A new stadium for Nigel Clough’s and the travelling faithful. The Rams look to have sold out for the short trip up the M1.
Doncaster Rovers v Derby County
Coca Cola Championship
7:45pm 27th February 2009
Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster.
This is in spite of the Friday night fixture. Some of our travelling support is amazing.
Amazed is probably how many of the critics of Doncaster feel now. Predicted for the drop before a ball was kicked, they’ve surprised many a team and are currently on 40points only one behind us.
The reverse fixture was the opening game of the season for us and an organized and physical side beat the Rams far more convincingly than the 1-0 scoreline would suggest.
That game proved to be a flash in the pan as the next game won by Donny was in November against Ipswich and indeed the poor run continued into December seeing them hit rock bottom on the 20th after a defeat by Wolves.
They started their comeback at … the City Ground, Nottingham on Boxing Day being 4-0 up on the Trees before they even got out of the blocks. It’s been a difficult season for Forest.
Donny then went eight games undefeated before losing 3-1 to Villa in a cup replay and also managed 8 league games undefeated before losing by the same scoreline to Swansea last Saturday.
The game appears to have been bad tempered with Richie Wellens being sent off for two bookable offences and also being accused of spitting in the face of Swansea’s Leon Britton. Swansea defender Angel Rangel is also accused of throwing a punch at Wellens.
Meanwhile Rovers' James Coppinger was treated in hospital for concussion. The FA is to investigate.
Swansea manager Roberto Martinez said;
"It was the hardest game we've had this season. We went 1-0 down and were playing a side that I felt is the most confident side we have played at home.”
Nigel Clough should take note as Doncaster are one of the divisions form teams.
Wellens will miss the game due to his red card while James Coppinger and Matt Mills are expected to be fit.
Donny Facts
| No. Position Player |
| 1 GK Neil Sullivan |
| 2 DF James O'Connor |
| 3 DF Gareth Roberts |
| 4 DF Jos van Nieuwstadt |
| 5 DF Matthew Mills |
| 6 DF James Chambers |
| 8 MF Brian Stock |
| 9 FW Darren Byfield |
| 10 FW Gareth Taylor |
| 11 DF Adam Lockwood |
| 12 FW James Hayter |
| 13 GK Ben Smith |
| 14 FW Paul Heffernan |
| 15 MF Mark Wilson |
| 16 FW Dean Shiels |
| 17 MF Martin Woods |
| 18 DF Sean McDaid |
| 19 MF Richie Wellens |
| 20 MF John Spicer |
| 21 DF Sam Hird |
| 22 GK Kyle Letheren (on loan from Barnsley) |
| 23 MF Jason Price |
| 26 FW James Coppinger |
| 31 FW Tomi Ameobi |
| 32 FW Steve Brooker |
| Last 5 … |
| Aston Villa 3-1 Doncaster |
| Blackpool 2-3 Doncaster |
| Doncaster 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday |
| Doncaster 1-0 Bristol City |
| Swansea 3-1 Doncaster |
| Leading Scorers |
| Stock 5 lg 2 cup |
| Heffernan 6 |
| Coppinger 4 |
| Games Since |
| Clean sheet 1 |
| Goal 0 |
| Loss 0 |
| No score draw 15 |
| Score draw 45 |
| Win 1 |
The Rams
It looks like Nigel Clough has a bit of an injury crisis on his hands. Nacer Barazite, Miles Addison, Dean Leacock and Stephen Pearson definitely out, while Rob Hulse (hamstring), Jay McEveley (shoulder), Chris Porter (hip) and Luke Varney (ankle) are all doubtful.
The injuries to Hulse on top of the injury to Miles Addison has left the backbone of Nigel Clough’s squad looking threadbare. Addison was fitting in well at the back from his experience in midfield when he got injured. He looks doubtful for the rest of the season and given our paucity of players at centre half he’s one we can ill afford to lose.
Despite the usual assurances that the club is looking to add to the squad by the weekend, there’s still no sign of a centre half darkening the doors of Pride Park.
Hulse is another key injury and it’s to be hoped that he recovers quickly. Hulse could manage 20+ goals this season – something a lot of fans would have laughed at back in November.
Paul Green is in the Derby Evening Telegraph setting himself a target of double figures for goals. Green points out that the form of Robbie Savage Has freed him to get forward more supporting the front two and two recent goals have now taken his tally to six;
"My role has changed slightly since Robbie Savage has come in. I think I can get forward more often than not with Sav just sitting and being the ball-player. This lets me bomb on and help the front two out and try and get some goals. I am on six and there are 14 games left. I'd like to get to double figures because that would be my best return in a season.”
Maybe playing against his former team will bring a goal or two for Green?
Mick’s team Bywater, Connolly, Todd, Albrechtsen, Stewart, Savage, Green, Teale, Davies, Commons, Hulse
What the Bookies Think
William Hill have gone with the form book and have Donny at 6/5 while the Rams are at 9/5. The draw is at 11/5.
Paul Heffernan is favourite to score at 7/4 while Gareth Taylor and Darren Byfield are both at 15/8.
For the Rams you can get 7/4 on Rob Hulse and 2/1 on Nathan Ellington. You can get 6/1 on Gary Teale and 11/4 on Kris Commons.
Information for travelling fans
Driving: It’s just over 50 miles to Doncaster. Friday night traffic on the M1 is likely to be hell with roadwork’s around from J25. The advice on 606 is to avoid J25 to J28 and head north past Alfreton and join the M1 at J28.
Once on the M1, look for the Junction with the M18 and join the motorway. Once on the M18, leave at Junction 3. Footballgroundguide.com recommend that you pass a retail park on then left and then at the next island turn left into White Rose Way. The Lakeside Shopping Centre is now on your right (the stadium is located directly behind the shopping centre). At the next island turn right onto the industrial estate and after passing the Tesco distribution centre on your right, turn right at the bottom of the road and the stadium is further down on your left.
Parking: There is space for 1000 cars at the stadium so it’s pretty obvious that it will be first come, first served. There’s some very limited street parking and some of the firms on the industrial estates allow parking for £3-£4 but apparently don’t expect to be back in Derby for closing time.
Drinking: The following is from a friendly Doncaster fan and landlord courtesy of Popside.com:
My name is Andy; I am the Landlord of the Fitzwilliam Arms in Doncaster.
We are the second closest pub to the ground from town and only 5 mins walk from the train/bus interchange station, also only 15min walk to the Keepmoat.
We serve a great pint, have some lovely footie food (Home made steak pie, chips peas and gravy is the favourite) and large screen TV for live football.
(See Link below for location) Also think it's on your pubs to visit guide
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&sadd...e=UTF8&z=16
I have a large secure car park, FREE, and can accommodate up to 4 coaches and mini-buses if given advance notice.
So far we have had a good response from travelling fans with some great reviews on their sites.
Coaches will need to send company name and reg no. so that I can inform local police, who will allow coaches to park here with prior notice (Saves £25 on stadium price)
Mick’s Prediction
This will be a tougher game than many we've played in the last few weeks. I'd probably take a draw now to be honest but if we go out there and play as we can, there's no reason why we shouldn't get more.