Doncaster Rovers 1-3 Plymouth Argyle

Doncaster Rovers 1-3 Plymouth Argyle

Sky Bet League One

Saturday 29th January 2022

Although Doncaster Rovers didn't perform too badly, this was a game which still ended in an all too familiar tale of defeat - something which has to change soon if a miraculous (albeit highly unlikely) 'Great Escape' is to materialise.

The game also saw the 1,000th goal in a competitive DRFC fixture at the Keepmoat/Eco-Power Stadium; scored by Joe Edwards which put Argyle ahead just past the hour mark.

Rovers could, and probably should, have achieved a result - especially after Branden Horton's opener put them ahead. They ought to have capitalised on Argyle's extremely sluggish start and put the ball in the back of the net on two or three occasions by the point where Luke Jephcott stabbed a shot past Louis Jones to equalise after Niall Ennis beat Oli Younger and delivered a teasing cut-back.

Even at 1-1, whilst the visitors were probing dangerously at one end, Donny had chances at the other - notably as Tommy Rowe had a goal disallowed for a debatable offside (which could have been Goal Number 1,000) and then, more glaringly, as Joseph Olowu somehow contrived to stab an effort over from only a couple of yards out with practically the last kick of what was an absorbing 45 minutes - described by some as the most entertaining they've seen this season.

And even at 2-1 down - despite a few comments that heads went down, Rovers still conjured up some decent chances as one effort ricocheted just over the target within a minute of the re-start following Plymouth's second goal, whilst Tommy Rowe struck a post when his vicious attempt could just as easily have ended up in the back of the net instead.

Granted though, when Jordon Garrick made it 3-1 with less than a quarter-of-an-hour to go, that was it - and a good performance again resulted in zero points and one less game to play in the bid for survival.

As the old adage goes: 'When you're down at the bottom, you just don't get lucky breaks' and that statement, to some extent, fits well with the story of this game - though there can't be any denying that Plymouth are a good team (better than I expected them to be) who have credentials to not only achieve a Play-Off spot, but to also give Chelsea a run for their money in their FA Cup meeting tie next Saturday.

Argyle's transitions and movement of the ball was a pleasure to watch. They had lots of energy and rhythm, worked the ball out wide quickly, used the width on several occasions to get in-behind and deliver cut-backs which caused danger, pressed well, and they're a very good team. Jordan Houghton, Niall Ennis and Connor Grant (three players who've ironically been at DRFC in the past) all put in good displays, they had three different goalscorers and Leyland's finest ever sportsman - and the most down to earth bloke on the planet, Danny Mayor, added a different dimension to their attack when he came on for the second half.

That said, the efforts from those wearing red were certainly appreciated by many fans in the West Stand who stood and applauded the team off the pitch at half-time. That kind of support is needed over the remaining 18 games, just as much as the type of performance (albeit with better finishing) has to be replicated too, but the good aspects of the performance is testament to the hard-work and dedication that Gary McSheffrey has put in to rebuild, repair and reshape the team in recent weeks.

With the tough run of fixtures ahead - including facing two of the top three in the next seven days, it's hard to envisage where points are going to come from in the immediate-term, but whatever people think of the board of directors at the club and their 'commitment' towards Doncaster Rovers, nobody can deny this team is in a better shape now than it's been at any point for several months - and certainly than it was at any point under Richie Wellens' reign.

Despite the likelihood being that too much irrecoverable damage has already been done in terms of the points deficit (and the blame for that lies with the previous manager), there are positives to be had - and if the new-look team can somehow claw back some of that 10-point deficit from safety prior to the game at AFC Wimbledon in February, maybe, just maybe, there is a glimmer of hope. That trip to Plough Lane already has all the hallmarks of a six-pointer and one where Rovers have to come out on top if they're going to pull off what would be a miraculous escape.

There's going to be games in the coming weeks, however, where things don't gel and the performance isn't great - and that'll be the case with nearly every team which has such a big turnover of players in a single season. Already, debuts for this term are already getting close to 1997/98 and 2011/12 numbers - both of which were traumatic and tumultuous seasons, but my hope is the majority of fans are able to see the bigger picture, see the positives, see the identity which Gary McSheffrey is trying to create and buy into the project regardless of whether the battle to stay in League One ends in success or failure.

With Omar Bogle (a top guy who was brilliant with the Under 18s during the whole 'exiled' episode) having now joined Hartlepool United, Tiago Cukur back at Watford, and Jordy Hiwula out of the picture at present, it's a shame some of the 'boo boys' have turned their attentions towards Louis Jones and want to pick fault with every goal he concedes, every clearance he makes and every decision he makes.

Some criticism for every player is justified; some of it is ridiculous at times and the lads as a whole need, and deserve, fans' support. Deriding individuals will achieve nothing good.

I'm certain the players appreciated the half-time applause and a positive, noisy, encouraging and passionate environment with no squawking is the way to success - and that type of uplifting atmosphere will no doubt make things harder for the opposition in the 'must win' home games that are coming up!

Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 2-0 Scunthorpe United (U18s)

Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 2-0 Scunthorpe United (U18s)

EFL Youth Alliance

Saturday 29th January 2022

In a game which was heavily impacted by ridiculously strong winds, Doncaster Rovers' youth team once again found a way to come out on top - making it back-to-back victories with a 2-0 success over Scunthorpe United at Cantley Park.

Up against the elements for the opening 45 minutes, Rovers produced what was very much a 'backs to the wall' performance in order to be on level terms at half-time with 'keeper Tom Chambers pulling off a key save in a one-on-one situation deep into injury-time.

The second half showing was more adventurous than being forced to just defend, and after both a visiting defender had hooked a clearance onto his own crossbar and Jack Raper's inswinging free-kick struck a post, the breakthrough materialised when in-form talisman Jack Goodman ruthlessly beat the Iron 'keeper having been put through by substitute Owen Scattergood.

Goodman, the Under 18s' current top scorer and undoubtedly one of the most in-form and prolific marksmen across the division right now, then doubled the lead on 79 minutes to effectively put the result to bed with first-year Jak Whiting claiming the assist.

Rovers' overall showing again had plenty of positives. It wasn't pretty - and the taking of goal-kicks certainly weren't easy, but the character, discipline and desire to find a way to win in atrocious conditions couldn't be faulted, the game-management was a real plus point, the effort and concentration levels were very high throughout the game, and everyone made positive contributions on an occasion where it would have been easy to go into hiding, blame the weather or find some other excuse.

Registering a second successive clean-sheet should breed confidence - especially as that's been something of a problem in the past 18 months, and if it doesn't then the lads can take pride in the fact they've now moved into the top half of the EFL Youth Alliance (North-West) table. 

Furthermore, they've also completed the 'derby double' over Scunthorpe for this term - having come from behind to win the reverse fixture, 3-2, back in August, and are making lots of progress.

Match Report

Back on home soil for a Youth Alliance game for the first time in what feels like ages, Rovers made five changes from the team which won 1-0 at Mansfield Town last week.

Two of those were enforced as defender Bobby Faulkner was absent as his loan at Frickley Athletic finally got underway, as was 'keeper Luke Chadwick who has joined Sheffield FC on work experience for a month. The duo were replaced by Charlie Petch and Tom Chambers, respectively, whilst Faris Khan (for Corie Cole), Alex Wolny (for Owen Scattergood) and Alex Fletcher (for Tom Parkinson) were the other changes to the starting xi.

In a positive move, the game was played on grass at Cantley Park which makes a significant difference in comparison to playing on 4G at the Keepmoat - which has been the case for the best part of the last 18 months. It was also particularly appreciated by myself as it avoided glancing over my shoulder and seeing a massive hill and potentially having flashbacks to last week's shenanigans!

Even for someone with a ripped physique (such as myself), however, the winds were that strong and constant that it blew me off my feet a few times and resulted in one of those days where both teams had to battle intensely against the elements as much as anything.

Rovers played against the gale-force conditions for the first 45 minutes and Scunthorpe, who are always a decent team at this level, unsurprisingly had more possession and knocked the ball around quite well.

That said, it was still Doncaster who managed to fashion the first proper opportunity not long after the quarter-hour mark.

Faris Khan has been in good individual form since the resumption of games a couple of weeks back. He bagged an impressive solo goal in a friendly last week and went on another mazy run here, showing quick, tricky and clever footwork to cut inside. He then played a low pass to Will Hollings whose powerful drive was initially spilled by Scunny 'keeper Jake Balme who plucked the ball into his grasp at the second attempt and just in the nick of time as Jack Goodman was bearing down on goal ready to smash home the follow-up.

On the whole at this point, Rovers had settled well despite not seeing as much of the ball as they'd have wanted. The strong wind meant they were 'penned in' for lengthy spells although 'too much' being put on through balls by the visitors, meant the ball was regularly running straight out of play. As a consequence, it meant Tom Chambers had no end of problems in attempting to take goal-kicks - sometimes needing to place the ball as many as four or five times in a single instance and that didn't go down at all well with Scunny's players (to put it mildly) who felt he was taking the p*ss! Even lectured by the referee at one point, the problems persisted and there wasn't a lot anyone could do about it.

Nevertheless, Scunny's pressure did mean they conjured up at least half-a-dozen corners before half-time as well - and it's been defending set-pieces where Rovers' youngsters have been at their most vulnerable this season. Some frailties were exposed again as a whipped ball to the back-post area saw the Iron's No.8 head wide despite being unmarked not long before the half-hour mark, and only a few minutes a similar scenario unfolded with No.5 this time being left free and in space as he also couldn't convert what was another very good chance.

As the clock slowly ticked towards half-time, frustrations were apparent in both camps; Scunthorpe by virtue of having not made a breakthrough when they knew they needed to establish a lead during their easier half, and Rovers at being relentlessly penned in, under pressure and very much unable to get the ball towards their front players.

The wind was showing no signs of easing and at one point a second ball blew halfway down the pitch, whilst there was a constant sprinkling of leaves across the surface too.

One big final opportunity was carved out by the visitors deep into five minutes of first half injury-time, however, and Chambers produced a vital save from it. The Iron's Harrison Poulter was involved - threading a low ball through to a team-mate just inside the box who was left with only the 'keeper to beat but Chambers reacted quickly as he rushed from his line, made himself big and produced a solid and instinctive stop to ensure the scoreline remained 0-0.

The save was crucial because at half-time it felt as if the biggest battle had been won - and now the only thing that Rovers needed to do was go and put the ball in the back of the net.

That said, football can sometimes work in mysterious ways, and despite seizing the initiative upon resumption of the shortest half-time break in history (it was only six-and-a-half minutes long), Scunny went close again five minutes after the re-start when the ball dropped inside the Rovers' area and had to be hooked away by Alex Fletcher just in the nick of time!

Much of the pressure was down at the other end though as Rovers sought to make it back-to-back wins and it's fair to say the Iron's clean-sheet lived something of a charmed existence up until the point it was broken on 75 minutes.

Hollings saw an attempt blocked at the expense of a corner following a counter-attack directly in the aftermath of Fletcher's clearance and Jack Raper's subsequent set-piece cross provoked panic as the ball was somehow sliced onto the upright by a Scunny defender positioned just outside the six-yard box.

The Iron 'keeper also got down low to smother what could have been a dangerous ball across the goalmouth by Hollings, who later delivered a pin-point right-sided corner from which the towering Charlie Petch planted a header narrowly over.

Ethan Harrison and Owen Scattergood were thrown into things at the expense of Wolny and Khan, respectively, and the woodwork was hit for a second time when Raper momentarily morphed into Ronaldinho - curling a long free-kick through a crowded area where nobody made a glancing connection, the 'keeper missed it, and the ball agonisingly clipped the post.

Even though Rovers were very much in the ascendancy, there were a few fleeting thoughts that the goal might not come at the very moment the breakthrough was made with 15 minutes to go.

A well-constructed move culminated with a tidy through-pass by Scattergood towards Goodman who initially showed intelligence to peel off the shoulder of his marker and into empty space. Now with just the 'keeper to beat, he opened up his body superbly, took a touch and picked his spot with aplomb - the roar of 'Yesssssssssssss' being just as ruthless as the finish he produced.

There were several approaches which Rovers could have opted to take at this point but within a few minutes, the job was done as a 1-0 lead became a very commanding two-goal cushion which pretty much put the result beyond any kind of doubt.

Goodman again demonstrated predatory instincts as he capitalised on a slightly high defensive line along with a clever forward through-ball by Jak Whiting to get in-behind - stretching his legs before producing another well-placed finish which underlines his importance to this team.

Thereafter, with Scunny beaten - and knowing they were beaten, the closing minutes didn't see much more goalmouth action, other than Chambers being booked for time-wasting at another goal-kick, as Rovers' job of preserving another clean-sheet was done very efficiently. The wind temporarily died down for a minute or two deep into injury-time but the Iron knew they'd been blown away by some predatory instinctiveness infront of goal.



Overall Analysis

It wasn't a type of occasion where anyone could shine and be outstanding (and that was down to the weather), but a deserved mention must go to Tom Henson who yet again put in a good shift, showed lots of energy and drive on the ball, and operated at wing-back on both flanks during the course of the 90 minutes. Whenever a good player is out for a prolonged period, it's always a concern as to whether they'll hit the form upon their return, but since being back in the fold what he's produced can't be faulted. He's replicated some of his performances from last season, is showing quality and commitment, and is 100% putting himself in a strong position to earn a professional contract. Fair play to him - and I'd love to see his GPS stats because I suspect they're quite high!

Along with Tom, credit also needs to go to Charlie Petch is becoming something of a defensive lynchpin at the back. He played well in the friendly defeat to Salford City the other week, stepped into Bobby Faulkner's position in this game and delivered another solid performance and that's pleasing to see so long may it continue! Jack Raper is getting better and becoming more consistent, distributes some excellent balls at times and has the individual ability to get this team going - and he can play a massive part in the next year. Will Hollings showed some good traits - he's dictated other games more than this particular one (which, again, was partly down to the weather) but he was still involved in almost all the big chances that were created which is a nod to what he can contribute.

The contribution of Jack Goodman; not just for the goals but with how he's strived to improve his physicality, get better, get more edges over his opponents and improve his game, definitely hasn't gone unnoticed - and that's testament to his character and Owen Scattergood (nice assist) and Alex Wolny both offered different facets on the front-line which paved the way for this win. Ethan Harrison being back fit and available, playing and using his presence and power to good effect is something which is good for him on an individual basis - and fingers crossed that he'll end up with a solid and consistent run of regular appearances in the coming weeks as he's not had a vast amount of game-time up to now.

Tom Chambers for the part-gamesmanship in taking eight minutes with goal-kick and for the crucial save on the stroke of half-time also warrants a mention because if the scoreline had gone 0-1, who knows what might have happened? Alex Fletcher made a good chance-preventing clearance that was crucial - especially with the clearance at 0-0, though it made me smile when he was 'mugged off' by what looked like a ten-year-old kid later on who threw the ball away from him when he went to retrieve it at a throw-in.

Faris Khan was rewarded with a start which he fully deserves considering he's put in a few decent displays recently. As mentioned in the report, he scored a great solo goal in midweek - is looking neat, nifty and nimble with the ball at his feet, isn't afraid to run at opponents, and the talent he possesses is slowly beginning to get unlocked after an up-and-down first part of the season. Despite not being on for that many minutes, Tom Parkinson can take a lot of confidence from his four-goal haul in last week's friendly and didn't do anything wrong in this outing, as can Josh Lindley who didn't misplace a pass in his 10-15 minute showing, bagged a thunderous goal in the same midweek friendly, and generally looks a lot more confident and settled compared to a few months ago - it's all pleasing to see!

Dan Wilds, as captain, can take pride in how he's led his team to successive clean-sheets; Michael Nesbitt didn't put a foot wrong and did what was required in his short 10-15 cameo, whilst finally there are various things I could say about Jak Whiting and what he offers. It wasn't his busiest game in terms of impact by any means although he still got an assist and has so many good traits (in just about every way) to offer in the long-term - he's just a quality individual to have around!

Again, everyone worked hard in difficult conditions, nobody looked for an excuse, and everyone contributed something in this win - and again, that's a sign of consistency because the work-rate couldn't be faulted last week either. A further observation that I'd make is that competition for places is very strong right now and that's not always been the case (for various reasons - one being injuries) in the past. The game-management is improving week-by-week, the CHARACTER is strong, and there's just a lot more positives than compared to September when things were a bit 'Meh' such as after the Mansfield away game, or the home performance against Bradford City. Progress is definitely being made and it's clear and evident to see and everyone involved deserves credit for that.

There are still elements for improvement. A few lapses at set-plays could have proved costly - twice were there 'free headers' in a short period around the half-hour mark, plus during another move where (No.2) got into the box unmarked in a dangerous position. That is definitely the big area to work on to ensure things are as resolute as possible, whilst the distribution at times (even taking the wind into consideration) could have been better across the team.

It wasn't always pretty but those minor negatives are massively outweighed by the positives - TOGETHERNESS, the work-rate, the willingness and the fact the lads found a way to win in challenging circumstances.

Fair play to Scunthorpe because they gave it a good go and they've got some alright players - and they were also without Harry Lewis who made his debut for their first team yesterday. Looking at things from a slightly different perspective, it's a shame the two games against them this term have been heavily impacted (the reverse game by an early red card), because in 'normal' 11v11 conditions it'd be a good game to watch, but I wish them the best of luck and hope their first team stays in League Two.

The next challenge for Rovers is a trip to Bradford City on Saturday 12th February!

Same again lads?