LAST TIME OUT...
If anyone thought the departure of Colonel Saunders would make the Rovers chicken, they weren't reckoning with the simple fact that Corporal Jones (now promoted to major) is still very much around.
The first half wasn't much. Nip and tuck as they say with Rovers creating the only real opening for Iain Hume's shot to be well saved by Steve Arnold. But it all livened up in the second half. A lovely volley from James Dunne gave the home side the lead but Rovers rallied. Arnold could only push Dave Syer's strike into the path of Iain Hume and it was level. Stevenage have bad habit of conceding late on and so it was that deep into injury time Rob Jones crashed home Cotterill's corner and Rovers had all three points away from home yet again. We'd have settled for a draw to pick up the club record 12 away games unbeaten but why not win the thing?
MEANWHILE...
A little further South, in the capital, Leyton Orient were entertaining Crewe Alexandra. Amazingly, the Os could have been three up by the time Lee Cook had the easy task of firing home after Steve Phillips could only push Dean Cox's cross straight to him. By this time David Mooney and Charlie MacDonald, on his debut had both hit the woodwork while Mooney should have done better when one-on-one with Phillips.
But for the first time this season, Orient did not go on to win after taking a lead. 13 minutes after the opener, the Orient right back lost track of Byron Moore's run and Alex were level. And thats how it stayed. Plenty for Rovers to think about on the evidence of that. Mooney seems to pull the strings and Lee Cook also looks a useful player.
EARLIER THIS SEASON...
Standard fare at Brisbane Road for the Rovers as they brought a 4-match unbeaten run to an end for the home side.
First half goals from Iain Hume and David Cotterill did the damage and despite second half pressure from the Os, the Twin Towers of Rob Jones and Jamie McCoombe limited their chnces to a minimum.
THE SEASON SO FAR...
Its been either feast or famine for the O's. They win three then lose three, lose 4 then win 5. It must be very frustrating!
I've already mentioned that excellent statistic of only losing two points after taking the lead in a match, a record that only Rovers can equal. But then you look at Orient's record having gone behind. Absolutely shocking - they have only rescued one point from a losing situation all season.
Sadly, that inconsistency has put paid to Orient's season. Mid-table obscurity for them.
...AND SO TO THE GAME
Perhaps not as straight forward for Rovers as the league tables might suggest. Orient have picked up their away form a bit of late and are taking plenty of shots while scoring a good proportion of them.
If either team gets in front, they are likely to stay there, that much has been proven all season. But its that lack of resilience to going behind that I think will be Orient's undoing.
Rovers may be tempted to have a go at Orient and try to get that lead. But they could be better advised to bide their time while steadily turning up the heat. Orient's second half record isn't good.
FORUM CORNER
The first thing I'll mention is congratulations to "The LJ Monk" who for me got a better video of the winning goal against Stevenage than the Football League Show. You can see it here.
But there is an obvious subject of common interest - the appointment of Bryan Flynn and Rob Jones as manager and player-coach respectively. And it's been an almost universally popular appointment with the Rovers faithful, in fact, I haven't seen a single negative comment. Reading what the Doncaster press had to say, player-power played it's part in the decision. Complete unity of players, fans and club management. Good to have!
Otherwise, mysteriously Sky have somehow found Donny! Not one but two TV games have been announced. First there's the away match at Crawley Town on 18th February (KO 7:45pm) and the on 1st April against Swindon Town at the Keepmoat (KO 12:15pm). Good news for your Swiss correspondent!
Onto Orient's boards and first a common theme seen on both boards. Unity from all fans at the sacking of Nigel Adkins by Southampton. Who would be a football manager? In what other profession would two successive years of demonstrable success (promotions) followed by moving your organization to compete with the big boys within a year be rewarded with your P45? Imagine Eddie Stobbart growing to compete on a worldwide basis with FedEx and then sacking their MD and you're about there! It makes me think of the successes Liverpool (Shankley, Paisley, Fagan...), Man United and Crewe (Gradi) had with a strategy of continuity. The loss of continuity was one of my reasons for being so opposed to the sacking of Sean O'Driscoll from Donny. I now celebrate the fact that promotion from within seems the order of the day at the mo.
Back to Orient and the majority of Orient fans seem to think Saturday's game will be postponed or Donny will win easily. Have they seen our home form? A new game show hosted by pub landlord, Al Murray called Fact Hunt is also attracting comment. OK, so now we have the level of the Orient fan. If that disgusting apology of a human being hadn't disgraced my club in the toilets of Brisbane Road, I'd be getting quite hoity-toity by now.
PROMOTION TRACKER
I forgot to put this on the last Blog so since the last time I looked, Rovers have won both games played. Not surprisingly then, the trend lines are still predicting a League 1 title with 87 points!
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