Quinn conceded the penalty to lead to the equaliser and admits he wasn't at his best,but wants to make up for it.
"Actions have consequences,I will face mine and do all I can to rectify fans.I know how I can thank you and I will," he said.
Monday, 28 April 2014
QUINN APOLOGISES TO FANS
Saturday, 26 April 2014
DONCASTER ROVERS 1-3 READING
Doncaster took the lead through JAMES COPPINGER.Billy Sharp laid the ball originally for Furman,but unmarked Coppinger ran into the box to chip over Alex McCarthy.
In the second half,nothing exciting happened until Paul Quinn fouled ADAM LE FONDRE in the box to concede a penalty.Johnstone guessed correctly the direction,but Le Fondre tucked it under his body to equalise after sixty-two minutes.
Reading opened up more and began to attack.Pavel Pogrebynak missed a header and Jobi McAnuff struck a volley over.
Just when Doncaster thought they had gotten a point,they realised the curse of speaking too soon.PAVEL POGREBYNAK headed at the near post to send the away fans into pandemonium and give the Royals the lead.He then scored in added time to make it 3-1 full time.
With Barnsley relegated and Millwall drawing,Doncaster worryingly sit 21st.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
DONCASTER BOSS PAUL DICKOV
"The less I say,the better it will be.I will admit individuals made some bad decisions and it cost us."
"We know what is needed and we have to do it next week."
TEAMS
Doncaster Rovers
33 Sam Johnstone
02 Paul Quinn
04 Dean Furman(Wellens 67')
31 Enda Stevens(McCombe 89')
17 Gabriel Tamas
20 Abdoulaye Méité
26 James Coppinger
18 Paul Keegan
10 Billy Sharp(Robinson 50')
09 Chris Brown
11 David Cotterill
Substitutes
13 Jon Maxted
22 Theo Robinson
12 Luke McCullough
21 Marc De Val Fernandez
16 Jamie McCombe
30 Alex Peterson
19 Richie Wellens
Reading
21 Alex McCarthy
02 Chris Gunter
37 Jordan Obita
08 Mikele Leigterwood
05 Alex Pearce
15 Sean Morrison
12 Garath McCleary(Hector 60')
16 Hope Akpan(Taylor 76')
07 Pavel Pogrebynak
09 Adam Le Fondre
11 Jobi McAnuff
Substitutes
01 Adam Federici
17 Kaspar Gorkss
27 Shaun Cummings
36 Gozie Ugwu
35 Michael Hector
22 Nick Blackman
25 Jake Taylor
DONCASTER ROVERS 1-3 READING
Doncaster took the lead through JAMES COPPINGER.Billy Sharp laid the ball originally for Furman,but unmarked Coppinger ran into the box to chip over Alex McCarthy.
In the second half,nothing exciting happened until Paul Quinn fouled ADAM LE FONDRE in the box to concede a penalty.Johnstone guessed correctly the direction,but Le Fondre tucked it under his body to equalise after sixty-two minutes.
Reading opened up more and began to attack.Pavel Pogrebynak missed a header and Jobi McAnuff struck a volley over.
Just when Doncaster thought they had gotten a point,they realised the curse of speaking too soon.PAVEL POGREBYNAK headed at the near post to send the away fans into pandemonium and give the Royals the lead.He then scored in added time to make it 3-1 full time.
With Barnsley relegated and Millwall drawing,Doncaster worryingly sit 21st.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
DONCASTER BOSS PAUL DICKOV
"The less I say,the better it will be.I will admit individuals made some bad decisions and it cost us."
"We know what is needed and we have to do it next week."
TEAMS
Doncaster Rovers
33 Sam Johnstone
02 Paul Quinn
04 Dean Furman(Wellens 67')
31 Enda Stevens(McCombe 89')
17 Gabriel Tamas
20 Abdoulaye Méité
26 James Coppinger
18 Paul Keegan
10 Billy Sharp(Robinson 50')
09 Chris Brown
11 David Cotterill
Substitutes
13 Jon Maxted
22 Theo Robinson
12 Luke McCullough
21 Marc De Val Fernandez
16 Jamie McCombe
30 Alex Peterson
19 Richie Wellens
Reading
21 Alex McCarthy
02 Chris Gunter
37 Jordan Obita
08 Mikele Leigterwood
05 Alex Pearce
15 Sean Morrison
12 Garath McCleary(Hector 60')
16 Hope Akpan(Taylor 76')
07 Pavel Pogrebynak
09 Adam Le Fondre
11 Jobi McAnuff
Substitutes
01 Adam Federici
17 Kaspar Gorkss
27 Shaun Cummings
36 Gozie Ugwu
35 Michael Hector
22 Nick Blackman
25 Jake Taylor
Friday, 25 April 2014
OPPONENTS GUIDE:READING
Reading were formed on Christmas Day 1871 and were nicknamed 'The Royals' due to the location in Berkshire.They turned professional in 1895 and moved to Elm Park,which would be their home for 102 years.
Reading joined the Football League in 1920 and then lost in the FA Cup final to Wolves in 1927.The club remained in the Third Division South until World War II.During the war,they won the Southern Section Cup and the London War Cup.
The club's next biggest success came in 1986 after the Royals won promotion to the Second Division,but they were relegated in 1988.
Sir John Madejski took over as chairman in 1991 and successes followed.The club got to two Division One finals only to lose both in 1993 and 1995.They moved to the 24,000-seater Madejski Stadium in 1998 and were relegated to Division Two that year.
In 2000/01,the club lost the playoff final to Walsall in Cardiff,but returned to the second tier in 2002.They qualified for te playoffs one season later but lost in the semis.
In 2006,Reading won the Championship with a record 106 points and Premier League football for the first ever time in their history.They stayed in the top flight until relegation in 2008.In 2008/09,they lost in the playoffs and Brendan Rodgers became manager.He left three months later and was replaced by Brian McDermott.
The club finally won promotion back to the Premier League in 2012 but only stayed there for one season,despite changing managers.
MEET THE TEAM
Current manager Nigel Adkins has assembled together a competitive squad,mainly consisting of those who played in the Premier League.These notably include strikers Pavel Pogrebynak and Adam Le Fondre.The latter's goals have been vital ,not to mention his hattricks.
The signing of Dutchman and former Real Madrid midfielder Royston Drenthe has been useful,although fans may be disappointed with him at times.
THE GAFFER-NIGEL ADKINS
The 48-year-old Liverpudlian played as a goalkeeper and began at Tranmere Rovers in 1983 and left for Wigan Athletic in 1986,suffering a severe spinal fracture which ended his career in 1993.
He turned to management and a physiotherapy course to support his family.His first job was managing Welsh club Bangor City from 1993 to 1996.
Under a decade later,he became head physio at Scunthorpe United.When Brian Laws left in 2006,he was made caretaker until his full-time appointment weeks later.The supporters then began chanting 'Who needs Mourinho?We've got a physio!'.With Scunthorpe,he won two promotions to the Championship and suffered one relegation.
He moved to League One's Southampton in 2010 and successfully guided the club back to the second tier.This was followed by automatic promotion in his first full season(2011/12).He was sacked in early 2013 much to the shock of the fans.
Reading named him as boss in February 2013.
Thursday, 24 April 2014
DICKOV BELIEVES ROVERS ARE 'NEARLY THERE'
With two games left and one point from the drop zone,Dickov believes the club can survive,but it'll be hard.
"Reading at home this weekend will be hard because they are chasing the playoffs",Dickov said.
"Monday's result was a good feeling and gave us more belief that we can stay up in the Championship."
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
COPPINGER PLEASED WITH UNITY
"The team are all playing as one unit and trying to go forward together,"the midfielder explained.
"With two huge games left against big opposition,we feel confident."
Reading is Doncaster's final home game,and then the final game for this season is away at potential champions Leicester.
Monday, 21 April 2014
MILLWALL 0-0 DONCASTER ROVERS
Millwall need to improve their home form fast and could've led early on.Martyn Woolford's shot was deflected from Scott Malone's cross after ten minutes.
The Millwall chances just kept on coming.Scott McDonald headed into the crossbar from a corner and Nicky Bailey set his sights a bit too high.The home crowd then applauded Mark Beevers' defending to stop Chris Brown.
With fifteen minutes until the break,tall Austrian Stefan Maierhofer's header was tipped wide by Johnstone.The striker has been useful since he joined and is proving a goal-scoring threat.
Abdoulaye Méité then saw red for what the referee saw as violent conduct.The defender's boss was livid by the decision,screaming straight in the linesman's face.
Sam Johnstone then came to the rescue for yet another time.Steve Morison met a cross with his boot which was going into the corner,but the shot stopper punched it wide.Two minutes later,Morison missed the ball.
With Doncaster defending for their lives,Millwall couldn't stop trying.Simeon Jackson had his shot cleared by Tamas and Beevers had his flick chested away by Paul Quinn.
Full time sounded,meaning Millwall are unbeaten now in six.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
MILLWALL BOSS IAN HOLLOWAY
"We have QPR away next and that's going to be very hard to navigate,but who's to say we'll lose?"
"I feel a bit for the fans who roared us on until the end.They made the difference."
DONCASTER BOSS PAUL DICKOV
"I hope this doesn't go down to the wire and if this was played at the beginning of the season,we'd have taken it all the way."
"Both me and Ian Holloway agree it wasn't a red card.Ian's said that it want even a yellow.This week I'll appeal it."
TEAMS
Millwall
01 David Forde
44 Carlos Edwards
28 Scott Malone
10 Nicky Bailey
02 Alan Dunne
16 Mark Beevers
13 Lee Martin
17 Shaun Williams
42 Stefan Maierhofer(Jackson 67')
27 Scott McDonald(Easter 67')
11 Martyn Woolford
Substitutes
43 Stephen Bywater
26 Jimmy Abdou
08 Jermaine Easter
14 Ryan Fredericks
09 Steve Morison
05 Paul Robinson
19 Simeon Jackson
Doncaster Rovers
33 Sam Johnstone
17 Gabriel Tamas
31 Enda Stevens
04 Dean Furman
02 Paul Quinn
20 Abdoulaye Méité
26 James Coppinger
18 Paul Keegan
22 Theo Robinson(McCombe 90')
09 Chris Brown
11 David Cotterill
Substitutes
13 Jon Maxted
12 Luke McCullough
21 Marc De Val Fernandez
10 Billy Sharp
16 Jamie McCombe
07 Mark Duffy
29 Harry Middleton
Sunday, 20 April 2014
GETTING AWAY:MILLWALL
For your own safety,it is suggested fans don't wear their away colours until they are in the ground.This is due to a minority of supporters potentially reacting badly to this.If you're going,here's tips on how to get there.
TRAIN
Going by train is the best option because South Bermondsey tube station is only five minutes from the stadium.There is also a direct walkway which was built just for away fans,taking you to the station afterwards.
There are also two underground stations called New Cross Gate and Surrey Quays.They are a twenty-minute walk.
BUS
You wouldn't need to get a bus from the South Bermondsey station.
WHERE TO DRINK
There are few bars serving away fans,so it's best to avoid them.If you wish to,get a drink at London Bridge when walking o the ground.The Shipwright Arms is a popular pub for fans.
POSTCODE FOR SAT NAV
SE16 3LN
Saturday, 19 April 2014
DONCASTER ROVERS 0-2 DERBY COUNTY
Derby could've gone 1-0 down in the first five minutes of the game when Richard Keogh's pass to goalkeeper Lee Grant evaded him.Grant got to the ball in the nick of time to stop the away side from conceding.
Derby then faced another scare.Chris Brown's looping header had to be tipped over by Grant with twenty minutes until half time.
Just when Doncaster looked more likely to score,GEORGE THORNE gave Derby the lead before half-time with a drilling twenty-five yard hit.
Derby could've made it 2-0 in the second half.That was,if Sam Johnstone hadn't denied midfielder Craig Bryson.The former Scotland U21 is in fine form this month for Derby.
Theo Robinson,against the club he left in August for Doncaster,then came on.He tested Grant's reflexes by producing a low drive.
With ten minutes left,CHRIS MARTIN made it 2-0.Jamie Ward whipped in a superb cross which Martin met with his boot to double the lead.
The full time whistled sounded,making Derby pressurise Burnley at the top.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
DONCASTER BOSS PAUL DICKOV
"I'm disappointed with today but we need to bounce back."
"We have Millwall on Monday.I understand it'll be hard to beat them but the best thing is we aren't in their position."
"Today proved one thing-Derby are third for a reason and we're in the bottom Hal for another reason."
DERBY BOSS STEVE McCLAREN
"We always find different methods to win a game of football so far.The creativity behind this has been met by a positive reaction."
"Both goals were good quality finishes.It was poor first half up until the goal and then we improved."
TEAMS
Doncaster Rovers
33 Sam Johnstone
17 Gabriel Tamas
31 Enda Stevens
18 Paul Keegan
02 Paul Quinn
20 Abdoulaye Méité
26 James Coppinger
04 Dean Furman(Duffy 75')
10 Billy Sharp(Robinson 66')
09 Chris Brown(Fernandez 90')
11 David Cotterill
Substitutes
13 Jon Maxted
07 Mark Duffy
21 Marc De Val Fernandez
35 Lewis Ferguson
22 Theo Robinson
16 Jamie McCombe
12 Luke McCullough
Derby County
01 Lee Grant
33 Andre Wisdom
04 Craig Forsyth
34 George Thorne
06 Richard Keogh
25 Jake Buxton
04 Craig Bryson
19 Will Hughes
09 Chris Martin
35 Patrick Bamford(Ward 51')
11 Johnny Russell(Dawkins 61')
Substitutes
26 Adam Legzdins
10 Jamie Ward
32 Simon Dawkins
08 Jeff Hendrick
27 Zak Whitbread
14 John Eustace
18 Connor Sammon
Friday, 18 April 2014
OPPONENTS GUIDE:DERBY COUNTY
Nicknamed The Rams,Derby County were formed in February 1884 by William Morley as an offshoot to Derby County Cricket Club.The Derbyshire FA renamed the club Derbyshire County FC that same year in a bid to attract supporters and raise income.Originally,the club played at the Racecourse Ground.They played their first competitive match in the 1884/85 FA Cup against Walsall but lost 7-0.
The following year,in 1886,the club became Derby County FC.They attracted more support and in 1888,the club became a part of the Football League.Derby Midland FC merged with Derby County and County were the only Derbyshire football club by 1891.In 1895,they moved to the Baseball Ground and adopted the black and white kit which is still used today.
Derby appeared in three FA Cup finals in the late 1890s:Nottingham Forest,Bury and Sheffield United.The Rams lost all three.In 1906,they suffered their first ever relegation but were Second Division winners in 1911 to go back to the First Division.The same feat happened in 1914 and 1919,where they went back up.
During the 1920s and 1930s under the foundations of George Jobey,the club consecutively had high finishes.The club shut down during World War II but after the restart,they won the 1946 FA Cup.They had top three finishes in 1948 and 1949 which were dampened by relegation in 1953.Even worse,they dropped to the third tier by 1955.
The appointment of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor was influential in 1967 and in 1969,Derby were back in the top flight.They were banned from competing in Europe in 1971,but won the First Division in 1972.However,after falling out with the board,Clough and Taylor left.The club declined for the rest of the 1970s and were relegated in 1980.
Arthur Co tried countless times to get Derby back to the First Division,succeeding in 1987.New chairman Robert Maxwell provided funds to sign players like Dean Saunders,Ted McMinn and Peter Shilton.Maxwell's lack of further investment and death led to a decline along with relegation to Division Two in 1991.
Cox left in 1993 due to health problems and Roy McFarland was appointed.he couldn't get the club to the top flight and was replaced by Jim Smith in 1995.In 1996,Smith won automatic promotion with the Rams and was praised.For the 1997/98 season,they moved to Pride Park(renamed the iPro Stadium in 2013).
The turn of the millennium was a bad one.Colin Todd struggled to manage the team and his replacement,John Gregory,unfortunately saw over Derby's relegation to the second tier in 2002.He couldn't sign anyone due to financial problems and was sacked in 2003.George Burley took over,leading the club to the playoffs in 2005 only to lose in the semi-finals to Preston.
Under Phil Brown,the Rams struggled and he was sacked in 2006 and replaced by Billy Davies.Davies won playoff promotion to the top flight with Derby in 2007 after five years out of the Premier League.
This was to be Derby's worst ever season.Despite a managerial change,the 2007/08 season saw Derby relegated with eleven points.They won one game,drew eight and lost thirty-two.
The following season in the Championship saw Derby appoint Brian Clough's son Nigel as boss.He steered them to two mid-table finishes in his first two seasons but after a decline,Nigel Clough was sacked just nine games into the 2013/14 season.
Former England and FC Twente manager Steve McClaren took over from Clough.
THE TEAM
If anything,Derby do not lack goals in their side and can't criticise the strikers.Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford has been prolific for former club MK Dons earlier this season,and is putting in good performances.Northern Ireland's Jamie Ward and £2.3M signing Johnny Russell have been clinical up front.
Another useful striking edition is Chris Martin,who can be useful up front.The midfield of Will Hughes and Jeff Hendrick have been products of the academy who are successful young players.
THE GAFFER-STEVE McCLAREN
Before becoming a manager,McClaren had been a midfielder in a thirteen year-long playing career.
McClaren joined Hull City after leaving school in 1979 and spent six years as a player there.He moved to Derby County in 1985 and left them in 1988 after over 20 appearances.
After spells at Lincoln City,Oxford United and Bristol City,he retired in 1992 due to injury.After hanging up his boots,McClaren was named as a coach at Oxford United and then assistant to Jim Smith at Derby County from 1995 to 1998.
In 1999,he became Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United.He then became a coach for the England team in 2000 and then assistant coach for Sven Göran-Eriksson in 2001.That same year,he was appointed Middlesbrough manager where he remained until 2006.
In 2006,McClaren was named England head coach.He started off well winning three games of their Euro 2008 qualification but a downturn in form saw them fail to qualify for the Euros and he was sacked in 2007.
After spells at Darlington and Oxford United as coaches,he was named manager of Dutch club FC Twente.He won their first ever title in 2010 before leaving to manager Germans Wolfsburg.He couldn't succeed with them and was sacked six months later.
In July 2011,McClaren was named Nottingham Forest boss.He only lasted 122 days before leaving due to poor form.He rejoined Twente,but left sixteen months later.
In October 2013,controversially,he was appointed Derby manager and started off with four wins and two draws.
Monday, 14 April 2014
WABARA LEAVES MAN CITY
U20 international Reece,22,came through the ranks at the Etihad but struggled to get into the first team and was a regular loanee.
His most notable spell was at Oldham,and he scored in the FA giant killing against Liverpool under Paul Dickov's management.
Saturday, 12 April 2014
IPSWICH TOWN 2-1 DONCASTER ROVERS
Ipswich had a boring first half but did try hard to test Johnstone.Daryl Murphy struck a low shot straight at him and Paul Anderson's freekick flew high over the bar.
Doncaster had to stop Ipswich but couldn't,with Tyrone Mings heading wide after good buildup work.
The second half started with DARYL MURPHY heading Town into a 1-0 lead.Anderson created the good work for Murphy to dash into the box and bullet a header above Johnstone.
Chris Brown was then stopped by Dean Gerken and James Husband hit a shot wide of the goal.Doncaster's Romanian defender Gabriel Tamas headed a corner wide.
In the last fifteen minutes,Franck Nouble had to get loanee Sam Johnstone off his line.James Husband was forced off with a led injury and was replaced by Stevens.
The equaliser came through a penalty.Mings tugged Duffy in the box and the kick was given.CHRIS BROWN did the honours.
Gabriel Tamas was tripped by Berra,but CHAMBERS ran forward and blasted the winner to give Ipswich a big chance of getting into the playoffs.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
IPSWICH TOWN GOALSCORER LUKE CHAMBERS
"That was a great feeling!I just ran into the box and at first glance I just went for it."
"It's good to finally get somewhere in the season and with tough matches to play,we have little to lose."
"We were criticised in the first half by the gaffer but we came out fighting in the second."
DONCASTER MANAGER PAUL DICKOV
"Records will always show it was a 2-1 defeat but on the pitch it was a different story.The lads fought hard and feel hard done by."
"We wanted to cause trouble when we had possession of the ball but there are no expectations from the board on survival targets.I don't know what to say about surviving."
TEAMS
Ipswich Town
22 Dean Gerken
04 Luke Chambers
15 Tyrone Mings
08 Cole Skuse
06 Christophe Berra
05 Tommy Smith
11 Paul Anderson(Ebanks-Blake 45')
19 Luke Hyam
09 Daryl Murphy
25 Johnathon Williams
12 Stephen Hunt
Substitutes
01 Scott Loach
14 Anthony Wordsworth
35 Franck Nouble
18 Jay Tabb
24 Liam Richardson
16 Paul Green
27 Sylvian Ebanks-Blake
Doncaster Rovers
33 Sam Johnstone
02 Paul Quinn
17 Gabriel Tamas
03 James Husband(Stevens 80')
20 Abdoulaye Méité(Robinson 90+3')
04 Dean Furman(Duffy 77')
26 James Coppinger
18 Paul Keegan
09 Chris Brown
10 Billy Sharp
11 David Cotterill
Substitutes
13 Jon Maxted
31 Enda Stevens
21 Marc De Val Fernandez
12 Luke McCullough
07 Mark Duffy
22 Theo Robinson
29 Harry Middleton
Friday, 11 April 2014
DUFFY "I CANNOT FORGET HILLSBOROUGH"
Liverpool played Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.The game kicked off at 1:30 that afternoon.But just seven minutes later,things took a turn for the worst.Fans ran onto the field in panic and others were piling up,crushed by the weight.96 innocent lives were claimed that day.
But Doncaster's Mark Duffy remembers it well and won't forget it.
"I was four years old but as a Liverpudlian,growing up in the red half of the city," he explains.
"The importance of remembering those who lost their lives is crucial for me personally and to families affected by the event.This would include those who survived."
"I will be a bit emotional on Saturday.No one in my family was there when it happened but that doesn't mean they can't mourn the dead."
Other former footballers and even current ones have been affected by the disaster.
Brian Laws gave a very good account of the day.He was a Forest player who was playing on the day.His ex-wife and two young children watched.
"My family were at the game at the Leppings Lane End.I was about to take a thrown-in when Nigel Clough looks to the left and sees some people on pitch."
"We thought it was some lunatics.We didn't know how bad it was until Brian Clough took us back into the dressing room and then was informed about the extent of the events.We all went home immediately for our safety."
"I managed Sheffield Wednesday on the 20th anniversary of the disaster and that was important for me."
"My three kids are aged 28,24 and 17.They know how much I was impacted by the events at Hillsborough and now time has passed,I can talk in confidence about it."
"My second child,my daughter,was a little baby.Just think-how can she have been put through what should've been a harmless match?"
GETTING AWAY:IPSWICH TOWN
On the weekend marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster,the game away at Ipswich will kick off at 3:07.This is because seven minutes into the match at Hillsborough in 1989,the tragedy struck.
Getting away to Ipswich is quite easy-here's the advice on what to do.
TRAIN
You will need to get the London King Cross train and interchange at Peterborough.From here,get on for Ipswich.
The stadium is clearly visible from the platform and is only five minutes away.You will see signposts to the ground upon leaving the station.
BUS
You won't need to get a bus with the walking distance.
WHERE TO DRINK
The Punch and Judy pub on Cardinal Park serves away fans and does food.It is well known by locals for its warming environment and friendly staff.
If you arrive early,head to the town centre and you'll find a variety of pubs.All serve away fans.
POSTCODE FOR SAT NAV
IP1 2DA
Wednesday, 9 April 2014
DONCASTER ROVERS 1-2 BOLTON WANDERERS
Bolton took the lead through NEIL DANNS,who struck a low shot into the bottom left much to the delight of the Bolton bench.Rovers 1-0 down in the first ten minutes.
David Wheater had a spell at Doncaster in 2006 and came to Bolton's rescue.David Cotterill's corner was met by Wheater who cleared it away.
Bolton then doubled the lead through Cardiff loanee and Irish U21 star JOE MASON,who struck the ball into the net off the post after twelve minutes.
Doncaster did pull one back five minutes later through DAVID COTTERILL's free kick.
Bolton and Doncaster both cranked up the pressure.Lukas Jutkiewicz tested Sam Johnstone's reflexes and Paul Keegan headed wide.
Before half time,Paul Keegan hit the crossbar and Richie Wellens was denied by Adam Bogdan after a run into the box from a corner.
The second half began with substitute Dean Furman striking at Bogdan and Billy Sharp missed the connection from Husband's left wing cross.
Chung Yong Lee had a golden opportunity to kill it off but Johnstone punched his effort over the top of the bar.Bolton looked far more confident in their style of play.
Doncaster's last few chances proved fruitless and when James Coppinger's cross evaded Sharp and Brown,it was time to accept a defeat.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
DONCASTER BOSS PAUL DICKOV
"The game was open and I feel we didn't honestly play the way we usually adapt.When you create a lot of chances,you expect to score and we didn't."
"Five teams are below us and it's not certain yet if we will stay up,but I think we can do it."
BOLTON BOSS DOUGIE FREEDMAN
"The reason we won is because we simply kept creating our chances and made our mark on the game from the first second.That is the key to our run."
"People and supporters have judged my approach to changing my tactics for every game,but if I want to play 4-4-2,I will if it works."
TEAMS
Doncaster Rovers
33 Sam Johnstone
02 Paul Quinn
03 James Husband
18 Paul Keegan
27 Lucas Neill(Tamas 67')
20 Abdoulaye Méité
26 James Coppinger
19 Richie Wellens(Furman 45+1')
11 David Cotterill
10 Billy Sharp
09 Chris Brown
Substitutes
13 Jon Maxted
07 Mark Duffy
31 Enda Stevens
21 Marc De Val Fernandez
22 Theo Robinson
04 Dean Furman
17 Gabriel Tamas
Bolton Wanderers
01 Adam Bogdan
05 Tim Ream
03 Alan Hutton
06 Jay Spearing
12 Zat Knight
31 David Wheater
44 Medo Kamara
18 Neil Danns
26 Joe Mason(Trotter 61')
27 Lee Chung-Yong(Beckford 80')
29 Lukas Jutkiewicz
Substitutes
24 Andy Lonergan
10 Jermaine Beckford
15 Alex Baptiste
04 Matt Mills
17 Liam Trotter
11 Robert Hall
14 Andre Mortiz
Saturday, 5 April 2014
OPPONENTS GUIDE:BOLTON WANDERERS
The Trotters were formed in 1874 under the name Christ Church FC by Reverend Thomas Ogden.They played at Deane Road until 1877 and changed their name to Bolton Wanderers.
Bolton reached the FA Cup final in 1894 but lost to Notts County 4-1.The club won the FA Cup in 1923 after winning against West Ham United,and also in 1926 and 1929.
From 1935 until 1964,the club were in the top flight,with Nat Lofthouse influencing the play in the 1950s.Some players volunteered to fight in the war and two were killed in Italy.In 1946,the Burnden Park Disaster killed 33 fans and injured 400 at the-then stadium.
The club won another FA Cup in 1953 but from 1958,they haven't won a major trophy competition.
The 1960s and 1970s were full of relegations and promotions.Relegated in 1964,the club went back to the Second Division in 1973 and then the top flight in 1978.They went down in 1980.
Bolton were back in Division Three in 1983 after relegation.For the first time in their history,they were relegated to the basement division in 1987.They went back up the following season.
Second tier promotion came back to Bolton in 1993.They finally reached the Premiership in 1995 after beating Reading in the playoff final 4-3.Despite getting to the League Cup final,they only lasted one season in the top flight.They went back up in 1996/97 but they were relegated at the end of the season.
Bolton missed out on the Premiership after losing to Watford in the 1999 playoff final.Sam Allardyce was named manager shortly after.In 2000,they reached the FA Cup semi-final,the Worthington Cup final and playoffs.They lost in the semi finals of the playoffs.
2001 saw them back in the Premier League and they stayed up for two seasons.They finished 8th in 2004,their highest ever position.The Trotters gained UEFA Cup qualification in 2005 and reached the last 32,only to lose to Marseille.
Allardyce left the club in 2007 for Newcastle United.In 2008,under Gary Megson,they signed Johan Elmander for £8.2 million.Despite staying up in the 2009/10 season,they were nearly relegated in 2011 and lost 5-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final.
In March 2012,midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest in a FA Cup tie against Spurs.He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but weeks later,he was speaking and responding.He miraculously recovered.However,he was forced to retire aged 24.He is now a journalist.
Manager Owen Coyle was sacked in October 2012 and replaced by Crystal Palace's Dougie Freedman.He kept the club in the Championship and guided them to 7th.
Bolton have the face of former Donny player Matt Mills,who left us in 2009.Jermaine Beckford,notable for his time as a Leeds player,and Cardiff loanee Joe Mason make a lethal strikeforce in the squad.Darren Pratley,Neil Danns and Korean Chung-Yong Lee help the midfield.
Other players include Lukas Jutkiewicz and David Wheater.
THE GAFFER-DOUGIE FREEDMAN
Freedman had a playing career lasting sixteen years,from 1994 to 2010.He played often as a midfielder.
Having come through the ranks at QPR,Freedman signed for Barnet in 1994.He scored 24 times in his first season at Underhill and attracted attention from Crystal Palace,who signed him for £800,000 in 1995.
At Palace,he made 93 appearances and scored 34 goals over two years.He won promotion to the Premier League in 1997/98 but only played two games before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1998.
Robbie Keane's arrival at Molineux sent Freedman off to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 1998.He made 70 appearances for Wolves,but left in 2000 to rejoin Palace where he stayed for eight years before retiring in 2008.
After brief spells as reserve manager and a coaching role at Southend United,Freedman became assistant manager to Paul Hart and then George Burley at Palace.When Burley was sacked,he became the Eagles boss in 2011.He kept Palace in the Championship and in the 2011/12 season his team knocked Manchester United out of the Carling Cup.
He was appointed Bolton boss in October 2012 and still remains there.
DONCASTER ROVERS 1-3 BIRMINGHAM CITY
Birmingham could've taken the lead after fifteen minutes,but Chris Burke hit the post after some good build up from Lee Novak.
The whole home crowd stood up and clapped on twenty-six minutes for James Coppinger in aid of his 400th appearance.The last player to do this for Donny was Colin Douglas.
PAUL QUINN gave Doncaster the lead with ten minutes until the break.A shot from the defender was cleared back to the Scot who fired home.
Federico Macheda loved his time at Doncaster,but is loving his life at Birmingham even more.James Husband tried to clear the ball but MACHEDA caught it,dribbled and struck into the net.The crowd were getting heated and stewards had to intervene in large numbers.
Boosted by the equaliser,Žigic headed over and Burke's shot was punched away by Johnstone.
Before Doncaster could switch on,it was 2-1 to the Blues.Randolph found LEE NOVAK and he gently tapped under an advancing Johnstone to five the away team a lead.
The last goal was by MACHEDA again.Andrew Shinnie crossed in,Novak headed and Macheda tapped it over the line.Doncaster face Bolton on Tuesday,needing a win.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
DONCASTER MIDFIELDER JAMES COPPINGER
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my ten years here at Doncaster and remember the day I joined this club like yesterday."
"The clapping by the fans was emulating for me and I thank everyone over the years,including the managers and fans."
DONCASTER BOSS PAUL DICKOV
"If a good start to a game determines the end result,we must be kicking ourselves hardly."
"We looked able to cope against them but three sloppy defensive errors cost us dearly.Defensively,we'd even good before the game."
"We now go again on Tuesday night."
TEAMS
Doncaster Rovers
33 Sam Johnstone
26 James Coppinger
03 James Husband
04 Dean Furman
27 Lucas Neill
02 Paul Quinn
07 Mark Duffy(Robinson 71')
18 Paul Keegan
10 Billy Sharp
09 Chris Brown
11 David Cotterill
Substitutes
13 Jon Maxted
31 Enda Stevens
12 Luke McCullough
21 Marc De Val Fernandez
29 Harry Middleton
22 Theo Robinson
15 Liam Wakefield
Birmingham City
01 Darren Randolph
31 Paul Caddis
17 Connor Reilly
36 Emyr Huws(Adeyemi 65')
05 Tom Thorpe
04 Paul Robinson
07 Chris Burke
23 Johnathon Spector
09 Federico Macheda
08 Jordan Ibe(Žigic 45')
12 Lee Novak(Shinnie 80')
Substitutes
13 Connor Doyle
27 Shane Ferguson
20 Ollie Lee
14 Will Packwood
22 Andrew Shinnie
24 Tom Adeyemi
19 Nikola Žigic
Friday, 4 April 2014
OPPONENTS GUIDE:BIRMINGHAM CITY
Birmingham City,know as The Blues,were formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance and played at Muntz Road.They turned professional in 1885.They joined the Football League in 1892 and gained new owners.
The club adopted the name Birmingham City FC in 1905 and in 1906,they moved to current home St Andrews.The club won the Second Division in 1921 under Frank Womack and then in 1932,they reached the FA Cup Final in 1931,only to lose to West Brom.Birmingham remained in the top flight for eighteen years before relegation in 1939.
After the war,they won the Second Division title and reached another FA Cup final.Arthur Brockersbale won the First Division title in 1955.In 1963,the club finally won the FA Cup after winning against Aston Villa at Wembley.Stan Cullis took the club to two cup finals and one FA Cup final in 1968.
In the 1970s,Alf Ramsey managed the club briefly and after he resigned,Trevor Francis was sold to Nottingham Forest.Ron Saunders became boss in 1982 and the club win Division Two that year to get back to the top.A drop in form saw them drop to the Third Division in 1989,and Saunders quit.
In 1992,23-year-old Karren Brady purchased the club from the Kumar family.A poor start to the 1993/94 season saw a drop in form which could've seen the club drop to Division Three,and Terry Cooper was sacked.Barry Fry replaced him,and he won promotion in his first season.Trevor Francis replaced him.
Steve Bruce took over from Francis after the latter took them to the 2001 League Cup semifinal at Wembley.Bruce Bruce guided them to the Premier League in 2002 and kept them up in the 2002/03 season.Bruce left in 2007 when Carson Yueng took a share in the club.
Alex McLeish was named his replacement at St Andrews.He won the Carling Cup in 2011 where his team beat Arsenal.However,they were relegated in May 2011 and McLeish resigned.Chris Hughton replaced him but,despite guiding them to the playoffs,he left after one season.
Lee Clark is the current manager.
Birmingham have a talented squad in terms of striking options.Former Doncaster loanee Federico Macheda has enjoyed life there,Nikola Žigic was signed by the club in 2008 from Valencia and midfielder Lee Novak has scored some vital goals.
THE GAFFER-LEE CLARK
Geordie Lee spent seventeen years as a player before retiring due to a knee injury.
Having come through the academy as a defender at Newcastle United,he made his mark when Newcastle won promotion to the Premier League in 1993.He made 200 appearances for the Toon.
The next stop was First Division Sunderland,where he joined in 1997.He won another promotion with them in 1999.He left for Fulham that summer and spent six years at Craven Cottage.
Upon Lee's retirement in 2006,he worked as a coach at Norwich.His first job was with Huddersfield in 2008,where he tirelessly worked to get the club to the Championship.After much disappointment,his contract was terminated in 2012.
After his sacking,he was named Birmingham manager in July 2012.
JOHNSTONE STAYS ON
The 21-year-old has been in fine form and has been reported to be pleased to continue playing for the club,making Ross Turnbull wonder how he will break into the side.
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
COPPS TO MAKE 400TH APPEARANCE
The midfielder,33,joined Doncaster from Exeter City in January 2004.Above is a picture of him shortly after signing.He has since gotten married and had three children,settling in Doncaster with his family.
Coppinger has been influential over the years.This was especially the hattrick against Southend United in the playoff semi-final in 2008 and last season's title-winning goal.
Copps hopes to make his 400th game a win!
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