Well done Rovers.
Here we go then, COMMENT NUMBER 26.

From the start it was a bit like attack against defence in a practice game.
Oldham set out to frustrate us with ten men behind the ball, and all eleven at times.
It is very hard to break down well organised teams in that situation and patience is required.
There were people near me in the ground who were deploring players to “Gerrit in the box” but in most cases it would have just been a hopeful ball.
The players stuck to our game plan, to keep the ball moving and try to get behind the defence and find that killer pass.
Two or three times we came close and their keeper made a couple of fantastic saves, notably from the Copps volley.
Marquis probably could have done better after he rounded the keeper and scuffed his attempt to roll the ball home, however Clarke did brilliantly to get the ball off the line.
After the break I was pleased to see Oldham come out and have a go at us because by opening the game up we had more chance of scoring.
Again the keeper made good saves before Bens shot was deflected into the net.
Both sides could perhaps have scored before the Oldham equaliser which was as controversial as the winning goal yet to come.
Although it was impossible to see from the South Stand, the Oldham player who went down for the free kick wasn’t tripped by one of our players.
As is normal these days, an Oldham player yanked a defender away to create a gap in the defensive wall, the ball deflected to Clarke who scored.
One all and game on.
Much nail biting going on.
I still thought we would get another goal though and I have to admit that from my seat, I didn’t see the handball but did see the reaction of our players to it.
Immediate player reactions often indicate what has happened and even though the ref went to speak to the linesman, I was still surprised when he gave the pen.
It took about three minutes of disgraceful stuff by Oldham players, kicking the ball off the spot and shouting into Bens face, before the pen could be taken.
However, he kept his cool and put it away for what I considered to be a deserved win.
Some really good performances by our boys, notably from the back four, Whiteman, Marquis and May.

Great to get a big crowd again and credit to Oldham for bringing such a big following.

I will now get the opportunity to see the Rovers in R5 of the FACup for the first time in my life.
Well, hopefully.
Depending on who we draw of course.
Away to someone like Wimbledon or Newport(if they get through) would mean small away supporter allocations and even as a STH it could be difficult to get a ticket.

On the BBC extended highlights its easy to see Clake putting his arm up and the ball hitting it. Clear penalty. Also his deliberate elbow in Marco's kidneys after he caught the ball. Clear red.

Thanks hound..the legend was unlucky with his shot

Winnable

Very winnable and a full house.
They will fill the away end.
If we get through and avoid one of the really big teams in R6 we would have a great chance of a S/F.

I think your beer has overflowed your glass Hound and I can assure you that mine is well over half-full. The draw may not have been truly bountiful but it has not been unkind.

Considering the odds, a home tie was even money. A chance of a really winnable one against lower league opposition was very much against probability. Getting a bottom half Championship club (QPR, Millwall or Brentford) which we might have gone into with high hopes was about as unlikely, which leaves top half Championship teams of which there are several as the most likely possibility. So, whilst we have been up against both Watford and Palace not all that long ago and indeed they have struggled against relegation below us in some seasons in our Championship days, and although they may not be exactly magical opponents, of the two, Palace could be the most attractive remaining option. They are a club which takes the competition seriously and an exciting game should be ensured.

It seems fairly likely to be screened live I would have thought. And we will be "going for it", so just as they surprised Spurs, so we could upset them.

It is amazing - when I looked at the Beeb web-site about the 5th round draw, it highlighted three games - Chelsea vs. Man U, Newport if they win the replay, and Rovers chance of an upset!
I think our game will be televised - but, unfortunately, not in the USA.
I agree this is a winnable game, if we play at our best. Palace were a little lucky facing Spurs without their three major players, but, still, they are Premier League.

Don..........dare to dream.
Magical things can happen.

There's no M in Crystal Palace but thank Ian Wright theres no F in Millwall!

Mason

Yeah, not good is it.

He will be on the sx offenders register so he will have to go

Nookie: How does this work? If it is so, do you become unemployable beyond football or is it just part of some EFL code or even a breach of a standard component of every player's contract of employment? I can't find anything obvious about it on the PFA site.

He continued to lie to the club until the last minute, let him go.

The way I look at it, probably a lot of other people do too. Is she said no. I just don't understand why some people say we should keep him. No one player is bigger than the club. Has on the register for a reason.

As you all know i am probably the only person that rated mason.
He has won over most of the fans and was probably going to move on one day to a bigger club.
However I feel its going to be difficult if not impossible to stand by him now.

He's probably breeched his contract. Effectively he is a convicted offender serving a sentence, allbeit suspended. Even if legally he could remain employed At Rovers it would be PR dissaster if they didnt sack him. Given the clubs family and community emphasis.

I also liked Mason as a player. He spent most of last season playing out of position, doing his best and getting a lot of stick. This season he has shone as our first choice RB - which is to take nothing away from Matty Blair. Mason is a natural athlete and in time would certainly have moved on to a bigger club. It is up to the club, but I suspect he will be sacked.

Until reading your posts, I had not heard anything about the Mason subject. I'd always thought he had potential, and I now I think he, and Joe Wright, were the most improved players this season. It is sad that we will lose a very good player.
I do not know any details about the accusations, but as he pleaded guilty, it is a little different from the Chad Evans case.
It is interesting there has been no statements from the club - I assume they are evaluating whether they can keep him and still keep a "family friendly" environment.
A very sad day for the Rovers.

There has been a statement from the club.
In a nutshell it says that there will be no comment while they consider what to do.

Micky: the press report is at https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/rovers-star-admits-sexually-assaulting-woman-in-doncaster-bar-1-9564376

What on eàrth is there to consider other than terminating his contract? He pleads guilty to sexual assault and is sentenced and put on the sx offenders register. Its not as if hes going to appeal!

To answer your question literally Nookie, that is precisely what there is to consider, the terms of his Contract. You might feel that anyone in any kind of employment should lose their job if convicted of a criminal offence, but it does not follow. As I implied originally I do not believe that a criminal conviction is a bar to employment even though in the particular circumstances this kind of employee behaviour is obviously not consistent with the culture and standards of DRFC. That is the question that the club and its advisers will be looking at, assuming that there is no specific breach of the terms of the contract.

As an employer previously I have employed convicted sx offenders who have served their sentances and been on the sx offenders register. In this case it really doesnt matter what his contract says. Allowing him to continue would be disastrous for DRFC.

Thanks, Donaldo. I just have the Rovers' page on the Free Press website book-marked. It appears this was on the main news page.