Carlisle v Rovers

CARLISLE UNITED
 - V - 
DONCASTER ROVERS

The football league are obviously looking for Donny to gain some kind of sponsorship from a fuel company as in the space of just over three days, they are asked to travel 782 miles.  After Saturday's 250-mile trip to the South-Coast, now we travel the 141 miles up to Cumbria and to one of my old stomping grounds, Carlisle (I lived up there for 7 years and have many happy memories of the place).

I remember a remarkable moment in the history of the Foxes happened while I was up there.  Take a look at the vid - it explains it all.

As a back-story to that, my boss at the time was a huge Carlisle fan.  In fact, when he retired, he became a director of the club (and still is).  His name is John Nixon.  John told me that he left that match on 90 minutes.  He said a few choice words to the then Chairman, Michael Knighton that basically put a goodly round sum on the amount of sponsorship he'd receive from our mutual employer the next season.  He then told me how he couldn't understand why the bloke on his car radio was going potty and how sick he was when he realized the reason.

Jimmy Glass was at the time on emergency loan at Carlisle covering injuries to their regular and reserve 'keepers.  A picture of Jimmy Glass scoring that goal became a central feature of one of our training rooms.  I believe Tullie House Museum in Carlisle exhibit the very boots that shot that goal but Jimmy still didn't get a playing contract with Carlisle.  He did get a story to tell his Grandkids though!  

Like the story of how John Ryan rescued Donny Rovers, that story is a very good lesson  that it's never over until the fat lady sings (if a little shorter than the Rovers' story).

CARLISLE UNITED

Over four years we have been in serious situations. Probably this is as serious as it gets. Greg Abbott

It sounds like some of the Jimmy Glass spirit is urgently needed at Brunton Park at the moment.  Abbott is coming under-fire as Carlisle are having a nightmare November with just 1 point this month so far.  Just one win in the last 8 outings and Carlisle are now within 3 points of the real trouble in the bottom 3.

Saturday's match against Orient didn't help Abbott's cause at all.  Orient had only scored 5 goals on their travels all season prior to Saturday.  By half time, they were 4:1 ahead.  Abbott described the 1st half performance as the worst he'd seen in his football career.  As a Rovers' fan who lived through "that" season, I reckon I can rival it, but it wasn't good.  The defending was terrible from all concerned.  The goalkeeper was flapping and making poor decisions; the full-backs were allowing the wingers way too much space and in the middle there were bargain give-aways and missed tackles.  The stuff of nightmares.

Carlisle fans might not know this but Donny are sitting just one point shy of the play-off places whilst being the most shot-shy team in the league.  The things is, nearly 40% of the shots Rovers take end up in the back if the net.  So if presented with chances in the manner Carlisle displayed on Saturday, it could get very messy very quickly.

Against Brentford at Griffin Park and it was better but still I find it difficult to say too much positive about the Cumbrians.  Brentford scored from two corners and both goals came at the back-post.  The goalkeeper again looked flappy and the defence simply aren't good enough at retaining possession.  Another worry for Carlisle (if one was needed), when Brentford did play football (and Rovers know they can), they tore Carlisle apart.

I wish I could be positive about one of my former home towns.  But it could get messy against my real home town.

DONCASTER ROVERS

it’s a another great win and thats six wins and two draws from nine away games - Dean Saunders

Woods - Sweet Left-foot

Deano relishing yet another great result on Rovers' their away days.  We may be being forced to travel a lot this week, but at the moment, we wouldn't have it any other way.  

The result on Saturday allows me to give a shout out to Martin Woods.  Woods put his cross on a sixpence for Iain Hume to fire home Rovers' only goal on Saturday which is great news.  He's a player who has championship quality but the injuries have sadly curtailed somewhat what could have become an excellent career.  Woods' left foot is one of the sweetest lefts around and if he starts swinging to anything like the effect he had on Saturday, it could start feeding frenzies among Rovers' sharp-shooters.  It has not been the best season for the midfielder so far, but here's hoping that he continues to gain his confidence.  In this league he could be a match-winner and perhaps there's championship football once more for Woodsy.  Hopefully at the Keepmoat.

On a happy note, for me at least, tomorrow's match will be the first I'll listen to  in its entirety fora while.  No Swiss activity tomorrow night but on that subject, the season is hotting up nicely for both my teams.

Donny are looking good for a play-off place at the moment (well away from home at least) while Winti have moved into second spot, four point off the top with the leaders to play in their next fixture.  It could be a very exciting season.

Prediction:  Sorry Carlisle, but you're going to get a hammering 0:4 - Billy Paynter to score the first.