STEW'S PREVIEWS
DONCASTER ROVERS v MIDDLESBROUGH
Stewart Flaherty, 26 Jan 2010
BORO EYE VIEW
Boro continue to grind away on the fringes of the play-off race. A long injury list is
making things difficult right now, but the club are not in a position to dwell or make
excuses. A run of good results would see them in the top six, and a run of bad
results would see them lose touch. Twenty games remain and a six point gap exists.
The season right now is poised on a knife edge.
A trip to Doncaster awaits for Boro who are on the back of a draw with a good Swansea team. The new signings will be looking to settle and develop some chemistry in yet another important game.
ROVERS EYE VIEW
Doncaster find themselves in a very similar position to Boro. A longer time spent
in the lower leagues will likely give their players and fans a more positive outlook with regards
to a promotion race. Doncaster are a spirited bunch, and have an impressive home
record of only one defeat in thirteen games. They will look for points to add to their own
play-off push against Boro.
Column Continues Below...
HEAD TO HEAD
Goalkeepers
Boro - Wales international Danny Coyne continues between the sticks. Coyne has
performed well, but the fact that Nicky Weaver was recently on trial at the club could
indicate Boro are looking to upgrade the goalkeeping position going forward;
Doncaster - Neil O'Sullivan is performing at a high level this season, and his
experience will be a great benefit to the younger members of the Rovers squad. He
has made over 100 appearances for the club.
Edge - Doncaster. Sullivan has had a very impressive top level career and continues
to perform well.
Boro Defence v Doncaster Attack
Boro - Chris Riggott hobbling off late in the Swansea game is a huge concern for a
back line thin on the ground. Emanuel Pogatetz continues to struggle and reports
suggest a spot for Jonathan Grounds in the heart of defence. A central partnership
of Wheater and Grounds would leave Boro woefully short of leadership and experience
in central defence.
Justin Hoyte has performed well of late at left back and Tony McMahon looks set to continue on the right. Boro need to ride out a storm injury wise and hope to grind out results until the key figures return. After missing out on Gary Caldwell, Strachan may well be in the market for a centre back before the end of January.
Doncaster - Boro are struggling at the back, and Doncaster certainly have the ability
to punish them for it. The chief threat is the lethal Billy Sharp, currently on
loan to Doncaster from Sheffield United. Sharp has netted an impressive 10 league
goals in 18 games this term and his pace and movement will be a huge test for a
young Boro back line.
Sharp is joined up front by Northern Ireland international Dean Shiels. Shiels began his career in the Arsenal youth system and went on to gain Scottish Premier League experience with Hibernian, playing over 100 games. Shiels has shown toughness and the ability to overcome adversity, forging a pro career despite being blind in one eye since an accident as a child.
Offering depth off the bench is James Hayter, a journeyman striker with proven lower league goal
scoring pedigree, the highlight of his career was an impressive 140 second hat trick
for Bournemouth against Wrexham.
Edge - Doncaster. The movement of Sharp will be difficult to handle for a patched
up Boro line.
Midfield
Boro - The impressive Gary O'Neil made a welcome return against Swansea.
Unfortunately, after an impressive debut, Barry Robson appears to be struggling with a
hamstring strain. Isaiah Osborne and Julio Arca contend for the other central spot,
with Osborne trying to shake off a knock.
Popular youngster Josh Walker was on the bench against Swansea, and could contribute. Willo Flood performed well on the right side.This offers Boro both pace and ability out there, and allows O'Neil to add steel to the centre, a double benefit. Flood opened his account against Swansea
and looks to have the ability to contribute both in attack and defence. Adam
Johnson looks set to start and is a legitimate game winner in his own right. If the
transfer window closes without losing Johnson, Boro's play-off hopes will be
significantly boosted.
Doncaster - Doncaster have an injury problem of their own in the engine room with
the impressive left midfielder Martin Woods suffering a torn groin. Woods had
netted four goals in 18 games this season, and shown an impressive passing ability.
The Doncaster engine room is made up of Mark Wilson and Brian Stock. Stock is an
impressive attacking presence. His well timed forward runs and ability to strike
from distance make him a real threat for Boro to handle.
Wilson is a name familiar to many Boro fans, he signed for Bryan Robson along with Jonathan Greening from Manchester United, but went on to make only a handful of Boro appearances. Wilson played briefly in the USA before moving around a number of clubs in the lower
leagues and Scotland.
Doncaster have a lot of attacking experience on the wings and
some real talent. John Oster is a massively experienced Welsh international, who
played in the Premier League with Everton beginning in 1996. Coppinger offers pace
and trickery and is a former Newcastle United player. Coppinger played a huge part
in Doncaster's promotion to the Championship through the playoffs. Coppinger scored
a hat trick in the play-off semi-final victory over Southend, before starting in the
play-off final victory over Leeds United.
Edge - Boro. Flood has been industrious, and the return of O'Neil adds steel to
the unit. Johnson can cause problems to the best in this division, and Doncaster
should struggle with him.
Boro Attack v Doncaster Defence
Boro - Chris Killen is showing work rate but is yet to get off the mark for Boro.
He will be looking to get in goal scoring form before heading to the World Cup with
New Zealand.
Jeremie Aliadiere is still suffering with an ankle knock but Leroy Lita has returned from his suspension for a petulant sending off. Youngster Luke Williams is showing flashes of ability in his cameo spells off the bench. When it comes to a promotion push, it appears Boro need to add one more significant player to score enough goals consistently.
Doncaster - James Chambers has started 23 league games for Doncaster this season,
and achieved promotion three times in his career. Chambers also has Premier League
experience with Watford.
Centre back Jason Shackell joins Chambers in the back line. Shackell will be remembered by some fans for his Norwich days, when he made over 100 appearances for the Canaries. Shackell also made an appearance on MTV show 'The Hills' crashing and burning while laying some of the worst banter ever seen on Lauren Conrad and her high society pals.
The full back spots are manned by James O'Connor and Gareth Roberts. O'Conner scored a late winner in Doncaster's FA cup third round win over Brentford. O'Connor possesses the ability to overlap and join the attack, and also has a dangerous long throw in. Roberts is a full Welsh
international who began his career as a trainee with Liverpool, another defender
comfortable contributing in attack, he is also capable of playing as a winger.
Edge - Even. Boro are struggling to keep a consistent front pair, and do not have
an in form scoring forward firing right now.
Fans
Boro - The Boro crowd is jaded right now, caught between the hope of the Premier
League and acceptance of the Championship struggle. Only a run of results will turn
around the collective mentality.
Doncaster - Having been promoted from League One, the Doncaster fans will have more
of an appreciation of where they are and have created a good home field advantage
for Rovers so far this season.
Edge - Rovers. A passionate home crowd means another difficult road trip for Boro.
Prediction
Draw. Boro are starting to show some signs of steel, a unit suffering with injuries
must keep points coming in before reinforcements arrive for a promotion run.
