Doncaster v Crewe Alex

[JJ1532]

Bit early, but we're on a roll at the moment. 3 wins in 3, back to back clean sheets. Now we play our only game in hand away at Doncaster. With a bit of space between us and the bottom 4, this is a bit of a bonus game, but we need to keep the good run going.

Don't fix what isn't broken right? I can't see any changes being made team wise, so same again.

As for Donny, they are in good form just like we are. 1 defeat in their last 10, 3 wins in their last 6 home games, 8 goals in their last 2. Suddenly gone from possible dark horses for relegation to potential play off hopefuls. Got a lot of good players in their ranks, oh and they have signed some random striker from Watford who looks quite handy......

Wonder if Uche will be fit to play after missing these last 2 games? I'd have thought so, be on the bench I'd imagine Donny fans? Looking forward to the game, going to be a tough game and one I'd snatch your hand off for a point in. Hopeful that we can take advantage of their sometimes shaky home form.

I'll go optimistic and say 1-1 draw. Ness to score.

 

[TomPNE94]

I think we should have a rule that there are no match threads until after Monday so we call focus on the biggest game of the season for all of us..

 

[TimeyWimey]

If we actually win this I may actually start believing like it's 2012.

Something tells me we won't tho cos it's the Keepmoat and depressing as fuck. And Uche guarantees them a goal.

 

[SF_]

Doncaster seem to be flying, they've got some good players on their books to be fair.

 

[Crewelad87]

After winning our last 3 the pressure is off for this one. Donny are in good form and as mentioned have some top players. But nower days with Ajose and Ness in the attacking 3rd, Grant in the middle and Tate and Garrett at the back we always stand a chance, and if Donny have an off day I'd expect us to capitalise.

Doncaster 2-1 Crewe (Main,Ikpeazu, Ness) 6,280 (166 Crewe)

 

[SRNP]

Two in form teams, must be a draw right?

Doncaster 1 - 1 Crewe
Uche Ajose
Attendance 6,104 (183 Crewe)

 

[Hooped Wizard]

Doncaster seem to be flying, they've got some good players on their books to be fair.

Yes and that's what makes the fact we aren't up there with your lot even more infuriating. Dickov has to go at the end of the season whether we make the play-offs or not.

Doncaster seem to be flying, they've got some good players on their books to be fair.

Yes

Bit early, but we're on a roll at the moment. 3 wins in 3, back to back clean sheets. Now we play our only game in hand away at Doncaster. With a bit of space between us and the bottom 4, this is a bit of a bonus game, but we need to keep the good run going.

Don't fix what isn't broken right? I can't see any changes being made team wise, so same again.

As for Donny, they are in good form just like we are. 1 defeat in their last 10, 3 wins in their last 6 home games, 8 goals in their last 2. Suddenly gone from possible dark horses for relegation to potential play off hopefuls. Got a lot of good players in their ranks, oh and they have signed some random striker from Watford who looks quite handy......

Wonder if Uche will be fit to play after missing these last 2 games? I'd have thought so, be on the bench I'd imagine Donny fans? Looking forward to the game, going to be a tough game and one I'd snatch your hand off for a point in. Hopeful that we can take advantage of their sometimes shaky home form.

I'll go optimistic and say 1-1 draw. Ness to score.

The two games Uche played we scored 2 and gained one point, conceding 4 in the process. The two most recent games in which Uche hasn't played we've gained 6 points, scored 8 and conceded none. Make of that what you will....

Two in form teams, must be a draw right?

Doncaster 1 - 1 Crewe
Uche Ajose
Attendance 6,104 (183 Crewe)

If were lucky, many are still boycotting over last summers saga.

If we actually win this I may actually start believing like it's 2012.

Something tells me we won't tho cos it's the Keepmoat and depressing as fuck. And Uche guarantees them a goal.

Really? Depressing? It's nice, big and modern. I love it.

1-1.

 

[TimeyWimey]

It's like an unfinished B&Q. And holds some bad memories.

And I still see us losing this one. Just gut feeling it's going to be an easy night for Donny, partly due to our players burning out. I think we'll need early subs on tonight regardless of the score.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

It's worth noting that the fitness of this squad has improved considerably compared to recent months. This squad is the most fit we've had since our promotion season.

That said Doncaster are a more capable opponent than the last three we've played and have some experienced Championship players in that squad. I think we'll lose gracefully but remain looking competitive as opposed to the MK Dons rollover.

 

[Crewelad87]

Were unchanged for the 3rd game running, one change for Donny Uche starts bound to score.

 

[Crewelad87]

Get in 0-1. Were on fire

 

[Dan_Macclad]

How have Crewe been so shit yet currently sit 2 points from the playoffs.. What a stupid league you have.

 

[Crewelad87]

Could be 2 or 3 up, Bywater has made great saves from Ajose and Haber.

 

[Crewelad87]

How have Crewe been so shit yet currently sit 2 points from the playoffs.. What a stupid league you have.

And have a -19 goal difference its ridiculous.

 

[Crewelad87]

1-1 Doncaster much better second half. We will do well to get a point now.

 

[SRNP]

1-1. Huge game this for both sides! Seems like Donny are pressing for a winner. Uche has hit the post and assisted the goal.

 

[Crewelad87]

2-1 90 mins

 

[Crewelad87]

Always heart break when it comes to Doncaster. Hate playing them.

 

[Camborne Gills]

Always heart break when it comes to Doncaster. Hate playing them.

Shame you couldn't hang on for a point

 

[Hooped Wizard]

We're going up.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Too defensive too early. Showed Donny far too much respect when they were actually rattled when we attacked them.

Ray Motm. Didn't give Uche a sniff.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

Uche's bloody awful.

Shame.

 

[TimeyWimey]

He was bloody awful tonight. Not sure I'd even take him back, we play far, far better football without him now. When we're not scared of the halfway line.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Pissed off at the sitting back, so inevitable. Davis has atoned for a few of his mistakes but it's this one he really needs to rectify sharpish.

Still this was a bonus game, disappointed to lose in the last minute but would happily take three points at Oakwell on Saturday to compensate for it!

 

[JJ1532]

Hmm, think saying we sat back is a little too simplistic. We were undone by a set piece and a wonder goal from a guy thats probably never scored one that good in years and probably couldn't score again if he tried.

We had less of the ball in the first half, but we held them comfortably at arms length and were 1-0 up and should have gone at least 2-0 up had Ajose scored his 2 attempts and/or Haber buried his openings, not that Haber's chances were as guilt edged as Ajose's.

2nd half, its inevitable that we'll defend deep and look to hit on the counter. Again we should have gone 2-0 up when we had that period of pressure early in the game. After that, I felt we flagged big time. But even so, Tate made a horrendous error giving away the free kick for the goal before Ray and Davis both lost their headers to concede the equaliser. Not sure why the Donny twitter account and Uche are trying to claim it might have been his goal, the goal cam clearly shows Furman poking it under Garratt, he would have saved it but for that touch.

Then, we again held them off bar a scramble where Garratt, Ray and Turton all had to make some last ditch defending. But how we were undone for the winner was terrible. Bit of quick play in the middle gets them a man over and Wellens curls it in first time from 25 yards. Shouldn't have been opened up so easily, but you can't really legislate for that kind of goal going in.

Up until the 2nd Donny goal, I'd have said we were worth a point but if you can't defend for the entire game, you deserve jack shit. Donny won and they just about deserved it. From my point of view, tactically we cocked up by putting Tate back into the defence and not keeping him higher up the pitch and by making Ness drop too far away from the strikers. Jones had a stinker, seemed bemused when Donny's players put a tackle in. Needs to realise you don't get time and space like he might in an academy/U21s game. Haber was decent, Ajose struggled to get into the game and once again missed a couple of excellent chances. Ness was too deep and kept getting outmuscled.

Like I said, we should have been 2-0 up by HT and that would have made things very different going into the 2nd half. But even at 1-0 and sitting deep, we still should have done better for the equaliser and you can't get opened up that easily for the 2nd. A game we could have won, should have drawn, but ultimately lost and deserved to. Bit of pressure on Saturday now.