Doncaster
Rovers v Charlton Athletic
Sunday 12th
May 2019 … 12:15pm Kick-Off
Referee:
Oliver Langford
Introduction
I’d like to start this preview by thanking everyone
for their comments in my last issue for the Rochdale game – Writing these have
been something that I’ve always enjoyed over the last few seasons so the
comments I receive are always much appreciated – So its with much pleasure that
I get to write at least another two before our season is up, with results
taking a surprising (yet welcome) return on Saturday evening it was left to
Charlton to snatch third spot at the death, you could argue we now have the
easier fixture this coming weekend, our opponents: Doncaster Rovers will
rightly have a different opinion to that…
Welcome to the
Play-Offs!!
Having already written three previews against
Doncaster I thought I’d take a different approach this week… For the first time
since the 1997/98 season (and for just the fifth time in our history) we find
ourselves facing a team on at least five occasions – The omens are good though,
the last team it happened against were Ipswich Town and we all know what
happened on that occasion… Yet enough about Charlton for now, how do our
Play-Off rivals stack up?
Doncaster
Rovers
Our opponents for the Semi-Finals need little introduction…
Having faced them on three occasions this season there will be little that the
two Managers don’t know about each other and there is little to separate the
sides; both have a win (albeit Doncaster’s came against a youthful Addicks in a
contentious FA Cup clash), whilst the encounter at the Keepmoat just a few
months ago saw a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
In total Doncaster have spent four campaigns in the
Play-Offs, they’ve been promoted on two occasions (from the Conference and
League One) via. this route and along with Charlton are the most successful at
getting through what many consider an unpredictable stage of the season
Sunderland v
Portsmouth
Hang on; we’re not facing either of these two teams
so why cover them!!!… Well in short it’s the Play-Offs and I’m fed up of
writing about Doncaster – As one of the juiciest ties in the whole of the
Football League Play-Offs many would have thought that one of these would take
the automatic slots, that’s not happened and again for the fourth time this
season these two giants will be forced to slug it out for a trip to Wembley
Historically neither have great records at this
stage of the season; Portsmouth have only ever finished in the Play-Offs once (1993)
losing in the Semi-Finals to Leicester… Sunderland on the other hand have two
campaigns to their name, one promotion in 1990, a defeat in their second and
more famous outing in 1998.
Charlton Team
News
So on to the serious matters and that is to debate
the approach that Lee Bowyer will take on Sunday afternoon – To be honest and
to be short I think we can expect very little change to the team that faced
Rochdale on the last day of the regular season… Chris Solly will serve the last
of his four match suspension whilst Igor Vetokele remains a doubt after pulling
up with a thigh injury in training ahead of our last match.
In Midfield; Albie Morgan continues to show signs of
a player that’ll improve with age and experience, the question is will Lee
decide to stick with the Academy youngster or go with experience in Jonny
Williams – One thing is certain and that is our defence must be stronger and
more alert this time round… Doncaster top-scorer: John Marquis found himself
ghosting in between our centre-backs far too often at the Keepmoat, the offside
flag might not save us on this occasion!!
Comments
2 - 1 To us , Taylor and Aribo with the goals , Parker saving his hat trick for the home leg.
other game 1-1 draw
1-1 here (possible 1-0 to Donnie)
but we cruise the home tie and get to Wembley.
A hard faught 1.1 draw.
But we will stuff em back at the valley.
I agree with 1-1 or maybe a 1-0 defeat and just hope we don't clam up or freeze on the big occasion.
Haven't been so excited and positive about a Charlton team since the distant days of Curbs and a massive well done to Bowyer, Jackson and their team for restoring hope and pride in impossible circumstances.
Win, lose or draw they have done a magnificent job for Charlton Athletic Football Club.
would take a 0-0 up there if offered now, last season going a goal down we was all doom and gloom now even if we come away from there 1 or 2 down get them back to the valley and who knows, confidence is all around the place the fans, the team etc.
going to go for 1-0 taylor
form counts for nothing but
charlton last 10 W 8 D1 L1 gf 20 ga 4 gd +16
donnie last 10 W5 D2 L3 gf15 ga 12 gd +3
tight game, Taylor to score a second half pen to equalize their 1st half goal.
we then cruise the 2nd leg 3-1 after going 0-1 down
Would take a 1-1 back to the Valley, but think we have enough to nick it at their place.
2-1 Charlton.
This has a potential banana skin feel to it, we are expected to win. We are the team on form, hopefully we can keep it going. Will be a tight affair but 2-1 away win
COYR, getting nervous thinking about it
We are going up
Gonna go 3-0 Charlton (Taylor, Sarr & Aribo)
Momentum is with us and hopefully that will carry us through.
1-1.
Assume I can get tickets on the gate.
1 - 0 to the Addicks (own goal)
Charlton to win the second leg.
Doncaster Rovers 0 v CAFC 2
The thing that has me most confident this year is our home form - even if we lose on Sunday we'll still have a second home leg, an evening in front of a packed Valley crowd
Comfortable win at home.