Will Dan return to Rovers?

Emmanuel means 'God is with is' - it seems ironic considering Haverhill Rovers' latest revelation is no longer with them. The tricky winger has been in great form since arriving from AFC Sudbury - his tricks and skills down the channels saw him ease past fullbacks and centre halves, and it was a rather damning indictment of the team that within his first two games he was already joint top scorer.

It had looked like a great signing by manager Peter Betts - he was struggling to make the grade for the Ryman Division One North side and came to Rovers quietly confident of making the starting XI regularly. Haverhill already had a solid defensive foundation, but lacked that little bit of midfield creativity needed to break down opponents and seal the extra points. Emmanuel, coupled with the fresh form of Marc Abbott and clinical Dalton O'Brien, seemed to provide that.

How he was missed at New Croft on Saturday. Marc Abbott was serving the last of his three game ban, and Rovers really were lacking in midfield creativity. Debenham LC, who were bottom of the Ridgeons Premier League and no doubt low on confidence, came to face a Rovers side who were unbeaten in 11 games and had already eased past them 3-0 in the FA Vase earlier in the campaign. But this was a different game entirely.

Right from the off Rovers seemed to lack innovation and urgency. It was a rather dull first half, and though it was fairly equal you could not begrudge Debenham their lead at the break. Rovers came out strong immediately after the break in search of an equaliser, but after the initial pressure had been soaked up it looked unlikely. Time and again they were hit on the counter as Debenham found themselves unlucky not to be further ahead. Rovers were slow to get back when they were hit on the counter - at one stage O'Brien was showing the most urgency as Debenham kept failing to finish their chances.

The break through finally came when captain Marcus Hunt managed to tap in Louis Harper's free kick, but Rovers failed to defend that for a point. Even O'Brien looked indecisive as he fumbled his way around the six yard line instead of turning to shoot, and when Matt Clarke was felled players were too busy screaming for a penalty instead of rushing back to defend the killer blow as James Heathcote scored to snatch the points late on.

The combined absence of Marc Abbott and Emmanuel was noticable, and even more frustrating in the knowledge that the latter was scoring to win a man of the match performance in Sudbury as they thrashed Hendon 5-1 to advance in the FA Trophy. Betts spoke of how he did not want to hold the player back and that Rovers are keen to provide opportunities, especially for young players, to further their careers at the highest level.

But is this really right? Or is Emmanuel disrespecting the club? He did drop down a division but to a mid table side, and now he has his confidence back and has found a good run of form, has returned back to where he came from now he feels he can make the starting XI. Betts inserted him into Rovers' side and he has become an important part of their recent good form, but by going back to Sudbury so quickly it does seem rather disrespectful. The viewpoint certainly leaves Betts in the dilemma of wanting to see one of his players success (and therefore remain and Sudbury) and wanting him to struggle (and therefore possibly return to Rovers).

The official line is that he has gone to Sudbury for a one month loan, but it is unknown if he will return. And if his current form continues and he is consistently getting picked for Sudbury, why would he? He seems to have used Rovers as a short step to success at a higher level, with success at New Croft a springboard to get back into the Sudbury side.

Betts has said the 'door will remain open' for him - but will he walk through it? Emmanuel was a great player and really made an attacking difference for Rovers - his game seemed above that of his opponents and an extra goal threat at a side that struggles for creativity in the absence of a few is always an asset. Hopefully it is just a one month loan and he will return to New Croft, but Rovers certainly need to acquire more attacking talent.

Betts has spoken about trying to sign a new attacking midfield player - an asset much needed to deputise in Marc Abbott's evidence on Saturday's evidence. Paul Abbott will return before Saturday, as will Greg Strong, and attacking options from full back will be appreciated. I blogged about how Rovers seem to struggle when they are the favourites instead of the underdogs - a view reinforced on Saturday - though hopefully they will thrive in the underdog role again in their next two fixtures.

Games against league leaders Dereham Town and CRC do not offer the ideal opportunity to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to the basement club, but Rovers should still be quietly confident going into these games. They will be tested, and they will have to be more creative up front and remain compact at the back, but they have triumphed against top sides before - they were unfortunate to come unstuck at Leiston in the FA Vase and last season should have snatched a win against table toppers Needham Market. These two fixtures may present just the opportunity for Betts to inspire the team to achieve their potential again.

If it ain't broke...

Haverhill Rovers have been enjoying a rich vein of form as of late, as evidenced by their 11 match unbeaten run and them holding the joint best defensive record in the league. They share that honour with Dereham, though the league leaders have played four more games. Still, Rovers are conceding an average of less than a goal a game, putting them on a par with third placed Kirkley and Pakefield and just ahead of second placed Wroxham and fourth placed CRC.

Their record speaks for itself - after a disappointing home defeat by Stanway Rovers in their second game, they have been unbeaten since - an impressive record that has seen them already do the double over Walsham-le-Willows and Wisbech Town, who sit just above them in the table, as well as holding out for a goalless stalemate against then league leaders Kirkley. On Saturday they face Debenham LC, with manager Peter Betts optimistic about his side's chances, and rightly so after they eased past them in the FA Vase.

Debenham travel to the New Croft rock bottom of the table, no doubt low on confidence, but still capable of frustrating Rovers. Betts said Haverhill 'have to treat them the same as the Leistons and the Kirkleys, and if we do then there's no reason why we can't win'. But is that the problem? Are Rovers treating these games with respect or complacency? Their draw at home to Felixstowe and Walton United certainly smacked of that - after dominating the first half and not converting chances, they eased off and conceded a deserved equaliser with seconds left on the clock. The 3-2 loss to Woodbridge, just days after winning there 5-0, also seemed to be a little complacent.

Rovers have improved dramatically since even as recently as pre-season. Gone it seems are the days of wasted chances resulting in dropped points, with inspired new signings Dan Emmanuel and Dalton O'Brien in particular having no problem finding the net. Marc Abbott has provided a creative force from midfield, though Betts has said he is looking to sign another attacking midfielder as the side struggle in his absence, and will be glad when his three game ban expires after the weekend. But Rovers are no longer going into most games as the underdogs - being seventh in the table they should not be either. Betts has said they thrive when playing bigger teams with no expectations, but now he must motivate them to thrive instead under expectation and pressure.

No doubt he can do that - and already has for the most part. Though Betts said that he is keen to avoid 'another Felixstowe' when they host Debenham, and is acutely aware that being the favourites or having the better team doesn't get three points - goals do. Stuart Wardley and Marcus Hunt should be able to keep Debenham at bay again, their job made easier with the man-of-the-match hogging Stuart Kingham breaking down the play before them. Saturday will be a good test to see how they go about breaking down teams, rather than worrying about teams trying to break down them.

Another positive was the spirit showed to falling behind, as in their last league game Rovers came back from two down in the closing stages at Great Yarmouth, and with Craig Cutts scoring regularly then the team really is doing well. There the formation was changed to a more agressive one with three strikers, but Betts said he has no intention of adopting this on a regular basis - and why should he with the team doing so well?

After Saturday Rovers will face a stern test to maintain their unbeaten run over the next two league fixtures - against league leaders Dereham on November 6 and against CRC three days later. Betts said he would be 'very happy if we get through both of these unbeaten' - perhaps a feat not as unlikely given their impressive record. Dereham have lost one and drawn three, CRC have lost three and drawn five - Rovers have lost one and drawn six, so their record is up there with the best of them. Both promise to make for exciting, albeit edgy encounters at New Croft and will hopefully provide two good results for Rovers.

Regardless of the outcome of both, there will still be 26 games to go afterwards. Betts has already said their aim is now to finish in the top ten - perhaps modest considering their achievements so far, but certainly deservedly more ambitious than their original plan to merely stay in the division. If the strongest XI can be put out week after week without any significant losses, then there is every hope for this to be realised.

It has been pleasantly surprising to see such a changed side clicking so early this season, and with such successful results. Rovers always looked strong in defence and midfield, but now they have been refined but quality attacking options to make them a potent threat up front to boot. Squad depth was shown by the ease their B-string swept past Whittlesey in the Cambridge Invitation Cup. They have a good understanding and a good way of playing, and as Betts said, 'we've not been broken yet' - and if it ain't broke, why fix it?