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#Post#: 279--------------------------------------------------
Doncaster Rovers match thread - Moments
DIR By: Howling Mad
Date: October 11, 2025, 6:19 am
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Doncaster Rovers
Last year’s Leage 2 champions, who started life well in League 1
winning five of their first seven league matches (and beating
Middlesborough in the Carabao Cup) but have cooled off not
having won in five. And a club with which Richie has some,
unhappy, history. A relatively quiet transfer window which
involved loaning out lots of youngsters and letting others go to
drop down divisions. The headline signing was probably Matty
Pearson on a free from Huddersfield.
Managed, for the second time, by Grant McCann a Northern Irish
international who had a long playing career, largely in the
Championship and League 1. Previously managed Peterborough twice
and Hull once and, given the right tools, he can get a tune out
of his players. He has them playing 4-2-3-1 and trying to keep
the ball while also running an effective press. Very accurate
with long balls and good crossers. They don’t score many and
they don’t concede many. None of their forwards have really
fired yet.
In the centre back position are two big guys: the very
experienced Matty Pearson, picked up from Huddersfield, and the
young Connor O’Riordan: both over 190 cm. Behind them has been
young Thimothée Lo-Tutala on-loan from Hull although in the last
two matches he has been stood down for the more experienced Ian
Lawlor. James Maxwell is the left back with Tom Nixon likely to
feature on the right. Sheffield United legend Billy Sharp now
trundles down the M18 at the age of 39 to lead the line. Luke
Molyneux plays as an attacking midfielder and likes a low value
shot. Harry Clifton has played alongside most recently. Glenn
Middleton, down from Dundee, appears to have struggled so far.
Owen Bailey is the top scorer, with five from a defensive
midfield position showing an ability to get into some good
positions and also score with his head. He is typically
partnered by George Broadbent.
Having butchered my predictions for the Vertu Trophy game
against Crawley, I’m hoping this is more straightforward. Alfie
Lloyd and Zech Obiero remain out. Tom James, Ollie O’Neill and
Joe White are also sidelined but may be back before the end of
the month. Tommy Simkin and Jack Moorhouse are on international
duty. Killian Cahill will get his second league start. In front
of him it sounds as if Richie will go with three at the back.
This probably means Dan Happe, Omar Beckles and Jack Simpson
with Tayo Adaramola at left wing back. On the right-hand side, I
had no idea that Demi Mitchell could play there so he continues
if Craig is not fit. In central midfield it will be Idris El
Mizouni plus one or maybe two, as at Cardiff. My guess is that
it will be Sean Clare, if a two. Or perhaps Tyreeq Bakinson or
Charlie Wellens comes in as third midfielder. Up front Aaron
Connolly, Dom Ballard and Omar Koroma are nailed on starters but
how will they line up? At Cardiff, Connolly and Ballard played
as a two (little and littler) and we produced twenty odd shots
and three goals. Alternatively, it could be all three up front,
with Connolly on the left and Koroma on the right or Connolly as
an attacking central midfielder, probably his best position,
with Koroma and Ballard as a two. Every time I think that I’ve
covered all the options, Wellens Senior produces another one!
Both teams really need a result from this match. The issue for
Orient is simple: stop leaking goals at the back! If we can do
that, there is every chance of picking up a win as our front
players seem capable of scoring against anyone. We need to start
well. Richie’s favourite word in the pre-match interview was
“moments” – we have to seize the moment when it arrives.
In
Matty Pearson CB, Huddersfield (free), Glenn Middleton LW,
Dundee United (free), Robbie Gotts CM, Barrow (free), Brandon
Hanlon CF, Wycombe (free), Seán Grehan CB, Crystal Palace U21
(undisclosed), Toyosi Olusanya CF, Houston (loan), Thimothée
Lo-Tutala GK, Hull (loan), Charlie Crew DM, Leeds (loan), Damola
Ajayi RW, Tottenham U21 (loan)
Out
Joseph Olowu CB, Stockport (free), Tom Anderson CB, Shrewsbury
(free), Tavonga Kuleya RW, Belper Ton (free), Jack Degruchy AM,
Stocksbridge (free), Jack Goodman CF, Basford United (free), Joe
Ironside CF, Tranmere (undisclosed), Kyle Hurst LW, Gateshead
(loan), Sam Straughan-Brown LM, Peterborough Sports (loan),
Bobby Faulkner CB, Harrogate Town (loan), Jake Oram GK, Matlock
(loan), Will Flint CM, Gateshead (loan), Kasper Williams CB,
Bridlington (loan), Richard Wood CB (retired)
Last results
Leyton Orient 1 Doncaster Rovers 0 (7 January 2023)
Doncaster Rovers 1 Leyton Orient 1 (8 October 2022)
Lifted from here:
With permission from @gizmo56
HTML https://lofcforum.boards.net/thread/17397/doncaster-rovers-match-thread-moments
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