Last Time Out...
On Saturday Rovers made it five matches without a win and bagged their third point in a row. What ever happens, February will go down as Rovers' worst month of the season so far with a maximum of just 6 from 18 points now being available.
But that's enough of being downbeat. Saturday was a much better performance by Bryan Flynn's side against the form team of the division, indeed the league, Yeovil.
It didn't start according to plan though and it was a "Howler" from Gary Woods that led to the Glovers taking a sixth minute lead. Jamie McAllister's freekick looked an easy one but Woods' fumbled and it couldn't have fallen in front if a worse player from a Rovers' perspective. In his current form, Paddy Madden doesn't need gifts, but he accepts them all the same.
That first 10 minutes was about all that the Glovers had of the game though as Rovers slowly began to dominate. Paynter had a good effort tipped over the bar from just outside of the area and then had a "How do you miss that!?" moment. He managed to head the ball from James Husband's great cross into the ground and then have it bounce up and hit the crossbar. Not Billy's day again? Not so! Minutes later, on the stroke of half time, he rose to head a far more difficult opportunity into the bottom corner from the penalty spot.
In the second half there was a great and unfortunate moment. Unfortunate in that James Hayter was forced to leave the pitch with an injury. Great because Hayter's hero status for scoring that goal at Wembley was acknowledged. He left the pitch to chants of "One James Hayter from the Rovers faithful.
Back to the action and it was Rob Jones' turn to squander a decent opening as he headed over the bar from inside the 6-yard box. James Coppinger missed another from inside the 6-yard area although on this occasion, the effort was a bicycle kick so a little more difficult than the previous two "sitters".
After the squandering, the referee had to add insult to Rovers' injury. David Syers was onto a loose punch from Stech when the Yeovil 'keeper was clumsy to say the least and up-ended the Rovers midfielder. No penalty!
But Rovers had dominated. Billy Paynter had a much better game leading the line and the contribution of debutant John Lundstram, on loan from Everton was also encouraging. Add to that Syers and Hume both returning to action from the bench and this was a good day. Play like that and winning ways will return to the Rovers.
It was a wake-up call for the Shrews and they duly did just that. Stephen McGinn had already fired narrowly wide from range before Paul Parry hit into the bottom corner from 8 yards on the half hour mark.
After the break and Chris Porter should really have increased the Shrews' lead, heading far over the bar from inside the 6-yard box when totally unmarked. But the Shrews were to get the lead and the points. Four minutes from time, Jon Taylor cleverly found space on the right and crossed for substitute Marvin Morgan to squeeze home his finish. The Shrews still had work to do to keep the points, however. Chris Weale made a superb save from Mark Roberts' header low to his left and the home side held on to move 8 points clear of the drop-zone.
Shrewsbury Town 2 : 1 Stevenage
An early penalty from Billy Paynter, awarded when Matt Richards brought down David Cotterill proved enough to give Rovers the points. Rovers continued to dominate possession in the first half, but aside from a spectacular volley from David Syers, adjudged offside by the linesman, didn't create too much in the way of opportunities.
In the second and Marvin Morgan could have given the Shrews a share of the points when he broke quickly after Rovers gave the ball away cheaply in midfield but he could only find the side-netting. At the other end, Syers achieved exactly the same result after a great passing move had put him in on goal.
In the end though there was plenty of effort by both sides but not too many opportunities.
Doncaster Rovers 1 : 0 Shrewsbury Town
On the Shrewsbury boards what was the first thing I saw. This !! Apparently Shrewsbury are not the Shrews! Well, it's 65 minutes to kick-off as I type. There's no way I'm doing a big edit this late so please accept my apologies if I have offended. Actually, the OP has largely been shouted down on the thread. But in any case. We're Donny and not the Dons (just to get that straight - no franchise here!)
Funnily enough, and purely by chance Shrewsbury (see, I'm concentrating now!) are also debating entrance music. Some interesting suggestions there. The Radetzky March by Johann Strauss for those classical tastes (reminds me of the dressage too much); Hot Love by T-Rex (would be great if it wasn't called "Hot Love"); Do you Wanna be in my Gang (YIKES! No Thanks) and Thin Lizzy - The Boys are Back in Town (How original) being among those suggested.
If my comments there have helped - Glad to be of assistance!
Enjoy the game!
That first 10 minutes was about all that the Glovers had of the game though as Rovers slowly began to dominate. Paynter had a good effort tipped over the bar from just outside of the area and then had a "How do you miss that!?" moment. He managed to head the ball from James Husband's great cross into the ground and then have it bounce up and hit the crossbar. Not Billy's day again? Not so! Minutes later, on the stroke of half time, he rose to head a far more difficult opportunity into the bottom corner from the penalty spot.
In the second half there was a great and unfortunate moment. Unfortunate in that James Hayter was forced to leave the pitch with an injury. Great because Hayter's hero status for scoring that goal at Wembley was acknowledged. He left the pitch to chants of "One James Hayter from the Rovers faithful.
Back to the action and it was Rob Jones' turn to squander a decent opening as he headed over the bar from inside the 6-yard box. James Coppinger missed another from inside the 6-yard area although on this occasion, the effort was a bicycle kick so a little more difficult than the previous two "sitters".
After the squandering, the referee had to add insult to Rovers' injury. David Syers was onto a loose punch from Stech when the Yeovil 'keeper was clumsy to say the least and up-ended the Rovers midfielder. No penalty!
But Rovers had dominated. Billy Paynter had a much better game leading the line and the contribution of debutant John Lundstram, on loan from Everton was also encouraging. Add to that Syers and Hume both returning to action from the bench and this was a good day. Play like that and winning ways will return to the Rovers.
Meanwhile...
Shrewsbury were taking another step towards having another season in League 1 by beating Stevenage at the New Meadow.
They had to come from behind to do so as Stevenage drew first blood. It was a great goal. A long ball in to Marcus Haber who headed it down to James Dunne on the edge of the area. Dunne then showed fabulous technique in chesting the ball before volleying into Chris Weale's top right corner.
After the break and Chris Porter should really have increased the Shrews' lead, heading far over the bar from inside the 6-yard box when totally unmarked. But the Shrews were to get the lead and the points. Four minutes from time, Jon Taylor cleverly found space on the right and crossed for substitute Marvin Morgan to squeeze home his finish. The Shrews still had work to do to keep the points, however. Chris Weale made a superb save from Mark Roberts' header low to his left and the home side held on to move 8 points clear of the drop-zone.
Shrewsbury Town 2 : 1 Stevenage
Earlier this Season....
An early penalty from Billy Paynter, awarded when Matt Richards brought down David Cotterill proved enough to give Rovers the points. Rovers continued to dominate possession in the first half, but aside from a spectacular volley from David Syers, adjudged offside by the linesman, didn't create too much in the way of opportunities.
In the second and Marvin Morgan could have given the Shrews a share of the points when he broke quickly after Rovers gave the ball away cheaply in midfield but he could only find the side-netting. At the other end, Syers achieved exactly the same result after a great passing move had put him in on goal.
In the end though there was plenty of effort by both sides but not too many opportunities.
Doncaster Rovers 1 : 0 Shrewsbury Town
The Season so far....
After their promotion from League 2 last season, Shrewsbury, for a while looked like making a quick return to the basement level of the football league. One win per month is all they managed up until the February and in that time they dropped to their season low of 23rd in November. But the Shrews form has seen text-book continuous improvement. Since December, they may not have won too many, but they have become difficult to beat. In fact they have only lost twice in 14 matches since the beginning of December.
February has been particularly good to the Shrews as they have achieved three wins from four by taking the scalps of Preston, Tranmere and Stevenage. This tie certainly isn't a banker for three points for the Rovers.
Season High: 11th (August)
Season Low: 23rd (November)
...and so to the Game
As I've suggested, the Shrews will not be push-overs this evening but I think if we carry the performance from Saturday into this game, Rovers should have too much for them.
The stats would certainly bear that out. Although they show the Shrews have improved of late in terms of not conceding, they also have deteriorated in terms of their own strike-rate.
Donny's defence has been tight as a drum away from home. The last five matches haven't been as good but I think still good enough. The Shrews will need to be much more clinical than they have been if they are to succeed tonight.
Looking at the goal-times chart, the Shrews look like they get better towards the end of the game. But there's the period either side of half time where they suffer somewhat. Indeed no goals at all in the first 15 minutes of the second half all season. Strange!
Forum Corner
The Donny message-boards made generally nice reading after Saturday's match. Rovers played well, the game was enjoyable and the fans appreciated it.
What I also appreciated is that Rovers have ditched goal-music! Hooraaayyyyy! This is football not bloody ice-hockey. I do not need Tom Hark to be blared out to let me know I should be jumping up and down. All that remains now is to get the entrance music right. "Irish Rover" was a popular choice among fans when this was debated earlier in the season, although not for me. Too many teams sing it for it to be identified as Donny's music.
From my experience out here in Switzerland, I suggested Hell's Bells by AC/DC. The intro makes great entrance music and it has the benefit that it could become Hell's Belles for the ladies!
Funnily enough, and purely by chance Shrewsbury (see, I'm concentrating now!) are also debating entrance music. Some interesting suggestions there. The Radetzky March by Johann Strauss for those classical tastes (reminds me of the dressage too much); Hot Love by T-Rex (would be great if it wasn't called "Hot Love"); Do you Wanna be in my Gang (YIKES! No Thanks) and Thin Lizzy - The Boys are Back in Town (How original) being among those suggested.
If my comments there have helped - Glad to be of assistance!
Enjoy the game!
No comments:
Post a Comment