IT has been a very disappointing week since we last touched base with the 1-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth adding to the Crewe setback.
I know we are not a one man team, but I doubt if we had our Captain Colossus Rob Jones out there on the field for both games we would have lost either of them.
I feel it would have been at least four points and not zero points.
It’s all history now though, although once again in the Bournemouth game we did suffer from an inexperienced referee who had a good view of the push on David Syers as he was about to pull the trigger in the box.
David was in a good position to fire past David James when he was pushed to the ground.
Right now there appears to be a dearth of good, experienced referees at our level and I understand last Saturday’s referee has only just emerged from the Blue Square Premier.
I have long advocated and preached for more assistance for the match official and these rookies need it more and more via video replays.
Had he been able to quickly halt play and take a look with his fourth official then he would no doubt have pointed to the spot.
We know they are all wired up to each other during a game and his assistant had a clear view.
Anyway, it’s done and gone now, no need to keep harping on and crying over spilt milk.
We have to move on and look towards our away games at Portsmouth on Saturday and Carlisle on Tuesday.
Obviously both are tough games and I just hope that Pompey don’t set on a new manager ahead of the game.
With their very fine and vociferous band of supporters, Fratton Park is always a difficult away venue.
However, with our away form this season, let us hope we get back to hauling in the points.
It is important to keep up with the pacesetters. I feel that should we be around seventh or eighth position come the turn of the year then hopefully, if we can strengthen with the right quality, then we can have a good go at the second half of the season and aim for those play-off places.
That would in my book as a magnificent achievement.
We must move on and keep the faith and also look forward to the home derby with Scunthorpe United and then the rearranged game with Oldham Athletic.
I know all of you at the Keepmoat last Saturday were mightily disappointed but we must get behind our team and the club.
There are some interesting stats ahead the visit of Scunthorpe and our recent record against them is very good; unbeaten in five years, only one defeat in the last ten outings in all competitions, with three back to back wins against them.
No doubt new manager Brian Laws will want to upset that recent trend.
Marketing manager Shaun Lockwood is giving you plenty of notice about the Oldham game, for which the club are running their first unused ticket night.
Season ticket holders who have missed a home league game this season can bring their unused match voucher and bring it to the ticket office to exchange for a complimentary ticket - the perfect chance to introduce someone new to the DRFC family.
Our commercial department in these austere times could do with a lift and should you be able to persuade your boss to help the club in anyway then please get in touch with Andrew Whitham and his staff.
You can also celebrate a birthday, anniversary or landing a major contract by taking a box for a game just as Derek, his family and staff did from Frame Warehouse at Armthorpe for the Crewe game.
I cannot go on enough about how much the club needs your continued support.
Rovers Till I Die
John Ryan