Sky Bet League One
Saturday 7th August 2021
As I walked towards the Keepmoat Stadium at around a quarter to three yesterday afternoon, I was hardly optimistic about a positive outcome for Doncaster Rovers.
Though pre-season friendlies are just essentially glorified training sessions in a match environment, the performances in those games didn't exactly fill me with confidence. The noises made by new manager Richie Wellens in the press over the past week or so have hardly been uplifting either and it's very apparent that operating on a shoe-string is the way the current owners want to run this football club - despite there being a clear perception to many the current squad lacks depth, not to mention injuries or the farcical finish to 2020/21 which is still lingering over the club like a bad fart.
I was hoping for something to be encouraged about and though there were tiny snippets of positivity to emerge such as the individual performances by new 'keeper Pontus Dahlberg or what Ben Close, Kyle Knoyle or even goalscorer Charlie Seaman offered at times, the fact is that as a collective unit Rovers were second best for 75% of the game to a perhaps slightly under-rated but very well-drilled Wimbledon side.
The Dons (and not Doncaster, nor the local rugby team) deserved to win and what I saw just re-iterated my belief that this could be a long, tumultuous season with plenty of problems yet to unfold.
Having already survived a few 'heart in mouth' moments in the first half - including Ayoub Assal's gilt-edged chance when he was denied by Dahlberg who read the situation well, or when Matt Smith opted to pass dangerously back to the Swedish 'keeper under pressure from inside the six-yard box, it was perhaps surprising when Rovers took the lead through Seaman immediately after half-time.
It proved to be a false dawn though because Rovers were coming under increasing pressure by the time Wimbledon equalised just before the hour mark. Tom Anderson failed to clear the danger on the edge of his own box which resulted in a ball being slipped through to Assal who sprung the offside trap, was unmarked as he advanced, and ultimately finished with aplomb. My 'gut instinct' screamed 'offside' (and, furthermore, the whistle could have been blown in either favour for one or two offences during the build up anyway) but having seen the footage back, Assal actually seemed onside as he was put through.
The warning signs were already there but Wellens' team couldn't do anything to heed them and ultimately ended up going behind. Having conceded a free-kick right on the edge of the box for a deliberate handball (which was the correct decision as, despite being on the deck, Matt Smith purposely moved his arm/shoulder towards the ball to block an intended pass), Luke McCormick powerfully slammed the resulting set-piece into the bottom corner to send the Wimbledon fans directly behind the goal into delirium.
Rovers thought they should have had a penalty of their own pretty much straight from the re-start as a powerful shot was blocked by a defender with screams for a handball - mostly by those in the South Stand behind that goal. Thereafter, things were just a bit too comfortable for the visitors as they did their jobs cleanly, efficiently and deserved to win - it was hardly a grandstand finale and the proverbial kitchen sink never even looked like it would be found by those in red shirts during the closing minutes, let alone thrown at the Dons.
Whilst Wellens was correct with what he said in one of his post-match interviews that several players were making their debuts for DRFC - hinting that it will take time for this team to gel, it's still an excuse when reality bites. Nor does it hide the fact that improvements are needed - not just with displays on the pitch but from those off it making important decisions too!
With games against Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and Rotherham United coming up in the next couple of weeks - teams which many people would expect to be challenging for the play-offs (as a minimum) this term, the required improvements will have to become apparent quickly or the extremely early league table could look quite depressing!
A victory over 'Mr Aloof' and his Sheffield Wednesday team next Saturday would be pleasing for all sorts of different reasons but for that to happen, things need to be a whole lot better!
I was hoping for something to be encouraged about and though there were tiny snippets of positivity to emerge such as the individual performances by new 'keeper Pontus Dahlberg or what Ben Close, Kyle Knoyle or even goalscorer Charlie Seaman offered at times, the fact is that as a collective unit Rovers were second best for 75% of the game to a perhaps slightly under-rated but very well-drilled Wimbledon side.
The Dons (and not Doncaster, nor the local rugby team) deserved to win and what I saw just re-iterated my belief that this could be a long, tumultuous season with plenty of problems yet to unfold.
Having already survived a few 'heart in mouth' moments in the first half - including Ayoub Assal's gilt-edged chance when he was denied by Dahlberg who read the situation well, or when Matt Smith opted to pass dangerously back to the Swedish 'keeper under pressure from inside the six-yard box, it was perhaps surprising when Rovers took the lead through Seaman immediately after half-time.
It proved to be a false dawn though because Rovers were coming under increasing pressure by the time Wimbledon equalised just before the hour mark. Tom Anderson failed to clear the danger on the edge of his own box which resulted in a ball being slipped through to Assal who sprung the offside trap, was unmarked as he advanced, and ultimately finished with aplomb. My 'gut instinct' screamed 'offside' (and, furthermore, the whistle could have been blown in either favour for one or two offences during the build up anyway) but having seen the footage back, Assal actually seemed onside as he was put through.
The warning signs were already there but Wellens' team couldn't do anything to heed them and ultimately ended up going behind. Having conceded a free-kick right on the edge of the box for a deliberate handball (which was the correct decision as, despite being on the deck, Matt Smith purposely moved his arm/shoulder towards the ball to block an intended pass), Luke McCormick powerfully slammed the resulting set-piece into the bottom corner to send the Wimbledon fans directly behind the goal into delirium.
Rovers thought they should have had a penalty of their own pretty much straight from the re-start as a powerful shot was blocked by a defender with screams for a handball - mostly by those in the South Stand behind that goal. Thereafter, things were just a bit too comfortable for the visitors as they did their jobs cleanly, efficiently and deserved to win - it was hardly a grandstand finale and the proverbial kitchen sink never even looked like it would be found by those in red shirts during the closing minutes, let alone thrown at the Dons.
Whilst Wellens was correct with what he said in one of his post-match interviews that several players were making their debuts for DRFC - hinting that it will take time for this team to gel, it's still an excuse when reality bites. Nor does it hide the fact that improvements are needed - not just with displays on the pitch but from those off it making important decisions too!
With games against Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and Rotherham United coming up in the next couple of weeks - teams which many people would expect to be challenging for the play-offs (as a minimum) this term, the required improvements will have to become apparent quickly or the extremely early league table could look quite depressing!
A victory over 'Mr Aloof' and his Sheffield Wednesday team next Saturday would be pleasing for all sorts of different reasons but for that to happen, things need to be a whole lot better!
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