Doncaster v County: Match Thread (27/01/2024)

It's a shame Macca won't be available for this one to have Rowe in his back pocket, maybe even get him sent off with a simulated headbutt.

Then again, Macca's a decent, honest lad and not a s**thouse with a short memory.

It'll be a tough game, but with the new additions now having a bit more time to bed in, I think we'll just nick it by the odd goal in three.

OK so take 3 on this - I just lost my internet connection, rebooted and I'd lost the post I was working on, then it happened again - GRRRRRR

Right so Disappointing Donny, who I seem to recall were pre season favourites to flirt with promotion, now sit 14 points off the playoff zone and just 9 above the Dreaded Drop Zone. Their record of P 27 W 8 D 4 L 15 F 31 A 47 is modest indeed. Their H record is slightly better, as you might expect, W 6 D 2 L 6 F 19 A 21. So a leaky defence and an anaemic attack equals a poor season.

The Ws are FGR (a) 1-2 (their first win in mid Sept), Gillingham (h) 2-1, Crawley (h) 2-0, Sutton (h) 4-1, Tranmere (a) 1-2, Grimsby (h) 1-0, Cole U (h) 3-1 and MKD (h) 3-0. The Ds are Mansfield (h) 2-2, Swindon (h) 0-0, Accy STanley (a) 0-0 and Mansfield (a) 1-1 (so a double, of sorts, well draws anyway). The Ls are Harrogate (h) 0-1, Newport (a) 4-0, Notts County (h) 1-3, MKD (a) 2-1, Wrexham (a) 2-1, Barrow (a) 3-2, County (a) 1-0, Salford (h) 0-3, AFC Wombles (a) 2-0, Crewe (a) 3-2, Morecambe (h) 0-5 (!), Bratfut (h) 1-3, Notts County (a) 3-0, Harrogate (a) 3-1 and Newport (h) 0-1.

Looking at that it's striking that most of their Ws come against sides at the lower end of the table. They got a Double of Draws with Mansfield (which is not entirely surprising given how many of their games end as Ds). They've also had just 4 clean sheets all season which explains a lot in itself. Their record since the beginning of Nov is W 2 D 2 L 7, so they really need to strengthen.

Their top scorer is Joe Ironside (son of ex-County GK Ian) - he has 11 goals, (he was previously at Cambridge and Macc in L1 and L2). Next, on 7, is Mo Faal, who came on season long loan from WBA but then went back to WBA and out again to Walsall on loan to the end of this season. MF Ben Close has 3, a further 3 players each have 2 (including ex County Tommy Rowe), and a further 4 players each have 1 goal. So it's all a bit thin. Especially with Mo Faal leaving, a departure which Rovers Manager Grant McCann was rather unhappy about.

They've been active in the January window signing Bolton's striker Conor Carty on loan to the end of the season, Defender Jay McGrath from League of Ireland side St Patrick's Athletic on a free, Tottenham MF Matthew Craig on loan to the end of the season and experienced striker Billy Waters signed on loan from Wrexham (he has played over 300 games for 9 clubs across L1, L2 and the National League.

Back in Sept they signed Sheff U striker Louie Marsh and WBA striker Mo Faal both on season long loan. The latter scored 7 in 25 games for Rovers but then returned to his parent club and went back out on loan to Walsall. They also signed RB Tom Nixon on season long loan from Hull City.

So all in all, they look a weak side but then, so did Newport not so long ago, and we know how that turned out. So keep theose fingers crossed, but County should be good enough to win here.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in L 2:

There are some interesting games on Tue 23rd Jan - Mansfield host Rock Bottom Sutton, 7th placed MKD v 10th placed AFC Wombles and Morecambe host 4th placed Crewe - Now Postponed - Waterlogged Pitch, so the table may look quite different by Sat 27th when the following fixtures arise:

10th placed Wombles v 3rd placed Mansfield
4th placed Crewe v 21st placed Slumping Salford
7th placed MKD v 8th placed Gillingham
6th placed Notts v 5th placed Barrow

If you're wondering why Wrexham don't feature in that list that's because they play on Monday 29th Jan in the 4th round of the FA Cup, visiting Blackburn - so come on Rovers!

Massive boost - MSH is back, even if he's only 80% of his usual that's huge. Sarce on the bench also V Good news!

Goooaaalll by Paddy and it's from a cross by - MSH!!!!!

Gooooaaaallll number 3 for County Bristow to CLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

This is fantastic, I knew it was the right decision to bring Connor back, I'm really pleased for him.

It's also fantastic to see Macca back, that's gonna be like a brand new,top quality signing!

Poor old Donny. 4 subs at halftime to change things up to get back into the game.

37 seconds later...