Championship Football on Half a Plan A

DONCASTER ROVERS
0 : 3
LEEDS UNITED

When I watch a match on TV, the commentator always makes one comment that gets my hackles up.  This time he paid tribute to Sean O'Driscoll, stating how he had turned Donny into championship survivors.  Two of our three finishes in the championship were, of course, mid-table but I suppose unles you are a Rovers' fan, that fact requires research beyond the capabilities of the average TV sports journalist.

But after the match last night, I'd suggest that if the "survivors" tag is used in May, Donny fans should grab it and cling onto it for dear life.  Unless last night's performance was an abhoration, survival will be more than we deserve.

O'Driscoll was often criticised for having no plan B, probably because he studied opponents and identified their weaknesses.  Plan A was then defined so as to exploit these weaknesses.  A point to be made about this preparation is that the weaknesses are undoubtedly there to be exploited.

When plan A is the standard championship football fare of lumping the ball up towards your big-man, opponents are used to working to nullify any threat this produces.  Once they've done this, plan B is needed.  Normally, in this case, plan B will be similarly inventive so a plan C would also be handy.

Sarcastic as it may be, that last paragraph sums up what went wrong for Rovers last night.  For the first 15 minutes, I actually thought Donny slightly had the upper-hand.  John Parkin was smashing around the Leeds defence as that long ball came and was creating space.  Exploiting the space created would have been the next step in the plan but we never looked like doing that.

At the other end of the pitch, the defence was doing well, snubbing out the far more stylish approach of Leeds.  That was until a stupid free-kick was given away by George Friend on the byline.  Yes, had Friend sneezed, McCormack would have fallen down earlier but Friend's hands were in his back and he was being watched by a linesman who may have been a yard away.

So the setpiece was swung in, Naylor and O'Connor collided and on the far post, Danny Pugh smashed the ball past Kirkland.

Leeds were now starting to get to grips with that long, high ball and there were the first signs of Rovers' defence starting to lose their formation, going all higgledy-piggledy as Keogh took a run at them before shooting just wide.

But just before half-time and it could have been 1:1.  A decent cross from Gillett gave Parkin a free header that he really should have had on target.

Half-time and I wasn't too despondent.  Only one down and with the defence not looking so bad; with the extra resilience Dean Saunders has brought with him and with coming back from a goal down in our last two matches,  a point didn't sound as silly then as it does now.

After the break and the best bit of football of the match resulted in Leeds doubling their lead.  It was play similar to old Donny's football, toying with a defence on the edge of their area and pulling them out of position.  Keogh then played a lovely ball around Friend and McCormack's two touches were sublime. The first chipping the ball into the air and the second an overhead kick straight past Kirkland. True, with two defenders on him, it should have been impossible but a great piece of skill all the same.

Substitutions had also been Saunders' salvation so far with Donny but not tonight as Mason on for Oster and Bennett for the appauling Coppinger both proved as ineffective as the players they replaced. 

Time for Leeds to put the result beyond doubt so that they could play even more relaxed football and it was a set-piece corner from Snodgrass straight to Tom Lees who out-jumped Naylor with ease to head home.  Empahatically game over.

Parkin, who had at least put in an evening's work was replaced by Hayter meaning the average height of Donny's front three had dropped to 5'8".  That long ball remained their only outlet though.  There was a minor flutter in the Leeds defence as a Naylor header was fumbled by Lonergan and in trying to smash home the lose ball, Hayter inadvertantly kicked the Leeds keepers' finger out of its socket but other than that, no real threat on United's goal.

Indeed it was very nearly 4 for Leeds.  Keogh spun off Friend and lifted the ball over Kirkland but against the underside of the bar.

I doubt Leeds will gain an easier 3 points this season, while for Doncaster a stark lesson in tactics.  To win games at this level, you need more than one. 

New Rivals? Donny v Leeds United

DONCASTER ROVERS
V
LEEDS UNITED

Arguably our biggest rivals says the Doncaster Rovers official site.  Nah...Surely that's Forest!


Is it a sign of the dizzy times Rovers' live in these days (or is it the not so dizzy times for Leeds) that we can debate whether we are rivals?  Do Leeds see us as rivals?  I'm sure United fans will let me know!

Whatever we decide, in the recent games between our two teams, Leeds hold the upper hand when it comes to results, with Rovers only managing a point against United last season.  Leeds also remain unbeaten at the Keepmoat.

Of course we've already crossed swords this season, with Leeds fans proabably maintaining that their second team beat Donny 1 : 2 in the League cup in August.  If Leeds fans want to say it was their second 11, Donny can definately say the same with many of the players who will be available tomorrow, being out with injuries on that Tuesday evening.

That night was one of Donny's better performances of the season and indeed, had they taken the chances their play created, the Rovers would have been out of sight before half time.  But they weren't and two goals from Ramon Nunez ended Rovers league cup campaign for this season.

DONCASTER ROVERS

Three matches into the Dean Saunders powered revolution at Donny and we have had an international break that our momentum, at least, could have done without.  Whether, like me, you would still prefer to see Mr. O'Driscoll still at the helm, or whether you are glad Deano has the reigns, nobody is complaining about the 7 points from 9 Rovers have been able to bag.  Yes, there has been a bit of luck involved in gaining those points but we've got them and isn't it nice to use the word "luck" in the positive sense when talking about Doncaster Rovers?

New faces joined Donny before the international break and tonight, it looks like 'keeper Chris Kirkland could be the latest.  If he does join, and gets the nod, it will be a shame for Neil Sullivan who I think has been great since coming back.  That said, you won't hear me not welcoming a third goalkeeper to the club and one who we know is not short of experience or talent.  Just fitness perhaps.

Another thing that I will certainly welcome when it comes to the Saunders era is an earlier use of substitutes.  He's certainly offered his replacements enough time to make a case for them starting the next game and has been rewarded.  This is something his predecessor was often guilty of not doing.

So who could hurt Leeds tomorrow?  The two players that spring to my mind are Billy Sharp, who should be close to full fitness now that we've had a break, and Brian Stock.  Stocky has sounded like he is coming back to being his old self and that is someone Rovers have missed for much of the last two seasons.  Yes, we were lucky to get the win at London Road, but there wasn't much lucky about this.

LEEDS UNITED

The thing about our playing Leeds on Friday is that its saved me some time.  While I was back in old Blighty last month, I saw two Donny games and two Leeds games so I'm not having to look at videos to write this preview.  On those performances, I'd have to say Rovers are going to need that luck that I've talked about.  In both games I saw, Rovers were poor although it would seem there is a tad more confidence in their camp these days. 

Leeds?  Well, while sitting in their kop, stubbornly silent, excepting songs that were purely taking the piss out of the opposition, I did see much that I could appreciate.

Unfortunately for Leeds, they faced Man United on an evening when Owen and Giggs were clicking and in the first half, they were simply outplayed.  The Red Devils were simply superb, as much as I hate to say that.  In the second, and Leeds were allowed a little more into the game.  They weren't able to do much about the result but I did see some of the traits associated with Leeds.  More chasing down and some uncompromising (although not dirty) tackles.

Then at the Amex, I saw a thriller.  It was typical Leeds.  A first half performance that future opponents will find uncomfortable viewing.  Leeds simply swept Brighton aside.  As Kanye West would put it, harder better, faster, stronger.  

But then we get a second half where it is clear how a striker with a bit about him (in this case Craig McKail-Smith) can have the Leeds defence creaking and groaning.  True, the footwork McKail-Smith used to get away from his man for the first would have had many a defender struggling but for his second, all the Leeds fans could shout at the time was "HE'S BEHIND YOU!"  Daft thing was that the defender stopped to reply "OH NO HE ISN'T!"

I've mentioned Leeds characteristics and, at the end of this excellent match, we saw another one.  They don't lie down and a good bit of route-one football ensured a very fair point was awarded to both teams.

So tick off all those Leeds traits:

• Uncompromising in the tackle
• Great going forwards
• Dodgy at the back
• Never give up (even when getting "Giggsyed")

Plenty of good players in the Leeds squad but if he comes out of the international break wih the same form that he took into it, Donny will have to be very aware of Ross McCormack.  Last season he was a third-choice striker.  Today, it difficult not to see him as first name on the team sheet.

Dean's biggest test thus far without a doubt.  Lets hope he has the Rovers ready for it!