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The win over rock bottom Kidderminster last week did enough to push Rovers back up to fourth in League Two in what is looking to be a very open contest. There are no big boys in the mould of Plymouth or Hull this year and three of the current top five would have been a lot of people's relegation tips - Scunthorpe, Leyton Orient and Macclesfield. After opening the season without settling on a particular playing system, the signing of Spanish left winger Pedro Matias on Thursday may be an indication that Ian Atkins is starting to edge towards a more attacking 4-4-2 formation. We played that way on Saturday and created several chances, although the hapless Harriers were hardly difficult to break down on the day. Matias is a player who I remember well thanks to his fine performances against Rovers for Walsall and prior to that wearing the colours of Macclesfield. The quality of his delivery was consistently excellent in those meetings and he even scored against us at the Bescot near the end of our relegation season. I hope the former Spanish Under 21 international gets a chance down the left flank after impressing on trial in the reserves, however the short-term contract implies that he may be seen as little more than back-up now that Jon Beswetherick has moved on. Atkins' decision to go with two banks of four at the back and in midfield last week probably had more to do with Steve Elliott being stuck in the stand through suspension than anything else. In his absence, Christian Edwards had a terrific game alongside John Anderson, winning every header and making countless tackles and blocks to deservedly scoop the man of the match award ahead of two-goal Junior Agogo. The manager took 'Swanny' on loan during his time at Oxford and said that he had not been too impressed with him then, yet he has been our best defender this season and has visibly stepped up a level to look more like the Welsh international he once was than he did last year in an inconsistent partnership with Adam Barrett. The Kidderminster shut-out was our fifth clean sheet in the last six home games and the ninth overall. It took Ray Graydon's team almost until Christmas to match that last season. At the other end of the pitch, Junior's fine form has seen the local media get to the stage where they are running out of superlatives for him, particularly after sticking two more goals away after having missed training until the morning of the game. It was Richard Walker's turn to start up front with him and he showed that he was very good at holding the ball up and playing in team-mates, something he did perfectly for the opener. About thirty seconds earlier, a man near me in the crowd shouted "take him off" as Walker's touch momentarily eluded him, so it was funny to see that same spectator red-faced when he teed up Agogo with a super through-ball. In the wake of some horrendous weather, which called for a cautious journey to the Mem on the motorway, I was pleasantly surprised how well the pitch looked and played. There was only the odd puddle behind each goal and great credit must go to the ground staff for improving the surface since the days of 'the beach' just a season or two ago.
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