Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Leeds v. Doncaster Preview
Leeds v. Doncaster Preview
Friday, 18th Jan 2008 18:24

Leeds have no new injuries for the big derby with Doncaster Rovers, which should see a sell-out crowd and the return of Neil Sullivan.

Dennis Wise could well opt to name an unchanged side, which would mean home debuts for Peter Sweeney, Bradley Johnson and Darren Kenton. A win will take Leeds into second if Forest drop points and Leeds are expecting the third 30,000 plus crowd of the season.  Doncaster have sold their entire allocation of tickets for their cup final and Wise told the official site "There will be a lot of people there which is nice. "It's a derby game and we have to show the same attitude as we do in every game.

 

Rovers have lost just one of their last 16 league games, including four wins from the last five, which has helped them climb into fifth place in the table. Dennis Wise was singing their praises, “They are a decent side and it'll be a good game, and a difficult game. I watched them against Carlisle last weekend. They dominated and deserved to win the game. They're a well organised side. Sean O'Driscoll has done well with them. They're not in a false position.”

 

Meanwhile Doncaster Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll was looking forward to the chance to play such a massive club. He told the Doncaster Free Press "However much anyone might try to pretend otherwise this is not just another game. Leeds United are the biggest name in the division, they have a Premier League ground and Premier League support. But we have ambitions of our own and how we perform on the big stage on Saturday will be an indication of how well equipped we are when it comes to competing at a higher level”.

 

“We are all looking forward to this match. It was always going to be a big game and when the fixture list came out this was the date most people looked for first. But we are not just going for a day out to admire the surroundings. They are stronger than us numerically and in terms of experience, but I've got a group of talented players who are eager to show what they can do. If we play to our potential we are more than capable of winning the game”.

 

Neil Sullivan, of course, will return to Elland Road for the first time since he joined Doncaster during the summer. Wise admitted our former keeper will want to prove something, "He had his time here and I let him go. I didn't feel he would be good enough, but he wanted to prolong his career and he has. Good luck to him. He just felt he was capable of playing in goal for us, and I didn't. I told him at the time. I said 'you will probably be second or third (choice) goalkeeper here'. He was not happy with that and went off to Doncaster”.  Personally I think Wise was right, as Sullivan was slowing down towards the end of his time at Leeds, and he could have done better with Watford’s second goal in the play-off final.

 

Central defender Matt Mills has recently returned for a second loan spell from Manchester City, and he comes into the squad after impressing in training. Rovers will wait for late fitness checks on Midfielder Paul Green and winger Jason Price, as they recover from hamstring and knee injuries respectively.  Striker Paul Heffernan and captain Graeme Lee are back in training, but neither player is likely to be involved tomorrow.

It’s a tough game to call, but I reckon Leeds will scrape a win by the odd goal.

Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.


You need to login in order to post your comments

Bristol Rovers Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© FansNetwork 2024