Not much Pomp in Both Our Circumstances

DONCASTER ROVERS
V
PORTSMOUTH

OK - Watch this

and this

or this

Each of those incidents goes to show you that ANYTHING can happen in football!

So, Rovers are 11 points from safety with 12 still available to be won.  All that needs to happen is

• Bristol City failing to win another point this season

and...

• Coventry failing to win another 5 in their remaining games (and we can influence that as we still have to play them)

and....

• Pompey failing to win another 9 (which we can obviously influence)

So its all still to play for!

Or alternatively Rovers and Pompey could be as dead as someone in a Llanelli "spit and sawdust" pub telling jokes about fornicating with sheep.  I was once in such a pub with a Glaswegian doing just that.  We both survived without a scratch, which just goes to show you!

But anyway, let's both sets of fans get behind both clubs tomorrow.  Portsmouth have just announced that they have £58M debt, which is £10M more than the last time they were in administration so Rovers fans, stop feeling sorry for yourselves.  There are folk a lot worse off than us!

DONCASTER ROVERS

I have not put one building brick in place yet. - Dean Saunders

Well glory be and hallelujah!  Thank goodness we're not looking at the finished article!  It actually turns out that after 35 games in charge, Deano hasn't started yet!  Interesting.  Is there anyone out there who has gone 6 months in a job without doing anything and NOT been fired?

Actually, I jest (I think).  I find the quote and the article silly in the extreme.  In one breath Dean is talking about not having started anything and prior to that he's actually considering continuing the experiment?!  But as long as John Ryan and Deano decide to end the stupidity and ditch the experiment, Dean can continue.  Lets take a look at how well he does in building a team that can establish itself in League 1.  I'm not challenging him to getting us back into the championship.  I just want Rovers to stabilize, something that can never happen as long as we continue with the experiment.  Stabilize, put together a mid-table league 1 side and move on from there.  If its Dean that does it, good luck to him!

Last Saturday saw a very sad day as Donny lost their last slender hopes of maintaining championship status.   It started all Burnley with the clarets being afforded all sorts of space by the Rovers' defence as per usual.   All those things that are worked on every week in training like marking and closing down being sadly lacking.  The work they do must really sink in!

Commentator comment "Well these players haven't played together for quite a while".  There were 9 changes in the starting line up.  Dean has claimed severe injury problems in his 31-man squad.  I remember someone having 14 from 26 out injured and still being criticized from some quarters for losing!  A question.  With 14 from 26 out injured and a 16 man squad, is it possible to make 9 changes?

But lets be fair.  Fabian Robert looks like a player where Deano was right not to use his veto and Josh McQuoid's goal fo the Clarets was outstanding.  There is no tactics that plan for that.

Rovers showed a bit of character in coming back to 1:1 through Chris Brown's header and looked briefly like they could win the game.  But a penalty (thankfully, on this occasion a "stone-waller") ended Rovers' resistance.  

From then on it was whether Burnley would make it 3 :1 rather than  Rover coming back.

Sadly, season over for Donny.

 

PORTSMOUTH

We're not resigned to relegation. That would be unprofessional. It's very simple. There are four games left and we have to win all four to give ourselves a chance.  - Michael Appleton

Without looking at form and considering that without their -10, Portsmouth would be sitting in 21st place, maybe they do have enough to finish above Bristol.  But it's a long shot and I think that as long as Pompey survive their financial difficulties, Rovers will be visiting Fratton Park next season.  And that will be a pleasure.

Normally, at this point I assess Rovers' opponents.  Today I say "what's the point".   Both clubs will be in League 1 next season.  Let's assess each other next season when it matters.

For now, I just hope Rovers get a pride-winning victory against Pompey.  At the same time, I wish Pompey all the best in their recovery.  One of the best clubs in England, I hope that they will be competing next season, hopefully with us!

Enjoy the game everybody .

RTID

PUP

   

  

Leicester City v Doncaster Rovers

LEICESTER CITY
-V-

DONCASTER ROVERS

An end-of-season clash between two teams who, I would guess are just willing the season to end.  For all the millions they have invested, Leicester will see mid-table obscurity as a very poor return while Doncaster have been jumping up and down on the trapdoor all season.  It still hasn't quite opened up and allowed them to fall but lets just say the catch is looking pretty dodgy these days.

At the Keepmoat Rovers gained one of their better results of the season, two quick goals from Billy Sharp turning the game around after the Foxes led through David Nugent at half time.  It is   one occasion of only two this season where Rovers have come from behind to win.  The other was against Peterborough.

LEICESTER CITY

You find out a lot about what players are made of in terms of their character.  People have written us off but we have an awful lot to play for in many ways. Who knows what can happen. - Nigel Pearson

Football managers have to remain positive about their teams prospects for the season until mathematics make their optimism pointless.  Leicester are 7 points adrift of a play-off birth with 6 to play.  Five wins out of 6 is a minimum and I'd doubt many fans believe they can do that.

Against Peterborough last Saturday, the Foxes showed very little invention going forward.  Moves ended with a cross lumped into a crowd of players.  If a striker did get a contact, it was rarely clean due to the numbers around him.  All in all, not the attacking you expect at this level.

Peterborough on the other hand, were far more inventive.  As a result, they discovered that Leicester defenders tackle what is in front of them.  Once an attacker is level with them, tackling doesn't seem to be on their agenda.

Against Forest, Leicester looked a little better, the crossing was more targeted, or was it that the Forest defence were not as tight as Peterborough's?  In any case, clearer chances were made.  They also tried a few more different things with their best chance coming from a great move through the middle.  But with players like Beckford and Nugent, surely they  should be doing more?

The defence looked better too although Forest weren't running at them so much.  Sol Bamber stood out as a good ball-winner and a few things were started due to his determination.

Five wins out of the next six?  Boy, do Leicester have to improve if they are to achieve that!

DONCASTER ROVERS

This is a massive weekend and we have got to get two results - Dean Saunders

Dean's absolutely right of course, plus Rovers need at lease one more result after that to get three points clear of 22nd place as things stand at the moment.  Does anyone see Coventry or Bristol not picking up another 3 or 4 points this season?  No, Rovers need to win four of the last 6.  Not many Rovers fans see that happening and I'm in the majority.

Against Birmingham, Rovers started like a train but ran out of steam in the end.  Leading after four minutes through Piquionne's conversion of Gillett's excellent cross, Rovers pressed for more in the first half.  But Birmingham were always dangerous on the break and were level by half-time.  In the second half, Birmingham pulled away with the Rovers midfield looking pedestrian and out of their depth.  It annoyed me to see players jogging behind Birmingham ball-carriers once they had lost possession, appearing to be oblivious to the desperate league position we find ourselves in.

So for the sixth time this season, Rovers had led only to take nothing from the game.  Its not a story of the season but it hasn't helped at all.  

Four wins from the next six?  Boy do Rovers have to improve if they are to achieve that!

Enjoy the game everyone!

Rovers v Blues

DONCASTER ROVERS
-V-

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Another big night at the Keepmoat and once again both sides will be after all the points for opposite reasons.  Birmingham still have a good chance of an immediate return to the top-flight.  Birmingham sit in 6th place with a game in hand on all rivals.  The 13 point gap to the automatic places is surely too much to make up before the end of the season, but the Blues will be sick as a parrot if they don't maintain that play-off place.

Rovers?  Well despite everything, amazingly they are still only 4 points away from safety with the 21st placed club, Bristol with a goal difference that is comparable to our shocking -30.  I've seen it as a season where sides just haven't wanted to get themselves safe.  Three of te bottom four look like going down, but Forest and/or Millwall could still yet be pulled back into the dogfight.

At St. Andrews, Rovers did not make a bad fist of it, and by all accounts were unlucky to lose by the odd goal in three.  Marlon King was our nemesis that night, netting twice to vastly reduce the importance of Marc-Antoinne Fortune's opener.  A good game, hopefully matched tonight with a better outcome!

DONCASTER ROVERS

Tuesday night's game was more like it!  Loads of effort from the Rovers and decent performances from the players who need to perform if we are going to pull off the great escape.  But it was only a draw.  A hard-earned, well deserved single point.  But well done all the same, especially to Chris Brown for coming off the bench after so long out and making a real impact.

All that hard was undone again by a simple mistake.  It was Adam Lockwood this time, losing possession on the edge of his own area to Wilfred Zaha of all people.   but if that was the story of our season, what followed wasn't.  Rovers kept going and got the point when Chris Brown turned in Diouf's header after it had come off a Palace defender.

Can Donny do it?  Well, I've been resigned to their fate for some time now.  We just cannot put together a consistent sequence.  But four other clubs haven't been able to do that either so, when we really should be dead and buried, we've still got a chance.  But that consistent run has to happen.  Now!

BIRMINGHAM CITY

A big side with lots to play for.  Just the way Rovers like them this season!  

I'd just settled down to watching 30 minutes of Birmingham v Cardiff when I realised that I didn't have that long.  So this summary is from the 5 minutes of highlights, which looked great incidentally.  

Has anybody every seen Chris Burke have a bad game?  He really showed up in this one against his former club.  His pace for the first goal, breaking from way within his own half was frightening and far too much for the left side of Cardiff's defence.  When he got to the byline, his pull back was perfect, Erik Huseklepp couldn't really miss.

It was also good to see former Rovers loanee, Jordan Mutch having a good game.  There was a good, long-range effort, not quite as far as the cracker he scored as a consolation for Rovers in a 4:1 defeat against Middlesborough, but good all the same.  Mutch also won a penalty with a strong run at the right side of the Cardiff defence.  Now that's something I don't remember from his Keepmoat days.

Defensively, Birmingham were making a hash of getting the ball away in the highlights I saw.  Anything long, into the box could end up half-cleared and coming straight back.  I also was smiling at the way the defence dropped back to guard the area, allowing the Cardiff midfield to play about 40 yards out.  I remember a team a couple of seasons ago who would have loved that sort of thing.

We can but hope we make hay with such behaviour tonight!  Enjoy the game everybody!

Saints v Sinners

SOUTHAMPTON

 -V-

DONCASTER ROVERS

Southampton, they're doing pretty well this season.  Leading the league, fantastic at home.  Thank goodness we're playing a team in form again.

Doncaster can't handle these sides who are allegedly not that good.  Their game is obviously designed to trip-up more cultured opponents so watch out Southampton.  This one is not 3-points in the bag!

Rovers did beat Southampton back in December of course.  Deservedly too as well by all accounts.  Billy Sharp grabbed the all important goal.  Let's hope that that is not the story tomorrow.

SOUTHAMPTON

He needs an opportunity to play but that's the competition we've got.

Billy was the top man at Doncaster but he's joined us - there are good players here - Nigel Adkins

By not playing Billy Sharp, a player who could, and (lets face it) sometimes did make the Rovers team by being able to walk on match day, the Saints are just showing off.  But that is the nature of the beast we face tomorrow.  They do have that strength in depth.  Billy will get his chance with the Saints and when he does, I'm fairly sure he'll take it.  

Well, time to depress myself and evaluate Southampton.  Going forward and you see why Billy isn't getting starts.  Guly Do Prado, Adam Lallana and of course Ricky Lambert are three very good reasons.  Do Prado fires in some great crosses for Lambert to feed on and Lallana arrives late behind that front pairing to great effect.  Really good to watch and very effective.

The Saints attack from everywhere though as the second goal scored against Hull in mid-week showed.  José Fonté broke through the defence and set up Jos Hoolveld to score.  Its not often you see two centre-backs combining like that!

While Hull didn't do badly against the Saints, Millwall really pushed them.  A few weaknesses in defence were shown up, most notably difficulties in dealing with Millwall's corners.  Unfortunately, I think Millwall pose a much bigger physical threat that Donny, but there were corners that were not well dealt with.  Millwall also caught Southampton a little narrow at times and put in some dangerous crosses in the process.  

But its small comfort.  The Saints move the ball so well and Rovers will need to be very aware of what the players off the ball are doing.  There's plenty of movement and plenty of ability to hit that movement from just about anywhere on the pitch.

DONCASTER ROVERS

Four points from safety with a game in hand - it's a miles better position than we were in a few months ago.  . Dean Saunders

Miles better?  Its better Dean but miles better?

Its been a week where Rovers' fans, if they are anything like me, have just been asking why?  West Ham and Reading, two sides who, along with the Saints, will be fighting for the automatic promotion places in May, were faced by a determined team with no lack of skill.  Derby and Millwall were faced by a bunch of individual woses who made schoolboy errors and really didn't want to be there.  Why?  That's what Dean has got to answer.  This sort of performance stops the team from progressing because they have to waste time in training re-doing basics that they should all know.

Dean hasn't pulled many punches in criticizing his team's schoolboy errors, but does he know why its happening.  I hope so and that he knows what to do about it.

I just watched the Millwall highlights, saw something and so went back and had a look at the Reading game.

Against Reading, a particularly desperate, but successful piece of defending saw the three defenders involved give each other a little pat on the back.  A great save from Ikeme earned him a pat on the head from Tommy Spurr.  Then against Millwall.  A bit of a tantrum in the defence after the first and third goals; a great save from Ikeme (every bit as good as the one against Reading) followed by a smart piece of defending from O'Connor and not one piece of acknowledgement between the players.  Are we only friends when we're winning?

Of course, I only see the briefest of highlights.  But I hear evidence of this in the commentary, Stick together lads.  Arguing amongst yourselves is certainly not going to help.

Anyway, we'll see what Saturday brings.  I wouldn't advise anyone to bet on the Rovers at the moment.  But I wouldn't bet against them either!

Enjoy the game everyone.

Donny v Millwall

DONCASTER ROVERS
V
MILLWALL

Looking at the table, its going to be three of the current bottom 6 who will face the drop in May.  A win for Millwall, and favourable results elsewhere may allow them to start breathing more easily.  A win for Rovers won't quite do that, but it could make things such that the game in hand can get us out of the bottom three.

Yes, this is a big game for both sides, and surely one of those games where both sets of fans are saying that they've got to be beating this opposition.

When we met at the New Den back in November Donny played and ultimately lost a game of "catch-up".  Millwall certainly deserved all the points that evening but at least Donny did enough to keep them honest.  The game ended with the Lions winning 3:2.

DONCASTER ROVERS

I don’t like to see Doncaster where they are at the moment because I had some fantastic years here and the fans were brilliant with me. It’s just a sad time to see them at the bottom of the Championship but there are 10 games to go and it is still tight so, hopefully, they can get out of it. - Paul Green (he's Donny and he knows it!)

We could use Greeny at the moment.  He'd become the 36th player in the squad but I reckon he'd get a game!  

So for me, this is it.  Not a MUST WIN for Rovers in terms of the Mathematics,  but a match against a team who Rovers can beat.  Games like this will determine our destiny this season. - FuzzyDuck (before the Derby game).

I know and I'm sorry.  I should keep my bill shut!  I'm totally wrong of course.  Our season will be determined by our getting unexpected points from the likes of Southampton and Reading.  They will make up for any slip-ups.

Dean - Stick or Twist?

It's bloody annoying though isn't it?  We were all delighted with 5 points from away fixtures at Forest and West Ham and a home draw against a Reading side unbeaten in eight.  Then against Derby, who, with all due respect, have been inconsistent and do not have so much to play for now, we don't show up.  Frustrating but its what football teams do.  One of my Twitter follower described her side as "worst boyfriend ever".  I see where she's coming from!

Certainly, Derby played well but they weren't really pressed too much.  Should the manager be criticized for not rotating his squad a bit more?  Well, it does make you wonder why there are 35 players in the current squad.

In the end, all I say is that of late, Rovers have been a lot better than they were on Saturday.  Let's hope it was an blip and that the performance level gets back to the Upton Park standard.  Then we just need to win a few more. Easy!

MILLWALL

We have Doncaster on Tuesday night, which is a massive game, so we can’t be too disappointed that this affects the rest of our week. - Kenny Jackett

I think Deano is likely to feel the same way as Kenny!

The Lions match on Saturday was a real gutter though.  2:1 up until the 85th minute against the league leaders and then they go and concede two penalties.  And I thought Rovers were annoying.  (We are, believe me, we've done similar lot of times this season, Lions).


So what went right / wrong.

In the "wrong" column, you have to say being very generous with space in and around the area.  On the penalties conceded, the first was clear although I think unfortunate for the defender as Lambert was brought down.   The second, a handball from a corner I could watch all evening and still not be sure one way or the other.  If he did handle it, it was a boneheaded thing to do at that stage in the game.

Andy Keogh - Making an Impact

What went right?  Andy Keogh is the first thing I would say.  Scored one by cleverly checking back causing the Southampton defence to over-run so he had time to pick his spot.  The Keogh was provider with a nice knock down from a corner for Paul Robinson to volley home.    


At the City Ground, against Forest the Lions lost 3:1.  Again that precious gift of space was offered to Forest's strikers, twice at the left-back position when a cross was played into from the far-side.  Forest's third was a great finish from distance but again, space was given.


Up front and Millwall can muscle their way through with the likes of Darius Henderson or they can play in with James Henry and Keogh.  They are a threat and the Rovers defence will certainly have their hands full.


In theory, this will be a more difficult game than Saturday.  Millwall have more to play for and will feel very aggrieved at having nothing to show for their hard work on Saturday.


But maybe Rovers like the more difficult games?


Enjoy the match everyone!

Rovers v Rams

DONCASTER ROVERS

 - V -

DERBY COUNTY

OK Derby fans you can blame me.  Its my fault. Shortly after we met back in August, I was asked by a fellow Blogger for my opinions on who was going up.  The first name I chose was Derby because they were going like a train at the time.  I thought that they were a very good bet and that they deserved it for keeping faith with Nigel Clough despite his not really meeting expectation for a club with Derby's following.

I am the world's worst tipster and never make any prediction on Rovers games.  What I did back at the start of the season was not done with any malice aforethought.  I just answered a direct question when asked.  I do apologize for your having another indifferent season Rams' fans.

Our meeting at Pride Park saw the Rams take on a sadly pathetic Rovers side who barely raised an attack over the 90 minutes.  3:0 was a fair and appropriate scoreline.

But that was then, when the Rovers squad was small and ravaged by injury.  Now the squad is huge and injuries are fewer.  Hopefully it will not be anywhere near as easy.

DONCASTER ROVERS  

I've had to give him a bit of stick actually because there's two sides to football - when you've got the ball and when you haven't got the ball.  I tried to coax him into doing the other side of the game, play like a team player and only use your talent when you need it. Dean Saunders on Giles Barnes

Giles Barnes - Getting Stick

Fair enough from Deano I think, and if he can get players with the talent of Barnes to start working more off the ball, he's onto a winner.

I have written Rovers off many times this season.  There is still a long way to go and we are a long way from "out of the woods".  However, it does look like at a very minimum, we're gonna go down fighting.  If its got to be, I wouldn't have it any other way.  But has it got to be yet?  Noooo!

We are now unbeaten in 5 and the last two, an away draw with the Hammers and putting an end to an 8-game 100% run built up by Reading have been excellent results.  In fact, of the current top 6, there is only Middlesbrough who haven't given us at least a point this season.  And we do have another chance against them.

Now, as much as I like being unbeaten, there is a problem,  We've only won two games since the turn of the year.  That is what has got to change if we are going to get out of this situation.   So I'll cheer, clap and celebrate those excellent points we have won against some of the better teams in this league.  But, no disrespect intended to Derby, they are not one of these teams.  Derby at home is exactly the sort of game that we must win to stay in the Championship.  Let's do that lads!

DERBY COUNTY

There's still a lot to play for this season, especially the issue of self pride, as we want to finish the season as high as we can and that means winning as many games as possible - Jason Shackell

What was the turning point of Doncaster's halcyon championship days, my Grandkids will ask me in the future and I will tell them our failure to sign Jason Shackell at the start of the 2010/11 season.  Since we failed to sign him, really, through no fault of our own, the struggles have started.

It's sad to hear that quote from Jason, I'd like to see him help a club to promotion and have a go in the top flight.

So, apart from my admiration of Jason Shackell, is there any one else at Pride Park worthy of comment.

Well Derby, of course did Rovers a great favour by beating Forest while we were getting that point against Reading.  I have a feeling that it was their pleasure to do so and we didn't need to ask, but another defeat for Forest was gratefully received.

The theme of the match for me was both teams struggling to deal with innocuous balls into the box.  Things that should have been cleared by both defences were causing more flapping than Bernard Matthews in Norfolk on 22nd December.  It was nice to watch from my point of view and the Rams should certainly consider themselves lucky that they are not visiting Reading, who's set-pieces in mid-week at the Keepmoat were excellent.

Against Watford and at first, I saw similar stuff.  Balls coming into Derby's box that they should have been dealing with but didn't.  This certainly caused the first goal they conceded.  So for Donny, I'm going to say gt it in quick and early, but vary the position.  The defence looks shaky when exposed to this kind of thing.

Going forwards, well, until the second half against Watford, I didn't see much.  But then all of a sudden, bang! some really great one-touch stuff that tore the Hornet's to shreds.  Sadly they didn't finish, but none the less it was impressive stuff.  Another day, Watford could have been well beaten.

So for me, this is it.  Not a MUST WIN for Rovers in terms of the Mathematics,  but a match against a team who Rovers can beat.  Games like this will determine our destiny this season.

Enjoy the match everyone.

Rovers v Royals

DONCASTER ROVERS

-V-

READING

Some of this article was written prior to the original date for this fixture. 


Do you know, I've had years of happy memories about this fixture for all the wrong reasons.  I have always thought that a mere duckling of 7 went to watch Donny for the first time in 1975, when we drew one-a-piece with the Royals.  Not so.  I wasn't there.  You see, when I look at that season, I see the following matches. 

• A 4-3 home win against Mansfield Town (who were crowned 4th division champions that season).
• A 4-7 (seven)   - call me the vidiprinter away defeat to Shrewsbury, who finished as runners-up.
• A 3-3 home draw to Exeter (a remarkable match which saw Rovers' 'keeper, Graham Brown carried off, injured with Rovers 2-0 down.  With the writing on the wall, Stan Brookes went between the posts and performed heroics allowing Donny to rescue the draw).

Nice though it would have been to say that I recollected these matches, I can only say that I have recollected the recollections of my elder brother.  His stories of these games persuaded me that I should be attending too.  And so, the next season, I did.  My first game being a 0-2 defeat to Cambridge United on the first day of 1975-76 season.  I have pinned it down further due to remembering witnessing a remarkable and unique achievement that happened at Donny a week or so later.

The late Chris Balderstone became the only man ever to participate in a 1st class cricket match AND a league football fixture on the same day.  He played for Leicestershire against Derbyshire and was 51 not out, when, at the end of play he drove up to Donny to don his boots and take on Brentford.  Remarkable!

Anyway, its a real shame that Reading were not, in fact, involved in my first ever experience of Doncaster Rovers.  This mistake has ruined my pre-match article.   I do apologise.

Tell you what, I'll get nostalgic about the fixture at the MadStad earlier this season.  A rare away match, let alone match for me these days.  A great day in the company of Canadian Rover, who, were it not for my intervention, would still be finding his way back home to Donny ;-)

DONCASTER ROVERS

 If we stay in the Championship we’re going to everything next season to be in the top six. - El Hadji Diouf

He's ducking mad!  But, I'll tell you what, when it comes to Donny, so am I and if Dioufy wants to join me in my madness, well, I bid him a warm welcome to Fuzzyland.  He can be my ambassador for sport.

The Rovers' revival has started.  We hope.  Unbeaten in four with one win and three draws.  OK, it should be unbeaten in 5 with at least three wins but I'm not going to let that detract from the last two outings.  We deservedly beat Forest at the City Ground and undeservedly left Upton Park with just the one point.  Belief and passion certainly seems to have been re-awakened in the Rovers squad.  Are we now playing the Dean Saunders' way, well, I think the jury is still out on that one but it's been better of late!


To some extent, we've been here before though.  Between November and January we notched up an unbeaten home run of 5 matches.  Southampton, Leicester and Barnsley were beaten while draws were notched up against Cardiff and Watford.  Not bad at all!  Admittedly, during this period, away form was terrible but we have had a little sunshine.


So why are we so hopeful now? Well, I think the first thing is that in the last four matches, Rovers have not been conceding like they were.  One goal a game in the last four compared with 1.7 prior to that.  We have also gone two games without throwing away points in the final minutes.  Yes, it got a bit close for comfort last Tuesday against Forest but we didn't and against West Ham, it was more likely that we would nick all three points towards the end than lose our hard-earned one.  


For me, that's the key really.  If we are to beat the Royals, there's got to be no stupidly deep defending without any outlets and no losing concentration in the last 10 minutes.  Then we just have to play well and its possible.

Reading

It's quite pleasing that Sharp has left because he's a good player. He's lively in the box and Southampton have made a good signing there - Alex Pearce

Going back to that early season game that I attended with Canadian Rover, I am certain he will testify to our hearing this.

We were made welcome by Reading fans and one of them definately said "If you can't beat us, you're in real trouble!".  Well, he was right.  We didn't beat Reading and we are in real trouble.  But by his rule, the same must be said for Bristol City, Middlesbrough, Burnley, Derby, Southampton, Palace, Birmingham, Ipswich, Peterboro', West Ham, Leeds, Brighton and Watford, who have all failed to beat Reading (sometimes twice) since we were defeated 2:0 at the MadStad.  Ironically, one of the teams who HAVE beaten the Royals is Nottingham Forest, who ARE in as much trouble than Rovers.  Aren't football fans funny folk?

Le Fondre - Is He Ex-Directory?

The match at the MadStad saw Adam Le Fondre score a debut goal, that must have been bliss for an ex-Miller.  Since then, Le Fondre has gone on to become the Royals' top scorer.  Adam was a player who was associated with a move to Donny for a long time.  What can I say, other than it seems that Willie McKay forgot to put Adam's number in his Nokia!


Along with Adam, there's Simon Church and Noel Hunt, players who have been performing at this level for years now.  Either one of them would probably get into the majority of championship teams.

Anyway,  lets have a quick look at what the third placed side in the league have to offer.


Well, with 8 runs in a row, Reading are the real form side at the moment.  Against Leicester, they used width really well, having a man over on either side of the attack on pretty much every move I saw.  Its a simple formula that requires good support of the frontmen from the midfield, never demonstrated better than by Mikele Leigetwood's great strike for Reading's first against the Foxes.  The use of wide-men means of course, that any over-hit cross or anything that goes across the area is coming straight back.  Very difficult to defend.


Against Portsmouth and it was more of the same.  So much of the trouble Reading cause comes from wide positions and stopping that from happening may be a key requirement for any team to succeed against them.  No way will that be easy though!


At the back? Well, Portsmouth hardly tested them and Leicester managed little more.  I saw David Nugent, who never struck me as the fastest of strikers simply run away from the right back so is there a question to be asked there?  Sadly for Rovers, that was seriously all I saw.


Big big ask for Rovers tomorrow evening as the Royals are beginning to rule the championship.