WALSALL 3-0 DONCASTER ROVERS

Tom Bradshaw continued his good form as striker for Walsall as the West Midlands club beat Doncaster Rovers 3-0 to put pressure on Paul Dickov.

The first real chance of the game fell to Harry Forrester who was back from his ban.He tried his luck from twenty yards but Andy Butler,who was born and raised in Doncaster,headed it away.Forrester then tried again from distance but O'Donnell was equal to his shot.After fifteen minutes,the away side looked good.

With half an hour gone,Jed Steer was replaced by Marko Marosi after the loanee hurt his hip.This didn't stop Doncaster as Kyle Bennett hit a low shot wide.But in stoppage time,former Doncaster youngster JAMES BAXENDALE put Walsall ahead with a freekick.

With the second half only ten minutes old,Walsall found themselves 2-0 up thanks to TOM BRADSHAW,a summer signing from Shrewsbury.The young striker got into the box to poke Romaine Swayers' cross under Marosi.

It was soon 3-0 on sixty-three minutes.Irish midfielder ANTHONY FORDE fired a low freekick under the wall and into the corner of the net.Doncaster found themselves in real trouble.

In the last twenty minutes,Doncaster desperately pushed on.Dean Furman headed wide and Theo Robinson struck over from an Alex Peterson cross.No real action from there onwards,but it's a result that sees the away side two points above the drop.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

WALSALL MANAGER DEAN SMITH

"It was a good win for us and I'm pleased with the points that we've now got."

"Maybe Doncaster lost today because they still had some kind of hangover from the cup game.Moreover,they were outplayed by us."

DONCASTER BOSS PAUL DICKOV

"I'm embarrassed by that defeat.It upsets,hurts and enrages me how they were better than us for the whole game and pushed forward constantly."

"The goals were avoidable and schoolboy errors like that are so costly.We were naive and there's nothing we can say to justify the loss."

"The only positive were the away fans who'd travelled to see us and I thank them for that."

TEAMS

Walsall

01 Richard O'Donnell 

44 Andy Butler

06 Paul Downing

04 James O'Connor 

03 Andy Taylor 

07 Adam Chambers C

17 Reece Flanagan(Clifford 51')

11 James Baxendale 

27 Anthony Forde 

09 Tom Bradshaw(Grimes 88')

10 Romaine Swayers(Manset 88')

Substitutes 

13 Craig McGilliveray GK

37 Mathieu Manset

21 Jordan Cook

24 Ashley Grimes

26 Billy Clifford

14 Malvind Benning

15 James Chambers

Doncaster Rovers

01 Jed Steer(Marosi 30')

03 Cédric Evina 

12 Luke McCullough 

22 Reece Wabara 

06 Jamie McCombe 

18 Paul Keegan(Peterson 67')

04 Dean Furman 

26 James Coppinger C

23 Kyle Bennett 

09 Theo Robinson

10 Harry Forrester

Substitutes

13 Marko Marosi GK

30 Ben Askins 

25 Alex Peterson

21 Marc De Val Fernandez

19 Richie Wellens 

35 Lewis Ferguson

31 Mitchell Lund

DICKOV ON INJURIES

Paul Dickov has spoken to the local media and BBC Sheffield's sports reporters about the injury statuses of strikers Curtis Main and Nathan Tyson.

"Nathan suffered a little bit of concussion on Tuesday night after hitting his head with another player.We won't take chances and it's now the new rules that we don't with head injuries like that,so he'll be rested for Saturday."

"Curtis Main has done well and worked well too with the physio.The game at Walsall may be too soon for him and he won't play as a result."

The manager then moved his attention to Saturday's game.

"In the past two or three seasons,Walsall have shown how good they are by finishing narrowly outside the playoffs."

They are not to be underestimated by any means but we play well away and are confident."

GETTING AWAY:WALSALL

Doncaster follow on with the football on Saturday by traveling to the Black Country for their away match at Walsall,who have had a poor start to the season and are 21st at the time of writing.

Here's the usual rundown of what you'd need to know.

TRAIN

The Bescot Stadium has a railway station built for football fans and is conveniently behind the away end.There is a regular service on a match day and trains often pull in and out.

PRE-MATCH PINT

The Saddlers Club is a pub next to the away end that happily accepts away fans for a £2 admission fee.The bar has two rooms;a small one for home fans and a back room for away fans to drink.Pies and burgers are on offer.

If you have time,there is the King George V on Wallowes Lane,opposite a supermarket.

PARKING

There is a car park next to the away end but it can get busy if there's a large following of supporters.If not,park on Wallowes Lane.

POSTCODE FOR SAT NAV

WS1 4SA

FULHAM 2-1 DONCASTER ROVERS

Theo Robinson missed a penalty in the second half as Fulham began life without Felix Magath with a 2-1 victory in the Capital One Cup.

Fulham began the game well,with Ross McCormack striking two shots at Jed Steer in the first ten minutes.The striker loved to score against Doncaster when he was at Leeds and did so on three occasions,but not this time as it seemed.Hugo Rodellega also hit a low shot under Steer but it hit the post.Fulham looked a new team under caretaker Kit Symons.

Fulham's resilient attitude proved to be the cutting edge.On sixteen minutes,BRYAN RUIZ gave Steer a birthday present on his 22nd birthday-by scoring against him.Ruiz broke into the box,evaded Evina and smashed his effort into the top corner.1-0 to the Londoners on a cold evening.

Fulham soon were 2-0 to the good and it was courtesy of captain DAN BURN"who couldn't have been happier scoring his first ever goal for Fulham.The former loanee has recently been playing in the starting eleven for the Cottagers and if he can prove to score goals,he'll be there for a while.Shortly after,Stafylidis headed over.

Doncaster were better in the second half.Tyson missed the target,but it was a sign of perseverance as far as he away bench was concerned.The effort being shown paid off on sixty minutes after midfielder JAMES COPPINGER pulled a goal back with a strike created by Nathan Tyson.It was a lifeline for the away side.

Doncaster then had the golden opportunity to win the game twenty minutes later when Tim Hoogland handled a cross.Theo Robinson chose to take the penalty,but youngster Marcus Bellenetti was equal to the substitute's time effort by tipping the ball wide,much to the delight of his team.This was also the goalkeeper's first game in goal as a Fulham player having been on loan at Accrington last season.

Doncaster really pushed the home defence in stoppage time.Tyson headed a ball to test Bellenetti's reach,Robinson hit over and Wakefield couldn't connect with a cross into the box.The home side will no doubt be glad to have won something for once this season.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

FULHAM CARETAKER MANAGER KIT SYMONS

"Relief is the word to describe that in what has been by far a more than poor start to life in the Championship.We played well for all of the first half and lost it a bit in the second if I'm honest,but held on for the win."

"We crested chances,linked up well with each other and combined well in a group effort.We just need to restore the high confidence levels within this side and that way something good will come out of us in the end.Maybe the win was a shock to us,because after last season and so far the players haven't been used to a winning mentality."

"Hanging on every game to the lead isn't a good tactic to build confidence and get the result but I know it'll take some time before we can fully build up the team morale and boost their confidence levels back up."

ON JOB

"I don't know about whether I'm going to be manager next.The players seem to respond well and it's yet to be decided."

FULHAM GOALKEEPER MARCUS BETTENELLI(ON HIS DEBUT AND THE PENALTY)

"If anyone,Dan Burn deserves the credit for the result because had he not scored,we would have obviously never have progressed and we'd have to have gone through extra time."

"It never would be easy on a cold night and it was hard at times to grind out the result and even get the ball into the back of the net.It could've gone either way and it feels better now we've gotten that win we needed.The squad seems freshened up after the manager's departure a few days ago."

"I was a little nervous about my debut but more excited nonetheless to play.It turned out well and there's more to come I hope.The penalty didn't cause me too many problems and I felt eased when it was taken;I dived and saved it basically."

DONCASTER BOSS PAUL DICKOV

"We didn't play all that well in the first half of the game and I'll admit to that.But in the second half we really upped our game and went at them as far as we could which made me proud."

"I suppose that's football.It's unfair and unpredictable most of the time,we could've gotten something tonight but didn't and it wasn't a good feeling.I have been in the same position as Theo so it's not fair to have a go at him for missing because it happens."

"Saturday's trip to Walsall is now the most important focus now and that's three points to look into.They've been off to a poor start but their last few finishing positions suggest otherwise."

TEAMS

Fulham

43 Marcus Bettenelli 

05 Fernando Amorbieta

02 Tim Hoogland 

03 Nikolay Budorov

33 Dan Burn C

06 Kostas Stafylidis 

21 Lassie Vignen Christensen

10 Bryan Ruiz(Williams 80')

28 Emerson Hynman 

20 Hugo Rodellega 

44 Ross McCormack 

Substitutes 

01 Gabor Kiraly GK

16 Cauley Woodrow

08 Scott Parker 

39 Ryan Williams 

30 Chris David 

32 Sean Kavanagh 

14 Patrick Roberts 

Doncaster Rovers 

01 Jed Steer 

03 Cédric Evina 

12 Luke McCullough 

15 Liam Wakefield(McCombe 90+2')

22 Reece Wabara 

19 Richie Wellens

04 Dean Furman(Robinson 45')

23 Kyle Bennett(Forrester 45')

26 James Coppinger

18 Paul Keegan 

14 Nathan Tyson 

Substitutes 

13 Marko Marosi GK

09 Theo Robinson

06 Jamie McCombe 

10 Harry Forrester 

35 Lewis Ferguson

30 Ben Askins 

21 Marc De Val Fernandez  

GETTING AWAY:FULHAM

Tuesday night's away match in Hammersmith is in the Capital One Cup at Fulham.With the Cottagers suffering relegation last season and having sacked Felix Magath on Sunday,the game will be interesting to watch.

TRAIN

On the tube,take the District line and get off at Putney Bridge.Turn left outside the station and then right onto Ramleagh Gardens.Turn left at the Eight Bells pub on the bend and this'll take you to Putney Bridge.Upon reaching the bridge,turn right onto Bishops Park on the Thames.Head through the park and you'll find the stadium.

Alternatively,get the Piccadilly line to Hammersmith from Heathrow or Central London.It is twenty minutes to walk to the ground.Head down Fulham Palace Road,pass Charing Cross hospital and then proceed to Crabtree Lane where the floodlights are visible.

WHERE TO DRINK

The Eight Bells,mentioned above,serves alcohol to away fans and the environment is very settled.If not,try the Ox Wagon Bar nearby.

PARKING

Parking on the street is restricted to one hour on a match day and the parking meters don't say this.Park on the streets facing the A1 as it's free.

POST CODE FOR SAT-NAV

SW6 6HH

WELLENS PLEASED TO WIN AT HOME

Richie Wellens has expressed his joy at Doncaster's first home victory of the 2014/15 campaign against local rivals Chesterfield.

The midfielder has also spoken of his future playing at the Keepmoat.

"We've been feeling the pressure a little bit by the manager in training because he wanted this win badly,"the 34-year old said.

"We are a good side who can cope with the demands of the league well;we have the players and staff to do that."

Wellens also mentioned how he has no real certainty over his future as a player at Doncaster.

"I don't know where I'll go."

"If an offer comes,chances are I will accept if it means I move away from League One.It's no disrespect towards the club but it'd be the right thing for me."

DONCASTER ROVERS 3-2 CHESTERFIELD

Chesterfield's late comeback proved fruitless as Doncaster earned their first home win of the season with a 3-2 win.

NATHAN TYSON opened the scoring early on in the game.Wabara crossed the ball perfectly for the striker to head it,but the goalkeeper got his hands to it initially and Tyson tapped it in.

Chesterfield tried to score next through Romauld Boco,but the Benin international couldn't hit the target when shooting on sight.Veteran Ritchie Humphreys then got his head to an Ian Evatt corner but Jed Steer was happy for it to go over.

In the last fifteen minutes,Chesterfield began to pressure more.Eoin Doyle,in the  fine form he's in,struck at Jed Steer and Darikwa missed an open header.They would pay for this when KYLE BENNETT scored on 32 minutes.

The 4,500 travelling away fans were roaring ten minutes later when SAM CLUCAS scored his first goal since joining from Mansfield.

It got worse for the Spireites soon after the second half began.From a corner,Coppinger hit a low shot which was blocked by Tommy Lee,but Jamie McCombe was on hand to tap it in.

Chesterfield got some of their hopes up after Irish striker EOIN DOYLE pulled it back to 3-2.Ollie Banks won the ball on the edge of the area but laid it off for Doyle to smash it into the goal.With half an hour left,it was looking promising.

The last remaining chances all fell to Chesterfield.Sam Clucas hit a volley at Steer,O'Shea skied a chance over the bar and in stoppage time,Darikwa had his shot cleared off the line.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

DONCASTER BOSS PAUP DICKOV

"Chesterfield threw the kitchen sink at us and deserve some credit for their efforts today."

"Most of our play was good today.We created chances and scored three times.Nathan Tyson was great today as a striker."

"However,we were naive at times with our concentration and made basic errors which thankfully came to nothing."

CHESTERFIELD BOSS PAUL COOK

"We've adapted well at this level.We have began the season well and the supporters really do want to see us turn up every game if this is to be the case."

"Honesty is best,and we admit that we should've defended better in the game to avoid the goals.I won't make excuses and like to tell it how it is."

 

TEAMS

Doncaster Rovers

01 Jed Steer 

03 Cédric Evina 

22 Reece Wabara 

12 Luke McCullough 

06 Jamie McCombe 

19 Richie Wellens 

21 Marc De Val Fernandez 

23 Kyle Bennett 

04 Dean Furman 

26 James Coppinger C

14 Nathan Tyson

Substitutes

13 Marko Marosi GK

09 Theo Robinson

35 Lewis Ferguson

18 Paul Keegan

15 Liam Wakefield 

25 Alex Peterson

30 Ben Askins 

Chesterfield FC

01 Tommy Lee 

16 Michael Raglan

15 Ritchie Humphreys(O'Shea 60')

23 Ian Evatt

02 Tamike Darikwa

08 Jimmy Ryan 

18 Romauld Boco

05 Sam Morsy(Banks 32')

12 Sam Clucas

17 Eoin Doyle 

Substitutes 

20 Aaron Chapman GK

27 Carl Lamb

09 Armand Gnanduillet

24 Ollie Banks 

10 Jay O'Shea

07 Dan Gardner

11 Gary Roberts

 

OPPONENTS GUIDE:CHESTERFIELD

Chesterfield have had a good start to life back in League One after their promotion and will come to Doncaster confident of a win in a derby match.The club are nicknamed 'The Spireites' due to the town's infamous crooked church spire.

Chesterfield FC were first founded in 1867 and merged with a local cricket club.The two clubs moved to Saltergate in 1868.Chesterfield Livingstone also played in the local area,and they took up the Saltergate area as a home ground along with Chesterfield FC,which renamed the club.

The club turned professional in 1891 and became Chesterfield Town.They joined the Midland League in 1896 and then successfully entered the Second Division of the Football League in 1900.Financial difficulty saw the club move back to the Midland League in 1909.Chesterfield Town went bust five years later and the council set up Chesterfield Municipal FC in 1919;this was to be Chesterfield FC a year later by popular demand.

Their biggest successes came a decade after the war.In 1958,future England goalkeeper Gordon Banks made his debut in football but was sold to Leicester a year later.In 1961,Chesterfield were relegated to the Fourth Division but were promoted back to the third tier in 1970.

They suffered relegations in the 1980s but gained two promotions to the Second Division in 1992 and 1994They beat Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup in 1996.They lost to Southampton,but Chesterfield goalkeeper Mark Crossley got recognition as the only ever goalkeeper to save a Matt Le Tissier penalty.

Chesterfield suffered financial problems in the early 2000s and their next relegation followed in 2007 to League Two.They were promoted back to League One as champions in 2011 and won the 2011/12 JPT,only to be relegated that season.Under Paul Cook,they earned promotion back to League One in 2014.

THE GAFFER PAUL COOK

Liverpudlian Cook,47,played as a midfielder both professionally and part-time.

His career began briefly at Marine before he joined Wigan in 1984 as a teenager.He spent four years there before signing for Norwich and then Wolves,where he became popular for his attributes on pitch.

He left wolves in 1994,and played for Coventry and Tranmere Rovers briefly.He moved to Stockport County for £250,000 in 1997 but was often dropped from the team.

He later played for Burnley,Wigan again and Accrington Stanley before quitting the game in March 2006 at the age of 39 and after 23 years playing.

His first managerial job was a six-month spell at Southport which he was sacked from in January 2007.He then became manager of Irish club Sligo Rovers in summer that year,guiding them to the UEFA Cup in 2008.He faced criticism as he was from Liverpool and was part of a scandal in Ireland suggesting he was involved with the Hillsborough Disaster.He later won the FAI Cup in 2010.

He returned to Accrington in February 2012 to manage them,but left in October that year for Chesterfield.

HE PLAYED FOR BOTH SAM HIRD

Doncaster-born defender Sam Hird played for Rovers from 2007 until his departure in 2012,where he moved to Derbyshire to play for Chesterfield.

He is now the club's captain.

DONCASTER ROVERS 0-0 CRAWLEY TOWN

Crawley held on for a point on a cold South Yorkshire evening at the Keepmoat Stadium,and Doncaster boss Paul Dickov is feeling the strain after today.

Izale McLeod has been key to the strikeforce for the away side and he came close from the start.Bobson Bawling flicked the ball to Ryan Dickson who gave it to McLeod but he hit wide of the net.Doncaster then had a chance to score from a corner,but Dean Leacock headed it out to the away attack.

James Coppinger was next to test Red's keeper Jamie Ashdown,but the goalkeeper(who'd trialled at Doncaster in July) was equal to his volley.The last chance for both teams fell to Kyle Bennett and Josh Wright but the latters failed to convert.

Jamie Ashdown got the award for Man of the Match and the second half was the reason why.He first punched a powerful header by Theo Robinson over the bar and then made a double save from Kyle Bennett,who played for Crawley on loan from Doncaster last season.All in the opening ten minutes.

Tyson broke into the box after sixty minutes but,yet again,Ashdown was there to block his shot.This added to Dickov's frustration on his 200th game as a manager.

Late on,Matt Harrold came on for Crawley and he put an effort wide.At the other end,a corner wasn't cleared well by the away defence and the ball fell to th feet of Robinson,but his snapshot hit Ashdown on the legs and was blocked.0-0 full time.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

DONCASTER BOSS PAUL DICKOV

"Crawley came here to draw and did so.We came away with a point too and I'm pleased by this."

"The away team put in a good shift.They were tight in defending and we were literally stopped by a revived version of Gordon Banks."

CRAWLEY TOWN GOALKEEPER JAMIE ASHDOWN

"The manager says I pretty much got the side out of jail with the work that I put in.I agreed with him and he praised me tremendously for my tireless spirit."

"My wife phoned me after the match to praise me for my award.That was a nice gesture."

"I have to say that it wasn't easy work to keep it level but it was worth it."

TEAMS

Doncaster Rovers

01 Jed Steer

03 Cédric Evina 

22 Reece Wabara

06 Jamie McCombe 

12 Luke McCullough 

18 Paul Keegan 

19 Richie Wellens C

26 James Coppinger 

23 Kyle Bennett 

09 Theo Robinson

14 Nathan Tyson

Substitutes

13 Marko Marosi GK

04 Dean Furman 

35 Lewis Ferguson

15 Liam Wakefield 

21 Marc De Val Fernandez 

25 Alex Peterson 

30 Ben Askins 

Crawley Town

25 Jamie Ashdown 

12 Joe Walsh 

26 Matt Sadler 

20 Bobson Bawling 

05 Dean Leacock 

10 Josh Wright(Henderson 55')

03 Ryan Dickson

08 Jimmy Smith

16 Keith Keane

09 Izale McLeod(Harrold 80')

21 Gavin Tomlin

Substitutes 

01 Brian Jensen GK

04 Conor Henderson

14 Lewis Young

18 Matt Harrold 

07 Gwion Edwards

06 Sonny Bradley

15 Amal Banya 

 

 

OPPONENTS GUIDE:CRAWLEY TOWN

Crawley Town are next to face Doncaster in the league,with the Red Devils travelling up from Sussex to South Yorkshire hoping to win and boost their somewhat good start to the season.The away side have made a lot of ground in the English footballing scene in the last few years.

Founded in 1896,Crawley Town joined the West Sussex Footballing League and became a part of the Junior Division.They moved to the Mid-Sussex League and won the title in 1892.Crawley stayed in this league until 1951.

In the 1950s,Crawley joined the Sussex County League and then the Metropolitan League,with the club winning the Metropolitan League Cup in 1959.They turned semi-professional in 1963 and stayed between the Southern Leagues for all of the 1970s and 1980s.The club were successful in this period;they won the Sussex Cup in 1986 and the Sussex Senior Cup in 1988.They repeated this feat in 1991 after winning the Floodlight Cup.

The club won a historic promotion to the Conference in 2004 for the first time in their history.In 2005,Crawley became a full-time club under new owners but some players had to leave due to other important work commitments.They faced liquidation in 2006 with an hour to go until the club was to go broke but a deal was made at the last minute to save them.They had ten points deducted and went into administration despite staying up in the league.

Any financial worries were eased at last in 2008 and Steve Evans was named manager,with the Scot going on to be the club's most successful.He made record signings in Matt Tubbs and Richard Brodie in 2010.In the 2010/11 season,they reached the sixth round of the FA Cup only to lose to Manchester United,and won the Conference title and subsequent promotion to the Football League.The following season,despite the departure of Evans to Rotherham,Crawley were promoted to League One via the playoffs.

THE GAFFER JOHN GREGORY

Gregory has gained a reputation as a coach mainly outside of Europe in the last few years and has managed in the top flight before on a successful basis.

Born in Scunthorpe in 1954,Gregory started at Northampton Town where he made 177 appearances before signing for Aston Villa in 1977.He settled into the side quickly and had a good influence on the team's playing style.His time in Birmingham ended when he moved to Brighton in 1979 and then to QPR in 1981,where he was a FA Cup finalist in 1982.

Gregory later had spells at Derby County,Plymouth Argyle and Bolton Wanderers before retiring in 1990.

He began his managerial career with brief spells at Portsmouth and Plymouth as a coach in 1990.He then worked at Leicester City before becoming the new manager of Wycombe Wanderers in 1996,and remained there for two years.

His big breakthrough was returning to Birmingham,this time he would be managing Premier League Aston Villa after getting the job in 1998.He helped them qualify for the UEFA Cup and went on an unbeaten run in the 1998/99 season.Villa reached the FA Cup final in 2000 but lost to Chelsea,and he resigned in January 2002.

His next spell was at Derby County but it was one to forget.He wasn't able to sign players due to administration and got them relegated to Division One.He was sacked in March 2003.He spent three years as a commentator for Sky Sports and then managed QPR for eighteen months.

Gregory's next role came in Israel at Maccabi Nazreth in 2009 and later followed by fellow Israeli side FC Ashdod in March 2010.He left them in May 2011 for FC Kairat in Kazakhstan,but despite saving them from the drop he was sacked in January 2012.

He returned to management with Crawley in November 2013.

HE PLAYED FOR BOTH EMILE SINCLAIR

 

Sinclair joined Rovers from Peterborough in January 2013 on a loan deal until the end of the season.He wasn't good enough for the team and spent a lot of time on the bench.After Peterborough transfer-listed him,he joined Crawley in 2013.

He now plays for Northampton Town in League Two.

BRISTOL CITY 3-0 DONCASTER ROVERS

Bristol City climb to the top of the league with an emphatic victory in front of their home fans,but give Doncaster worries about their form and an injury to Rob Jones.

City took the lead through AARON WILBRAHAM after thirteen minutes.A freekick was delivered to the Bristol City offensive and newboy Kieran Agard flicked the ball to Aden Flint.His effort was blocked but Wilbraham was there to tap the ball into the net.

Shortly after Rob Jones was injured tackling Agard,Luke Freeman hit a low shot at Jed Steer which was blocked by the loanee goalkeeper.MARK LITTLE,however,came through with a bizarre goal created by Cédric Evina.The defender failed to clear an effort off the line quickly and Little pounced to get his first goal in the West Country.

The second half started off poorly for Doncaster as Harry Forrester was sent off for a harsh tackle on Williams.He had already been booked in the first half for dissent and the tackle showed his marching orders.Even worse,Bristol City really pressurized with Wade Elliott hitting the crossbar on fifty minutes.

The third goal was set up by former Doncaster loanee Jay Emmanuel-Thomas for KIERAN AGARD.Steve Cotterill sold Sam Baldock to Brighton on deadline day and shipped in the new striker from Doncaster's rivals Rotherham United.If he can score regularly,he will fill Baldock's shoes.

The last chance fell to Nathan Tyson,but he mistimed his effort.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

BRISTOL CITY BOSS STEVE COTTERILL

"I'm pleased that we're top of the league and it's really good to be up there right now.I know it wasn't our best performance by a long shot but we dug out for the win.We were organised because Doncaster had an unpredictable form.The goals were deserved and through attacking forces."

"Kieran Agard scored for the good confidence boost and I was so happy with him.The buzz around this place is clear and we need to build for the campaign now."

DONCASTER BOSS PAUL DICKOV

"The first goal was sloppy on both our half and theirs,and the second one was laughable in a bad sense if I tell it as it is.We also feel the red card was totally non sensical."

"We should've gotten deep into the game and I'd told the team how Bristol City were on an extremely good high in the league.It's not the result that just let me down therefore,it was the team's inability to fight and show a fighting spirit during the game."

"We didn't get a penalty in the game but that wasn't a deciding factor.It would've been goals."

TEAMS

Bristol City

01 Frank Fielding 

02 Mark Little

04 Aden Flint 

22 Luke Ayling 

03 Derek Williams 

08 Wade Elliott c

23 Luke Bryan 

07 Korey Smith 

15 Luke Freeman 

18 Aaron Wilbraham(Emmanuel-Thomas 80')

19 Kieran Agard 

Substitutes 

13 Dave Williams GK

17 Greg Cunningham 

10 Jay Emmanuel-Thomas 

06 Adam El-Abd

11 Scott Wagstaff 

21 Marlon Pack 

20 George Burns 

Doncaster Rovers 

01 Jed Steer 

03 Cédric Evina

05 Rob Jones c(McCombe 33')

22 Reece Wabara 

12 Luke McCullough 

10 Harry Forrester 

18 Paul Keegan(Tyson 55')

26 James Coppinger 

23 Kyle Bennett 

19 Richie Wellens 

09 Theo Robinson

Substitutes 

13 Marko Marosi GK

14 Nathan Tyson 

06 Jamie McCombe 

32 Billy Whitehouse 

04 Dean Furman 

21 Marc De Val Fernandez 

15 Liam Wakefield  

GETTING AWAY:BRISTOL CITY

 

Bristol City are undergoing a huge £40,000,000 redevelopment scheme on their stadium and should successfully become the first stadium to have safe standing in England.

Away fans are now placed in the Atyeo Stand of Ashton Gate since the Wedlock End is being reconstructed and expanded.This is directly opposite the original end.

TRAIN

Parson Street is the nearest station to the ground.It's about ten minutes walking time and has a normal service on matchday.If not,Bristol Temple Meads is two miles away and it's best to get a cab if so.

PRE-MATCH PINT

Pubs closest to the ground are the BS3 Bar and the Hen and Chicken.A popular bar by the waterfront is Nova Scotia and it was designed especially for the away fans.Alcohol isn't available in the stadium so if you do want a pint,go to a pub beforehand in plenty of time.There is also a KFC next to Ashton Gate.

PARKING

Parking next to the stadium is very minimal for away fans and those who park need a permit.The nearest parking area is the Cricket Club on Clanage Road.It's ten minutes away from the away end.

POSTCODE FOR SAT NAV

BS3 2EJ

DONCASTER TO PLAY BURTON IN JPT

Doncaster Rovers will play Burton Albion in the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy North Section.

The tie will be played at the Pirelli Stadium on October 7th at 7:45pm.

DICKOV WANTS TO 'OVERACHIEVE'

Paul Dickov has stated in a press conference how it's now the goal for his side to overachieve in League One,should they get at least into the top half of the table.

"I won't settle for the bare minimum here.It's a competitive league out there and we can do better than just twelfth in the table",he stated.

"Should we finish twelfth in the league,I'll say we've failed."

"The goal is at least the playoffs,but most want us to be in the top half."