I.Saw's Match Report - And They Sang "Buxton For England"
Sunday, 18th Mar 2012 15:18 by I.Saw

The worry that the Rams may be flat after such a high during the week were misplaced - Derby outclassed Doncaster in a clash where the final score did not truly represent the visitor’s dominance.

Doncaster 1 vs. 2 Derby

Keepmoat Stadium

17th March 2012

Attendance:

9,791 (1,777 Derby County Supporters).

Referee:

D.Coote

The Teams:

Derby County:

Fielding (GK); Naylor, Buxton, Shackell, Roberts; Green, Hendrick, Bryson, B. Davies; Robinson (S. Davies 90), Ball (Tyson 79).

Unused Substitutes: Legzdins (GK), Bailey, Carroll.

Goals: Robinson (13’), Roberts (55’)

Doncaster Rovers:

Ikeme (GK); Chimbonda, Beye, Martis (Hird 68), Spurr; Gillett, Bennett, Barnes (Hayter 87); Diouf, Piquionne, Coppinger.

Unused Substitutes: Oster, Woods, Illunga.

Goals: Diouf (67’)

Match Stats: Doncaster – Derby

Possession: 48% - 52%

Shots On Target: 4 - 8

Shots Off Target: 4 - 0

Corners: 1 - 11

Fouls: 12 - 13

Most Fouls: Diouf (5) - Bryson (3)

Yellow Cards: 1 - 0

I.Saw’s Match Report:

Some days you have to go that extra mile. Doncaster was one such day.

Research beforehand thoroughly completed and so it was the Cask Corner Dive Bar to sample an Imperial Stout and an Imperial Blonde. As good as the dark side was, the light shone through, both beers from the Imperial Brewery in Mexborough recently awarded top prizes at the Sheffield Beer Festival.

As the second pint was settling, and cobs the size of Barm Cakes were being brought in with the landlord’s permission from the café opposite, news came through that Our Manager wanted eleven points out of the next ten games. Talk about the height of depression.

Overwhelming beer versus the prospect of underwhelming football! Cursing the fact we had tickets we left.

And so to the Keepmoat Stadium, expectations previously played down suddenly surge as the team selection appears. Paul Green is in midfield. Blink and you’ll miss it. We wait for the ticker to come again. It does, it’s the same. One word. Yes!!!

Game underway and the good natured travelling fans early singing of choice is “Buxton for England”, Jake runs around terrifically and almost scores at the far end away from the supporters. Jason Shackell stays back for the series of corners which at least allows our Mansfield lad to escape from the embarrassment for a short while.

Next target though is Dean Saunders. He duly responds with a wave to the 1,777 behind the goal before turning away to watch the game and perhaps hope the home supporters might pick that little ditty up sometime soon.

Soon enough we take the lead, a long hoof or world class wonder ball from hero Buxton depending upon your viewpoint, is perfect for Theo Robinson to run on to.

Run on he does and without a stop, a turn, or even a thought of hesitation he chips the ball imperiously over the outrushing Carl Ikeme to give the Rams the lead. A wonderful superb goal worthy of an international stage, if only we knew which country Robinson was eligible for.

We don’t, and the moment passes, which is possibly just as well, as you can only embarrass so many people in one day. Well unless you’re Engelbert Humperdinck and you are about to go on stage at the Eurovision Song Contest but that’s another story.

Actually at this point in the interests of fairness, should anybody find themselves at a loose end on the 26th May forthcoming then Arnold Dorsey, or Engelbert as his fans know him, is set to become the oldest male singer ever to take part at Eurovision aged 76.

He was set to become the older singer but upon hearing of Britain’s plan, those crafty Russians rolled out a female by the name of Natalya Pugachyova who’s appearing in a “group” no less, perhaps a bit like Lieutenant Pigeon who featured a sixty year old Hilda Woodward, mum of group creator Rob, on piano in their hit “Mouldy Old Dough”. Where would we be without our Mothers?

Mother Russia though taking our titles, it’s fighting talk and in the old days we’ve possibly being to war over less slights than this.

Those in the know don’t cross our boy Humperdinck, who allegedly was wanted by Damon Albarn to sing on a Gorillaz track, Engel’s manager didn’t think it appropriate and when “The Man” found out he sacked him there and then.

Engel who has been awarded the freedom of Leicester says this about his fans "They are very loyal to me and very militant as far as my reputation is concerned". That’s it then; we can expect an invasion sometime early June if the Russians don’t pull out.

Pulling the ball out of the back of the Ikeme has a different way of hiding embarrassment. Despite making his tenth appearance of the season in goal for Doncaster Rovers he still can’t get his name on the back page of the match day magazine where they list the teams. Bit like it was in the old days trying to earn a “cap” with Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Eee by gum.

Gums showing, jaw dropping, Frederic Piquionne cannot believe he hasn’t scored. El Hadji Diouf roasts full debutant Tom Naylor and picks out his partner with accomplished ease. A thunderous header looks destined for the back of the net only for Frank Fielding to catch the ball almost behind his head such was the power of the shot.

You could almost see the thoughts as the wide eyed open mouthed striker stood transfixed. “How did he save that” “It was over the line ref” or perhaps even “How can any of those Derby fans not buy a season ticket when somebody that good rings them up”.

On which subject our club must be getting desperate, after one “Shaun Barker”, three “Fun time Frankies” - I’m now actually getting real people ringing me up asking when I’m renewing. If only they didn’t do it at tea time when I’m about to eat. Or when I need a toilet break, or when I’m comfortably sitting watching TV.

I mean after you’ve paused the box got up and answered the phone you’re hardly in the mood for dancing should it be the Nolan Sisters on the phone let alone blowing over £400 to watch a team whose managers expectations are 11 points from 10 matches that’s a no no.

No more goals in the first we wait till ten minutes in the second. It’s worth waiting for.

Green in an advanced position cuts the ball back to Craig Bryson. Bryson edge of the box returns the pass; we inwardly groan; it’s too hard. Fractions of a second later we spot what Bryson did, Gareth Roberts, it’s an inch perfect pass. Roberts coolly slots the ball home and we lead by two clear goals.

Vision and finishing like that you gladly pay money to watch.

Watching the time roll away we see the Rams, 4-5-1, Ball the sole striker.

Giles Barnes beats Buxton in the air and El Diouf swivels like a well oiled caster and fires the ball into the back of the net to give Doncaster hope.

We sit back, Nathan Tyson a centre forward who struggles to win the ball in the air even when unchallenged replaces Ball and Steve Davies sees off Robinson. Collectively the Rams see off the Vikings in unconvincing style.

Three more points then. Now we only need eight points from nine matches.

Positives:

Green back in midfield, although right sided it’s a start. Naylor who got caught a couple of times but always looked to play the ball rather than just give it a big boot. In fact the back four with defenders in their rightful positions looked more solid.

Negatives:

Failing to finish Doncaster off, sitting back, 4-5-1, hitting the aerial ball to a player who makes Alan Hinton look like Jeff Astle in the air.

Afterwards Our Manager on the radio talked about few incomings in the close season, possibly one or two central defenders and that a contract for Green is possibly out of reach.

Roll up, roll up. “Get Your Season Tickets Here” the clarion call muted beyond belief.

Brighton away Tuesday! Am I going? I’ll save my money thanks.

Manager’s Reaction:

Nigel was thrilled with his teams efforts:

"To have claimed six points in a week - including nine points from a possible 12 - is brilliant and we're thrilled with all three points today. After such a hard fought game in midweek against Forest we were worried how much it would have taken out of the players and it could have been 'after the lord mayors show' today, but they started brilliantly and deservedly got the lead early on through Theo."

"The players we have here are honest and we couldn't have asked for any more from them. They didn't want to let all the hard work we put in against Forest come undone and with almost 2,000 supporters roaring us on we knew they wouldn't let us down."

"Our performance today merited the three points and the only downside was conceding a goal in the second half, but after that we held on and saw the game out very well."

"The goal lifted Doncaster and with their Premier League experience I thought we dealt with it very well and Frank Fielding was untested late on - and it was great to see Tom Naylor perform so well on his full debut in a solid defensive display."

"We couldn't score to save our lives a few weeks ago but we've scored in our last five matches and it's nice to be in goal scoring form again. The quality of our goals was superb today. Theo's was a fine piece of skill as he had a lot to do on the run while Gareth's was a wonderful team goal, rounded off with a fine finish. In fact, the build-up was as good as you'll see anywhere and there hasn't been a more deserving player than Gareth to get on the scoresheet because his performances have been outstanding for months."

"It's great to go past 50, so now we're looking to step it up and try to reach 60 if we can. We've got a tough week coming up against Brighton on Tuesday and Crystal Palace on Saturday - so we'll take it one step at a time."