“Peterborough are one up” announced a succession of West Stand voices, adding tension to the nervousness fuelled by an unconvincing opening quarter in which only the visitors had really threatened. Rovers defence opening up for Brandon Mason to thankfully showed a full-back’s instinct rather than a forward’s. Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers 2-0 Coventry City: 250 word match report”
I’m not a fan of video assistant referees (VAR). It’s merely technology for technology’s sake, like talking toilets on Virgin Trains. We’ve absolutely no real need for it, but someone with money thought it was a good idea, so now here we are, pissing into the mouth of Tomorrow’s World. Continue reading “Let’s get VAR, VAR away from here”
As I sit and write this editorial, Twitter and indeed much of the British media, is vehemently condemning the racist abuse of England’s footballers during the national team’s match in Montenegro. And rightly so. Continue reading “Editorial: calling out racism begins at home”
There are many reasons to like AFC Wimbledon as a club, but there plenty to dislike it as an away day; chiefly you can’t see a bloody thing from the away terrace, and not since Kingstonian were primary tenants have Rovers really performed at Kingsmeadow. Continue reading “AFC Wimbledon 2-0 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report”
Had this match been played out exclusively in the parts of the pitch that weren’t penalty area Rovers could be hugely satisfied, having moved the ball with a confidence that belied the divisional gap. But football doesn’t work that way and in the two 18-yard-boxes the clinical difference told; despite winning a dozen corners Rovers failed to test Wayne Hennessey, Palace were ruthless. Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers 0-2 Crystal Palace: 250 word match report”
Bosnia Herzegovina, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, USA, Deepdale. What connects these places? Well, the last one probably gave it away, but these are the dozen locations you would’ve needed to be in order to watch Rovers FA Cup match at Preston, live. Bumped 23 hours because supposedly the people of Skopje couldn’t get through a Burek brunch without Andy Butler heading everything in the background. Well, they’re only human. Continue reading “How do we solve a problem like the FA Cup?”
Fratton Park is one of those places that is eternally described as, and feels like, ‘a tough place to go’. It’s hard to know why, especially as going into this fixture Rovers had only suffered one defeat in their five 21st century visits to Portsmouth. Still, despite the favourable history, this was a point any Doncastrian would’ve readily accepted before kick-off. Continue reading “Portsmouth 1-1 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report”
This was a cup tie, a dictionary definition of barnstormer. What felt like the whole of Oldham crammed in the Keepmoat Stadium North Stand; the wider vista bereft of red seats. The tie no-one wanted had gripped two towns and from the first whistle to the last there was a noise in your ears that didn’t relent.
Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Oldham Athletic: 700 word match report”
Got a bit of a temperature? Find yourself inexplicably desperate to be in a hat? Can’t go outside without being hit in the head by a form book tossed from nextdoor’s bedroom? Yep, I’m afraid you’ve got Cup Fever, and the only known cure is to get yourself down to the Keepmoat Stadium for Rovers’ twenty-third consecutive FA Cup tie with Oldham. And good news, whilst you’re there you can get your hands on the latest issue of the double-award-winning popular STAND fanzine.
High among your fellow townsfolk, all in song; arms aloft, fists clenched, scarves twirling in the floodlight air, whilst down below your team – every one of them beaming – celebrate humbling loftier opposition. How could anyone ever suggest there’s no magic left in the FA Cup? Continue reading “Preston North End 1-3 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report”
