Gillingham have scored just 6 League goals this season in 17 matches. However, 4 of those came in their last 5, 3 of which have been at home including Stevenage and Barrow, so avoiding defeat against these two is very creditable. They have also conceded only 16, so their defence is their greatest strength. The fact that they have won only 1 match in their last 10 is obviously something which they must feel they are on the verge of putting right.
And the most recent game, breaking the scoring sequence, was where they lost only to second half goals at Orient so providing encouragement in the quest for another win. The local match report included: “The Gills edged a tight first half in east London, the manager producing a tactical master-stroke with a 4-3-2-1 formation that stifled the home side." But they conceded 2 in the 2nd half and lost. (2 is the maximum number conceded in any game.)
So although obviously bruised they may well look at where we are in the table and travel north with more than a degree of confidence.
I think we ran out of steam towards the end of the second half on Tuesday as the team are unused to the energetic pace at which they played, so they need to get fitter. If they are going to make substitutions I think Faulkner and Rowe should certainly figure. Why Williams is preferred to anyone I do not know, Clayton has lost whatever pace he ever had and needs some intensive work to make him viable and I don’t think I’ve seen the “old" Taylor since he came back from the first of his injuries which is a shame, so that needs to be recognised and fixed. Hopefully the younger players will train up to the pace and intensity of Schofield’s requirements.
If we can START PLAYING from the KICK OFF for once we ought to have it in us to win and indeed we have to begin winning consistently now if we are to get up to the top end of the table. So 2-0 (Miller/Hurst).
DPL v Gillingham
posted on 27/10/22
It's still very much a work in progress for DS. 0-0
posted on 29/10/22
Based on Donaldo's insight that the Gills have been strong defensively and our strong showing last time out but with no end product, this does not look promising. I think I'll also predict a 1-1 draw. Agard to score if he starts, otherwise Miller.
posted on 29/10/22
Looking at the stats and Donaldo's comments, I would think it is the best chance of a clean sheet since Northampton. So I'll go along with Donaldo at 2-0 to the Rovers, but with Hurst as the scorer. Miller if Hurst does not start.
posted on 29/10/22
Its time to get our season going 😉
Rovers 2-1 Gillingham
Miller to score ⚽
C'mon Rovers
posted on 29/10/22
1-0 to rovers - agard
posted on 29/10/22
https://popularstandfanzine.com/2022/10/29/doncaster-rovers-1-0-gillingham-250-word-match-report/
posted on 30/10/22
The extended highlights were very well chosen and perhaps a little deceptive because they suggested that the Rovers they represented were vastly improved on the Tuesday night version. They seemed motivated, quicker on the ball, fitter-looking, prepared to tackle and challenge and highly imaginative.
Having now watched the whole of the first half and a fair amount of the second, clearly they are showing more footballing intelligence with the confidence and team-work to make them more difficult to defend against.
Individuals who seemed to be limited are displaying talent previously hidden. And for that credit must go to the new coach.
Looking beyond the highlights, it was a little more stuttering, but the passing was much improved and there is a greater sense of purpose. Even Williams’ passing was good and you could not describe anyone as incompetent. Anderson continues to more closely resemble his old self. The defence seems more organised and they limited the chances afforded to Gillingham. There is a general confidence and the feeling that they are working to a plan rather than making it up individually as they go along. No one looked out of their depth in the first half at least and Mitchell was far less involved in keeping the opposition out than earlier in the season. Admittedly Gillingham did not look a very good team and seemed more reliant on luck in defence than Rovers. You might have hoped that they would have managed a more decisive win, but perhaps that is being greedy.
posted on 30/10/22
Yes reasons to be cheerful part 1. Thats only after a week too. DS seems to be a realist and keeps a smile on his face. Just what the problem was with GMc we’ll never know. DS seems to have both the coaching skills and experience coupled with man management. Even after the defeat to Stevenage he kept the same starting 11. Just wondering if our injury curse will be lifted too.
posted on 31/10/22
Based on the whole game, I thought they played slightly better on Tuesday and got nothing, but it was against a better team. I am encouraged as there does appear to be a real plan, and confidence seems much better.
After being critical earlier in the season, I am now seeing why Biggins was brought in, and there is potential to make this an exciting team with good coaching bringing the best out of players like Hurst and Molyneux. Maxwell had a good game as an attacking wing back, but I'm still a little concerned about the defensive side of his play.
The big improvement in defence was, as Donaldo says, Anderson looking somewhere near his old self.
Let's hope the FA Cup is not a banana skin!
posted on 1/11/22
Sorry about the delay with these. It is beginning to be a bit more fun looking ahead than it was a week or two ago. I have eliminated the phantom 3 points which I awarded to Mickey for the Carlise match, hence the revised totals there.
Good 7-pointers from Nookie and Selby, but Mickey is marginally the leader, perhaps slightly less care-free than those of us here buffeted form the political turmoil which shows no sign of getting any less intense in the days ahead. At least things have calmed down at the Eco-Power and we seem to be be moving forward with a proper plan there now.
Carlisle U 3 : Rovers 0 Revised Totals
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 30 >>>>>> 33
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 43 >>>>>> 43
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 36 >>>>> 36
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 39 >>>>>> 42
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 34 >>>>>> 37
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 9 >>>>>> 9
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 9 >>>> 0 >>>>> 9 >>>>> 191 >>>>> 200
Crewe 1 : Rovers 1 (Miller)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 33 >>>>>> 33
PDXMickey> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 4 >>>>> 43 >>>>>> 47
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Crazy>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 36 >>>>> 40
Mooligan>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 42 >>>>>> 46
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 37 >>>>>> 44
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 9 >>>>>> 12
>>>>>>>>> 12 >>>>> 4 >>>> 6 >>>> 0 >>>>> 22 >>>>> 200 >>>>> 222
Rovers 0 : Stevenage 1
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 33 >>>>>> 33
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 47 >>>>>> 47
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 40 >>>>> 40
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 46 >>>>>> 46
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 41 >>>>>> 45
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>>>> 12
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 4 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 222 >>>>> 223
Rovers 1 (Biggins) : Gillingham 0
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 33 >>>>>> 36
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 47 >>>>>> 50
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 40 >>>>> 40
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 46 >>>>>> 49
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 45 >>>>>> 45
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 12 >>>>>> 19
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>> 12 >>>> 0 >>>>> 16 >>>>> 223 >>>>> 239