MATCHWATCH : Doncaster Rovers (h)

[stealthpapes]

First, the squad coming together/formation settling down took time. Carroll started first two games, slipped to the bench, and only left at the end of the window. Hutchison was still playing until Shrewsbury. McIntyre and NGW both played > 10 games.

Really odd looking at the team that started the 2023-24 season against Peterborough (and Port Vale, save for Button replacing Bouzanis) and how different it ended up being to the team we had for most of that season:

Bouzanis
Yiadom - Holmes - McIntyre - Guinness-Walker
Azeez - Hutchinson - Savage - Knibbs
Ehibhatiomhan - Carroll

Only the players in bold played more than a quarter of league minutes that season. We hadn't signed Bindon; Button; Elliott; Mukairu; Ballard; Mola; or Pereira until after the Peterborough match.

And NGW, Hutchinson, Holmes, McIntyre all still played 10+ games (all competitions).

[Snowflake Royal]

Kyerewaa has started well, nearly put Elliott through.

Look a bit iffy at the back with Stevens fumbling early. Also a little lacking in the composure to take the ball down and pick a pass rather than head or clear long.

Lane looking sharp too. Nearly put it on a plate for Elliott

[LUX]

maybe one with less hair...

:

Fewer

[Snowflake Royal]

Fewer

Don’t encourage it Lux.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Good thing we didn't score from that corner, the ref must have blown for Kelvin breathing on someone.

Decent start. Lane looks bright. Jacob looking OK behind him too.

[Thou Voice]

Fewer

Don’t encourage it Lux.

OMGGG!!!!

You are stilll with us, the statman, the man of stats, the man who kept the ledgers of all the 1's and zeroos' !

L0ng time my sweet pea !

Do You See...

[bcubed]

Paddy Lane may not be able to put his chances away but he's started really well today. Working hard and covering loads of ground. Couple of good crosses too

[WestYorksRoyal]

O'Connor and Williams are good L1 defenders at the peak of their career and we look solid. But you also see their limits in possession. Doncaster are keeping their shape and letting them have it, and there is no threat. Whereas Bindon and Mbengue could start moves to open up defences.

[Snowflake Royal]

O'Connor and Williams are good L1 defenders at the peak of their career and we look solid. But you also see their limits in possession. Doncaster are keeping their shape and letting them have it, and there is no threat. Whereas Bindon and Mbengue could start moves to open up defences.

I'd just like to see them hand it off a bit more, and the fullbacks/midfield do something, not just keep giving it back until they lump it long to no one.

And if they're going to lump long, at least put it in the right place.

Ref is buying some bullshit diving.

[bcubed]

Ref is buying some bullshit diving.

Just about to say this.

Really ridiculous diving. Laughable

[Snowflake Royal]

30 minutes in and Doncaster are already deserving yellow for timewasting at throws.

[Snowflake Royal]

Good start, all gone flat.

He says as Elliott gets space and blams one just wide.

[Sutekh]

As an aside to the dull cr@pness of the Reading game….

Apparently Truro’s trip to Gateshead today is the longest trip for a domestic league game (914 mile round trip ) Truro currently leading 1-0 though so worthwhile for them currently.

Previous record was Truro to Carlisle last month !

Before that it was the 832 miles for Newcastle and Plymouth.

[Snowflake Royal]

God damnit, Kyerewaa stays on his feet with the shirt being pulled off his back in the box, to turn and shoot wide.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Good save, then Sharp taken out after the shot. It's odd, in the middle of the park if a player gets taken out after the pass, it's a foul. But you see strikers taken out after shooting every week and it's never a penalty. It's not even controversial.

[Snowflake Royal]

Good save, then Sharp taken out after the shot. It's odd, in the middle of the park if a player gets taken out after the pass, it's a foul. But you see strikers taken out after shooting every week and it's never a penalty. It's not even controversial.

Its essentially advantage... the shot is away on a goal scoring chance. And there was a further chance after.

In midfield, it's often just basic possession and no advantage.

[WestYorksRoyal]

0-0 an accurate reflection of the 1st half.

[Orion1871]

Good save, then Sharp taken out after the shot. It's odd, in the middle of the park if a player gets taken out after the pass, it's a foul. But you see strikers taken out after shooting every week and it's never a penalty. It's not even controversial.

You see defenders dive under minimal contact every week and they're never booked for it.

[Brogue]

Zzzzzzzzzz

[Orion1871]

O'Connor and Williams are good L1 defenders at the peak of their career and we look solid. But you also see their limits in possession. Doncaster are keeping their shape and letting them have it, and there is no threat. Whereas Bindon and Mbengue could start moves to open up defences.

Big open space in front of Williams towards the end of the half. Mbengue would've run into that space, Williams plays a long pass.