Rovers v Shrews

DONCASTER ROVERS

 - V - 

SHREWSBURY TOWN

My apologies on this one - I've run out of time to do an intro!

DONCASTER ROVERS

They are going to be well organised because they’ve got a really experienced manager in Graham Turner, who has worked at the top level - Dean Saunders

At the moment, the Rovers are about as infuriating to their fans as a small team can get.  They are going away from home and putting in some good performances and getting results.  No better demonstration of this was last weekend, when our trip to East London saw us completely control opponents, who until then were on a very good run.  

Much to the chagrin of the Eastenders, Rovers didn't allow Orient a sniff and were 2:0 up by the break through Iain Hume and David Cotterill.  The second half was then an apparently easy matter of Donny swatting away the aerial attacks launched be Orient and  they won at a canter.

Four league games unbeaten with three home fixtures to come; unbeaten in 4 and a defence that was proving itself to be mean to say the least had Rovers fans in confident mood for Preston's visit to the Keepmoat.

What a no show it was for the Rovers.  Sure, Preston played well but we saw three poor goals put past that "good(?)" defence.  The first from a corner saw Martin Woods put no challenge at all in on Jack King while the twin towers of Jone and McCoombe marked - who exactly?  Number 2 was another corner and this time it was a run to the front post by Scott Laird that went unnoticed until too late.  At least the third came from open play to save the biggest defence in the league the ignominy of conceding three from corners.  Stuart Bevan got away from Cotterill very easily indeed and Jones never looked like holding him up at all.

The good news is the Michael Woods has jopined from Yeovil to bolster the Rovers midfield, the bad news is that Rob Jones and Jamie McCoombe are both out.

The million-dollar question - Which Rovers will turn up today?

SHREWSBURY TOWN

It’s always difficult to go to a ground when they have just lost at home - Graham Turner

Graham Turner obviously thinks Rovers will be out to prove a point to their fans today, and I do hope so! This season has so far been one of being very reasonable on the road. but then getting it all wrong back at home.

Shrewsbury on the other had, are struggling more when away from New Meadow.

The highlights against Swindon showed that Rovers have opponents who can play a bit in the midfield.  There was good passing and movement that was all evry nice to watch.  But there was little end product to be seen.  Either final balls just weren't quite good enough or chances were fluffed by the strikers.  

At the back it looked solid enough, although I do think the extended highlights on Shrews player may have provided a more lop-sided view of the game.  The goal the Shrews conceded looked like one of only two occasions when they lost Swindon strikers.

Marvin Morgan - Handful

Typically, the first goal that I watch Shrewsbury score is nothing to do with playing football. Route 1 stuff, a big free-kick knocked down for Marvin Morgan to power-drive home.  Their second against the Monkey-Hangers was more the kind of goal I'd have expected, a quick break ending with a slide-rule pass between two defenders (it really shouldn't have got between them but that was the intention so I'll give it credit) and it was Morgan again who just had the 'keeper to beat.  

Morgan, who looks a real handful on the ground and in the air,  should have scored his hat-trick a little later and the Shrews should have beaten Hartlepool, but they didn't.  The high ball to the edge of the area from a free-kick showed Shrewsbury's left back to have an aerial ability that Martin Woods might envy as Hartlepool won the knock-down and Franks profited.   The second was conceded late on and in a similar way.  A ball to the edge of the box just wasn't defended with any commitment and the knock-down was hammered home.

So an aerial attack, may be in order today for the Rovers.  And I'm calling for them to play with more style.  That's football!

PREDICTION

Doncaster 3 : 1 Shrewsbury . Rovers first scorer, Billy Paynter.

The Swiss 36 No. 10 Stadion Niedermatten, FC Wohlen

FC Wohlen v  FC Winterthur

A rare Thursday night fixture found us taking a trip to FC Wohlen on this occasion in support of the real FCW, FC Winterthur.

Wohlen are perennial strugglers at this level, but they did survive the "Todessaison" (season of death).  Last season, the SFL decided on a restructuring.  The Super League was unaffected (of course) but the Challenge league was reduced from 16 teams to 10 meaning 6 teams were effectively relegated.  You could really see the top flight of any league system agreeing to that!

In the event, the disqualification of Neuchatel Xamax from the Super League meant no team was automatically relegated into the Challenge League.  So to keep 10 sides in the Challenge League, only 5 needed to be relegated.  Wohlen finished 11th, so Xamax's demise was their saviour and they claimed the last place in the Challenge league instead of the last relegation spot to the First Promotion League.  

So Wohlen do well to stay in the Challenge League but after visiting them, I couldn't help thinking they may have an uphill struggle to continue doing so.

Getting to Wohlen is about a two-hour train journey from where I live.  Its not that its particularly far, more that its not on the mainline links but is on the commuter train network.  So its 3 trains all with lots of stops. Fortunately, its much easier to get to from my work so I met up with the Winti fans, and Mrs. Duck at Dietikon, just one train-stop up the line from my work and so just had the final 1/2 hour of this trip to negotiate.

Once in Wohlen came the million dollar question.  Where is the stadium?  An initial enquiry by one of the Winti fans had us heading off in completely the wrong direction, but fortunately, one of the away-day veterans corrected us.  First concern there, the locals didn't seem to know where the stadium was!

Go yonder young man, seek and ye shall find.  So I went yonder.  And a bit more yonder.  When I was seeing corn fields on my left, I was glad I was seeing stadium lights in front of me.

First sight of the Niedermatten Stadium

Five minutes later and we were there.

Curiously, there's a kids slide directly outside the ground.  Nothing else, just a wooden fancy slide like those you see at service stations.  This is a mistake.  Wohlen should be getting the kids in the stadium to watch the football because an over-riding impression I had about their support was that they were aging.

The ground itself doesn't look much from the outside, but nor do many Swiss stadia.

Small - but clean

Inside and the stadium is quite like FC Winti's Schützenwiese, but much smaller.  There's a covered seating area and then open terraces around the other 3 sides of the ground.  

When I say terraces, it would be more correct to say terrace.  Just one step so you either stand on the top step, or the bottom step.

Another first impression was how clean everything was!  Cleanliness is very Swiss, but this place looked new.  Its actually only been open since 2004 but you wouldn't think it was that long.  Everything looks like new showing that FC Wohlen are obviously very proud of this little stadium.

Points Time

Getting There

3 / 10.  Its a bit of a palaver getting to Wohlen.  No mainline trains so you have to find your way on S-Bahns (commuter trains) from either Zürich or Baden.  It was also quite a walk from the station without any signage.  I was wondering at time just where we were going.  A signpost here and there would have been reassuring.

I've since found out that there's a regular taxi service (?) from the station.  I've seen something like this before but haven't used it so can't be sure what it is.  I think its a bus that everyone gets on.  The driver then asks what stops everyone wants and you pay your fares accordingly but I'm not sure.

Friendliness

9/10.  Lovely people.  The staff of the refreshment stand were chatty and happy.  A strange thing was that when we asked for the club shop, Wohlen fans looked at us quizzically.  They don't exactly have a club shop.  There's sometimes a stand just to the front of the ground but that night, it wasn't there.

We asked at the counter of the restaurant if there were any souvenirs available.  The lady asked what we wanted and, bless her, she went racing upstairs to check if they had the little car-pennants we were after!  Sadly, they didn't but very nice people all the same.

Safety

3 / 10.  First point - No bloody high fences!  In many ways I'd give them a big 10 just for that, but there are short-comings especially for a modern stadium.

One step on the terrace yes, but what a step! That step is 2 feet.  Now think about quite a lot of elderly fans going around on crutches or walking sticks and someone could have a nasty fall.  Forget the elderly, I felt it, bumping down that step.  Also, the stadium does serve alcohol.

Finally, stadium capacity is quoted at 3734.  With that number of fans present, as could be against a Super-League side in the cup and there could be crowd surges at worst and at least a little overcrowding that may cause people to fall down that step.  It's far from good!

From a playing point of view, the edge of the playing field is too close to the fans.  Great being right on top of the action, but at some point, a player will crash into the edge fences because there is practically no run-off.

View

6/10.  Great from where I was, right at the edge of the pitch to one side of the goal but with 3500 in the stadium, I wonder how good those standing at the back would see with only two tiers of terracing?  

Atmosphere

3 /10.  But this is tough for Wohlen.  The attendance for the game was 920, 120 of whom were visiting fans.  Wohlen has a population of 14600 but has the only side in the Challenge League or above in the district of Bremgarten (population 70232).  More of these people need to be attracted to football, though its difficult to see how.  At 20 SFr (£13.25) for a standing ticket, its hardly breaking the bank so I doubt that cost stops the fans from coming.

So its must be simply absence of fans.  Plus as I said, the fans they have seem to be aging.  Wohlen have work to do!

On the night, as ever, the 120 Winti fans gave a good account of themselves.  Plenty of flags and noise and there was this English guy giving sage advice to the referee from time to time!  Sadly, I heard Wohlen fans twice, and one of those times was when they scored.

Refreshments

6/10  Feldshitschen beer again at 5 SFr for 4dl (just shy of a pint) seems standard for the Challenge League.  Mrs Duck refuses to drink Feldshitschen, which is a big indication of just how bad it is.  Instead she went for a fruit punch (apple flavour).  She ended up binning this after describing it as "sweet as buggery" (just how sweet is that?)

The standard 3 types of sausage, were tasty enough and again reasonably priced.   For variation, a pork-steak sandwich was offered but sadly, they were all sold out before we arrived.  Big shame.

The club do have a restaurant but unfortunately it looks like a works canteen (a very clean work's canteen).  It really needs to have a pub atmosphere but doesn't come close.  The refreshment stands and tents outside are better, but still missing that that feeling of a pub.  I think trying to develop something like this will help the club on increasing the gates.

On my way out, I noticed some kind of crustacean was being served with pasta in the restaurant. I'm guessing shrimp or possibly even crayfish.  It looked interesting and I may have been tempted had the time been on my side.  Hardly football food though.

Redeeming Feature

Has to be the cleanliness everywhere.  Its very impressive and pleasant.

Overall

30 / 60.

The Match

Hmmm.  Spoken as Winti fan frustrating.  I'm sure Wohlen loved it!  It was a Carbon copy of the game at the Schützenwiese earlier in the season.  Winterthur had the possession and proved themselves the better footballing side but Wohlen defended well and showed some quality on the break.  

After just 9 minutes, the ball was poorly cleared by Winterthur and Freddy Mveng hit a low side-footed shot.  From the moment he hit it I knew where it was going and despite the best efforts of Stefan Iten, I was right.  Somewhat embarrassingly, that was Wohlen's first home goal of the season.

Winterthur pressed, but although you couldn't fault the effort, or the play, there was a spark that was missing.  The ball was moving, but always that little bit too slowly.    Patrick Bengondo came closest to equalizing but Gio Proietti saved well.

In the second half it continued with Winterthur playing the football, Wohlen defending well and at times looking dangerous when breaking.  Fortunately, Winti prevented Wohlen from recording a memorable double when they equalized in the 77th minute.  Loan signing Maurice Brunner managed to scramble the ball home saving Winti's blushes to an extent.

So 1:1, Wohlen moved onto 9 points, 4 of them won at the expense of Winterthur.  Bogey team?  Nah - the bogey team thread has yet to come, and you won't believe it!  

The Swiss 36 No. 9 Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf - BSC Young Boys

BSC Young Boys v FC Basel

The German language is full of words that mean naughty things in English.  Literally across the road from my house is the River Töss.  The Töss has spawned further bi-lingual faux-pas like a house called Tosshof and a company called Tossa.  Just a few miles away is a village called Langenhard which is close to,  but sadly on the Töss.   Langenhard on the Töss would have been comedy gold had the village been built a little further down the mountain.

Basing Young Boys in Wankdorf similarly goes just not quite far enough for true comedic gold.  Sadly, the team have never been known as Wankdorf Young Boys.  But in any case, thank-you Young Boys for giving immature, wannabe comedians like myself plenty to play with (fnar fnar!).

Somebody seems to have told them something though.  Between 2001 and 2005, the Young Boys left what was then the Wankdorf stadium to play at Neufeldstadion while the new Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf was built.  Its impressive stuff.  Allegedly, its Switzerland's most expensive building comprising of not just a stadium, but the Wankdorf Centre: one of the largest shopping centres in the country which is under the playing surface; a 700 space car-park, schools, homes and leisure facilities.  

Bern is easy to reach on the train and from the main station, there's a choice of Trolley Bus or train to get to Wankdorf.  On the bus, we asked a YB fan where we could buy tickets.  "For what?" he asked.  Perhaps the fans aren't that bright?

Its a bit....err....Grey

A huge project it may have been, but I'd have thought 350 Million Swiss francs would get something more aesthetically appealling but sadly, from the outside its very grey.  I do like the pedestrian area to the side of the stadium though and it was great to see Basel and YB fans socializing in this area.  

Here we found the ticket booth and bought our 35 Swiss Franc match tickets.  That is pricey by Swiss standards, although still nowhere near the entry prices charged by their illustrious opponents.

In the fan-shop, for which we had to queue mainly because it is tiny and I was pleasantly surprised by the very reasonable prices.  10 Francs for my small pennant.  Very fair!

Welcome to Wandorf!

For old time's sake, I watched "Escape to Victory" this weekend and could not help but think the Nazis were taking far less stringent precautions to prevent people going in or out of the football ground than were Young Boys at first sight.  The location plus those imposing gates seemed to suggest a good chance of being pulled off to one side by security.

Appearances were deceiving though.  Once we got through those very unfriendly gates, courteous security staff searched our bags and allowed us through the modern "Ski Pass" turnstiles.  There was not even a second glance at our Burger King "Coca-Cola" cups.   The technology used made me wonder why they need those intimidating gates.  Security plus a good turnstile system should be enough to prevent any undesirables from getting in the stadium.

Again an impressive stadium.

Once inside, just like St Jakob's Park, you find you're inside a very impressive stadium.  At 31700, capacity its the second largest stadium in the country and, like all Swiss Stadia seen so far, has some space for supporters preferring to stand.  Are you watching England!

There's still those bloody horrible fences though, penning in the away supporters and preventing access to the pitch which English fans know can literally be a matter of life and death.  The fences again are totally illogical. At the Stade de Suisse, obviously opinion is that idiot minorities will only congregate at the ends of the ground.  People in the seats at the sides would never invade the pitch.   So there, we don't need the fences.

Points time.

Getting There 

8/10.  Very easy.  Good Trolly Bus and train links from Bern main station.  In this case the bus was not particularly crowded.  Just a very minor criticism that it wasn't immediately obvious where to go from the Bus stop in Wankdorf.  We just followed the crowd.

Friendliness 

8/10.  If people from Basel are Bäslers and people from Zürich are Zürchers then people from Wankdorf must be....very nice really.  No issues at security but enough precautions and the fans, whilst thinking me a bit crazy (see the atmosphere section) were smiling and friendly. Just get rid of that portcullis at the main entrance and Young Boys might  become even more friendly!

Safety 

8/10.  The security guys obviously did the good job that security in Basel found impossible as we didn't see one single flare in the stadium.  I didn't get a look at the standing areas as we were at the wrong end of the ground.  Its just about the fences, otherwise - fine!

View

8/10.  Very good from my seat (10/10) but from behind the fences?

Atmosphere

6/10.  22757 fans makes the stadium just over two-thirds full.  Sad that such a big fixture doesn't fill the place but that shows the work that needs to be done in Swiss football.  

There was plenty of noise from the Basel fans to our left and it certainly looked like the Young Boys' kop at the opposite end of the ground were trying to do their bit.  Everyone else?  The photo says it all!

I'm afraid that we decided to try and lift things in the silent group of YB fans around us.  A chorus of "Scheiss YB" rang out from the Basel fans to my left so we replied with a chorus of "Sit-Down Shut Up!".  I then pointed out to the fans near me that they really shouldn't be allowing the visitors to be getting away with things like that.  It had no effect at all, apart from a couple of the YB fans doing the "hand waved in front of your face" thing, which I have come to learn would suggest that they think us crazy.

"Yoooouuuurrrre Shit - HA HA HA" is starting to go down well though.

Refreshments

8/10.  Getting there!  I had a small, Cheese Ham and Onion pizza at half time which was bloody lovely and at 10 Francs, a good deal.  Carlsberg beer was also a welcome change  from Feldshitschen, the standard Swiss piss.  There were also burgers as well as the standard sausage.  There was a bit of queuing where I was but nothing too drastic.

Redeeming Feature

Has to be the way Young Boys allow supporters to mix in those pedestrianized areas before the match.  Very encouraging!

Overall

46 / 60

The Match

The match came on the Sunday after Young Boy's 3 : 5 thriller against Liverpool so I was hopeful of a good game and I wasn't disappointed.  The first half was end to end stuff with Young Boys coming the closest when Mario Raimondi picked up an excellent long ball on the left and played in Raphael Nuzolo.  The midfielder's finish was 5 cm away from being exquisite but instead painfully hit Sommer's far post.  The rebound was difficult for an off balance Bobadilla who could only chip the ball straight into Sommer's hands.

Basel were similarly 5 cm from taking the lead although this time it was Alex Frei who was 5 cm too far forward as a very clever set-piece was played in.  After shaping to shoot, Diaz instead played in a beautiful chip onto Frei's run, Wölfli saved the veteran's header for Young Boys but presented Streller with a tap in.  Fortunately for YB, the linesman's flag was already raised.  No goal.

Half time and 0:0 but very entertaining.

A goal was only going to make the match even better and one came within four minutes of the restart.  An what a cracker!  Lovely passing by put Gonzalo Zorate into space and he finished beautifully.  Although YB fully deserved the lead, Basel had always threatened as one goal was never going to be enough.  With 15 minutes left, Markus Steinhöfer was played in behind the Basel defence on the left and he crossed for Marco Streller to head home. 

There was enough time remaining for the referee to turn down a stone-wall penalty.  Winterthur fans know, that happens a lot with Basel. 

So 1:1 it ended - and I was thoroughly entertained!

Leyton Orient v Doncaster Rovers

LEYTON ORIENT

 - V - 

DONCASTER ROVERS

A tiny, almost insignificant benefit of being relegated is the way you come across old foes and are reminded of great or not so great times in the past.

We all know how football has a knack for producing stories and for me, one of the most satisfying stories about the Rovers involves the O's as co-conspirators.  In the 1997/98 season no Rovers fan needs telling how awful we were.  The O's were the club that made the most hay out of this awfulness.  They notched 12 goals in our fixtures that season while conceding only once.  The 8:0 defeat we suffered at Brisbane Road was arguably the lowest of that season of lows. 

Scroll on six seasons and this fixture, Leyton Orient away looked like making for a tough-looking opening day on Rovers' return to the football league.  The 3:1 victory for the mighty hoops was backed up in January by a 5:0 win at Belle-Vue.  This just goes to show that in football, karma can come and bite you on the arse!

LEYTON ORIENT

It’s unbelievable. Training’s different class at the moment and everyone’s on fire. - Nathan Clarke

Clarke - Sounding confident

Leyton Orient lost their first 3 league 1 matches of this season meaning that I had an eye on this one as an away-win.  So when researching whether training was the only reason Clarke should feel optimistic, I was somewhat disappointed to find that early season woes look like they have been dispelled and the O's are on a four-match unbeaten run.  Good job I did my research before making my guess educated prediction based on the facts for the Donny Prediction League.

The manager, Russell Slade however clearly sees a tough task ahead.     

They want to play out from the back and get on the ball, but they can be more direct if necessary. 

Is that comment a polite way of saying that of late, Rovers' have either hoofed it or faffed about with it?  I'll leave you guys to decide.

Looking at the good run the O's are putting together, that 4:1 victory against Yeovil is the stand-out result.  They attacked the Glovers mercilessly during that match and were genuinely unlucky to only score 4.

Watching that game and the highlights from the other two fixtures either side of it, I see the fruits of what Clarke is finding so satisfying in training.  Crosses and set-pieces provide the O's major threat.  Expect big clearances to be flicked on to the likes of Kevin Lisbie  and Lee Cook and dangerous crosses that Ryan Brunt will be trying to feed on.  The good news about that of course is that Donny probably have the best equipped defence in the league for dealing with this type of threat.

Counter-attacking could be the way against the O's.  When the balls is moved quickly forward via strings of fast passes, the defence does look all at sea.  Cotterill and Bennett, if they a up for it could prove decisive players tomorrow.  I was also not so convinced by the Orient midfield as Brentford looked able to win balls in the middle all too easily.

DONCASTER ROVERS

It’s a tough place to go but we’ve got to try and make it an easy place to go - Iain Hume.

Hume - Keen

Classic quote - is he taking tips from his manager?  But Micky taking aside, that's a nice interview for Rovers' fans to read.  Hume  sounds to be enjoying himself more and more as he is returning to full fitness.  I've got a good feeling that this guy is going to be a very big player for us this season.

Wednesday evening saw us visiting Norfolk and while I can see how the game frustrated Dean Saunders, (it was a poor goal with Grant Holt picking-pockets as he has done for years),  I was delighted that we obviously gave Norwich a match.  The key point for me?  Shelton Martis not only returning to the side but also playing out of his skin.  It would seem that we do have an alternative at centre-back.  Sure, the million-dollar question is whether he remains fit, but we seem to have matured in terms of not rushing players back into games after injury.  This is currently being demonstrated by the treatment of Billy Paynter, who despite being rumoured not to be too badly injured, has not been risked.  Paynter remains a doubt for tomorrow.

So defensively, things remain very good for the Rovers now we just need to get in tune up front.  Hume suggests that opponents are looking to simply avoid defeat against us and so are content to defend deep.  If opponents would come out and attack more, gaps would be left that our attacking players are capable of exploiting.  The problem is, unless we score, there is no need for our opponents to come out.  In short, we have to crack the puzzle that our opponents defenders set for us, whatever that puzzle may be.

Prediction for tomorrow?  I'm going for an unspectacular, narrow win for the Rovers.  1:0 with Iain Hume the scorer.

Canaries v Rovers

NORWICH CITY

 - V - 

DONCASTER ROVERS

The last time Rovers travelled to Carrow Road, Chairman, John Ryan actually moved to have the game postponed because Rovers were in the midst of an injury crisis and were really struggling to raise a team.  Rovers had 14 players of a 25 man squad unavailable due to injury.

Norwich CEO David McNally correctly refused the request to postpone the game.  It would have set dangerous precedents that teams would exploit should they feel that they would be missing a few key players.

Rovers' situation was eased that night by the recruitment of Jason Euell and Franck Moussa on emergency loans.  In the event, we ended up gaining a hard-fought point, which kind of made the whole story a bit farcical.

These days Rovers have 18 players currently available for selection if nobody is injured.  Still, it makes team selection less of a challenge!

NORWICH CITY

I only do that because at this moment the squad we have allows us to do it - Chris Hughton (on rotating his squad)

Well that kinda rubs in the differences between Premier League and League 1 doesn't it? For information, Hughton currently has a 29 man squad.

But those are the breaks and in the end, its 11 v 11.  Norwich have also started their league campaign poorly, yet to record a victory in 5 outings.  So indeed, their only competitive victory so far this season came in the last round against Scunthorpe.  So can the 18-man squad of Donny beat the 29-man canaries?

Well its always difficult to assess the chances of a lower league side against a Premier League so I took that performance against Scunny as my first pointer.  Sadly, there were only about 4 minutes or so of highlights available and what I saw was an attack much as I would expect; full of movement, always able to have a man free somewhere and quite deadly when they created a yard of space on the edge of the area.

But could the defence have been suspect?  Certianly, there was a break from the Iron that exposed the left hand side and the centre-back was very shy to challenge as Scunny's equalizer was crashed home.

Time to check some stats.  In terms of goals, Norwich have hit the net twice this season.  So the weaker opposition provided by Scunthorpe flattered that attack?  Not so.  In terms of shots and shots on target, Norwich are average in the division.  They make chances but just can't get them in the onion bag is all.  My bet would be that that will change at some time (hopefully not tomorrow). 

Looking at the defensive stats, Norwich's opponents get 37% of shots on target.  In the Premier League this need restricting (the average is about 30%).  Norwich's defence simply allow their opponents too many good opportunities.  Now that's something that isn't going to simply come right.

I looked at another two sets of match highlights and pretty much confirmed those stats.  The defence is at times tackle-shy, allow opponents too much space, especially wide and can be guilty of half-clearances.  Simply not good enough for the premier league.

Going forward, they are creative and find dangerous positions.  It just doesn't go in the net either by bad luck or bad finishing.  

Is their a chance for Donny?  Well yes, I think so as long as Norwich keep that mental block they seem to have about scoring!  And we know that potentially, Donny have a defence that will make that very difficult.

DONCASTER ROVERS

Everybody at the club knows their job, know what I expect of them, and they are all working their socks off - Dean Saunders

Saunders - Good Work ethic

Interesting interview there from Dean, a year on from taking the helm at Donny.  I'm not sure I agree with much of what he has had to say but one thing I will give him is that he is correct in the statement I have quoted.

I don't think Dean has got everything right and certainly, I demand more tactical nous from him.  But the squad do seem to work hard for each other and I'd call that a first requirement.

The last round for me delivered Deano's best result and performance as Rovers' manager. It didn't quite have everything that constitutes a great game but the only thing really missing was controversy.

But we had 5 goals, a comeback from 2:0 down, a red card for an opposing player (though not particularly controversial) a bit of handbags and a grandstand finish in which Hull could well have leveled as we could have made it safe.  Great stuff!

Sadly, since then, its all gone a bit flat.  I have been fair and have suggested that for Dean, the result matters more than the performance, the complete opposite to his predecessor.  So we've lost just once, away at Yeovil.  Won just once, away at Colchester and picked up two draws which I suspect will prove to be very good results; away at Sheffield United and at home to Stevenage.  

Defensively, its been very reassuring but there has been little to set the pulses racing going forwards.  Perhaps a good cup-tie where Rovers have nothing to lose and everything to gain is just what is required to bring back some zip to the football.

Doncaster Rovers v Stevenage

DONCASTER ROVERS

 - V - 

STEVENAGE 

Stevenage are the 2nd of two ex-conference opponents that we will face this season.  In Donny's last conference season, Stevenage finished 12th with the results between the two sides ending "honours even".  Stevenage were beaten 3:2 at Belle Vue while they were the victors in Hertfordshire by 2 goals to nil.  

Stevenage kind of reversed Doncaster's achievements of 2002/03 and 2003/04 in 2009/10 and 2010/11.  Where Donny gained promotion to the football league through the first ever conference play-offs in 2003 and were promoted to league 1 as champions in 2004, in 2010 Stevenage came into the league as conference champions and achieved promotion to league 1 through the play-offs in 2011.

In 2011/12 Stevenage nearly achieved what Rovers didn't by gaining a play-off place for what would have been a third successive promotion.  Sadly / happily (depending on your point of view) Stevenage were not to become the second team of the premier league era to make it to the championship from the conference but their achievements demonstrate how worthy they are of the respect of their  League 1 advisories.

DONCASTER ROVERS

Everybody thinks that they just launch the ball and are just big and strong. They are, but they also play football as well and their manager has done a terrific job since taking over from Graham Westley - Dean Saunders

There's a lot of respect for Stevenage coming from Deano...and as I've pointed out, so there should be!

Donny fans have been in very positive mood this week.... and so they should be.  Midweek saw Rovers travel to Bramall Lane, almost certainly the toughest place to visit this season and get a draw.

Rob Jones - Leader of an Imperious Backline

Spectacular it wasn't.  Listening to the match was like listening to paint dry (think about it...it works just as well).  But does that make it a bad performance?  I say not.  Sometimes avoiding defeat and frustrating opponents is the order of the day.  And, like with Crawley against us, occasionally you get more than the draw you deserve.  

So going forwards, with the exception of a heroic performance from Chris Brown, disappointing (but it wasn't a game to go forwards).  In defence we were imperious.  Gary, Paul, Rob, Tommy and Jamie...take a bow!  In the trade it was what is known as Checkmate!

And (for the first time from me....EVER)....Deano take a bow.  Tactically correct.  We played in a way that reduced our chance of losing (the priority) whilst not eliminating the bonus of a win.

For this match, don't be surprised if despite their doing what was required in the week, Dean makes a change or two.  What is required tomorrow is different and perhaps a few changes might achieve the change in objective.

STEVENAGE 

We've been decent on the road so far and we'll look to try to remain unbeaten if we can. - Gary Smith

Interesting comments by Gary Smith on that link.  Could Stevenage be coming to Donny with an eye on a draw?  For a side currently sitting 2nd in the table, that would be very respectful indeed.  Perhaps too respectful?  Well people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.  Rovers have just come home from Bramall Lane very pleased at the point they secured, so why shouldn't Stevenage feel the same way about us?

Robin Shroot - Good finisher

Robin Shroot looks like their main threat going forwards having netted in the last 4 matches and to be fair, the three of those that I saw weren't tap-ins.    Shroot is good with the ball on the deck and is a good finisher.  Certainly a Challenge for Jones and McCoombe in the Rovers defence.

From what I saw of the highlights, Dean Saunders is correct, Stevenage are not the hoofball team people make them out to be.  Coming forwards, there was plenty of decent pass and move football to admire.  I found their crosses particularly impressive.

They are no mugs at the back either.  Well organised with defenders prepared to throw themselves in the way of the ball if that is necessary.  If there is a weakness, I would say it would be at the inside-right position.  On a couple of occasions opposing strikers got between the left back and centre back to good effect.  There also looked to be an issue at the far post from corners.

The matches I saw also showed a bit of fight about the team.  Although they dominated Walsall, both Crewe and Coventry had them under the cosh at times.  In particular Crewe were leading 2:0 in that game.  But 'Boro remain unbeaten.  Frankly, its not too difficult to see why.