First Trip to Donny for Crawley

DONCASTER ROVERS

 - V - 

CRAWLEY TOWN

Crawley Town today become Doncaster Rovers' 116th opponents in league football.  We  have  also never met in the Conference so this match is a rather rare occasion for Donny these days.  Crawley probably get a lot of this being relatively new to the league, but its unusual for Donny, especially as we have done some time in non-league and are familiar with some off-road places in English football.

So Crawley - Donny, Donny -  Crawley.  That's the introductions over, now lets have a good game of football!

DONCASTER ROVERS

If Kyle gets 20 goals, I think two things are likely to happen - he’ll be worth about £2m to £3m in the transfer market and we’re more than likely to be in the Championship, which is worth about £5m to £6m - John Ryan

Everything on the pitch is on course for Donny at the moment.  They looked imperious against Walsall last weekend, but were made to work a little harder by a resilient Bury side, who to be fair, took me a little by surprise.

When I write these blogs in early season, there's more reading about players' achievements to be done and less looking at videos.  For my money, in defence, Adam Lockwood was likely to be partnered by Andrai Jones.  I felt the pair was in for a tough evening at the hands of Billy Paynter and Chris Brown.  Bury fan forums were concerned about Kyle Bennett exposing their full-backs and at the other end of the field, I saw no threat at all in the Bury forward line.  It looked an easy win.  Looking back now, well we got the win but probably needed Bury being reduced to 10-men to achieve it.

First of all, after just 4 minutes the twin-towers, Rob Jones and Jamie McCoombe, came crashing to earth when Bury took the lead from a corner.  Adam Lockwood got in front of Jones and his header was helped in at the near post by Joe Skarz.  Rovers, were losing, and the goal came from a set-piece.  Memories of last-season flashed back briefly.

Bentley in the Bag for Bennett?

Parity was restored with a great move around the Bury area being ended by Kyle Bennett smashing through the middle of the Bury defence to get on the end of Tommy Spurr's return pass.  Rovers deserved that but had been made to work as Bury had had a couple of chances to extend their lead.

Eye-brows are quite rightly being raised about Bennet's abilities, not least from John Ryan.  The Doncaster Chairman has apparently offered Bennett his Bentley should Ryan net 20 goals this season.  With the attention he's already receiving, I would think if he hits this total, the move he could get would enable him to buy his own!

The battle continued in the second half, but with Rovers gradually getting the better of things.  Bury were still holding out though but when Steven Schumacher saw red for a 2nd bookable offence, Rovers simply held too many good cards not to win the game.  Chris Brown ended up with time and space in the Bury area and with 12 minutes remaining, picked his spot perfectly.  A win, but hard work for the Rovers.

Other gossip around the club - James Coppinger, will he stay or will he go.  Well he rejected a loan deal with Barnsley out of hand.  Quite right too.  As Dean Saunders told us when reacting to Copps' decision, just 2 months loan with no guarantees as to what would happen afterwards.  Not a deal to take with the transfer-window still open.

I think its clear though that Dean would like somebody to leave the club to enable him to increase the size of the squad.  I also think that Coppinger is his preferred choice, probably because he is the most likely to command a fee and because he is confident in the abilities of Kyle Bennett and David Cotterill.  Its sad for Copps though.  The longest-serving and most gifted player Rovers have being reduced to barely a supporting role for the greater good of the club.  I hope something good eventually comes of this for him.

CRAWLEY TOWN 

So who are Crawley Town, this team we've never met before?  Crawley's rise has some parallels with Doncaster's.  They had an ex-chairman jailed, so did we; they achieved double-promotion from Conference to League 1, so did we.  But Crawley's rise has been quicker and somewhat perversely, less smooth.

Crawley made it to a national league for the first time in 2004 and their first season went well.  12th place made them the highest ranked part-time team in the country, but then things started to go wrong.

After being bought out, the club's new owner turned the team into a full-time outfit.  It didn't go well.  They dropped to 3rd from bottom of the Conference and went out of the FA Cup in the qualifying round.  The downturn was accompanied by fans staying away and lack of funds required the wage-bill to be halved,  Now doesn't that sound familiar!  A good run to the end of the season, preserved their conference status for the season, but Crawley were forced into administration.

A rescue package was made with the club within an hour of folding.  In the next season, 2006/07 the ship was steadied and Crawley, with their 10-point penalty just avoided relegation on the last day.   2007/08 saw Victor Marley take the position of Chairman at the club.  Marley has found significant investors in the form of Prospect Estate Holdings Ltd. and the financial worries were over.

Well not quite.  Another winding up order was served by HMRC in 2010 due to an allegedly unpaid tax bill.  There had been issues over taxes.  One of them resulting in the imprisonment of former chairman, Azwar Majeed for fraud.  

But this action proved to be an embarrassment for HMRC as the case was dismissed due to Crawley proving the bill had been paid and co-owner, Susan Carter, stating that the club's efforts to be honest and up front about their finances were not being helped by the Inland Revenue's inability to get their admin right.

Since then, double promotion from the conference to league 1 and we meet today!

So far this season, its a very symmetrical record for the red devils.  A 3:0 win against Scunthorpe on opening day, followed by being on the wrong end of the same scoreline on Tuesday.

The goals against Scunthorpe came from a set-piece free-kick, with Hope Akpan nodding down for Gary Alexander to tap in.  The second was Alexander again, this time from the spot after he was hauled down in the box and Jonathan Forte finished things off, latching onto a long ball and rounding the keeper.  

Against Swindon, the goals in the opposite direction were firstly a piece of luck when a cross from Matt Ritchie somehow looped over Paul Jones straight into the net.  The second was poor from a Crawley point of view.  After allowing Rafaelle De Vita to get the first header in the box, the ball should have been cleared.  It went instead to Tommy Miller to drive in.  The third goal again started with a bit of poor defending.  Ball-watching allowed Swindon to continue to press and after some patient build-up work, in came the cross.  Craig McFadzean got a head to the cross but only enough to help it on to De Vita who had an easy finish.

All in all, I though Crawley mainly rely on getting high balls into the box to score their goals, a tactic that would suit the Rovers, so today, I would think they will be trying play Jonathan Forte in behind the twin-towers.  Height and strength should not concern the Rovers defence at the moment, but pace could be terrifying for them.

At the back, I think Craig McFadzean and Gary Alexander will provide the hardest test for the Rovers' front-pairing to date.  It should be a fascinating contest of brains and brawn.

From when I first saw the fixture list, I saw this one as a test for the Rovers.  After reading a bit and watching a bit of Crawley, my opinion has not changed.

Enjoy the match everyone!

Keepmoat to Shake for the First Time

DONCASTER ROVERS

 - V - 

BURY

You know, I think Bury was my first ever away fixture.  I know, its not a typical first away fixture for a Rovers fan.  That would be Rotherham or Scunny.  But mine was Bury.  I remember very little about it other that Bury played in blue and we sat in the stand.  The major memory of the day was looking down on the Gigg Lane pitch having become used to Belle Vue.  

"Init small!", I said.

The mind plays funny tricks on you when you're a football fan.  I was convinced I witnessed a  0:0 draw back then.  When I look back, I see it could have only been the 1975 1st round FA Cup tie that Rovers lost 4:2.  Obviously I'd blanked it out.  Curse the internet!

DONCASTER ROVERS

The league 1 campaign kicked off for Donny with the best possible result.  In fact, its  their best opening day result for 29 years.  In 1983/84, Rovers opened with a 3:0 home win against Wrexham and, if you are one for omens, that season we went on to win promotion as runners-up in division 4.  For a season where we bettered that 3:0 scoreline, you actually have to go back to before I was born.  It was a 4:0 win over Lincoln 46 years ago.  That season we were promoted as champions.  So obviously the season is over!  Its clear what is going to happen.

Being about 800 miles away from the action and listening in, it not easy to gage how good/bad we were.  Walsall certainly had plenty of possession but were unable to break down the Rovers defence.  At the other end, it was another story as when we did attack Walsall, we had them in all sorts of problems.  In fact, we had them in some difficulties when we weren't attacking them, as David Cotterill's goal showed.  

It was announced on the commentary as being a 60 yarder.  On the Walsall commentary, they were talking about 40 yards.  C'Mon lads!  I'll give you a hand.  60 yards would mean the shot came from inside our own half on any pitch in the country.  40 yards is about level with the centre circle inside your opponents half.  It shouldn't be so difficult to distinguish between the two.  So lets have a look.

50 yards with the angle t is then!  Still, if all we argue about all season is whether goals are from 40 or 60 yards, long may we argue!

What was especially pleasing was to listen to the Walsall commentators speculating on what the result meant.  To them, Donny's intent in league 1 was quite clear and in 7 or 8 games time, they could be top of the league and unbeaten, in which case Walsall's result wouldn't seem so bad!  Nice to have them say such nice things about us.

The only negative?  We picked up 3 yellow cards.  Now we're a big side, which is unusual for us but at the moment, we have a small squad.  We could do with avoiding potential problems with suspensions toward the Christmas period.  It's a small point and hopefully, before the end of the month, more players will be in to make the suspensions issue less critical!

BURY

Welcome, Bury for your first visit to the Keepmoat.

Bury were promoted to League 1 as runners-up in 2010/11 and finished last season in 14th position.  60 goals were scored in their debut season, which is OK for mid-table, but 79 against, including shipping 4 goals on 6 occasions is not.

Ex-Rovers captain Adam Lockwood has been brought in to help bolster the defence.  Locky was a good servant for the Rovers and certainly has enough ability to hold his own in league one.  The only issue is his fitness, which let him down over his last two seasons with Donny.  If he is over those problems, then he is a good signing.  Partnering him?  Andrei Jones was given the shirt on Saturday but he is only 20 years-old.  I'm not sure caretaker Manager Peter Shirtliff will be keen to pit him against the experience of Chris Brown and Billy Paynter. 

At the other end of the pitch, the Gigg Lane Golden boot last season went to Andy Bishop, a Shakers veteran of over 200 appearance, with a very modest 8 league goals.  Rather tellingly, in second place came Ryan Lowe with 7 goals in 7 games.  Lowe had been a prolific scorer for Bury, scoring more than a goal every other game in his 90 appearances.  Unfortunately he was sold to Sheffield Wednesday early last season and it looks like Bury are still on the look out for his replacement.

To that end, Bury have brought in two young strikers, Lateef Elford-Alliyu, a Nigerian signed  from West Bromwich and Mark Cullen, on loan from Hull. 

So far this season the Shakers just lost out to Middlesbrough by the odd goal in 3 in the Capital One Cup before earning a point with a goaless draw at home to Brentford.

Looking around the t'interweb, it looks like a draw against Brentford was the right result and on Bury's forum boards, probably the best places to get summaries of games in League 1, they were certainly happy enough.  The main concern I picked up in the best of the reports that I found was concern over a static, flat back 4 and a lack of width when attacking.

According to the bookies, Bury may well have their work cut out this season and  I agree that things could prove difficult.  There are some good, experienced players in the squad, especially in midfield, but a lack of cutting edge and a defence with a potential to leak could make this a long season.

The New Season is Nigh!

Ho hum!

Are you guys, like me, really struggling to summon up enthusiasm this time?  Why is that? Its certainly unlike me. Normally, by this time my football-withdrawal symptoms are in full bloom but this season....ho hum!

I think part of it is the "Follow that!" effect.  We enjoyed some great football (OK, not proper football) during the European championships.  Yes, England were found wanting but at least we didn't have to put up with the pouting sulkiness of our "stars" acting as if they were somehow doing us a favour by pulling on the three lions.  We were committed.  You got some sense that there were players out there who were at least starting realize that wearing an England shirt was an honour.  It's a first step to ending our international woes.   Now we just need to learn to play a bit better.

"Follow that!" also applies to the Olympics, which we continue to enjoy.   Hasn't it been fabulous?   Not only have we demonstrated that there are a large number of sports in which we are quite good, but we have also shown that the little islands in the North West corner of Europe are Great in nature as well as name.  From opening ceremony until (I'm sure) the flame is extinguished on Sunday we have played host to "the greatest show on earth" and have made a bloody good job of it too.  What's this strange feeling I have?  Could it be National Pride?

And now we have the Rovers....ho hum!

Its going to be a period of rebuilding for Donny.  Due to the club's ineptitude in seeing too far beyond the next match, we've been forced into a major and sudden rebuild rather than the evolution teams should continuously make.  The championship years were great at face-value.  But behind the scenes, the major investors were simply being asked for ever more money until the inevitable happened and they said "no".  Could nobody see that happening?    Relegation was a painful inevitability and it has been compounded by the fruitless clutching at straws that was the McKay experiment.

The mass exodus has now happened.  Predictably, it took its time.  Other teams know Rovers had to cut that wage-bill.  Making it easy for them to do so, especially if you happen to be a League 1 rival, makes no sense at all.  Much better to wait putting ever more pressure on our asking prices for players we have to sell and their wage-demands.

But players have now moved on.  Thanks to Jimmy O'Connor, George Friend, Simon Gillett, James Chambers, John Oster, Adam Lockwood, Sam Hird, Muzzy Dumbuya, Giles Barnes, James Hayter and Brian Stock (who looks to be about on his way) for their efforts for the club.  I hope things go well for you.

11 players out is indeed major surgery but what is more concerning is only five players so far, not including graduates from the youth-system,  have come in.  I'm not going to comment on their ability to shine in League 1.  I simply do not know whether they will deliver or not.  So I'll stick to simply welcoming Robbie Blake, David Syers, David Cotterill, Paul Quinn and Rob Jones.  I hope you enjoy yourselves at our club and do well for us!

The same applies to our youth-system graduates who, as things stand at the moment are going to be very important.  Give it a good go lads!

Away from the team, and I have to say its more positive.  Most importantly, we're no longer paying that ridiculous amount of rent for the Keepmoat.  Sure, we'll have to take on some extra costs in running and maintaining the stadium but I can't see that wiping out the £900K savings we are making in rent.  Hopefully we will actually turn some profit from the running of the stadium to add to the coffers.

It's also good to see Dick Watson and Terry Brammall publicly commit to the club once more.  We need them.  I think that reading between the lines, they are insisting that the club be run as a viable business rather than a money-pit but in the long-term, that can only be good too.

Sadly, the club has bade a fond farewell to one of its longest serving servants, Micky Walker.  The man's shear enthusiasm make him an asset that is saying nothing of his knowledge, contacts and love of the club.  We'll miss him.

Finally, we've seen some fruits that I put down to the appointment of Gavin Baldwin as CEO.  So far, I'm very happy.  There are far more initiatives to engage the fans and promote the club. I actually have the feeling that we could become a relative commercial success.  I certainly have the feeling that if we don't, it will not be down to a lack of effort, as it has been in the past.

So to coin a phrase from FC Winterthur (on one of our many promotional T-Shirts hint hint, Gavin)  DONNY KICK AND DONNY ROCK!  HEY HO LET'S GO!

RTID

DONCASTER ROVERS

 - V - 

YORK CITY

the potential rewards available from the cup competitions in the Football League are a world away from what they are in the Blue Square Bet Premier - York City Chairman, Jason McGill

Welcome back Minster-men!  We've missed you!  I hope that your re-introduction to league football goes as well as ours all those years ago although I'll have to wish you an early exit from the League Cup.  I'm sure you'll understand.

Of course there is some kind of karma in the fact that it was Donny who nailed York's football league coffin shut in 2004 when the Minstermen were beaten 3:1 at Belle-Vue.  I wish to point out now that I do not believe in karmic retribution.  It's bunkum and if there are any Minster-men out there who think that York beating Doncaster tomorrow might convince me otherwise, you are sadly mistaken.  So don't try it!

Gary Mills has a few injury worries for tomorrow with Scott Kerr, Matty Blair, Lanre Oyebanjo and Jamie Reed all injured.  I don't think the injuries are going to dampen York fans' spirits however.  That historic first game back in the league is just one week away.  I'm sure a curtain-raiser in South Yorkshire will give them the opportunity to rehearse for that party, particularly as Donny will be having a party of their own to celebrate the new lease on the stadium!

David Syers - One of the New Hopes in Hoops

York may have injury problems although I have to say after the sort of injury crises Rovers have had over the last couple of years, describing 4 players out as a problem is a bit wimpy.

Rovers' problems are more fundamental.  We only have 20 players in the squad, five of whom are those youth-system graduates I mentioned.  It doesn't look good at the moment, although I read now that Dean Saunders has been promised some money to make an assault on the transfer market.  

Its not the best preparation for the new season but in the circumstances, I don't think we could expect much more.  The money-men had lost confidence and we now have to pull the purse-strings tight to prove the club can be run within a budget.  The consequences of not demonstrating this would be truly disastrous and breaking the wage budget, which could happen should transfers fall through, would be no way to start.  

In short - patience friends!  Its going to be nervy as hell over the coming weeks, so here's hoping!

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!

Demotivation v Mediocracy

LEEDS UNITED
 - V - 
DONCASTER ROVERS

Leeds United came to the Keepmoat in October and humiliated a very poor Doncaster Rovers.  I doubt if Leeds have had an easier victory this season.  So no wonder if the Rovers faithful crossed the fixture off their list of away matches.  Its no fun having the piss taken out of you by the Leeds, especially if you've been dumb enough to pay £36 for the privilege.

But then, Ken Bates sacked Simon Grayson while Leeds were in 10th place, a mere 3 points away from the play-offs.  It's not gone quite so well since then and, paying £36 to take the piss out of the Leeds could be considered a bargain by the Donny faithfull!  The problem is that it is by no means a safe-money bet.  The way both sides are playing, it would be a very over-confident fan who put money on either side.

LEEDS UNITED

The most important thing tomorrow, other than the result, is that we put on a performance against Doncaster where we look like we care. - Neil Redfearn

The article on that link sums up the situation at Leeds at the moment.  The current manager has no idea about his or the club's future.  He's publicly stating that the situation is unsettling for players as they do not know the club's future plans.  Meanwhile, the only person who can resolve all the questions is sitting in Monaco doing a very good impression of someone who couldn't care less.  Maybe, it isn't an impression.

As a Rovers fan, I've seen it all and more when it comes to bad chairmen.  Believe me Leeds, in a pissing contest, Rovers can say our ex-chairman was far worse than your current one.  But we do say that with some sympathy.  We know what it is like when the wrong person controls your club.

Now, I tried to review the last few Leeds games on LUTV as my missus pays £52 a year for that privilege.  What a load of pants it is!  First of all, I mistakenly logged in on an expired account so couldn't play any video.  The "service" would not allow a sign-out or new sign on, so I was reduced to logging in on a current account on a netbook.   I could not find a way of getting the video to play on full screen and the video buffered to such an extent as to make it unwatchable.  So sod that!  I'll watch the games on "player" - which costs £34 a year.  Leeds fans - you really should start complaining about how you are being exploited by your club!

But THANK YOU Leeds and Coventry as watching the highlights was extremely entertaining once I got there.  Sure, comedy central would be a more appropriate channel that Coventry Player but it was great entertainment.

I should have known I was in for a treat when I heard the Coventry commentator announce the scoreline at the Doncaster Rovers match being played at the same time.  

"And they have spent a lot of money haven't they, Doncaster" he said knowingly.

"Yes" agreed the pundit. "A lot on loan players but it hasn't worked".  PMSL is the phrase I believe.

On the pitch and I was first struck by how quickly Leeds moved the ball going forwards.  I've seen this many times, so wasn't surprised though I had a feeling that Coventry's ineptitiude in defence was making it look a little better than it was.  But the ball moved quickly and chances were created.

There were clear (and how clear) chances for White and McCormack that were attrociously wasted with panache as Coventry did their damdest to help Redferan get a permanent job.

But if Leeds should have scored at least three, Coventry should have had six.  It was one of those videos that you show kid's teams with the standard phrase "that's why you shouldn't...."  Defensively, Leeds have got worse since I last saw them based on that performance.  And downwards from what I last saw wasn't easy.

Players are half-heartedly challenged at set-pieces; getting goal-side of your marker seems easy - even encouraged and a couple of offside appeals showed that the defence really do not know what one another are doing.  


But the second penalty, conceded well into injury time was the cherry that went on top a cake that was really well iced and gift-wrapped for the next oppoenents.  The Coventry player broke with pace from well within his own half.  A challenger tried a tackle, decided he couldn't make it and so pulled the lad back - still a good 40 yards from goal.  The lad was looking good so, foul him while he's a long way from goal.  You burn some more very precious time while a very innocuous free-kick is taken and leave Coventry with a point.

That's what should have happened but no, the challenger, in a rare attack of sportsmanship, let the runner's arm go.  And he ran on.  Sportsmanship spread as more and more defenders stepped back to admire the young lad's skill.  Then, in the penalty area, somebody decided that plan A - foul the kid had indeed been the correct option - wonderfull!

DONCASTER ROVERS

We are in a relegation battle and we’ve got to roll our sleeves up and on we go. If we pick up three points on Saturday it is better than two draws. - Dean Saunders

When you read the article on that link, you kind of see Saunders as a manager clutching at straws and anything else available to him.  Now he talks about Paul Keegan and Chris Brown, the forgotten Rovers frontman.  

"Not an out and out striker - that's not his game" says Dean.  Maybe not.  But Brown did score 10 goals in 22 games while on loan at Donny back in 2003/04.  Yes, it was at a lower level but Chris was also much less experienced.  Also, do we have an out and out goalscorer?  I think not.  So why not give Chris a go in a role that would give him this kind of opportunity?  There is a vacancy and I think Chris is a far better player than many people think he is.  Sean O'Driscoll certainly thought so! (damn - mentioned Sean.  Baaaaad Duck!)

Unfortunately, entertaining though it may have been, Rovers could have used Leeds beating Coventry.  As it happened, Rovers were having enough problems of their own against a good Blackpool side.  

So now I've just watched James Hayter miss two very presentable chances, the very kind that have to go in the net if you want to get out of the relegation zone.  I also saw Gary Taylor-Fletcher getting between two centre-backs for one goal and looking like Ronaldo to bag a second.  No disrespect to GTF but he is not Ronaldo so why did he suddenly look like him?  Would the guilty party who flattered him so much please step forward - all three of you!

But Matt Gilks made some very good saves from Brian Stock and unbelievably from Martin Woods and Diouf scored the cheekiest of penalties and then made gobby gestures to Gilks.  No wonder Rovers' fans are loving Dioufy!

All in all typical Rovers and more so since the loss of our finest.  Chances created - tick the box.  Chances converted.....ahhhhh, hmmmmm, well.....

And that's that really.  A wonderfully generous defence awaits an attack who wouldn't know a good thing if it laid in front of them with it's legs in the air.  At the other end, legs are also being waved in the air, but will memory serve the Leeds strikers?  I wouldn't bet on it!

Rovers v Bluebirds

DONCASTER ROVERS
V

CARDIFF CITY

Back to the league and its a tricky little tie for the Rovers, against one of the form teams of the division, Cardiff City.  The fixture in the Welsh capital wasn't the best of days for Rovers as the Bluebirds took an easy 2:0 win.  

Historically, apart from a memorable and surprising first home victory in the championship,  Cardiff have not been lucrative opponents for the Rovers.  As I remember, if Donny do play well against them, its a case of close, but no cigar.  Last season, two late goals gave the Bluebirds all the points at the Keepmoat, and the season before, I remember a great performance that nearly saw Rovers come back from two goals down.

In any case, a good Rovers performance makes for a decent match between these two, so here's hoping that's what we get.

DONCASTER ROVERS

Hopefully Cardiff’s Carling Cup tie in midweek will mean their players are noting it, mentally and physically.  If my players show the effort and desire they did against Barnsley last time out, I fancy us to beat anyone. - Dean Saunders

Good, awful, good, awful, good, awful...anyone seeing a pattern here?  What I've just written is a reasonable summary of Rovers' recent performances.  Until last week, I thought it was a home and away thing but last weekend, Rovers proved that they could do "awful" at home.  I'd have prefered them to show that they could do "good" on their travels to disprove a theory but there you go.  Saturday would be a good time to prove that last week was an exception to the rule and that the Keepmoat is indeed a fortress.

Billy's Back!

Off the pitch and its "will he stay or will he go?"  with regard to Billy Sharp.  I'm pleased to see that the club is trying to keep Billy.  It makes sense in pretty much every way with the exception of reducing the wage bill but there are more compensations.  


If it wasn't for a much talked about contract clause, I am sure that John Ryan's initial price of £3 million for Billy would have attracted interest.  Unfortunately, the revised price of £1.8 million will attract more.  But if Billy can be persuaded to stay, Rovers benefit from his presence for the rest of the season, plus may be able to get a much better price for him in the summer.  Speculate to accumulate as they say plus to keep with the Clash's little ditty, "If he stays there may be trouble, if he goes it will be double".

From what I've heard, another new player could be in for the Saturday match.  It sounds as if FIFA have finally got back to the office and found pen to complete the paperwork for Damien Plessis.  That just leaves Habib Bamogo of the three players who agreed to sign before Christmas after Mamadou Babayoko made his debut last week.  Am i the only one having trouble keeping up with all the comings at Donny?

CARDIFF CITY


We're certainly not taking anyone lightly.  We're talking about a team who have won their last three home games, - Malky MacKay

You know, John Ryan thinks up an imaginative method to save money and keep Donny in the championship while he only had to look to the Bluebirds for the most obvious way.  Just make sure you get a game at Wembley every other year, thereby creating enough revenue to sort out any wage bill issues.  Now why didn't he think of that!


That's what Cardiff have achieved and I doubt many other clubs can make a similar claim.  Tuesday saw them play a League Cup semi-final first leg and after just losing by a single goal at Selhurst Park, Wembley is more than a possibility.  Even if they don't make it, at the moment they are looking a good bet for the play-offs, that is unless they mess up and get automatic promotion.


But all that is academic.  The question is, could they handle the might of Notts County?

Peter Whittingham - Master Provider

On 2nd January against Reading they served their fans up a real treat and ticked most of my boxes.  They move the ball beautifully and have a bit of fight about them.  


The first half was the Peter Whittingham show.  He came close with a run and shot early on and then created Cardiff's second and third goals, the second with a fabulous in-swinging corner and the third with a great through-ball to Kenny Miller.  Great stuff.  The only solice for Rovers being that Reading's goal was very soft in terms of the defending at the far side of the penalty area.  Still, Cardiff beat the team one place below them 3:1 and the Royals were lucky to get away with that!


Against Forest and that master provider Whittingham set up the goal again.  A crose from midfield for Kenny Miller to head home.  But there was more for a young Donny fan to smile about in this one.  It looks like its worth having a run at Andy Taylor, Cardiff's left back.  Forest did a couple of times and had it not been for their toothlessness, may have got something for their trouble.


Against Watford and it was more of the same.  Peter Whittingham looking brilliant.  No assists this time but a couple of very good efforts, one of which Cardiff fans will always wonder how it stayed out.  That evil inswinging corner was also there to be appreciated.


So, I'd say this Saturday is as tough a job as I've seen put in front of the Rovers this season.  Cardiff could just about handle Notts County. 


Enjoy the game everyone and a safe trip to all Bluebirds finding their way to Donny.