Friday, 31 October 2014

GETTING AWAY:BRADFORD CITY

Bradford,as a former Premier League team no more than fifteen years ago,have a dream of a stadium to visit.Two seasons ago,the Bantams beat Aston Villa and Arsenal at Valley Parade and hold fond memories within Bradford fans.

The stadium is local to get to,much to the benefit of Rovers fans.

TRAIN

You will arrive at Bradford interchange and this is twenty minutes from the ground.If you wish,the bus station is two minutes away from the station.The routes you need are 622,623 or 626.

If you want to walk,go towards the city centre and walk down the hill past the Ginger Goose Pub onto Market Street.You'll come to Manor Road and follow the signs from there.

PRE-MATCH PINT

The Bradford Arms is two minutes away from the stadium on Manningham Lane.If you have time,you could go to the Cartwright Hotel on Manningham Road.Both welcome away fans.

PARKING
Around the stadium,it's mainly street parking so arrive early to get a spot.

POSTCODE FOR SAT NAV
BD8 7DY

Monday, 27 October 2014

DONCASTER LAND SEASIDE FA CUP TIE

The First Round of the FA Cup was drawn this afternoon at BBC television centre,live on BBC Two.

Doncaster Rovers will face Conference South team Weston-Super-Mare on November 8th.

Nicknamed The Seagulls,the West Coastal club are managed by former Northampton Town,Bristol City and Wycombe Wanderers defender Micky Bell.

DONCASTER RE-SIGN GOALKEEPER JOHNSTONE

Doncaster Rovers have confirmed U21 goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has re-joined the club on-loan until January 2015.

Johnstone,21,has joined from Manchester United and was at the club for the last half of the 2013/14 season.He was part of the side to be relegated.

He could start on Saturday against Bradford since Jed Steer has moved back to Aston Villa.

Saturday, 25 October 2014

DONCASTER ROVERS 0-0 MK DONS

Doncaster held on for a point at home to League One highfliers MK Dons,who will probably feel aggravated after the game.

Doncaster were on the back foot from the off.Ben Reeves had two chances but both of them were dealt with easily enough by Jed Steer in the home goal.Harry Forrester then headed over in the first fifteen minutes.

The rest of the half was very nervy for both teams and they had numerous chances to score.Andy Butler,on his debut,headed wide of the mark and Kyle Bennett struck at David Martin from close range.At the other end,Reeves again missed a good sitter.

A team talk seemed to have had an effect on Donny's play.They were more attacking and dominant in the second period.Curtis Main got the ball rolling with a good chance going wide of the goal.

At this point,more breaks on the counter saw Wellens and Nathan Tyson came really close to scoring.Tyson was more annoyed than his midfield counterpart by mistiming a header close to the goal.

Another few chances were wasted in the last ten minutes.Bennett sent a freekick over the bar,Forrester felt as though he should've had a penalty after a handball by Benik Afobe and Keegan's header was offside.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
DONCASTER BOSS PAUL DICKOV

"We were far better in the second half of the game and I'm annoyed we didn't come away with something better than a point."

"Once the side has freshened up a bit more,we can change tactics and help the team to gel a bit more.Andy Butler can help by aiding the defence."

"Overall,it was a better team display today."

MK DONS BOSS KARL ROBINSON

"I'm not going to talk about the vacant post at Birmingham.The focus is now at MK Dons and I want to look at that."

"Credit to Doncaster and Paul Dickov.The side that they played out there today showed how good they can be when they're on the ball."

TEAMS
Doncaster Rovers
01 Jed Steer
22 Reece Wabara 
12 Luke McCullough 
16 Andy Butler
03 Cédric Evina
23 Kyle Bennett
19 Richie Wellens C
18 Paul Keegan 
10 Harry Forrester
11 Curtis Main(Robinson 62')
14 Nathan Tyson

Substitutes
13 Marko Marosi GK
06 Jamie McCombe
21 Marc De Val Fernandez
09 Theo Robinson
15 Liam Wakefield
04 Dean Furman
32 Billy Whitehouse

MK Dons
01 David Martin
12 Lloyd Spence
04 Tom Flanagan
06 Anthony Kay
03 Dean Lewington C
08 Darren Potter
14 Demebela Alli
22 Chris Carruthers(Baker 71')
10 Ben Reeves(Randall 90+2')
17 Daniel Powell
11 Will Grigg(Afobe 68')

Substitutes 
16 Iain McLoughlin GK
19 Tom Hitchcock
20 Adriano Rasulo
23 Benik Afobe
13 Carl Baker
15 Mark Randall
25 Harry Hickford 






Friday, 24 October 2014

OPPONENTS GUIDE:MK DONS

Milton Keynes Dons are the youngest members of the Football League and they've risen up to possible Championship potential.The last few seasons have seen them desperately try to get to the second tier.

Founded by current chairman Pete Winkleman,MK Dons were created from the demised Wimbledon FC,who relocated to Milton Keynes in 2004,the year the club was set up.The first manager of the Dons was former Wimbledon manager Stuart Murdoch.

Murdoch was sacked during the 2004/05 season and replaced by Danny Wilson.The club stayed in League One,but were relegated in 2006 and Martin Allen replaced Wilson as boss.

Shortly after moving to Stadium:MK,Allen left in 2007 and was replaced by former Manchester United and Liverpool striker Paul Ince,and he bought the first ever trophy to Milton Keynes in the form of the JPT.Ince also won promotion back to the third tier in 2008,but left afterwards to go to Blackburn Rovers.Roberto Di Matteo was named his successor and he guided the club to the playoffs,only to lose in the semis.

Ince returned to MK Dons until the end of the 2009/10 season.The club then appointed the youngest manager in England as Karl Robinson,who was 29 when he got the job.

THE GAFFER KARL ROBINSON
Liverpudlian Robinson made history in 2010 when,aged 29,he was promoted from assistant to manager of the Dons.

Born in 1980,he played for several non-league and part-time clubs before eventually retiring in 2007 to become a coach and complete his certificates.

He worked at Blackburn and MK Dons under Paul Ince.After Ince left the club,he was surprisingly named his replacement.He guided the team to the playoffs over two seasons and in August 2014,his side beat Manchester United 4-0 in the cup.


Thursday, 23 October 2014

BUTLER:"I'VE ALWAYS LOVED ROVERS"

New loan defender Andy Butler has told BBC Sheffield how his loan move to hometown club Doncaster was the right one.

Butler has joined on a three-month deal.

"I watched Doncaster play at Belle Vue as a kid and followed them closely throughout my childhood,"Butler said.

"I remember Doncaster getting promoted from the Conference and they've progressed up the ranks since."

"No matter what,the future is bright here and I'm glad to be back at my old roots."

DONCASTER SIGN DEFENDER BUTLER

Doncaster have completed the loan signing of Sheffield United defender Andy Butler for three months,subject to clearance.

30-year-old Butler,who was born and raised in Doncaster,has expressed delight from his new manager Paul Dickov since joining the club today.

"Andy is just what we need at the minute.I've tried to sign him for Oldham because of the experience he has in this league",says Dickov.

"We need to strengthen the defence to stop goals from leaking into our net.I hope Andy can contribute to this with his heading,passing and skill abilities.We also needed someone with leadership."

Butler joined Sheffield United from Walsall this July and was loaned back to the Black Country club earlier this season,featuring against Doncaster in the 3-0 win for Walsall.