London were the better team. It felt like they were playing with hope and we were playing with fear.

Three close games so far under Smith, but we are now bottom. I can’t see us getting anything from the derby and if it is a curb stomp defeat, I worry for morale. My own is blown right now, at least temporally.

So we either go down or, if we stay up, we’re going to try to improve by signing Hadley, Ethan Ryan and Minikin. Yay.

The frustrating thing is that since 2016, I don’t think we’ve made an especial balls of it. We just don’t have enough good players, the few we do have aren’t contributing as much as we need and the whole is barely the sum of its parts. I don’t think there’s any shortage of effort for the most part and i’m not angry, just a touch tired and emotional.

IIRC when Kendall sent it up he didn't mention the push, he just asked who grounded it first and sent it up as no try. I was surprised that it was overruled because there didn't seem to be any clear evidence that Quinlan didn't get there first. I thought it was just going to be one of those where whatever the on field call was it was going to stay like that. However, regardless of the on field decision, you just have to ask whether the final decision was correct or not. I thought it probably was. They both seemed to get there at the same time. I can understand your frustration though. The on field decision thing just needs doing away with.

Yep that sums it up. Being in a position where 3 loan players who only arrived mid week are playing in such a game means someone's ducked up somewhere. All 3 did ok but we needed props.

I don’t have to much of a problem with that try but more so their last. I thought there was enough evidence to disallow their last try but for it going up as a try on the field.

But not as much as Atkin is

Yes. Massive call from Thaler and like you say that is normally given as go with on field decision. What can you do? Suck it up.and get on with things but was just another kick in the spuds

Actually a lot more so. He's an Aussie so will be on a big wage.

have some faith mild rover, there has been some improvements in the last 3 weeks .chuck garbutt and maguire in the mix we can beat anybody at home some are complaining after tonight but imo there was nothing in the game apart from the odd penalty and a great kick by abdull , long way to go yet

Fair few slating Atkin and Drinkwater on other site. Hard to defend them after watching that but again for me it's the pack and lack of punch.We have average player like Hauraki trying his nuts off then a talented player like Tomkins going missing. Mulhern for me looks like a centre now and is mopped up with ease. Linnett and Quinlan are the only real class we have and if as I suspect next week FC close them 2 down and also Garbutt if he can be d to play a few game in a row then its gonna be another storm

Just needs Leeds to pull off a win tomorrow to set me up for a really lousy weekend.

Good points. And tbf, I think London deserve enormous credit for what they’ve achieved so far this season.

McGuire and Lunt are approaching retirement so it’s unsurprising they’re missing games - and at 36 and having suffered a life-threatening illness, respectively, fair enough. But it does mean our spine is only so-so. I’m not sure McGuire is very much better than Atkin and Drinkwater nowadays anyway, and wonder whether, like Atkin under Sheens, his best performances are perhaps those in our imaginations when he doesn’t play?

Quinlan has come back from his injury looking very bright, at least.

Whatever happens, I at least feel that we’re trying to save ourselves this time. For that single but important reason this isn’t 2016 all over again. Although the downside to that is that relegation would probably feel more acceptable, and the response probably wouldn’t be as strong.

I’m lost for words
Hopefully Tony Smiff tallies the team and let’s them know that they lost but they’re still
Top of the imaginary “but didn’t get beat”

Just got back home from the game (I live near Cambridge before anyone says owt); I’ve not watched it back on tv but here’s my assessment from seeing it live:

Our HBs give no direction regardless of where we are on the pitch! I used to think Atkin had been mis-managed but maybe he’s just not that good? As for Drinkwater, I’m still waiting for him to turn up!

That performance was nervy, too many rash passes and panick football being played. Why the chuff are they throwing the ball around in their own 20 with plenty of time on the clock?

Crookes has a mare.

Rovers need to do the basics better, complete sets, don’t give penalties away, finish the set with a good kick-chase and be solid in D. It’s a model that’s work for London, and individually we have better players, as a team, they’re stronger than us!

Abdul was by far the best HB on the park tonight, If we stay up he’s a massive upgrade on our current 3 HBs.

London were good value for their win, but I feel much like I did after the Wigan game, that it was there for the taking & is an opportunity lost!

Blind optimism I love it