Ipswich away

After yesterdays superb performance can we move on to ipswich and get something from that game, can't see why not hopefully we will have some players fit and maybe fairhurst will get a start, 1-2 to the Rovers...

Latest ticket sales for saturdays game..


Kick Off 15:00
Ticket Sales 204
Ticket Information


We have received an initial allocation of 404 tickets from Ipswich Town.

1-0 loss but we will play superb. AGAIN.
ticket prices are horrendous thats why im not going.

d.r.f.c wrote:1-0 loss but we will play superb. AGAIN.
ticket prices are horrendous thats why im not going.

Probably be the pub and watching the results come in with our local Leeds contingent at willowspoons..

Match Officials for Saturday.


DRFC Ipswich Town v Doncaster Rovers Officials
Andy Penn will be the man in charge when Doncaster Rovers travel to Ipswich Town on Saturday.

It will be the second time this season that he`s taken charge of a Doncaster game.

He was in charge when Doncaster beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the Keepmoat in February.

Referee: A.M Penn (West Midlands)
Assistants: M.D Rowley & A. Sannerude
Fourth official: M. McLaughlin




Read more: http://www.doncaster.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=195380#ixzz0lCvz5c00

Its a long old poke!

I went and it was THE WORST away day ever! You have GOT to sit down. we was at the back in our group, causing no trouble at all and we got told to sit down. Some got thrown out for not doing so. Also, someone got thrown out for ripping their betting slip up once we conceed. What a joke.

Anyway, enjoy it.

O’Driscoll tips Ipswich to be a contender next season as Doncaster prepare for set piece bombardment
Fri 16 Apr 10 by Dave Gooderham
Doncaster boss Sean O’Driscoll has admitted he has been surprised by Ipswich Town’s lacklustre season – but backed Roy Keane to get it right next year.

As the two managers prepare to go head-to-head at Portman Road tomorrow afternoon, the Rovers man said he thought Town would have a good season after the first few games of this campaign. But 14 games and three months later, Ipswich were rooted at the bottom of the Championship and still searching for their first win. A corner has been turned at Portman Road and with Keane expected to lead the side next season, O’Driscoll has once again tipped the club to be at the right end of the table.

He told the Doncaster club website: “I saw them in the first or second game of the season and I thought with what they had on the day, they would be contenders but it hasn’t quite happened. There seems to have been quite a big turnaround in staff and players and you need stability to build anything.

“But credit to them, they have come through a difficult time and you wouldn’t bet against them next season being one of the top teams with a fantastic chance of getting promoted to the Premier League.

“On paper, they are as strong as anybody. They have got some good players and the manager has used the transfer market and loan signings and the players he had at Sunderland have played a big part in what they are trying to do now.”

With just one place and one point separating the two sides – Doncaster are currently 12th – the Rovers boss admitted he is proud of the swift progress his side have made. Donny were playing conference football just seven years ago and it has been a meteoric rise to the Championship where they currently sit above established sides like Ipswich and Derby, not to mention Leeds, Southampton and Norwich in the league below.

O’Driscoll, who has laughed off pre-season predictions tipping his boys to go down, said: “Because they are an established club and we are only in our second season in the Championship, we can give ourselves a pat on the back for battling on the same level as an Ipswich Town. Ipswich being Ipswich, you are never going to take them lightly. They are still one of the biggest teams in the Championship.”

Playing an attractive brand of football, Doncaster were still being talked about as a possible play-off contender up to the last few weeks of the season. Billy Sharp had been one of their most impressive performers with 15 goals but injury has probably ruled the striker out for the rest of the season as Rovers slipped to three consecutive defeats. But fresh from a narrow 3-2 defeat at promoted West Brom, they will come to Portman Road looking forward to playing on one of the best pitches in the division.

But behind the scenes, things are not so harmonious. O’Driscoll’s fantastic work could be hindered by a lack of funds and midfielder John Oster admitted there was some “disarray” at the club with so many players out of contract in the summer. Oster, who played in the Premiership at Everton and Sunderland, picked out Grant Leadbitter and Jon Walters as the opponents to watch – suggesting the latter could benefit from corners or Connor Wickham’s long throw ins.

The winger said: “They will still try and get the ball down but the manager has emphasised that Ipswich concentrate a lot on throw ins and corners. They are not shy on getting the ball forward and it will be a good test for us. I think they probably should have been up towards the play-offs with the size of the club, the support they get and the money that has been thrown at them.”

Doncaster go into the match missing Sharp, Martin Woods and skipper Brian Stock who has only just returned to training, but they are likely to welcome back midfielder James Coppinger.

Taken from Ipswich town site.

We will still beat them 0-2 , Fairhurst and JET to score.

Keane set to unleash his babes on Donny as time is running out on some of those keen to impress
Sat 17 Apr 10 by Dave Gooderham
Roy Keane has pledged to give Ipswich Town supporters a tantalisingly glimpse of the future by giving youth a chance in this afternoon’s match against Doncaster at Portman Road.

Young defenders Tommy Smith and Shane O’Connor look set to make up half of the back four while Connor Wickham should once again oust old stager Pablo Counago upfront. With Tom Eastman and maybe one or two other young reserves on the bench, home fans will be hoping to cheer a Town win as well as have some hope for the future.

Smith seems a certain starter for the first time in a Town shirt since October after the club confirmed yesterday that Damien Delaney would be out for three months with an ankle injury. While that raises concerns about the Irishman’s pre-season availability, the here and now offers a chance for some of the club’s younger stars.

While the World Cup bound Smith should line up alongside Gareth McAuley in the centre of defence, meaning a like-for-like change with the left-footed Delaney, Eastman will be hoping to make his debut at some stage.

The manager confirmed: “There will be some younger players who will get an opportunity, whether starting or from the bench. Hopefully, they will take that opportunity. One or two of the younger lads will be fresh and full of energy, but let’s not get away from the fact that we want to win a football match.”

Completing the back four will be one of David Wright, Jaime Peters or Liam Rosenior. One of the first two look favourite with time possibly running out on Rosenior’s Town career. In goal should be Brian Murphy after he was forced to star in his own version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

A routine midweek trip back to Ireland got a little trickier after the Iceland volcano grounded all flights. Murphy was forced to catch a ferry and then drive back to Suffolk yesterday morning. Not the ideal preparation for a Championship encounter but Keane backed the fitness of his first choice keeper.

The manager also faces some choices in midfield and upfront but the absence of Carlos Edwards and David Healy surely only means changes on the bench, rather than the starting eleven. Edwards is suffering from chicken pox while the Sunderland loanee striker hurt his knee in training and is expected to be out for seven to 10 days according to his manager.

That means Healy might only have the home match against Sheffield United to prove he is worth a long term deal – an unlikely task for someone who has yet to win over the Town faithful. With Wickham and Murphy the only fit forwards, Pablo Counago will be hoping for some game time having played just 17 minutes in the last four games. The same could be said of Lee Martin and Owen Garvan whose futures are far from certain at the club.

After losing 3-0 to Nottingham Forest last weekend, a match that confirmed a play-off spot for the home side, Keane has called on his team to show the right reaction. He said: “We want to bounce back from the disappointment of last Saturday. As much as we always knew it was going to be a tough game, I certainly expected better – particularly in the second half. But our home form has generally been decent so we can look forward to the game.”

With both teams settled into mid-table obscurity, Keane has predicted a relaxed, open and exciting game this afternoon. Doncaster, who will be without leading scorer Billy Sharp and skipper Brian Stock, have become renowned for their attractive style of football this season and a repeat of the exciting 3-3 draw at the Keepmoat Stadium in September would do most inside Portman Road, albeit maybe a slightly better scoreline favouring the Suffolk men.

Keane said: “It was a cracking game for the neutral, but not from my point of view conceding a late goal yet again. Doncaster might not have had the (financial) backing of other teams in the Championship, but they have got good players. They wheel and deal well and most of their players seem to be able to deal with the ball well. Doncaster will come here and look to express themselves at a brilliant stadium and on a very good pitch. It has got all the signs of a great game.”

My Ipswich Town team: (4-5-1) Murphy (B), Wright, McAuley, Smith, O’Connor, Walters, Leadbitter, Norris, Colback, Wickham, Murphy (D).

Prediction: With the pressure off, most fans will be hoping for a decent game of football as well as the right result. I’m going for both, with Ipswich winning 3-1 and finally climbing into the top half of the Championship.

taken from Ipswich town site

Hope it's us that gets 3 goals ............
and 3 points............

I'm an optimist

Somebody has to be

LuckyGirl wrote:Hope it's us that gets 3 goals ............
and 3 points............

I'm an optimist

Somebody has to be

I'm an optimist as well Chris, i always think it is better to think positive or we might as well give up..

Doncaster Rovers travel to Ipswich Town this afternoon eager to end their three match losing run - but midtable Ipswich have done well recently, climbing the table with a series of good results. Rovers go into the game one place and point ahead of their opponents - a great achievement in itself, but Sean O'Driscoll will be urging his squad to pick up enough points from the remaining three games to finish in the top ten.
Rovers will welcome James Coppinger back into the squad after missing the West Bromwich Albion game last weekend with an ankle injury, but Brian Stock will not be considered. Whilst he resumed training last week, today's match comes a little too soon for Brian, but we are sure that he will be pencilled in for next weekend's home match against Scunthorpe United.
Rovers will be missing Martin Woods, who will have a groin operation on Monday, but James Hayter will be included, despite a slight injury to his arm when colliding with the post in last week's game.
Apart from the return of Coppinger, Rovers are expected to have the same squad on duty this afternoon that was named for the West Brom match, although it will be intriguing to see if O'Driscoll gives a start to Sean McDaid.
The longer-term injury victims continue to be absent - Billy Sharp (thigh), Steve Brooker (ankle), James Shackell (groin) and Byron Webster (foot).
Out on loan at the moment are Lewis Guy (Oldham), John Spicer (Leyton Orient), Robbie Clark (Brigg) and Charles Fisher (Frickley).
Ipswich Town will be without defender Damien Delaney, who was forced out of last week's defeat at Nottingham Forest with an ankle injury, with young Tommy Smith set to take his place in the back four. Smith is particularly keen to play the game, as he still hopes to be included in New Zealand's World Cup squad.
They continue to be without goalkeeper Richard Wright and winger Luciano Civelli due to injury, with striker David Healy suffering from a knee injury that will keep him out for a week. Midfielder Carlos Edwards has chicken pox and will not play.

Todays lineup..


Ipswich: Brian Murphy, David Wright, McAuley, Smith, O’Connor, Walters, Leadbitter, Norris, Colback, Wickham, Daryl Murphy

Subs: Richard Wright, Garvan, Peters, Brown, Eastman, Clarke, Hyam

Doncaster: Sullivan, Chambers, O’Connor, Martis, Roberts, Oster, Mutch, Wilson, Emmanuel-Thomas, Hayter, Heffernan

Subs: Smith, Lockwood, McDaid, Hird, Shiels, Dumbuya, Fairhurst

Anybody listening in on player, i can't get Rovers having to listen to the Ipswich coverage..

Need to get fairhurst on , Ipswich commentator said heffernan is no threat..

yorkie64red wrote:Need to get fairhurst on , Ipswich commentator said heffernan is no threat..

Seems like a good draw considering the ''run of play''........well done Rovers and Deano.

hoolahoop wrote:

Seems like a good draw considering the ''run of play''........well done Rovers and Deano.

Was as dull as ditch water to listen to, i suppose a draw was a fare result..

FAIR, FAIR, FAIR!

Just seen the goals another defensive f**k up O conner this time tried a fancy flick did not work out should have hit into Row z

pkt_drfc wrote:Just seen the goals another defensive f**k up O conner this time tried a fancy flick did not work out should have hit into Row z

Oh well not long to go before the end of the season , hopefully we will get Shackell back and our defence will improve next season..