A WAY THROUGH THIS
DONCASTER ROVERS v MIDDLESBROUGH
Jonathan Way, 26 Jan 2010
Ticking by...
As Boro throw another two points away, the transfer deadline continues to count down. Strachan now has less than a week to bring in the right players to ensure we don't drop any further down the league, never mind reaching the play-offs. With further knocks being taken against Swansea, it will be worrying to see how many are fit. After all the Boro boss started every fit senior player on Saturday.
Following one of the worst starts in the division, where they won only two of their opening 16 league fixtures, things are certainly starting to look up for Donny.
Since December, Sean O'Driscoll has lead his team to win five of their last six matches in the Championship, making them level on points with Middlesbrough and with two games in hand.
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Neil Sullivan v Danny Coyne
Sullivan - The 39-year-old will be disappointed with his recent run of form, having made four consecutive clean sheets in December. Sullivan has been a key footballer for Rovers over the past few years, especially in 2008 when he helped them into the first division by keeping an outstanding 20 clean sheets that season.
Coyne - Despite conceding in our last three matches, Coyne has continued to play well between the sticks for the Teessiders since coming back into the side. The Welshman will have a tough task keeping a clean sheet at the Keepmoat Stadium, as our last away clean sheet was against Reading way back in early October.
James O'Connor v Tony McMahon
O'Connor - The Birmingham born defender was Doncaster's man of the match in their FA cup tie against Brentford last week, scoring the winning goal in the 87th minute. Having lost at Derby in their fourth round tie, O'Connor and the rest of Rover's players only have the league to concentrate on now, as they look to push up the table.
McMahon - The local boy had a decent game against Swansea at the weekend but will feel he could have done better by holding off Pintado and preventing the Swans' goal. He was subbed for fellow academy product Joe Bennett, hopefully there is nothing wrong with our right back and he will be fit for Tuesday's away trip.
Mark Wilson v Willo Flood
Wilson - The 30-year-old arrived on Teesside in 2001 for £1.5 million from Manchester United, but was unable to make a major impact in his 16 appearances.
Now in his second spell at the Keepmoat Stadium, Wilson is aiming to cement his place in the starting eleven, having been in and out of the side this campaign.
Flood - The Irishman marked his home debut with either, a wonder strike or a miss-hit cross from 35 yards, which rescued a valuable point for Middlesbrough on the hour mark.
Signing on a free deal until 2011, hopefully the Irishman is now up and running for Boro and will put in another good performance against Doncaster.
Dean Shiels v Leroy Lita
Shiels - The Northern Ireland international would have hoped for a better first half to the season than scoring just five times in 21 fixtures. Likely to start again on Tuesday night, Shiels will be looking to extend his goal scoring form after netting in their last league game against Watford.
Lita - The striker came in for a lot of criticism after Saturday's 1-1 draw as he had a number of clear cut chances which he failed to capitalise on. Despite not scoring, our number nine should definitely remain in the starting line up for this match because as we have already seen this campaign, on his day he can be an unstoppable, classy striker.
As usual, Middlesbrough will probably put in a better display away from home but Doncaster will certainly fancy their chances and look to overtake us in the table.
Although we delivered Doncaster their first defeat of the season, when we won 2-0 in August, I don't think we will do the double and it will end in another 1-1 draw.
