PaperTalk by Dennis Payter

Paul Trollope told the Bristol Evening Post he believes the deluge that wiped out Tuesday's home game with Brighton cost Rovers "a great chance of victory."

The managerless Seagulls would have been without 12 first-team players through injury and suspension - and were expected to include three loan players signed barely 24 hours before the game - had it gone ahead.

But the torrential downpour that lashed Bristol Tuesday afternoon and evening left standing water on the Memorial Stadium surface and referee Kevin Friend had little option but to call the match off around an hour before kick-off.

Trollope believes Brighton may well prove more formidable opponents when the game is rearranged later in the season.

He told the Post: "Brighton are unsettled at the moment with their managerial position, as well as injuries and suspensions and new players coming in.

"You never know how that would have worked out - and unfortunately we never will, though I would have said that we had a good chance of winning the game.

"When they return to play the fixture in a few weeks time it will obviously be a different story as I think they will have a new manager in place then and a more settled side.

"We would have liked to have played, but you never want a pitch that's going to make the game a farce. The surface would have made it impossible for both teams.

"As soon as there was a deluge at about 5.45pm you could see the water beginning to lie on the surface.

"The ground staff had verti-drained it but the water was unlikely to drain away and there were quite a few areas where the ball didn't roll.

"Although it's disappointing, it was the right decision.

"Covers wouldn't have made any difference because the surface was absolutely perfect at 5.30pm and the covers would have been off by then."

Carlisle boss Greg Abbott might consider swapping footballs for stress balls or maybe even enrolling United's players on a yoga course claimed the Carlisle Times and Star after Rovers came away from Brunton Park with a point last Saturday.

It reported that "on the evidence of this jittery display, his players look like they're feeling the strain of what is turning into an increasingly frustrating

campaign."

In the space of just two weeks, United have gone from play-off hopefuls to the brink of becoming embroiled in a relegation scrap, which seemed unthinkable when they were basking in the glory of victories over the likes of Huddersfield, Leeds, MK Dons and Brighton.

The Times and Star said: "United's strikers are in the midst of such a serious goal famine, it's a wonder aid agencies haven't been called in to help them.

"At times this season, scoring goals has looked as natural as breathing to Danny Graham, but the top scorer never got into his stride against Rovers, before being forced to limp off with a groin strain shortly before half-time.

If Michael Bridges and Scott Dobie wanted to prove a point to Abbott for leaving them stewing on the bench in recent weeks, they did precious little to prove their manager wrong after coming on as substitutes to form the second half strikeforce.

Bridges looked about as off key as Les Dawson's final piano recital, and poor Dobie endured the kind of afternoon you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy due to his glaring miss in front of an open goal on 71 minutes".

It was fortunate for United that Rovers blew a string of chances to make it three straight away wins, with striker Rickie Lambert having two efforts cleared off the line.

The Times and Star added: "The other saving grace was that United 'keeper Ben Williams has rediscovered form and confidence."

The young keeper has gone from zero to hero in recent games and deservedly left Brunton Park with the man-of-the-match award tucked under his arm after an impressive display.

United forced a flurry of corners and capped their flying start when wily, old campaigner Graham Kavanagh fired them ahead after just four minutes.

The ball fell to the midfielder 30 yards out and he coolly let fly with a ferocious effort straight into the postage stamp corner.

It should have been the signal for United to take charge but their ability to stamp their authority on games seems to have deserted them lately.

Instead, Rovers came right back at them.

Ryan Green's hopeful ball over the top found Jeff Hughes who brushed aside teenage left-back Michael Liddle and fired an unstoppable shot past Williams.

Neal worked hard to try to create openings for United, but it was Rovers who created the more clear-cut chances, while United's attack lacked any kind of punch.

Lambert, who was to prove a constant threat all afternoon, headed wide for Rovers and then two minutes before half-time Hughes missed a golden chance to send the visitors in leading at half-time.

The striker found himself clean through on goal, but Williams kept his composure to block a certain goal, earning warm applause from the crowd which is starting to appreciate the young keeper's rehabilitation in recent weeks.

Finally the Times and Star said: "In the dying embers of this uncompelling encounter, Bridges, who earlier suffered a leg injury, sent a powder-puff effort

into the arms of Phillips. It somehow seemed to sum up United's afternoon."