This was the second time I’ve watched Rovers host MK Dons and today, as with that last time, I found myself gazing towards the away end wondering, ‘what did you all used to do of a Saturday afternoon?’ Are Milton Keynes’ garden centres in crisis? Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers 0-0 MK Dons; 250 word match report”
The weekend is almost here, and so we’re all excited at the prospect of football right? I mean what could be more thrilling than the prospect of a visit from the fallacy of a football club and shadow of credibility that is MK Dons? Especially coming as it does, on the back of two successive defeats? Wait, why are you crying? Where are you going? Come back, put that Radiohead CD down. Continue reading “popular STAND fanzine issue 72”
After accidentally buying a pair of kids’ gloves from the club shop, I arrived in the ground three minutes late, to be greeted by Jed Steer picking the ball out of the net and a huddle of celebrating blue shirts.
Rovers responded quite well and had most of the ball in the first half. Twice they came close to equalising; first when a goal mouth scramble saw a close range shot cleared off the line and secondly when some comedy goalkeeping from former Rover Gary Woods ended in the ball bouncing over his head only for Nathan Tyson to see his shot blocked.
Orient were dangerous on the counter attack, and worryingly still looked the more likely to score. Harry Forrester, already booked, was lucky to stay on the pitch after raising his hands following a bad tackle just before half time.
Ten minutes into the second half Forrester was duly hauled off for Kyle Bennett, and just as Rovers started to take control local boy Darius Henderson crashed a 25 yard strike past a despairing Steer.
The introduction of Curtis Main for Marc De Val on the hour mark added an attacking impetus but the best efforts of Jamie Coppinger, Richie Wellens, Tyson and Bennett were undermined by some comedy defending, particularly from the woeful (albeit out of position) Reece Wabara.
A couple of late Bennett pot shots and a half-hearted appeal for a penalty for hand-ball were ultimately all Rovers had to show for another disappointing night.
by Rob Johnson
Fleetwood Town’s Highbury makes me ponder what Belle Vue might have now looked like, if some money had been chucked at it. It’s a ground that screams ‘non-league’, although that might just be the wind bouncing off the Irish sea – football grounds do of course not have the ability to vocalise, let alone make critical judgements – even if it’s obviously been quite significantly scrubbed up on Fleetwood’s astonishing charge up the leagues. Continue reading “Fleetwood Town 3-1 Doncaster Rovers; 250 word match report”
WELLENS MAKES BREWERS DROOP
The last time Rovers played a competitive away match against Burton Albion, the game was played at the old Eton Park ground, now a housing estate, and Mitchell Lund was a six-year-old boy growing up in Leeds. Tonight young Lund made an assured senior debut for Rovers as they progressed in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy with a 3-0 victory over their hosts at the Pirelli Stadium. However, it was one of Rovers’ veterans who stood out, Richie Wellens giving a dominant display in midfield.
After a quiet opening, Rovers began to take charge and went ahead after 33 minutes. Good build-up down the right ended when James Coppinger pulled back a cross which struck a defender and fell for Harry Forrester to shoot home emphatically. They doubled their advantage on 42 minutes when Mousinho felled Nathan Tyson in the area and the striker got up to slot home the penalty. Burton made changes at the break and around the hour mark they enjoyed a brief spell of dominance. Blyth headed over the bar when well placed and then sprang the offside trap only to drill a low shot wide.
Stung by this, Rovers began to pick up the pace again and with Wellens pulling the strings Forrester forced a smart save from Lyness. With three minutes left Wellens got the goal his evening’s work merited. Substitute Theo Robinson won the ball and fed the rampaging midfielder who clipped the ball over Lyness to complete the scoring.
by John Coyle
I offered to write this before I knew my view of the left flank would be obscured by an iron girder, so can only imagine what Reece Wabara did in the first half.
Eight minutes in Rovers’ second corner was celebrated enthusiastically by the travelling support, who let off a smoke bomb. I always think corner number five is the one worth getting worked up about, myself.
On twenty minutes a scramble in the Scunthorpe box saw an effort by Harry Forrester blocked, hooked clear and suddenly Rovers were outnumbered at the back, however Jed Steer made a breathtakingly good save, full-length to his right.
Shortly after, in worryingly similar style, one pass unlocked Rovers’ defence, one turn lost three defenders and Rory Fallon’s accurate daisy-cutter nestled in the bottom corner. It wasn’t totally undeserved.
Rovers soon woke up and when Scunthorpe failed to clear a corner Jamie Coppinger swivelled and hooked home in super slow-motion to equalise. Behind the girder I imagine Dickov and Horton celebrated with some tag-team break-dancing.
Into the second half and Furman won a crunching tackle in the middle, drove forward and played a perfectly weighted pass for Tyson who finished like Thierry Henry.
Rovers dominated for the remainder, but Scunthorpe still produced one or two heart in mouth moments highlighting that defensively we are still frail. Overall, a deserved victory, with some outstanding individual displays and neat one touch football to get excited about. Marc de Val is ace and, today, so was Furman.
by Dan Jennings
Sometimes 250 words is more than you could ever need. Rovers offered the square root of nothing as they failed to get a foothold of any kind in this game whilst a Walsall side – uninspiring but effective – took control without having to break sweat.
The first half passed with all the excitement and event of a tax self-assessment – forty-five minutes without a shot on any sort of target. Luke McCullough manfully stifled Tom Bradshaw, Rovers failed to support the hard-working but isolated Theo Robinson.
But then in injury-time came the breakthrough, a neatly worked free-kick caught Rovers napping and James Baxendale skipped in to drive a shot past Marko Marosi. The Slovakian keeper, on for the injured Jed Steer would do little but fetch the ball from his net all afternoon.
Second-half, and despite a couple of tactical shifts from Paul Dickov, anything approaching conducive threatening play evaded Rovers whilst Walsall took advantage of the gaps left by absent full-backs; Sawyer getting his second assist of the game to find the unmarked Bradshaw for 2-0.
A free-kick in off the post made it 3-0 and the game was over. Alex Peterson went on to run around in the vague vicinity of Robinson, but nothing changed. The quality and promise of Fulham evaporating into the exhaust fumes of the adjacent M6 traffic with every passing minute.
by Glen Wilson
Craven Cottage is a lush away day. It’s got heritage, tradition, good burgers and it’s ten minutes away from my missus’ house. After a win at the weekend and with the memory of Watford away still fresh, I had high hopes for this one.
First half was one to forget, it was stale but we could have easily gone in three down. This was due to a frail defence and a lone striker acting like a dog fetching sticks. If Fulham had a little more panache the game would have been over after the first thirty minutes.
During the second half break Paul Dickov must have read my article advising that we play two upfront and get Forrester involved, because low and behold Theo Robinson came on for Richie Wellens and Harry Forrester replaced Kyle Bennett, who I hadn’t even realised was on the pitch. Coincidence?
Cue second half revival. The boys passed the ball with an eye on making chances. Nice triangle passing in and around the box before Coppinger netted and we were on for a comeback. Robinson received a luscious ball at the back post that was intercepted by a Fulham hand. Penalty awarded. Penalty squandered. Good save, but weak penalty.
It was a match of two halves, they deserved to be two up in first half, we deserved to score two in second, but that’s football. Tyson off in injury time, think it was a head injury. Coppinger man of the match by a country mile.
by Jack Peat
A pleasantly mild but satisfyingly moist afternoon greeted the teams like a buxom barmaid, eager to please. Rovers’ recent form has been fairly flaccid, but after a quick toss the match started with Rovers – kicking towards the North Stand’s seething Chesterfield mass – passing it about like Milan in the late 80s.
Six minutes on the watch and Rovers were ahead; Nathan Tyson pouncing on a rebound.
Midway through the half Saturday Santa was spotted on his way to the toilet, unbuttoning his pockets as he went.
On thirty-three minutes it was 2-0, thanks to a gazelle-like Richie Wellens crossing for Kyle Bennet to crash in off the crossbar.
In the half’s dying embers Chesterfield were all over Rovers like a cheap suit and Sam Clucas pulled one back whilst the linesman looked sheepishly on.
Half-time and pork pies all round.
James Coppinger was always a threat, hugging the touchline like DLT at Granada Studios, and on forty-nine minutes rattled the post with a rasping drive.
Shortly after it was 3-1; Jamie McCombe reacting first to stab home after good work from Coppinger.
Chesterfield were back in it on the hour, the prolific Eoin Doyle prodding home an almighty scramble.
The Spirerites’ tails were really wagging and the final ten minutes were as exciting as you could hope for with both sides pressing for another goal.
A wasted chance at the death didn’t enhance Theo Robinson’s reputation, but Rovers had their win and Paul Dickov’s hair was safe for another week.
by Stu Leyland
In general, a night of frustration from Rovers and two points dropped rather than one gained against Crawley’s direct style. I say ‘from Rovers’, for the players appeared as frustrated as those in the stands.
Doncaster looked to have learned the key lessons from Saturday’s defeat; cut out the mistakes and stop Harry Forrester getting sent off.
However, this fear of making a mistake, along with Crawley’s insistence on keeping eight behind the ball delivered a dull first half.
Between the head-tennis, Jamie Coppinger and Kyle Bennett looked lively, but play was slow and lacked quality in the final third, with the loudest cheer generated by the ball being hoofed over the East Stand roof.
The second half was much the same, with Rovers’ taking more of a foothold over time. Theo Robinson is a trier, but one coated in Teflon; a poor pass or touch, too often breaking Rovers’ build up, with Coppinger twice visibly cursing the number nine.
The match required some magic, a game changer. And so to the last five minutes, where Rovers finally laid siege, with a crispness and an urgency that had been missing all night. Reece Wabara’s deep cross found Robinson; his point blank header saved brilliantly by Jamie Ashdown. Coppinger drilled low, this time Ashdown parried, and Robinson hit the rebound into the prone keeper. A cracking double save, but he should’ve scored.
A positive, but ultimately disappointing night – how we could’ve done with Harry.
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