Morecambe 4 (Stockton x2, Obika, Diagouraga) Doncaster 3

[Relapsed_Shrimp]

Toums as bad as anyone on the park today so far. All hope is lost currently. There No. 23 is a talented lad.

Never, ever, speak ill of Toums

Yep, advice taken! He must have had a lucozade at half time.

[Shrimp Girl]

Whoever requested Don't Stop Believing at half time, you're a genius. Although I was close to tears at the time

[Little Shrimp]

Wow, where to begin with that!?

I thought Doncaster came out of the blocks pretty fast, but overall didn't really deserve their three goal lead on the balance of play after 30 mins. But again, we're just a bit too soft bellied at the back - it doesn't take a great deal for the opposition to score at times.

After celebrating like they'd actually managed to escape relegation after 30 minutes of a match in January, they appeared to take their foot off the gas a little, and we played quite well for the last 10 minutes or so of the half, which Robbo pointed out post match. Maybe at 3-0 down the pressure was off a little bit in a weird way?

Kept it up in the second half, smart sub by Robbo to bring on Wildig (who was great) for McCalmont - lovely player but he had a bit of a nightmare first half. Fair to say Doncaster are a bit mentally fragile and when we got the first, you had that sneaking sense of inevitability! That said, we've been a bit mentally fragile of late as well and were 3-0 down, so to turn things around and keep going throughout that second 45 was hugely impressive.

Gnahoua had a sloppy first half but improved in the second and picked some really nice spots in front of the Doncaster to defence to receive the ball and create danger. Ayunga - absolutely immense, following on from a good performance against Crewe. Stockton and Toums it goes without saying, brilliant! Big shoutout to McLoughlin too. What an incredible signing he's turned out to be. Pressing, the way he sold a couple of Doncaster players those dummies on the spin, supporting McLaughlin out on the wing to allow Ayunga/Obika to get in the box.

Brilliant performance from everyone in that second half! Buzzing.

[Posh]

Amazing what a bit of effort and hard work can do. That 2nd half has to be the bench mark from here on in. Toums and Wildig have to start because we have to have players with their experience and time at the club at the centre of our fight to stay up. It sounds daft but Alfie is too good for what we need. He is a lovely footballer who will have a fantastic career but we can't have that in the middle of the park . The same for Callum, he doesn't put his foot in where it hurts and we can't afford missed tackles and lost midfield battles.

Ayunga has shown that he has the heart today and we need to see him build on that. O'Conner was immense, he won every header I think. Cole is class, the complete striker.

Totally agree with all that. If there's criticism to be levelled at Stephen Robinson it's his faith in young and often unproven players over experienced ones. In a battle like ours to drop the likes of Toums, Gibbo, Aaron and even Kyle Letheren is just frankly ridiculous when a bit of nous, fight, leadership and spirit is what's needed. I really hope he can find some grafters in the transfer window to shore up the defence.

[Pandashrimp]

Amazing what a bit of effort and hard work can do. That 2nd half has to be the bench mark from here on in. Toums and Wildig have to start because we have to have players with their experience and time at the club at the centre of our fight to stay up. It sounds daft but Alfie is too good for what we need. He is a lovely footballer who will have a fantastic career but we can't have that in the middle of the park . The same for Callum, he doesn't put his foot in where it hurts and we can't afford missed tackles and lost midfield battles.

Ayunga has shown that he has the heart today and we need to see him build on that. O'Conner was immense, he won every header I think. Cole is class, the complete striker.

Totally agree with all that. If there's criticism to be levelled at Stephen Robinson it's his faith in young and often unproven players over experienced ones. In a battle like ours to drop the likes of Toums, Gibbo, Aaron and even Kyle Letheren is just frankly ridiculous when a bit of nous, fight, leadership and spirit is what's needed. I really hope he can find some grafters in the transfer window to shore up the defence.

Yeah I think this is a very fair point. I’m a big fan of both Mcalmont and Jones (the latter btw seems more vocal on the pitch by the game), but unfortunately the situation we find ourselves in might mean others need to feature ahead for said Nous & leadership

[Keith]

I didn't see it as us being 'in it' in the first half, or even 0-3 being 'against the run of play'. We had two shots on target, one of them a powder-puff roll to the keeper. I thought they were playing with confidence after an early goal and were tearing through us. To me, Tooms was a Jeckle & Hyde player, offering little in the first half, but immense in the second. He just didn't look match sharp to me, certainly for the first half an hour.

Second half we looked like the team from early in the season again!

Also, to be fair to Doncaster, their best two players went off injured, which probably added to their capitulation.

Seven goals in front of the travelling fans, they certainly got their money's worth!

[Bristol Shrimp]

Just seen the goals with the goalcam. Toums' goal was an incredible hit, really shows the power of the strike!

[redrobo]

The result and final 45 was fabulous BUT let's not get carried away about the win.

Doncaster are probably the weakest team in EFL1 this season. Up util 3pm yesterday they had scored only 3 goals on their travels but in 45 minutes had doubled that due to our total inability to defend from set pieces yet again.

To our credit we came out for the final 45 all guns blazing and took control of the game resulting in a 4-3 win that many thought was a lost cause at H/T.

The problems we have in defense are still there and will remain so until SR finds more experienced alternatives but he needs to look at other areas where surgery is needed ie Midfield and Goalkeeper.

Let's not be fooled by the superb turnaround as Donny had to substitute their best 3 players due to injury.

As much as the result and second 45 display was excellent the problems well discussed on this forum still exist and until they are resolved our inability to get positive results week in week out will persist.

Performances v Crewe and Fleetwood typified our current season performances of late and one positive come back performance does not and will not cover the all too apparent cracks in out team.....BUT the spirit and fight of the lads was admirable and should be something that we should and could replicate week in....week out.

[Martin]

The result and final 45 was fabulous BUT let's not get carried away about the win.

To our credit we came out for the final 45 all guns blazing and took control of the game resulting in a 4-3 win that many thought was a lost cause at H/T.

Surely that's exactly the reason we can get carried away by the win.

Yes, we still have a lot of work to do to address the obvious problems within the team, and the win doesn't solve anything except buy a little breathing space. But if you can't get carried away by that comeback, when can you?

[Little Shrimp]

A good centre back to partner AOC and a good goalkeeper will go a long way to fixing problems in this side.

Stopping those soft goals and constant little gut punches, and that will help build confidence.

We're around mid-table for chances conceded in open play, but bottom for goals conceded. And very low down for chances and goals conceded from set plays.

The conclusion from that is that we don't get completely cut apart as a team, but whenever a team does get through they have a very easy time putting their chances away. Get a bit of that steel and more dominance in the centre of defence and a more sturdy keeper, and things should improve.

Agree with others that a winger for a bit more threat/competition for places out wide and a defensive midfielder would help things too, but the main priorities for me are CB and GK.

[jbc.shrimp]

The manager seems to talk a good game but doesn’t seem to have the ability to put things right! Unless there are drastic changes and soon we are nailed on for relegation. Those first 10 games in league one where we played really well are now a distant memory!

Yet it's mostly the same 11 that were winning. They just have to pick there chins back off the floor. Yesterdays fightback should be a good boost.

[sandgrown]

I noticed a mention for 'the long suffering Morecambe fans' on Quest tonight.

they also remarked that we have the worst defence in the EFL

[sandgrown]

Amazing what a bit of effort and hard work can do. That 2nd half has to be the bench mark from here on in. Toums and Wildig have to start because we have to have players with their experience and time at the club at the centre of our fight to stay up. It sounds daft but Alfie is too good for what we need. He is a lovely footballer who will have a fantastic career but we can't have that in the middle of the park . The same for Callum, he doesn't put his foot in where it hurts and we can't afford missed tackles and lost midfield battles.

Ayunga has shown that he has the heart today and we need to see him build on that. O'Conner was immense, he won every header I think. Cole is class, the complete striker.

Totally agree with all that. If there's criticism to be levelled at Stephen Robinson it's his faith in young and often unproven players over experienced ones. In a battle like ours to drop the likes of Toums, Gibbo, Aaron and even Kyle Letheren is just frankly ridiculous when a bit of nous, fight, leadership and spirit is what's needed. I really hope he can find some grafters in the transfer window to shore up the defence.

agree with all that, not the time for the youngsters