me the strongest and balanced back four available would have been Nyambe Nelson Cashin Sibley and yes Sibley could be a potential weak link it hasn’t really transpired that way when he has played and not to mention he can cross a ball and shoot. 

Last night unfortunately exposed all of Paul Warne's flaws as a manager. Even before Wildsmith's kamikaze moment, the lack of ball retention after going 1-0 up was appalling. Sunday morning rushing to get the ball forward which caused so many unforced errors. What has the manager got against keeping the ball for 10-15 minutes? I know it's dull and boring, we have got to be smarter in certain games. Charlton were a terrible team and we somehow gifted them a win.
Derby had most of the control in the first half. We got the goal, beautiful header by Cashin and another assist for NML. Came out in the 2nd half and kept giving the ball away by forcing it forward. Charlton's press was very aggressive in the 2nd half. Instead of playing it around Charlton and exposing them, we kept pumping the ball forward. In a game where patience and calm was required, we absolutely fell apart.
Making our lives more difficult sums up this season. Even though we've been accumulating a really healthy points total, it has been a proper slog to get points on the board. I hope this is just a small blip and we will get back to form on Saturday! 

I watched the game last night and I thought first half was fine. We generally kept the ball well but made some terrible decisions once we got into the final third. We had more pace but the way we played didn't really suite Gayle. It will take some adapting to so we can make the most of his qualities i think. 
The second half was poor. We never really got going and didn't look confident. Wildsmith is a keeper I've rarely been sure of. He flatters to deceive by making a great save now and again but in the middle makes a host of blunders. Last season he probably cost us around a dozen points with all his mistakes. I think this season he's going the same way. But that doesn't excuse the lack of shape from the squad. The substitutions did more harm than good and we had so little in the middle of the park. 
We'll get in the playoffs which is an improvement but I can't see us picking up an automatic slot unless something changes. If we spend another year in the division it will be much harder for us to leave it with key players such as Bird leaving. It will require another facelift in terms of personnel. If it is the playoffs there is no one that really scares me as such except for ourselves. When we do play well we can beat anyone in this league but those days are too few and far between at the moment. 

Utterly moronic by Wildsmith. Once he realised he wasn't going to get there first he simply has to have the self-restraint to not dangle a leg towards the attacker. 

I don't get it. Cory Smith was having a good game tonight and gets substituted. NML was not at the races tonight and could have done with a rest and stays on the park. We continue in this vein of form in our home games and we will fail to get 2nd place.
 

Bird has been good recently but he was poor tonight …some may blame Ebou for second goal but he covers so much of the pitch and puts his body on the line he’s the first name on the team sheet in midfield for me also thought Sibs and Waggy were very ineffective Korey Smith was good tonight 

Positives;
- some promising passing and movement in the first half, good attacking intent though admittedly without much of a cutting edge. 
 
- Gayle and Waghorn getting minutes will hopefully help with the striking situation.
- Cashin scored a lovely header.
- Smith did well in midfield with Adams.
Negatives;
- Rash decision from Wildsmith leading to the pen.
- Poor decision making and defending for the second.
- Once again unable to build on a lead and put a team away, worrying pattern.
- NML quiet and ineffective.
- Nyambe injured.
 
Feel pretty flat after that. ANOTHER another chance to “put it right” on Saturday at least 🤷🏻‍♂️ 
 

Should have kept Korey on he was everywhere tonight with Ebou . NML was shattered did nowt. Wildsmith reckless and Bird had poor game. 

It is what it is. 
 
If we do go up we’re gonna do it playing this industrious version of football. If we lose then obviously the style of play opens Warne up for criticism. 
 
Had Barnsley down to beat us today and that’s exactly what they did. Bit concerning as their run in is easier than everybody else’s but maybe they’ll stutter once they feel the pressure. 
 
A win on Tuesday will be nice whether it’s by hook or by crook.

Nothing quality from the wing backs.  Why beat a player once when you can go round him three times then get tackled Mr Wilson.
Adams looked as poor as he has good thus far, looked a yard of the pace and his passing was rather dodgy. Awful picking up for their second.  We lost some aggression further up when Sibley went off. Wildsmiths distribution was abhorrent so we needed to keep it down and play through and took the constant easy back pass option. 
Overall, we looked second best in a game we had to get a result from against an efficient but not overly special side. The usual when it really matters.