Rovers v Blues

DONCASTER ROVERS
-V-

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Another big night at the Keepmoat and once again both sides will be after all the points for opposite reasons.  Birmingham still have a good chance of an immediate return to the top-flight.  Birmingham sit in 6th place with a game in hand on all rivals.  The 13 point gap to the automatic places is surely too much to make up before the end of the season, but the Blues will be sick as a parrot if they don't maintain that play-off place.

Rovers?  Well despite everything, amazingly they are still only 4 points away from safety with the 21st placed club, Bristol with a goal difference that is comparable to our shocking -30.  I've seen it as a season where sides just haven't wanted to get themselves safe.  Three of te bottom four look like going down, but Forest and/or Millwall could still yet be pulled back into the dogfight.

At St. Andrews, Rovers did not make a bad fist of it, and by all accounts were unlucky to lose by the odd goal in three.  Marlon King was our nemesis that night, netting twice to vastly reduce the importance of Marc-Antoinne Fortune's opener.  A good game, hopefully matched tonight with a better outcome!

DONCASTER ROVERS

Tuesday night's game was more like it!  Loads of effort from the Rovers and decent performances from the players who need to perform if we are going to pull off the great escape.  But it was only a draw.  A hard-earned, well deserved single point.  But well done all the same, especially to Chris Brown for coming off the bench after so long out and making a real impact.

All that hard was undone again by a simple mistake.  It was Adam Lockwood this time, losing possession on the edge of his own area to Wilfred Zaha of all people.   but if that was the story of our season, what followed wasn't.  Rovers kept going and got the point when Chris Brown turned in Diouf's header after it had come off a Palace defender.

Can Donny do it?  Well, I've been resigned to their fate for some time now.  We just cannot put together a consistent sequence.  But four other clubs haven't been able to do that either so, when we really should be dead and buried, we've still got a chance.  But that consistent run has to happen.  Now!

BIRMINGHAM CITY

A big side with lots to play for.  Just the way Rovers like them this season!  

I'd just settled down to watching 30 minutes of Birmingham v Cardiff when I realised that I didn't have that long.  So this summary is from the 5 minutes of highlights, which looked great incidentally.  

Has anybody every seen Chris Burke have a bad game?  He really showed up in this one against his former club.  His pace for the first goal, breaking from way within his own half was frightening and far too much for the left side of Cardiff's defence.  When he got to the byline, his pull back was perfect, Erik Huseklepp couldn't really miss.

It was also good to see former Rovers loanee, Jordan Mutch having a good game.  There was a good, long-range effort, not quite as far as the cracker he scored as a consolation for Rovers in a 4:1 defeat against Middlesborough, but good all the same.  Mutch also won a penalty with a strong run at the right side of the Cardiff defence.  Now that's something I don't remember from his Keepmoat days.

Defensively, Birmingham were making a hash of getting the ball away in the highlights I saw.  Anything long, into the box could end up half-cleared and coming straight back.  I also was smiling at the way the defence dropped back to guard the area, allowing the Cardiff midfield to play about 40 yards out.  I remember a team a couple of seasons ago who would have loved that sort of thing.

We can but hope we make hay with such behaviour tonight!  Enjoy the game everybody!

Saints v Sinners

SOUTHAMPTON

 -V-

DONCASTER ROVERS

Southampton, they're doing pretty well this season.  Leading the league, fantastic at home.  Thank goodness we're playing a team in form again.

Doncaster can't handle these sides who are allegedly not that good.  Their game is obviously designed to trip-up more cultured opponents so watch out Southampton.  This one is not 3-points in the bag!

Rovers did beat Southampton back in December of course.  Deservedly too as well by all accounts.  Billy Sharp grabbed the all important goal.  Let's hope that that is not the story tomorrow.

SOUTHAMPTON

He needs an opportunity to play but that's the competition we've got.

Billy was the top man at Doncaster but he's joined us - there are good players here - Nigel Adkins

By not playing Billy Sharp, a player who could, and (lets face it) sometimes did make the Rovers team by being able to walk on match day, the Saints are just showing off.  But that is the nature of the beast we face tomorrow.  They do have that strength in depth.  Billy will get his chance with the Saints and when he does, I'm fairly sure he'll take it.  

Well, time to depress myself and evaluate Southampton.  Going forward and you see why Billy isn't getting starts.  Guly Do Prado, Adam Lallana and of course Ricky Lambert are three very good reasons.  Do Prado fires in some great crosses for Lambert to feed on and Lallana arrives late behind that front pairing to great effect.  Really good to watch and very effective.

The Saints attack from everywhere though as the second goal scored against Hull in mid-week showed.  José Fonté broke through the defence and set up Jos Hoolveld to score.  Its not often you see two centre-backs combining like that!

While Hull didn't do badly against the Saints, Millwall really pushed them.  A few weaknesses in defence were shown up, most notably difficulties in dealing with Millwall's corners.  Unfortunately, I think Millwall pose a much bigger physical threat that Donny, but there were corners that were not well dealt with.  Millwall also caught Southampton a little narrow at times and put in some dangerous crosses in the process.  

But its small comfort.  The Saints move the ball so well and Rovers will need to be very aware of what the players off the ball are doing.  There's plenty of movement and plenty of ability to hit that movement from just about anywhere on the pitch.

DONCASTER ROVERS

Four points from safety with a game in hand - it's a miles better position than we were in a few months ago.  . Dean Saunders

Miles better?  Its better Dean but miles better?

Its been a week where Rovers' fans, if they are anything like me, have just been asking why?  West Ham and Reading, two sides who, along with the Saints, will be fighting for the automatic promotion places in May, were faced by a determined team with no lack of skill.  Derby and Millwall were faced by a bunch of individual woses who made schoolboy errors and really didn't want to be there.  Why?  That's what Dean has got to answer.  This sort of performance stops the team from progressing because they have to waste time in training re-doing basics that they should all know.

Dean hasn't pulled many punches in criticizing his team's schoolboy errors, but does he know why its happening.  I hope so and that he knows what to do about it.

I just watched the Millwall highlights, saw something and so went back and had a look at the Reading game.

Against Reading, a particularly desperate, but successful piece of defending saw the three defenders involved give each other a little pat on the back.  A great save from Ikeme earned him a pat on the head from Tommy Spurr.  Then against Millwall.  A bit of a tantrum in the defence after the first and third goals; a great save from Ikeme (every bit as good as the one against Reading) followed by a smart piece of defending from O'Connor and not one piece of acknowledgement between the players.  Are we only friends when we're winning?

Of course, I only see the briefest of highlights.  But I hear evidence of this in the commentary, Stick together lads.  Arguing amongst yourselves is certainly not going to help.

Anyway, we'll see what Saturday brings.  I wouldn't advise anyone to bet on the Rovers at the moment.  But I wouldn't bet against them either!

Enjoy the game everyone.

Donny v Millwall

DONCASTER ROVERS
V
MILLWALL

Looking at the table, its going to be three of the current bottom 6 who will face the drop in May.  A win for Millwall, and favourable results elsewhere may allow them to start breathing more easily.  A win for Rovers won't quite do that, but it could make things such that the game in hand can get us out of the bottom three.

Yes, this is a big game for both sides, and surely one of those games where both sets of fans are saying that they've got to be beating this opposition.

When we met at the New Den back in November Donny played and ultimately lost a game of "catch-up".  Millwall certainly deserved all the points that evening but at least Donny did enough to keep them honest.  The game ended with the Lions winning 3:2.

DONCASTER ROVERS

I don’t like to see Doncaster where they are at the moment because I had some fantastic years here and the fans were brilliant with me. It’s just a sad time to see them at the bottom of the Championship but there are 10 games to go and it is still tight so, hopefully, they can get out of it. - Paul Green (he's Donny and he knows it!)

We could use Greeny at the moment.  He'd become the 36th player in the squad but I reckon he'd get a game!  

So for me, this is it.  Not a MUST WIN for Rovers in terms of the Mathematics,  but a match against a team who Rovers can beat.  Games like this will determine our destiny this season. - FuzzyDuck (before the Derby game).

I know and I'm sorry.  I should keep my bill shut!  I'm totally wrong of course.  Our season will be determined by our getting unexpected points from the likes of Southampton and Reading.  They will make up for any slip-ups.

Dean - Stick or Twist?

It's bloody annoying though isn't it?  We were all delighted with 5 points from away fixtures at Forest and West Ham and a home draw against a Reading side unbeaten in eight.  Then against Derby, who, with all due respect, have been inconsistent and do not have so much to play for now, we don't show up.  Frustrating but its what football teams do.  One of my Twitter follower described her side as "worst boyfriend ever".  I see where she's coming from!

Certainly, Derby played well but they weren't really pressed too much.  Should the manager be criticized for not rotating his squad a bit more?  Well, it does make you wonder why there are 35 players in the current squad.

In the end, all I say is that of late, Rovers have been a lot better than they were on Saturday.  Let's hope it was an blip and that the performance level gets back to the Upton Park standard.  Then we just need to win a few more. Easy!

MILLWALL

We have Doncaster on Tuesday night, which is a massive game, so we can’t be too disappointed that this affects the rest of our week. - Kenny Jackett

I think Deano is likely to feel the same way as Kenny!

The Lions match on Saturday was a real gutter though.  2:1 up until the 85th minute against the league leaders and then they go and concede two penalties.  And I thought Rovers were annoying.  (We are, believe me, we've done similar lot of times this season, Lions).


So what went right / wrong.

In the "wrong" column, you have to say being very generous with space in and around the area.  On the penalties conceded, the first was clear although I think unfortunate for the defender as Lambert was brought down.   The second, a handball from a corner I could watch all evening and still not be sure one way or the other.  If he did handle it, it was a boneheaded thing to do at that stage in the game.

Andy Keogh - Making an Impact

What went right?  Andy Keogh is the first thing I would say.  Scored one by cleverly checking back causing the Southampton defence to over-run so he had time to pick his spot.  The Keogh was provider with a nice knock down from a corner for Paul Robinson to volley home.    


At the City Ground, against Forest the Lions lost 3:1.  Again that precious gift of space was offered to Forest's strikers, twice at the left-back position when a cross was played into from the far-side.  Forest's third was a great finish from distance but again, space was given.


Up front and Millwall can muscle their way through with the likes of Darius Henderson or they can play in with James Henry and Keogh.  They are a threat and the Rovers defence will certainly have their hands full.


In theory, this will be a more difficult game than Saturday.  Millwall have more to play for and will feel very aggrieved at having nothing to show for their hard work on Saturday.


But maybe Rovers like the more difficult games?


Enjoy the match everyone!

Rovers v Rams

DONCASTER ROVERS

 - V -

DERBY COUNTY

OK Derby fans you can blame me.  Its my fault. Shortly after we met back in August, I was asked by a fellow Blogger for my opinions on who was going up.  The first name I chose was Derby because they were going like a train at the time.  I thought that they were a very good bet and that they deserved it for keeping faith with Nigel Clough despite his not really meeting expectation for a club with Derby's following.

I am the world's worst tipster and never make any prediction on Rovers games.  What I did back at the start of the season was not done with any malice aforethought.  I just answered a direct question when asked.  I do apologize for your having another indifferent season Rams' fans.

Our meeting at Pride Park saw the Rams take on a sadly pathetic Rovers side who barely raised an attack over the 90 minutes.  3:0 was a fair and appropriate scoreline.

But that was then, when the Rovers squad was small and ravaged by injury.  Now the squad is huge and injuries are fewer.  Hopefully it will not be anywhere near as easy.

DONCASTER ROVERS  

I've had to give him a bit of stick actually because there's two sides to football - when you've got the ball and when you haven't got the ball.  I tried to coax him into doing the other side of the game, play like a team player and only use your talent when you need it. Dean Saunders on Giles Barnes

Giles Barnes - Getting Stick

Fair enough from Deano I think, and if he can get players with the talent of Barnes to start working more off the ball, he's onto a winner.

I have written Rovers off many times this season.  There is still a long way to go and we are a long way from "out of the woods".  However, it does look like at a very minimum, we're gonna go down fighting.  If its got to be, I wouldn't have it any other way.  But has it got to be yet?  Noooo!

We are now unbeaten in 5 and the last two, an away draw with the Hammers and putting an end to an 8-game 100% run built up by Reading have been excellent results.  In fact, of the current top 6, there is only Middlesbrough who haven't given us at least a point this season.  And we do have another chance against them.

Now, as much as I like being unbeaten, there is a problem,  We've only won two games since the turn of the year.  That is what has got to change if we are going to get out of this situation.   So I'll cheer, clap and celebrate those excellent points we have won against some of the better teams in this league.  But, no disrespect intended to Derby, they are not one of these teams.  Derby at home is exactly the sort of game that we must win to stay in the Championship.  Let's do that lads!

DERBY COUNTY

There's still a lot to play for this season, especially the issue of self pride, as we want to finish the season as high as we can and that means winning as many games as possible - Jason Shackell

What was the turning point of Doncaster's halcyon championship days, my Grandkids will ask me in the future and I will tell them our failure to sign Jason Shackell at the start of the 2010/11 season.  Since we failed to sign him, really, through no fault of our own, the struggles have started.

It's sad to hear that quote from Jason, I'd like to see him help a club to promotion and have a go in the top flight.

So, apart from my admiration of Jason Shackell, is there any one else at Pride Park worthy of comment.

Well Derby, of course did Rovers a great favour by beating Forest while we were getting that point against Reading.  I have a feeling that it was their pleasure to do so and we didn't need to ask, but another defeat for Forest was gratefully received.

The theme of the match for me was both teams struggling to deal with innocuous balls into the box.  Things that should have been cleared by both defences were causing more flapping than Bernard Matthews in Norfolk on 22nd December.  It was nice to watch from my point of view and the Rams should certainly consider themselves lucky that they are not visiting Reading, who's set-pieces in mid-week at the Keepmoat were excellent.

Against Watford and at first, I saw similar stuff.  Balls coming into Derby's box that they should have been dealing with but didn't.  This certainly caused the first goal they conceded.  So for Donny, I'm going to say gt it in quick and early, but vary the position.  The defence looks shaky when exposed to this kind of thing.

Going forwards, well, until the second half against Watford, I didn't see much.  But then all of a sudden, bang! some really great one-touch stuff that tore the Hornet's to shreds.  Sadly they didn't finish, but none the less it was impressive stuff.  Another day, Watford could have been well beaten.

So for me, this is it.  Not a MUST WIN for Rovers in terms of the Mathematics,  but a match against a team who Rovers can beat.  Games like this will determine our destiny this season.

Enjoy the match everyone.

Rovers v Royals

DONCASTER ROVERS

-V-

READING

Some of this article was written prior to the original date for this fixture. 


Do you know, I've had years of happy memories about this fixture for all the wrong reasons.  I have always thought that a mere duckling of 7 went to watch Donny for the first time in 1975, when we drew one-a-piece with the Royals.  Not so.  I wasn't there.  You see, when I look at that season, I see the following matches. 

• A 4-3 home win against Mansfield Town (who were crowned 4th division champions that season).
• A 4-7 (seven)   - call me the vidiprinter away defeat to Shrewsbury, who finished as runners-up.
• A 3-3 home draw to Exeter (a remarkable match which saw Rovers' 'keeper, Graham Brown carried off, injured with Rovers 2-0 down.  With the writing on the wall, Stan Brookes went between the posts and performed heroics allowing Donny to rescue the draw).

Nice though it would have been to say that I recollected these matches, I can only say that I have recollected the recollections of my elder brother.  His stories of these games persuaded me that I should be attending too.  And so, the next season, I did.  My first game being a 0-2 defeat to Cambridge United on the first day of 1975-76 season.  I have pinned it down further due to remembering witnessing a remarkable and unique achievement that happened at Donny a week or so later.

The late Chris Balderstone became the only man ever to participate in a 1st class cricket match AND a league football fixture on the same day.  He played for Leicestershire against Derbyshire and was 51 not out, when, at the end of play he drove up to Donny to don his boots and take on Brentford.  Remarkable!

Anyway, its a real shame that Reading were not, in fact, involved in my first ever experience of Doncaster Rovers.  This mistake has ruined my pre-match article.   I do apologise.

Tell you what, I'll get nostalgic about the fixture at the MadStad earlier this season.  A rare away match, let alone match for me these days.  A great day in the company of Canadian Rover, who, were it not for my intervention, would still be finding his way back home to Donny ;-)

DONCASTER ROVERS

 If we stay in the Championship we’re going to everything next season to be in the top six. - El Hadji Diouf

He's ducking mad!  But, I'll tell you what, when it comes to Donny, so am I and if Dioufy wants to join me in my madness, well, I bid him a warm welcome to Fuzzyland.  He can be my ambassador for sport.

The Rovers' revival has started.  We hope.  Unbeaten in four with one win and three draws.  OK, it should be unbeaten in 5 with at least three wins but I'm not going to let that detract from the last two outings.  We deservedly beat Forest at the City Ground and undeservedly left Upton Park with just the one point.  Belief and passion certainly seems to have been re-awakened in the Rovers squad.  Are we now playing the Dean Saunders' way, well, I think the jury is still out on that one but it's been better of late!


To some extent, we've been here before though.  Between November and January we notched up an unbeaten home run of 5 matches.  Southampton, Leicester and Barnsley were beaten while draws were notched up against Cardiff and Watford.  Not bad at all!  Admittedly, during this period, away form was terrible but we have had a little sunshine.


So why are we so hopeful now? Well, I think the first thing is that in the last four matches, Rovers have not been conceding like they were.  One goal a game in the last four compared with 1.7 prior to that.  We have also gone two games without throwing away points in the final minutes.  Yes, it got a bit close for comfort last Tuesday against Forest but we didn't and against West Ham, it was more likely that we would nick all three points towards the end than lose our hard-earned one.  


For me, that's the key really.  If we are to beat the Royals, there's got to be no stupidly deep defending without any outlets and no losing concentration in the last 10 minutes.  Then we just have to play well and its possible.

Reading

It's quite pleasing that Sharp has left because he's a good player. He's lively in the box and Southampton have made a good signing there - Alex Pearce

Going back to that early season game that I attended with Canadian Rover, I am certain he will testify to our hearing this.

We were made welcome by Reading fans and one of them definately said "If you can't beat us, you're in real trouble!".  Well, he was right.  We didn't beat Reading and we are in real trouble.  But by his rule, the same must be said for Bristol City, Middlesbrough, Burnley, Derby, Southampton, Palace, Birmingham, Ipswich, Peterboro', West Ham, Leeds, Brighton and Watford, who have all failed to beat Reading (sometimes twice) since we were defeated 2:0 at the MadStad.  Ironically, one of the teams who HAVE beaten the Royals is Nottingham Forest, who ARE in as much trouble than Rovers.  Aren't football fans funny folk?

Le Fondre - Is He Ex-Directory?

The match at the MadStad saw Adam Le Fondre score a debut goal, that must have been bliss for an ex-Miller.  Since then, Le Fondre has gone on to become the Royals' top scorer.  Adam was a player who was associated with a move to Donny for a long time.  What can I say, other than it seems that Willie McKay forgot to put Adam's number in his Nokia!


Along with Adam, there's Simon Church and Noel Hunt, players who have been performing at this level for years now.  Either one of them would probably get into the majority of championship teams.

Anyway,  lets have a quick look at what the third placed side in the league have to offer.


Well, with 8 runs in a row, Reading are the real form side at the moment.  Against Leicester, they used width really well, having a man over on either side of the attack on pretty much every move I saw.  Its a simple formula that requires good support of the frontmen from the midfield, never demonstrated better than by Mikele Leigetwood's great strike for Reading's first against the Foxes.  The use of wide-men means of course, that any over-hit cross or anything that goes across the area is coming straight back.  Very difficult to defend.


Against Portsmouth and it was more of the same.  So much of the trouble Reading cause comes from wide positions and stopping that from happening may be a key requirement for any team to succeed against them.  No way will that be easy though!


At the back? Well, Portsmouth hardly tested them and Leicester managed little more.  I saw David Nugent, who never struck me as the fastest of strikers simply run away from the right back so is there a question to be asked there?  Sadly for Rovers, that was seriously all I saw.


Big big ask for Rovers tomorrow evening as the Royals are beginning to rule the championship.

West Ham v Doncaster Rovers

WEST HAM UNITED
 - V - 
DONCASTER ROVERS

Well we haven't quite got a top v bottom clash but it's as close as you get.  We of course, met at the Keepmoat back in August.  Rovers put up a decent showing back then, succumbing to a single Kevin Nolan goal after 5 minutes.  The Hammers line-up that day featured two players who, at that time against all the odds have played football for Donny this term, Herita Ilunga and Tuesday's debutant, Freddy Piquionne.

Sadly, both sides have gone on to prove the bookie's odds correct since our early-season meeting but its tightened up a little at both ends of the table.  While the Hammers champagne remains on ice, Rovers have again, taken a long gulp of self-belief.  Here's hoping it lasts until the end of the season although I do not think the roller-coaster ride is over just yet.

WEST HAM UNITED

Doncaster won at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday and they will get a massive confidence boost from that, but we know that if we can produce our best or close to our best that the result will look after itself.  - Sam Allardyce

Back in August, when I previewed West Ham before their visit to Donny, I ended up with egg on my face.  I was disparaging about their defensive abilities or lack of them.  Four teams have conceded fewer goals this season just as only four teams have conceded more than Donny.  Its a strangely symmetrical fixture on Saturday!

So Hammers, I'm sorry I was disrespectful about your defence back in August.  I'll put it down to watching a a side fresh after a relegation who had yet to build confidence in their new league.

Well looking at a few highlights, very few highlights in the case of the Watford game and the first thing I see is Matt Taylor smacking the ball against the crossbar from a similar distance as Freddy Piquionne's strike for the Rovers on Tuesday.  Obviously there is something in the East-End water.

Other than that, I've not a lot to say.  2 minutes 22 seconds of highlights, 30 seconds of which involved coming out of the tunnel and smiling for the cameras.

Turning to the highlights of the 2:0 win against Cardiff and in the main the Hammers' defence looked solid enough although not error-free.  There were two weak defensive headers, both of which put them in some degree of trouble and a complete failure to deal with a long throw. But plenty was dealt with well, particularly in the first half when the Hammer's defence was really getting in the face of the Welshmen.    There's a possible weakness against quick breaks, but doesn't everyone have that?  Besides, it was Cardiff, who aren't exactly backwards in going forwards.

The real joy of West Ham is at the other end of the pitch though.  Ricardo Vaz Té seems to have been quick to make himself at home in East London and may be keen to make a mends for his no-show against the Rovers when playing for Barnsley earlier in the season.

Goals from Kevin Nolan and George McCartney, after a great run together with the presence of mind together with the presence of mind to follow his own cross into the box, earned West Ham the points.  They could have scored more with Nicky Maynard being the most guilty party for missing chances.

Plenty there for Rovers to think about.

DONCASTER ROVERS

We'll be going there to win.  I'm not really interested in going there and trying to get a draw - we're going there to win. - Dean Saunders

But I bet he'd take the draw right now!  That said, he can't so, of course he's absolutely right.  

At our end of the table, what a difference a win makes!  Not only is it more likely to affect your table position, but it gives the fans a huge lift because the wins aren't happening that often.

For me, its been all the more frustrating as the three games prior to Tuesday evening's trip to Nottingham resulted in just 2 points.  But they coulda, woulda, shoulda have given us all 9 points available.  Leeds were awful against the Rovers but they did keep going.  Leeds are a team with a handy "late goals" habit while Rovers are a team with a hapless "late gift" liability.  If ever anyone should have bet on a injury time winner for the home side, this was it.

Brighton were nearly as bad as Leeds but again, Rovers failed against a team that had played poorly and while Peterborough deserved their point, it was another piece of last minute charity that allowed them their share.  My feeling were that Rovers were unable to close out a game and by not beating teams playing poorly, we were becoming architects of our own demise.

Then, at the City Ground, Forest become the third opponents out of the last four to be below par against the Rovers and, at last we made someone pay.

Freddy Piquionne's wonder-strike followed by Diouf's cross for Kyle Bennett's non too shabby finish was enough to take the points.  Of course Donny don't like their fans to be comfortable so a goal was conceded and a last ditch clearance from Sam Hird was needed to secure those points.  This is by no means by way of complaint.  I'll take it.  I'll become a nervous wreck for the last 15 minutes of each game quite happily as long as Donny win.

Monsieur Piquionne has been mentioned a lot in this article.  Unfortunately, big Sam isn't happy about facing the Frenchman while the Hammers are still paying the majority of his wages but I won't hold that against him.

I'll just say "Thanks" to West Ham.  If Piquionne contributes nothing more to Rovers' season, which I somehow think unlikely, he has given us a moment.

Enjoy!