Rovers v Hartlepool

Last Time Out...

A good night all around for Donny in the end.  Rovers ended a run of 5 games without a win; continued a sequence of 4 games unbeaten; recorded their fourth "double" of the season and moved to the top of the table with victory over Shrewsbury at the Greenhous Meadow.

But listening in, it looked like being one of those nights as Rovers continuously attacked a resilient Shrewsbury.  James Husband bounced a great effort from range off the crossbar and then Rob Jones met a cross which Chris Weale was fortunate hit him from close range.  The stop rebounded out hit Jones again and then hit the post.  Jones then did get the ball into the net in finishing a very similar move but was ruled offside by the linesman.  

Then the moment of controversy.  Dave McAllister's feet were off the floor as he jumped to make contact with a ball that was ahead of Iain Hume.  There was no contact between the Shrewsbury captain and the Rovers' striker but the referee awarded a straight red, apparently for reckless play.  I can imagine that this was a challenge that had it been seen from the wrong angle, would have looked bad.  But at the end of the day, it wasn't and quite rightly, the football league have rescinded the punishment.  Unlucky all the same for Shrewsbury as they had to complete the game with 10 men.

Second half and Rovers found the woodwork for the 3rd time.  Iain Hume ran through the middle of the Shrewsbury defence, passed to Husband who crossed for McCoombe to hit against the post.  The home side then when straight down to the Rovers end and Marvin Morgan should have at least made Gary Woods work.

But eventually, on 73 minutes the goal came.  Coppinger set up the impressive James Husband who scored his second goal in three games.  

The Shrews had never given up though and had shown that on the break they could be dangerous.  Woods saved well from Parry before embarrassingly pushing Tom Eaves effort that was straight at him, over his right shoulder and into the net.  That was the 89th minute and the air in Switzerland turned momentarily aquamarine with concentrated royal blue seen near Winterthur.  Donny predictably went for it.  Three minutes into injury time, a cross from Spurr came out to Kyle Bennett who smashed it straight into the top corner.  In the meantime, Notts County had done Rovers a favour and equalized against Tranmere.  Rovers are top of the league!

On the forums, I saw a question "Has a team ever jumped from fourth to first place in a league, so late in a season with all teams in action?"  I think, probably.  What I want to ask is has their ever been a team that was within 3 points of the top position of a table for 15 consecutive  matches without actually going top? That has got to be a record.

I don't know many decent statisticians but if everyone fancies it!

But in any case, a very good night for Donny.  Great performances from Hume, Husband and 19 year old Jon Lundstram.  Stats wise - 18 shots on goal with 8 on target, the off-target shots including three that found the woodwork are also Rovers' best this season.

Shrewsbury Town 1 : 2 Doncaster Rovers

Meanwhile...

Hartlepool weren't doing badly themselves at home to Crewe.

'Pool dominated the game and may have had things easier still had Crewe 'keeper Steve Phillips been punished appropriately for his blatant handball outside of the penalty area. But he wasn't and Phillips went on to play a large part in keeping the score down.  

They were having “Donny-Type” luck, but happily for ‘Pool, it only lasted until the 27^th minute.  On-loan striker Chris Wyke benefited from Jack Baldwin’s header being pushed out for him to fashion an unorthodox  finish.

Their second came in the 39^th minute.  James Poole  found Jon Franks who showed good strength to hold off his man to finish impressively from range.

Into the second half and Hartlepool kept their dominance going.  Wyke, Poole and Horwood all were denied by a very good goalkeeping performance.  But in the 90^th minute, having denied Wyke twice, Phillips was beaten by Monkhouse’s emphatic finish. 

An impressive night for Hartlepool and Chris Wyke looks like trouble for any defence meeting him.

Hartlepool United 3 : 0 Crewe Alexandra

Earlier This Season...

Donny, looking very impressive away from home visited Hartlepool looking wholly unimpressive wherever they played.  The result, a very well contested game, naturally!

Donny made the early running but couldn't get a break.  James Harper came closest, shooting into the side-netting.  Hartlepool took until the 56th minutes to get an effort on target.  James Poole curling one from distance that Gary Woods pushed over the bar.

The home team took the lead from the penalty spot in the 70th minute.  Quinn was adjudged correctly to have been holding his man.  Neil Austin converted the spot-kick.

It looked good for the home team to record just their second win of the season.  But Cotterill crossed for Jones to head home in the 89th minute and Rovers salvaged a point.

Hartlepool United 1 : 1 Doncaster Rovers

The Season so Far...

Hartlepool looked down and out at Christmas.  12 points adrift of safety with just 9 points.  But a win at Brammall Lane (I assure Monkey-Hangers - enjoyed by all who read this thread)  at the end of the year was the first indication that maybe all was not lost.  

After initially recording three matches without a win after that game, many may have thought this victory was a false-dawn.  But now, having gone 7 games unbeaten (5 wins), Hartlepool are off the bottom.  They are still 5 points from safety but I have a feeling nobody has told them that they are down.  My feeling is that at the moment they wouldn't listen anyway!

So sometimes, that comparison that I show on the right tells a few porkies.  This is one of those times.  Hartlepool are decent at the moment, to say the least!

Hartlepool Season High: 14th (September)

Hartlepool Season Low: 24th (October to February) 

...and so to the Game

Just look at how that table reflects Hartlepool's recent form!  All three of their away wins coming in their last 5 road-trips.  It also gives an impression as to what has changed.  3.1 minutes of possession per shot on goal is very efficient indeed and far better than than their 5.4 season average.  So Hartlepool are making more chances.  The very impressive 2 goal per game average and 21% shooting efficiency also demonstrates that they are taking them!

But even recently, Hartlepool continue to allow their opponents too many shooting opportunities.  They are improving in defending these opportunities but still, Donny can be clinical.  The clinical nature of the finishing has not been seen so much at the Keepmoat.  If Donny are to win today, it will need to be!

Like many teams, Hartlepool concede late on in halves.  In Hartlepool's case, its has been more extreme.  The question is whether it is still an issue.  Donny are one of the better sides late on in matches.  Could it be last-minute drama again for the Rovers?

Forum Corner

Naturally, there was considerable delight on the Donny boards at finally reaching the top of the league.  Regular poster and Rovers historical statistician, Dutch Uncle did not miss the fact that Rovers are now mathematically assured of not having a bottom-placed finish in their league for a second season in a row.  He also noted that this season, Rovers are also assured of finishing ahead of Portsmouth in the final standings.  This is a first!  We have never finished ahead of Pompey!  Poetic justice for the manner in which we have suffered at their hands over the last few seasons?

Elsewhere there was a lot of debate about Donny 'Keeper Gary Woods due to a second fumble in two games nearly costing the win and so our top of the table position.  And that's where I am on this, my friends.  It nearly  cost us.  It didn't actually cost us.  So here I am.  Top of the League and Having a Laugh rather than a whinge like I would have were I in Shrewsbury's league position.  You enjoy your football your way, I'll enjoy it mine.

Onto the Hartlepool boards and considering the recent outbreak of form up in Teeside, unusual calmity (I know its not a real word).  Hardly anyone has really mentioned it perhaps not yet daring to dream of the great escape that could be achieved.  And now we go back to records.  We all know that it is unusual for the bottom club at Christmas to survive come May.  Well Hartlepool were bottom at Christmas, 12 points adrift.  IF they manage to perform the great escape, will that be the largest gap ever closed in the period from Christmas to the end of the season?  

I can feel Poolies saying that I've said enough so I'll shut up.  They look like bringing a healthy following to Donny with the first 300 tickets they were allocated being snapped up. Expect getting on for 1000 away fans,  Rovers.  Perhaps the Poolies are not daring to dream just yet.  But I think they are enjoying the ride at the moment!

Enjoy the match everyone!