Never In Doubt

The writing was on the wall from the off, well, 50 seconds from the off.

It was a disasterous start for Bristol Rovers and it got little better throughout the first half, the second half was much more positive, though.

The starting XI for Rovers is pretty much what I expected, Cian Bolger making his home debut at the back and JP Kalala playing his first game since joining from Yeovil, partnering Stuart Campbell in the centre of midfield. The frontline was more of a surprise, Hoskins starting up front with Rene Howe, as Jo Kuffour has played well in more recent games partnering Will Hoskins. I was disappointed at the non-appearance of Wayne Brown in the matchday squad. When he signed from Fulham there were lots of fans excited about him, he has the ability which has been seen in his short cameos but seems to have failed to catch Dave Penney's eye.

Rovers managed to give the ball away from the off, Gary Sawyer attempting to play a ball into the channel, and it was Sawyer who fouled Lewis Guy to give the Dons the free kick that resulted in the goal. The entire team looked around bemusingly at each other but the damage was done and Rovers were behind. Slack marking was once again the problem and the goalscorer O'Hanlon was allowed to get in front of his man far too easily. A tight offside decision meant a disallowed goal for Jeff Hughes as they created very little in the remainder of the half. Gavin Williams made his Memorial Stadium bow as he replaced David McCracken who injured a hamstring when overstretching for the ball. Williams slotted into the right hand side of midfield, Anthony took up a central defensive position and Scott Davies dropped to right back.

Prior to the start of the second half Stuart Campbell was replaced by Carl Regan, Dave Penney admitting in his post match interview that this was yet another hamstring problem. Regan took up the right back spot while Davies moved into the centre of midfield. 16 minutes into the second half the Dons doubled their lead, Jabo Ibehre releasing Daniel Powell who slotted cooly past Luke Daniels in the Gas goal.

Five minutes later MK Dons allowed Rovers a potential road back into the game when goalscorer O'Hanlon tugged on Will Hoskins shirt and received a second yellow card for his troubles, although a straight red could not have been argued with. The resulting free kick from two yards outside the box saw Davies unleash a stinging low drive on goal, only to see David Martin cling onto the ball for the Dons.

The Buckinghamshire side should have wrapped up the game only for on loan QPR striker Rowan Vine to poke wide of an open goal from only two yards out and placed directly between the sticks. Jo Kuffour came on for Gary Sawyer and nearly dragged his side to within a goal of the away side, instinctively turning and volleying across Martin, only to see his shot rebound off of the left hand post and away from goal.

With just eight minutes left Rovers were awarded a penalty for a handball by Mathias Doumbe despite arguments from the Dons players. Jeff Hughes stepped up to score his ninth goal of the season and could have made it into double figures with just moments left on the clock, though his shot was saved by Martin.

Rovers fought hard after O'Hanlon's red card but the Dons defence shut up shot and held firm, fighting off a late Rovers onslaught but on the night they made the more clear cut chances, showed good movement and defended solidly to deny the Gas a point.

The major positives to come out of the game for Rovers were the performances of Cian Bolger and JP Kalala. On his first professional start Bolger looked comfortable defensively throughout, although his distribution could do with some work and the pace of the game did get to him a couple of times when he was in possession. Debutant Kalala gave Rovers what they have been missing for a long time, some fight. Don't get me wrong Stuart Campbell has been a great servant to the club and always works hard in the centre, picking up the loose ends, but the time has come for someone to come in and play with a mean streak in them. Kalala provides that biting edge that has been lacking and will also provide the strength and mobility that an aging Campbell was increasingly unable to. I don't mean get rid of Campbell, he's a great professional and will be key should Kalala's disciplinary record catch up with him this season, and with another year on his contract I feel we perhaps owe him a start to his coaching career next season.

Rene Howe ran himself ragged and provided some physicality to the Rovers front line and Jeff Hughes put in an assured performance and worked hard, often switching between the left and right wings. The problem seems to lie in the full back areas.

Anthony has the abiility to play there and started the game well but when McCracken went off he was needed in the centre, Scott Davies moving to right back and putting in a reasonable performance, though he was clearly uncomfortable. Carl Regan came on at half time and showed why Dave Penney had dropped him from the side, constantly being beaten for pace and showing an inability to play a simple pass. Gary Sawyer has been much maligned this season and was even more unpopular after giving away the free kick that lead to the Dons first goal, that aside though, he had a good game defensively. The problem, as with Regan, is his distribution. Sawyer always lookes as if he is uncormfortable in possession and looks to get rid of the ball as soon as possible, far too often resulting in a poorly weighted ball into the left hand channel. The problem remains who could replace him at left back, Jeff Hughes being the natural choice, although he has improved over the last three games and Rovers could do without losing his experience from midfield.

Next up for Rovers is a tough home game against league leaders Brighton. The Gulls are a strong side and will provide the sort of challenge Rovers could do without on the back of two losses.

One things for sure, it's not going to get any easier from here.

Goodnight Irene.

MK Dons Preview

In my preview for the Walsall game I talked about how the 3-1 win over Swindon had swiftly changed attitudes right across Bristol Rovers, well, that changed just as sharply after defeat at the Bescot.

It was truly an awful defensive performance from Rovers to go down 6-1, the third time this season alone that the Gas have conceded six goals in a game, all the goals aside from Julian Gray's volley on the stroke of half time being easily preventable with some better marking and a lot more will and effort.

Since then the transfer window has closed and, initially at least, it looked as though there were to be no new faces until a last minute deal saw Rovers capture the signature of JP Kalala from Yeovil Town. The Congolese international midfielder will be with Rovers until the end of June and manager Dave Penney hopes he will add extra bite to the Rovers squad, saying:

"We have been looking for a combative midfielder with a bit of experience, and JP fits that bill.

"We need a bit more of a competitive edge and a bit more bite, and I think JP can provide that for us.

"He will complement what we already have here, and I welcome him to the squad."

Kalala wasn't the only addition, though, as Tuesday saw the arrival of former Bristol City and West Ham midfielder Gavin Williams. Much of the Welshman's career has been spent in the West Country being a key part of the Yeovil side that won promotion to the Football League in 2003. After spells with West Ham and Ipswich Williams joined Bristol City under his former manager Gary Johnson. Most recently Williams has spent two loan spells back at Yeovil, scoring five goals in eight appearances at the end of the 2009/10 season. There was a further period with Yeovil at the beginning of this season before having his contract at Ashton Gate cancelled by mutual consent on Monday, signing for the Gas on the following day. The former Wales international is confident that he can help his new team survive, saying:

"I would not have come here if I did not think there was enough talent here to get the club out of trouble, and I hope I can help get the team moving in the right direction.

"I am an attacking midfielder, so I hope I can set up a few goals for the strikers. It is also nice to get your name on the score sheet, so I hope I can chip in with a few as well."

Other transfer news saw David McCracken's loan from Brentford extended until the end of the season, while Harry Pell has joined League 2 Hereford United on a months loan deal.

MK Dons have seen first team regular Aaron Wilbraham leave at the start of the month, transferring to Norwich. Another notable exit from the club is Jermaine Easter, who once came close to signing for Rovers. Easter left MK Dons during November, joining Swansea City on loan and scored on his first start for the club against Barnsley. His stint in south Wales was ended early by the Swans who sent him back to the Dons, only to see him play against them two days later after the striker joined Crystal Palace. Most Recently Mark Carrington has had his Dons contract cancelled, thus allowing him to join SPL side Hamilton Academical.

Three players have made their way into the Buckinghamshire club during the transfer window in the shape of striker David Amoo, joining for a month from Liverpool, and QPR forward Rowan Vine. The latest signing who may feature against Rovers is Fulham youngster Keanu Marsh-Brown, another month long loan signing.

After all the good work done against Swindon, their first win in 13 attempts, the Gas went and messed it up with an appauling team display against Walsall. Rovers have a middle of the road record at home this season, winning, drawing and losing four games apiece at the Memorial Stadium, scoring just 14 goals in the process. Only one of those wins, that Swindon result, have come since October 16th, the previous home win over Rochdale.

Since the home game against Rovers on New Years Day the Dons have played six times, winning only twice as they have hit a sticky patch. Four of those games have been away from home starting with two failures to win in the west country, losing at Yeovil and drawing with Exeter. A home win against Tranmere was followed by a defeat to Plymouth and then two more away games, this time in the capital, winning against relegation threatened Dagenham & Redbridge, their first away win at the fifth attempt, before a draw at Leyton Orient.

It has been the Dons home form that has kept them in the chase for the play offs, winning nine of their thirteen games at Stadium:MK, their form on the road, however, has been in stark contrast. They have won just three times away from home this season, two of those victories coming against teams currently in the relegation zone. Overall they have lost nine of their away games, conceding 27 goals in the process, a figure that is much more in line with teams in the bottom half of the table.

Since becoming MK Dons Rovers have beaten tonights visitors just once, that coming in April last season, Jo Kuffour the man on target for Rovers, Kuffour, in fact, is the only Rovers player to score more than one goal in Rovers-Dons fixtures, Peter Leven holds the same honour for MK. Only two of the results between the sides have finished with a two goal winning margin and there has never been more than three goals scored in this fixture, no side ever scoring more than two in a single game.

The Pirates have four former MK Dons players on their books, namely Carl Regan and David McCracken, who had permanent spells at Stadium:MK, as well as Dominic Blizzard and James Tunnicliffe who spent time on loan in Milton Keynes. There are no former Rovers players in the MK Dons squad but Rovers fans may recognise Jabo Ibehre, often a goalscoring thorn in Rovers side in past seasons.



Both Danny Coles and Chris Lines will serve the final games of their respective suspensions tonight.

New Rovers signings JP Kalala and Gavin Williams may make their debuts for the Gas while Rene Howe and Scott Davies could make their first starts for the club.

James Tunnicliffe is likely to miss out on a place in the squad once again as Rovers can only name five of their six loan signings in their matchday 18 at any one time.

Keanu Marsh-Brown could make his first ever appearance in professional football for the Dons.

Gas gaffer Penney has instilled the importance of each of his sides remaining 20 games, stating that every one is a cup final. He told bristolrovers.co.uk:

"Every game is a cup final now. We treated Swindon as a cup final and we got the result.

"It is now up to myself, the coaching staff and the players to make sure that come tomorrow night we are ready for a real battle and we are ready to scrap for every point we can get.

"The more we can get the mindset in them [the Rovers squad] that we need to be tough and resilient, and hopefully these additions can help us do that.

"We have to be stronger physically and mentally. I hope that the influence of these new players will help us get the nastiness and competitiveness that I feel is missing from us."

Karl Robinson, the MK Dons manager, is aware of Rovers threats and knows that it won't be an easy game for his play off chasing side, despite Rovers weekend result, saying:

"We had people at Walsall on Saturday and it wasn't a 6-1 game. Chris Lines wasn't playing for them and neither was James Tunnicliffe, so they had some big players missing.

"After a drubbing like that, it's amazing how you respond in the next game. They're at home, they will feel they have a point to prove and it'll be a right good challenge for us. If we're not on our A-game, we're not going to win."

Midweek League 1 Round Up - 25/01/2011

Six fixtures took place on Tuesday evening in League 1, the highlight being Brighton, top of the division, taking on Colchester at the Withdean but there were also important games taking place at Hillsborough and The County Ground in Swindon.

Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Colchester United


With MK Dons being the only other member of the top six to be playing Brighton had the chance to extend their lead at the top of League 1 to six points and they didn't disappoint, remaining at the head of the table for the 18th consecutive game.

Albion threatened early and loan signing Chris Woods nodded a shot towards goal, only to see it come back off of the post, but it was just before half time that the home side took the lead, Inigo Calderon stroking home, the full backs fifth goal of the season.

With 75 minutes on the clock Brighton doubled their advantage thanks to Craig Noone's first goal for the club since joining from Plymouth at the start of the month, beating numerous before driving past Ben Williams from the edge of the area. Colchester will be without Pat Baldwin for their next game after the defender was shown red for a second bookable offence late on.

Leyton Orient 2-2 MK Dons


Despite a patchy run of form MK Dons find themselves sat in fifth place in League 1 following an exciting encounter at Brisbane Road. A win would have taken the Dons up to fourth but Orient are decent at home, having gone unbeaten in their previous eight fixtures at their own place including a thumping 4-0 weekend win over big guns Sheffield Wednesday. Orient were without manager Russel Slade for this game, the gaffer having to spend time in hospital following minor surgery, so assistant manager Kevin Nugent was to take charge, and it wasn't long before they found themselves behind in a pulsating first half.

It was Stephen Gleeson who gave the Dons the lead with a stunning volley from 25 yards out having controlled the ball on his chest. Two minutes was all the lasted, though, Scott McGleish taking advantage of Dean Lewington's slip to draw Orient onto level terms. That goal totally changed the game and the O's started to make real headway, Dean Cox rifling a shot back off the post before the winger turned provider, sending in a cross for experienced defender Terrell Forbes to head home and it remained that way until 56 minutes. Sean O'Hanlon heading in from close range from a Peter Leven delivery.

It remained that way until the end pushing Orient a point further from the relegation zone and propelling the Dons into the play-off zone, although the away side would have preferred the victory they arguably deserved, having a negative goal difference and playing at least two games more than many of the teams on their tail.

Walsall 1-1 Oldham Athletic



Before this game Walsall were cut adrift at the bottom of the table, nine points behind 20th placed Swindon Town and after this draw nothing had changed. Oldham on the other hand knew that a win against the strugglers would see themselves jump Charlton, Peterborough and possibly the MK Dons and into the play-off places.

Much of the early pressure came from the hosts but on a number of ocassions striker Will Grigg, recently called up to the Northern Irish under-21 side, found himself unable to beat Oldham stopper Ben Amos and they were punished for their carelessness when Filipe Morais scored in his second successive game to give Latics the lead. Just past the hour mark Walsall levelled thanks to a fierce Darryl Westlake effort from just inside the penalty area.

It was a result that will do no side any great favours as they continue in their own personal battles at either end of the league table.

Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Yeovil Town



Following an appauling mauling from Leyton Orient on Saturday Sheffield Wednesday looked to get their play-off challenge back on trakc against relegation threatened Yeovil, but there was to be no relief for under fire Owls boss Alan Irvine following a clash that had it all.

Dean Bowditch opened the scoring for Yeovil, running into the area and seeing his shot take a deflection off of a home defender to loop over the stranded Nicky Weaver and into the net. It was down to Wednesday's new signing Gary Madine to level it up for the home team, heading in from six yards out. Two melees took place on the pitch as the game really started to heat up and tensions boiled over.

The Somerset side took the lead again in the second half, Paul Huntington heading goalwards from an Andy Welsh corner before the context of the game changed due to a second yellow card for Yeovil full back Luke Ayling. Adam Virgo came on to shore up the Glovers defence, only to be sent off for fouling Madine in the area moments later. It was down to Giles Coke to level it up for Wednesday and if it weren't for Paul Heffernan encroaching into the area it would been, but as it stood the penalty had to be retaken and this time it didn't end well for the former Motherwell midfielder as he skied the ball well over the crossbar.

With four minutes left, however, Wednesday drew level. Despite a fine double save from Yeovil man of the match Stephen Henderson Reda Johnson knocked the ball over the line to deny Yeovil a battling win. The home side sit 10th, off of the pace and will hope for an up turn in fortunes between now and the end of the season. Yeovil remain in the relegation zone but their good form in recent games will give them the confidence that they need to stay up.

Hartlepool United 1-1 Notts County



Injury hit Notts County faced a trip to Hartlepool where a draw always looked the likely result. County were unbeaten in their last four games on the road, drawing three and winning one trip, while Pools had gone 419 minutes without scoring a goal.

It was Hartlepool who made the breakthrough in the 38th minute, Gary Liddle the scorer despite claims of offside from the Notts defence. The Magpies had to wait until the second half for their equaliser, Lee Hughes stepping off of the bench to secure a point for the visitors, knocking the ball over the line from a position he could hardly miss from. The striker is the subject of transfer interest from Sheffield Wednesday, who are looking to bolster an already strong frontline in their promotion challenge.

County moved a further point away from the relegation zone while Hartlepool have now failed to win in five games.

Swindon Town 0-0 Tranmere Rovers



Following Saturday's 3-1 defeat to local rivals Bristol Rovers Danny Wilson is starting to look down the barrel as his side slip deeper into relegation trouble. Tranmere have moved slightly away from trouble after they shocked Southampton 2-0 at the weekend.

The best chance of a dour game fell to Charlie Austin but the wantaway striker saw his penalty saved by former Fulham goalkeeper Tony Warner after Michael Timlin was fouled in the area by Joss Labadie. Tranmere's best chance fell to Lateef Elford-Alliyu who hit the post while Rovers also saw two penalty shouts turned down. In the second half Austin had another great chance but his drive from a tight angle hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing to safetey for the Merseysiders.

A draw does neither of the sides any real favours as they both remain in trouble at the wrong end of the League 1 table.