Watford v Doncaster

WATFORD
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DONCASTER ROVERS

The first return fixture of the season is already upon us as Donny make the trip down to Watford for their last game of 2011.  

Since we met at the 'moat a month ago, Watford have gained 7 more points to Rovers' 6 at the end of the table where every point will be vital come May.  At the rate both teams have gained points over the last month, the New Year's resolutions are likely to be similar.  "MUST DO BETTER!".

WATFORD

We'll have our usual level of information about the opposition an will prepare accordingly.  There might be one or two twists or tweaks that Doncaster will throw at us but that's to be expected - Sean Dyce

Watford may have picked up just one more point than Doncaster since our last meeting, but they haven't been beaten in 7 games.  They have become something of draw specialists so getting the win against Watford will be a tall order.

Predectably, I watched three draws when reviewing Watford's performances.  The first from Boxing Day against Cardiff (1-1), then at Blackpool (0-0) and finally the home draw against Leeds (1-1).



Marvin Sordell - Improved



Two players stuck out as quality opponents for Rovers.  Marvin Sordell has undoubtedly developed further in Danny Graham's absence and is Watford's major threat.  The other is veteran Michael Kightly who first came to my attention due to his keeping Michael McIndoe out of the Wolves starting line up.  Kightly has still got it as his goal against Leeds very well demonstrated.

As you would expect from a side that is drawing a lot of games, the defence looks very decent.  A little like Rovers though, they are prone to the isolated mistake, which is probably why the Hornets are drawing and not winning.  I only saw one moment where the defence got it all wrong.  A run down the right from Cardiff caused the whole of the defence to be sucked into onw half of the pitch.  Thankfully for Watford, the ball Cardiff needed didn't happen.

Looking Watford's attacking prowess, I think its fair to say that they can break quickly.  I thought they were lacking imagination in the final third though.,  I often saw runs being made or good balls being available but the opportunities weren't used.  Just a wee bit more vision is necessary.

DONCASTER ROVERS

The players are in good shape for Watford, they're fitter than ever and we're battling as much as we've ever been because the players have realised they have to do the 'ugly' side of things to win  - Dean Saunders 

It's been a year that I all Donny fans will be happy to see end after winning just 8 games.  Its certainly been a momentous year for Rovers.  A year of such stark change will seldom occur at any football claub.

That home tie against the Hornets in November was exactly the type of game that Rovers have to win if they are to get out of their current situation.  Since then, they have been great at home, beating Southampton and Leicester but they haven't been able to match it on their travels.  Up until Boxing Day, it could have been referred to as just slipping up or failing to hold an advantage.   Unfortunately, Boxing Day's defeat at Burnley was a reversion to not really turning up.

There was a share of bad luck about it.  Burnley's first was about as bad a penalty decision as you will see and a header from Billy Sharp that came off Burnley's post minutes later probably showed how it wasn't to be Donny's day and they ended up well beaten.

As far as personnel goes, I don't see much changing from the team that lost on Boxing Day as Rovers' are struggling to gain international clearance for their three latest recruits.  This is allegedly because of a lack of people working at FIFA during the holiday period. 

Enjoy the match everybody and the evening's festivities.

Boxing Day in Burnley

BURNLEY

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DONCASTER ROVERS

Merry Christmas Everybody, and what could be more festive than Boxing Day in Burnley?  Its got a certain ring to it, I believe, and up in those hills, I doubt there will be any difficulty in finding a Shepherd.  Wise men could be more of a challenge in Lancashire, but by arranging for a visit of some Yorkshire men, that too can be ticked off the list. 

Doncaster have a good record against Burnley over recent seasons. Unbeaten in fact, although at Turf Moor, draws have been the order of the day.  This season, with Rovers hitting a bit of form and Burnley stuttering at home, the Yorkshiremen will be looking to go one better than that.  But something about Burnley's record makes me think that that feat will be far from plain sailing.

BURNLEY 

We are still still capable of making a run but it's going to be crucial now, the next few games as to where it takes us - Eddie Howe

Burnley have the 5th best away record in the league, but the 4th worst home record.  Its one way to end up mid-table while really frustrating your support. 

The first match I saw would warm the cockles of Rovers' fans hearts.  The Clarets struggled badly to a narrow 1-goal victory against a 9-man Brighton.  I can understand a side struggling to score against a 9-man side as they pack their defence.  But, if the 9-men stretch the defence of the 11-men unduly you have to wonder what is going on.  Brighton, in the end deserved at least a draw and, on what I saw, Burnley on that day deserved the igmony such a result would bring them.

The next set of highlights I watched saw Burnley lose out to a last minute route 1 goal.  Again, I can't rave about either team's performance and 0:0 looked fairer.  There were a couple of moves that showed what Burnley can do though.  Sam Vokes, Jay Rodrigues and Chris McCann showed how well they can combine in a great move early in the second half but I saw too much shooting from range.  Like they did against Brighton, the clarets struggled to find ways around or through the defence.

At the back, it looked very organised and Burnley certianly gave Pompey a puzzle to be solved.  Good movement got them in on goal on a couple of occasions but, more worryingly, there were a couple of occasions where brute force proved more effective than it should have done.

There was a better performance to be seen at Upton Park though.  Burnley's goals were far more typical of them.  Good balls into the box finished off by unstoppable headers.  The defence still looked disciplined but vulnerable to good movement, although they seemed more competitive in this one.

So, Burnley are organized and my prove difficult to break down.  But I didn't get the impression there was that much imagination to break opponents down.  There's work to be done before the run that Eddie Howe talks about is going to happen.

DONCASTER ROVERS

There's absolutely no point in getting the victories against Southampton and Leicester if we can't go away from home and earn a point and be hard to beat - Dean Saunders.

Absolutely correct Dean!  Unfortunately that's what Rovers have been doing - getting really good results against good teams and then falling down against teams who, if they are to get out of their current situation, they need to beat.  Still, things have been upwardly mobile at the 'moat over the last few weeks and Dean is clearly understanding why Rovers haven't made more progress.



It's rare that there is a quiet week off the pitch at Donny this season and this week has proved no exception.  First, the Chairman makes clear what we always knew.  Billy Sharp is up for sale.  The 3 Million asking price is a snip for a player who has 9 goals in 13 starts so far this season.   I think Rovers have been tentively trying to sell their star player since the end of last season.  That's not a criticism.  When you hear of plans to half the wage bill, its obvious the Billy's wages will be part of that cut.

We also learned of Dean's 8th, 9th and 10th signings as three Frenchmen (well, kinda) were signed from Greek sides Panathinaikos, Giannina and Panetolikos. 

Damien Plessis, a defensive midfielder is the only one of the trio to have enjoyed English experience before, playing for Liverpool.  The other two, Mamadou Bagayoko and Habib Bamogo are forwards who have played international football for Mali and Burkina Faso respectively.



El-Hadji Diouf.  Another 18 months?

Rovers added to this news with word of an agreement in principle that El-Hadji Diouf will stay for another 18 months.  Intersting one that is.  Undoubtedly good for the Rovers as there has been little to contradict Dean Saunders ascertion that Diouf is the best player in the championship.  But how does it stack with the shop-window experiment working for the players that it brings in?  Do the players Rovers are bringing in really want to end up in Donny for a couple of years? 

My guess is they won't think of it in this way.  More they will think that if Donny is good enough for Diouf, its good enough for them.  The more I think, the more I believe Diouf is seen as very important to the success or otherwise of the McKay experiment.  

Rover hunts Foxes!

DONCASTER ROVERS

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LEICESTER CITY

During the closed season, Leicester were keen to buy there way into the Premier League  with a list of signings including Kasper Schmeichel, Paul Konchesky, David Nugent, Jermaine Beckford and former Rovers star, Matt Mills.  During the same period Donny additions included Kyle Bennett, Tommy Spurr, Richard Naylor and Chris Brown.  Without meaning any disrespect to these players, with the possible exception of Naylor, many football fans pronounce their surnames as "WHO?"

The two lists kinda demonstrate the the differences between the clubs in as far as who they could target at that time.

Now with Donny signing names like El-Hadji Diouf, Pascal Chimbonda, Habib Beye and Herita Illunga, it could be argued that there has been a coming together in the two clubs transfer targets.  If this is true, then Rovers are achieving their signings at a fraction of the cost that Leicester have paid.  True - Doncaster's signings are not intended to be permanent, but as we look at Leicester in 9th place you can't help but wonder what will happen to the football transfer markets should the Rovers shop-window approach prove successful.  You also have to look at Donny in 23rd place and think that success is a way off at this time.  It could be an interesting season for many reasons.

DONCASTER ROVERS

It's coming together, we look more solid, and we look more difficult to beat. There were spells at Birmingham where we were good and competing well. Both that game and Southampton were examples of how good we were competing - Dean Saunders

That's an interesting quote from Dean.  Its all the more interesting when you consider, since the abysmal performance against Barnsley, Rovers have only managed a single point against two of our fellow relegation candidates in Millwall and Watford.  Is the performance becoming more important that the result for Dean, as it was for his predecessor?  We lost, but we were competing!

The Southampton result was, of course a bonus.  None of us expected points there but we got all three of 'em.  However, a bonus only becomes a bonus if you earn your basic and by not beating Watford or Millwall, I'd argue we haven't done that.

Gary Woods - Chance

Against Birmingham, I have to admit that I didn't see a win coming until we went one up and once they'd equalized, I quickly had given up hope of a point.  From the commentary I was listening to and the match stats, we were competing but we were never really in any kind of control.

But, its been better than it has been and in my line of work, I don't particularly look for targets, just to be better than we were last week, month or year.

That injury situation that Dean was going to get to the bottom of  when he first arrived continues to blight him as it did his predecessor.  Now we are down to one goalkeeper as both Chris Ikeme and Neil Sullivan are out  with "Freak Injuries".  We seem to have a lot of those!  So Gary Woods get his chance to demonstrate that he can hack it at this level.  Good luck Gary!

LEICESTER CITY

They (Doncaster) are a team that can be very difficult to beat - Nigel Pearson

When Jimmy Greaves said Football was a funny old game, he couldn't have got it more right.  I don't think anyone would have predicted Pearson's return to the Foxes as they were looking like tying up their promotion with the names Sven Gorn-Eriksson was able to attract.  

But getting the names in and fashioning them into a team that can take the chmpionship by storm are two different tasks.  Frankly, I fancy Pearson for the second of these tasks more than I fancy Sven, simply because its a task Pearson understands more than Sven ever will.

Watching Leicester, the first thing you hear is the Post Horn Gallop.  A ditty I've played many a time on the cornet but isn't it normally (and ironically) associated with Fox-Hunting!  

You have to say its impressive up front.  For me, its not so much the Beckfords or Nugents with the finishing as the likes of King, Konchesky and Gallagher providing the ammo.  Leicester put plenty of good balls into the box and finishers that are in any way decent should do nicely out of them.

Defensively, I was also basically happy.  The defence always looked to be in good position and so defended well.  Thing is though, if an attacker does do something clever and get around them, the shock-waves tend to ripple through.  That ball pings about in a manner that Tommy (from the rock opera by The Who) would be proud.  Nobody like good football as much as I do, but row Z can be a reasonable option.

The only other issue that i sa was susceptability to the quick break.  It was the only time that I did see Leicester out of position and, as I anticipate a fair amount of pressure on the Rovers' goal on Saturday, it could be the way to go!

Enjoy the match everyone!

From Saints to St. Andrews

      BIRMINGHAM CITY

V

DONCASTER ROVERS

The last time Rovers and the Blues met was very unusual.  It was one of the few games over recent seasons that I neither watched nor listened in.  It still troubles me to think about it!

The reason?  Well, the game in March 2009 at the Keepmoat was televised on Sky so I checked with my local Irish Bar if they would put it on.  

Unforunately, the pub was preferring to show some insignificant egg-chasing involving Scotland and Ireland.  So I tried an English bar in Zürich.  We were on and Mrs. Duck and I made the 40 minute trip.

An Appropriate Shrine

I was double-crossed as the barman at the Big Ben Pub told me he was showing the rugby.  No amount of protestation was going to change that.  I desperately tried to find another bar, but rugby fans suddenly seemed more numerous than I ever imagined in Zürich.

My phone was telling me Rovers were already 2-down so I did the only thing I could think of that might help.  I found an appropriate shrine and prayed.

Well, I'm not renowned for my faith but at least it didn't get any worse for the Rovers.  Mrs. Duck and I ended up going to see "the Reader" at the pictures.  It was crap.  Bad day all around.  Lets hope tomorrow goes a wee bit better.

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Doncaster's form wasn't so good but they have been galvanised, and that's what results can do for you. - Chris Hughton

There's not an easy away-day in the championship but I'm sure this one looks like one of the more difficult ones at first sight.  The Blues are just relegated from the premier league; are Carling Cup holders and are still involved in European competition.  Opponents to be reckoned with indeed!

But in the league, it could be better and I'm sure all Blues fans would give up the European adventure for a league position that would put them less than 7 points off the last play-off place.  A quick return to the premier league seems unlikely at this point in the season.

Watching the highlights from the game away to Hull I'd have to say the defending from wide positions by Birmingham was shocking.  The first half left me thinking "I bet Hull's goals come from the left hand side".  They didn't, they came from the right but for the same reason.  That reason being the complete absence of Full-Backs.

Up front, Birmingham scored from a route one goal and look to have plenty of size in the team should they want to play that way.  I saw a lot of direct play and intent to get crosses into the box.  

In the other matches I looked at, the desire to get the early ball into the box was again dominant.  The chief providers are Wade Elliott and, a player I think is one of the most under-estimated in the championship, Chris Burke.  In Marlon King, they also have a striker who has more about him than to rely on crosses.  He looks well able to play off the shoulder of ther last man.

That defence still doesn't inspire any confidence though.  One move from Blackpool saw the offside-trap beaten by three players at once and as the ball is moved out wide, there is all too often little resistance until it is returned to the middle.

So out wide, it could be worth giving Kyle Bennett an opportunity as I doubt the Blues full backs will handle his pace.  Once again, an on-form James Coppinger would cause huge difficulties on the evidence I saw.

DONCASTER ROVERS 

They have had lots of games this season as they are in Europe and hopefully that will take its toll - Dean Saunders

Congratulations Billy

First of all, I have to say congratulations to Billy Sharp, who after netting 4 times in November, was deservedly given the Championship Player of the Month Award.  Billy tweeted that he hoped the votes he won were made for his goals rather than his situation.  I say that four goals in five merits the award on its own.  His situation just makes Billy all the more inspirational.

Last week, Rovers delivered the shock-result of the championship season so far in beating Southampton.  I said they had a chance (really, I did, go and look).  

My sources tell me that never have a team been more flattered by their league position than Southampton based on their performance at the Keepmoat.  That's as maybe, but like the new regime or not, and I don't, you have to give credit where credit is due.

Bottom of the table, with a huge list of injuries,  deservedly beat top of the table.  Well done Deano and Donny!

Off the pitch and the signing of Rovers latest short-term player, Lamine Diatta has gone through.  But after last week's performance, I would doubt if he would feature tomorrow. 

Finally, there are rumours that L'Orient's Innocent Emeghara could be moving to Donny in January.  Innocent used to play for my current home-team, FC Winterthur.  Will he join the list of great people to have moved between the towns?

Blues and Rovers - Enjoy the match tomorrow.

We need Miracles but not Saints

 DONCASTER ROVERS

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SOUTHAMPTON

A Bottom v Top fixture in Donny on Saturday.  The last time that that happened was in Donny's infamous 1997/98 season that saw the Vikings disappear into conference wilderness for 5 years.  We came close to this fixture in 2008/09 when a 23rd placed Doncaster lost narrowly to Wolves almost exactly 3 years ago.

Against all odds, Donny turned it around that season and managed a mid-table finish in a season that consigned Southampton to the drop.  Rover's worst situation that season was 7 points adrift of safety, as we are now.  Except in that season, we were 7 points adrift at the start of November rather than the start of December.

DONCASTER ROVERS

It's going to be a good game for us, Southampton are, of course, top of the league and not many people will give us a chance against them, but I do. - DEAN SAUNDERS

Yes, the ask gets bigger and bigger for the Rovers and its all the more frustrating when they fail to grasp the lifebelts been thrown at them.  The last two matches have seen us win just a single point against two poor sides.

I'll be fair.  The effort looks like its there and we look like we are attacking our opponents.  Against Watford, Dean enthused about the 27 crosses Rovers put into Watford's penalty area and was delighted with the defensive performance.  Nice to see Deano talking stats.  It reminds me of somebody!

On the other hand, he did not mention the meagre 6 shots those 27 crosses yielded but to be fair again, it looks like he was aware of that stat and informed the team going into the next game.

More endevour against Millwall and that shot count doubled to a respectable 12.  That was the good news.  Unfortunately, Rovers lost their defence.  Listening to the game was frustrating.  For all the effort, Rovers sounded terribly disorganized.  Frankly, I don't care who Saunder's signs, unless the organisation issues are solved, we're not going to be going anywhere fast.

Another new player has arrived in the form of Lamine Diatta although with only 12 games for Tunisia's Étoile Sportive du Sahel since 2008, I think he is only with Rovers to plug gaps due to the current injury situation.  It never rains but it pours at the moment!

SOUTHAMPTON

We always say that we never underestimate the opposition and if you don't respect the opposition and work hard to get a result, then you get nowt. - NIGEL ADKINS

Southampton are striving to be the best promoted side since, well, last season when Norwich proved double-promotion from League 1 to the Premier League was possible.  Southampton I think would take promotion as runners-up but are looking to go one better.  Whether they do or not, its already a fantastic achievement for the Saints and Nigel Adkins.  Its good to see a manager who struggled with a club with meagre resources compared to their competitors given the chance with more of a budget.

Now I remember when I was previewing the Middlesbrough game, watching their highlights against Southampton.  In that game, a 27 pass move resulted in one of the Saints 3 goals.  Saints fans can look at it again here.   God I love teams that play football!

So lets have a look how they've done since then.

Rickie Lambert - Threatening

Well, as you'd expect, its lovely stuff.  Quick and intricate passing and really testing high balls coming into the box.  In Rickie Lambert, they have about as threatening a forward as you will see.  A big, physical presence who is not without the fine skills.  I'm sure, one way or the other, this guy will be in the Premier League next season.

So, no chance for Donny then.  Not so!  I did watch their defeat against Bristol City and the left-side of the Saints defence had a nightmare.  They had no answer to George Adomah and Nicky Maynard's trickery and were all too often turned or just plain beaten. So, step forward number 26.  We all know you can do it and now would be a really good time .
Something else I didn't like.  I really hope the Rovers' Groundsman has cut the grass nice and even.  Against Brighton, the Saints were falling over all sorts of things.  C'Mon Saints - you're way better than that!

Strugglers Struggle with Struggling Lions

MILLWALL
V
DONCASTER ROVERS

First of all, my apologies to regular readers for not being around for the last two matches.  Unfortunately I've been prevented from blogging by first my house deciding to fuse the day before the Barnsley match and then by my employers rather premature celebration of the festive season.  Anyway, normal service has been resumed!

Well the title says it all as Rovers again face side that aren't doing so well and as such, have a game where it is important to get something.  Millwall sit in the precarious 21st place that Donny would give their eye-teeth for at the moment.  Being 6 points adrift of safety, Rovers fans would happily take precarious over desperate!

MILLWALL 


I was just pleased withour performance because after quite a number of changes, it was a youngish side and this added some freshness and energy.  We have to replicate that at home to Doncaster and away to Leeds next Saturday, which would make it a good week. Kenny Jackett.

Millwall 21st?  Well they aren't kidding me!  A Lion's Den isn't usually a place to go if you're looking to come away with something.  When you look a little behind the table position, you see that they are where they are due to a disasterous September (yes, worse than Donny's).  Current overall form puts them 7th in the league.  When they win, they do so impressively, when they lose, they do so narrowly.  Couple that with 7 draws so far this season and you're left wondering whether we have  team that on occasions is not getting the rub of the green.

In the international break, England gave a text-book demonstrattion of how to defend by pressing the ball-carrier.  The basics are first to choose when to press him and second, when the other players see him being pressed, they tighten their marking of their man.  The result is that if the ball-carrier does manage to fend off his close attention, he has a difficult ball to play to retain possession.

If you look at Millwall's performance against Crystal Palace, they were certainly pressing the ball-carrier at times, but the marking job away from that was lacking.  But it's halfway there, its just that the other half is the difficult bit.

Up front and the crosses tended to be just a little too hard and high and the shooting was wild, as it was from Palace.

That thing I said about tight man-marking when pressing the ball carrier?  If you wtach the highlights against Bristol City its there all the time and the Robins could have had a cricket score had they taken the chances it caused.  Its almost like there is over-confidence in the man going to the ball.

The highlights v Blackpool were very short but once again you saw that Millwall's opponents were getting lots of chances.  Maybe there could be something in this match for Donny, especially when you consider that Donny have bettered Millwall's results against 2 out of 3 cases against the opponents I saw.  That's not going to happen many times this season.

DONCASTER ROVERS

So what's been happening while I've been gone? Well, in a nutshell, we embarrassed ourselves against arguably our most bitter local rivals; then we signed a lot of players on loan and then we put in a decent performance and got a rare clean-sheet against Watford on Saturday.

El-Hadji Diouf - "Best in the League"

The Willie McKay scheme is now getting into full flow with 5 of our 11 starters on Saturday being so-called shop-window players.  So far, we've seen El-Hadji Diouf, heralded by Dean Saunders as "the best player in the league" standing out as the best of our signings.  Good to see Dioufy grabbing the headlines for the right reasons, sad to see him picking up a hamstring injury that will surely see him not featuring tomorrow evening.

The rest?  Well we will see.  I think its fair to say Habib Beye (Oh Habib Beye) had a good debut on Saturday the Marc-Antoine Fortune also had his moments.  Obviously, the experiment really starts from here on.  I have no doubt more will join the ranks in the January transfer window making for even less familiar line-ups.

Listening to Dean Saunders' pre-match interview, it seems that he has similar look as his predecessor in terms of injuries.  Rovers have 14 players out at the moment, which Deano finds unbelievable, stating he has never seen anything like it in his career.  Welcome to Donny, Dean!  Imagine your difficulties without a Willie McKay able to find players to plug gaps.

Jeckyll and Hyde v Hyde

IPSWICH TOWN
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DONCASTER ROVERS

During our last meeting the Tractor Boys effectively ploughed up the Keepmoat and the Rovers with it, as probably the most threadbare Rovers team put out in many-a-year was trounced by six goals to nil.  

For that game, Rovers were unable to field a recognised striker and so faced an impossible task.  Famously, Sean O'Driscoll threatened to walk out of the post-match press conference if anybody asked a stupid question and, when he received his second question,  "So Sean, how do you feel?" he duly followed up on the threat.

As some kind of indication how weakened Rovers were that night, the mid-winter freeze of 2010/11 season resulted in the home and away fixtures with Ipswich being only seperated by 4 other matches.  At Portman road, just 3 weeks before the massacre at the Keepmoat, Donny were unfortunate to come second in a five-goal thriller, which included a mad spell with 3 goals in 3 minutes.

This season, remarkably Ipswich have also conceded more than any other team but with 19 goals for, aren't so bad going forwards.  Donny's record is a little more balanced.  No team has scored fewer goals than the Rovers and only Ipswich have conceded more.  0:0 doesn't look a wise bet tomorrow.

IPSWICH TOWN

I got on well with the supporters and the manager [Sean O'Driscoll] at the time and I really enjoyed myself there. I have some great memories from my time at Doncaster  - Jay Emmanuel-Thomas

Looking at Ipswich's results so far this season, it would seem they are either very good (3:1 victory against Brighton, 3:0 against Bristol City and Coventry) or really bad (1:7 against Peterbrough, 2:5 versus Southampton and last week's 4:1 away defeat by Millwall).  If Paul Jewell follows the instructions of the fans, he's stuck in the Portman Road revolving doors.

First video up was that game at the New Den and the defending was as shocking as you would think.  Centre-backs stayed in the middle and I have no idea where the full-backs were for two of the Millwall goals.  It was simply a case of an attack finding a man in acres of space in the inside right or left position.  A good shot was fired in, parried and the rebound could not be dealt with.  Millwall were using those inside positions all game.

Against Palace, Ipswich lost 0:1 and it was another very poor goal.  A really poor Palace free-kick that should have been eaten up by any decent defence was half cleared and then a lot of ball-watching occurred as Palace took their opportunity.

Portsmouth, and here I saw a slender Tractor-Boys victory, but all in all I'd have to say that I've gained more hope from watching the frailties of their defence than I've gained fear from watching their attack.  Jimmy Bullard pulls the strings in midfield and I did see a few snappy strings of passes involving Bullard and Lee Bowyer.  Now they are two names that also bring a lack of nonsense to mind!

The other player I liked in an attacking sense? Carlos Edwards.  Against Portsmouth he had a couple of forays down the right flank that looked difficult to deal with.

There's hope for Donny in this one.  That defence is as bad as I've seen, with one unfortunate exception.

DONCASTER ROVERS

I can see it coming together here. The pace of training has gone up massively from testimonial to world cup final standard. - Dean Saunders

Well I am sure there wasn't a dry eye at the Keepmoat on Tuesday evening as Billy Sharp showed us all what love, heartbreak, pride and professionalism mean.  How could he play through such pain? In Billy's words, "that's what my little man Luey would have wanted.

Well, Billy, you gave Luey one fantastic present.  

Rovers lost the match but that's in many ways a trivial detail.  There were positives.  For the first 30 minutes, Rovers played one of the promotion contenders completely off the park.  El-Hadji Diouf did not look as unfit as I suspected he was, indeed it looks as though he and Billy could form a brief but happy relationship.

But the problems at the back remain very obvious.  

Billy Sharp's family have received a lot of support from the Martin House Children's Hospice during this very sad time for them.  The Viking Supporters cooperative have set up an means of donating to this very worthy cause.  If you would like to make a donation, you can do so my clicking here.  Alternatively you can send a donation by SMS by following the instructions below (clicking on the image will take you to a page with all terms and conditions)

Thank you.

No More Teeslide, Boro' on the up!

DONCASTER ROVERS
V
MIDDLESBROUGH

'Boro' are sitting very pretty amongst the 4 teams occupying the play-off places, all of whom have 24 points. They have a fearsome away record showing 4 away wins in the bag already.  Not a team, who a side struggling to find their way at the minute want to be meeting.

But hang on a minute Fuzz mate, take a look at those teams and you see Crystal Palace who were beaten at the Keepmoat by a gluteus deflection; Hull, from whom we took a point and Derby, well all good runs must come to an end!  Anyway, the point remains.  All is not lost!  Do we need an omen?  OK, its another 1st of the month fixture and the last time Rovers failed to win one of those was exactly 3 years ago when we drew 0:0 with Swansea!

Last season saw Rovers swept aside 3:0 at the Riverside on the final day.  Well, we were safe, nothing more to play for and were pretty rubbish too!  At the Keepmoat Rovers beat Middlesbrough 2:1 in our last fixture of 2010.  That was a night when the temperature at the Keepmoat dropped to well below casual fan endurance levels.  In fact, probably uniquely, at half time, a local cup final that was to be played the next day, was called off due to a frozen pitch after a pitch inspection.  Rovers' winner came four minutes into injury time too so it wasn't just the cold that sent Boro' fans home bitter that evening!

Rovers also won their next fixture, on New Years' day against Scunthorpe, the last time they have managed two successive wins.

DONCASTER ROVERS

I’m going to do everything I can to help the team be successful. I love challenges. I went to Bolton and Rangers when people would not have expected me to do so. - El Hadji Diouf

Well Donny appear to have signed someone since the last game.  Love him or loath him,  El Hadji Diouf certainly seems big news, actually having Doncaster Rovers trending on twitter on the day he signed.

I can't see Diouf starting tomorrow.  Looking at the film of him taken at his first Cantley Park training session, there's a pound or two still to be lost, a point that was confirmed by "Big Sam", when West Ham decided against signing the controversial striker.

Well fitness, or lack of it should be a temporary condition for a footballer and there is no doubt about it, lacklustre performances against Portsmouth and Coventry show Donny need something or someone.  Let's hope Mr. Diouf can bring what is needed.

Other news,  Rovers are determined to keep hold of Billy Sharp.  Well that's what the headline says make of it what you will.  Whatever we make of it, a future partnership of Dioufy and Sharpy could be tasty.  Sadly, we won't be seeing Billy tomorrow as he is on leave with personal problems.  

MIDDLESBROUGH

Going to Doncaster is never easy, I remember going there last year and losing late on so I’m expecting a very tough game and I’m sure we’ll get one. - Tony Mowbray

The downward slide on Teeside looks now to have been abated as, since appointing Tony Mowbray at this time last season Boro have been generally upwardly mobile.  I don't think the success can be totally down to Mowbray, but he's a good manager with an affinity with the club.  Such things don't hurt.

Looking at the highlights and the first thing I'll do is give a shout-out for Southampton.  They do not look like a flash in the pan as they played Middlesbrough off the park on Saturday.

I can be critical of the Boro' defence.  The marking was very loose and very loose became non-existent when faced with the movement they were being subjected to.  The other sin was standing off in midfield against a Southampton side who are very capable of being patient as well as direct as this 27-pass move demonstrates.

Flash stuff.  Southampton were also brilliant off the ball, never allowing Boro' chance to settle.

So we've established the loss on Staurday was as much to do with very good opponents as it was with defensive frailty.

Moving on to the 2:0 victory gained by Boro' over Derby and it has to be said that Boro' got away with that one.  That frailty against movement was there to be seen again as Derby hit the woodwork a number of times  and had Luke Steele performing at his best.

Still, a long range effort from Hoyt that was deflected in off Willaims showed Rovers can't rest around their penalty area tomorrow evening.  The second goal was a Marvin Emnes header.  He's obviously one to watch, with 6 league goals already in this campaign.

So move them about and don't let them settle Donny and there's a win.  But work like you have in the last two and the omens will not be good.

Enjoy the game everyone!