Dickov's Donny at the Double

Pointing in the right direction: Dickov
Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Skybet Championship
Keepmoat Stadium, attendance – 12609

“It wasn’t the best we’ve played by any means recently but sometimes you’ve got to really roll your sleeves up, dig in and get a result,” were the words of a delighted Doncaster Rovers boss Paul Dickov as his side edged this south Yorkshire derby and gave their survival hopes a massive boost in the process.

Rovers moved eight points clear of the trap door thanks to Chris Brown’s 32nd minute strike; completing a satisfying double over their neighbours.

Owls boss Stuart Gray said his side’s efforts were an “off day” as his team slumped to their first defeat in three outings. “When you’re on top you’ve got to convert your chances. Our crossing was poor and our shooting was poor.”

Gray wasn’t wrong, the visitor’s best chance fell to Leon Best whose shot was smartly saved by Sam Johnstone while Rovers utilised their set pieces better, Chris Kirkland foiling both Billy Sharp’s glancing header and David Cotterill’s rasping curler.

Meanwhile, at the foot of the table, Barnsley remain three points adrift as they suffered last gasp heartache at home to Bournemouth as Steve Cook notched the only goal of the game at Oakwell in the 94th minute.


In League 1, Rotherham saw off play-off rivals Peterborough thanks to Kieran Agard’s penalty on the stroke of half time, while Sheffield United’s slim chances of making the top six seem to have disappeared as their 125th anniversary celebrations were rained on by red-hot Wolves.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2025 NRL Grand Final Preview: Melbourne Storm v Brisbane Broncos

Image
Melbourne Storm are looking to go one step further than last year’s runner-up spot when they take to the field at Accor Stadium on Sunday evening against the Brisbane Broncos. The two sides topped the try-scoring charts (Storm 125, Broncos 122) and an absolute classic is on the cards. The Broncos ended Penrith’s bid for a fifth successive title – coming from 14 points behind at half-time at a raucous Suncorp Stadium last week to bring the Panthers dominant rein to an end – but this surely is a game too far for Michael Maguire and his team. They will absolutely take confidence from their dramatic Golden Point win over minor premiers, Canberra, and the comeback against one of the greatest ever teams to play the sport. However, they have had two days less recovery time than their opponents, with the Storm fresh from swatting aside a gutsy Cronulla outfit at AAMI Park. Melbourne like to get in front early in games and stay there, just like they did against the Sharks. A fast start f...
Read more

The Big Preview: Ashes 2025/26

Image
The wait is over. The time has come for the cricket to do the talking. Securing an Ashes victory in Australia is England’s equivalent of scaling Everest. Winning on the subcontinent may be technically more challenging, but this is the one series where legends are created and, just occasionally, getting up to tune in to the action in the middle of the night during the bleak British winter may be rewarded. Not since the 2010/11 iteration under the captaincy of Alistair Cook, though, has that been the case. When Chris Tremlett bowled tailender Michael Beer at the SCG not long after the New Year’s festivities had died down, not many (other than Glenn McGrath) would have foreseen England failing to register a single victory in 15 attempts…FIFTEEN! That is the scale of the uphill challenge that awaits current skipper, Ben Stokes, and head coach Brendon McCullum . For the latter, his whole tenure since being appointed in May 2022, has built towards this next two months. His record of 25 win...
Read more

Feature: Why 'timeless' Junction Oval is a MUST for any cricket fan

Image
  The Shane Warne Stand There are places in this world where time seems to stand reassuringly still. The Junction Oval, St Kilda, in Melbourne’s inner southern suburbs is one of those sanctums which bequeaths its visitors an oasis of calm tucked in a corner of the picturesque sporting hub that is Albert Park. Just metres away from where the Australian leg of the Formula 1 World Championships is held every March, you can peep beyond the various green tinges of the tree-lined permitter fences to this cricket ground and bear witness to the whirring din of life continuing its increasingly fast pace. But, why would you want to look that far? Avert your eyes to the middle distance and lose yourself in a scene that could pass as much for 1925 as 2025. The white picket fence which encircles the vibrant green playing surface is a perfect nod to tradition, and even the odd advertising billboard cannot lessen its charm. Grass banks and a white picket fence A quaint, almost library-lik...
Read more