Well, we aren't the best side in this division but the character this team has is something to be proud of. The contrast to the years of abject failure since Evans took over the club is marked.
The performance yesterday was rather nervy, not enough fluent football in the first half or rather what we tried to do was all a bit too slow and rarely stretched Doncaster. Hunt was probably the player most involved in the game and Anderson was ok but the shift to 4-3-3 in the second half was a necessary one.
An early goal, well worked right across the pitch and followed by a great cross that made things difficult for the keeper and easy for Murphy. A second goal soon afterwards would have made things easier and we threatened on the break without ever quite doing enough.
I thought Doncaster played some decent football at times but mainly out wide and their failure to convert pressure into chances reflects both their failings and the excellence of our defensive work.
They did work out quicker than we did that the ref was giving a foul every time anyone went down - it was frustrating that we didn't notice that any time an arm went out we were going to concede a free kick. Therefore Dickov's whinging about our winner is somewhat amusing (especially given the way he used to play).
Before that though, the equaliser. There was always a chance we would concede having failed to put the game out of reach but to do so in the manner we did was very annoying. It looked a very soft penalty at the time, although in the context of the way the game was refereed it wasn't really a surprise. I read that Mick accepts the decision so Mings will have to learn from it.
I looked round and could see everyone thinking the same things - have we blown it? The fans got loud and supportive again and the team went down the other end and scored. It was a great finish from Chambers and another late winner to add to a growing collection under Mick.
As I said, we aren't the best side but the character is impressive, we've been written off my many Town fans several times this season and come back every time. After many season when we had players who looked as transient as our managers, we have a core now of good character who have a bond with the fans again. The Chambers fistpump merely the most obvious manifestation of this - although I did love the way he seemed to still be doing them all the way down the Co-op stand touchline.
Late goals at Millwall and Hillsborough look equally significant and, although Brighton look favourites for sixth at the moment, we're still hanging in there. I can't wait for next weekend, two big games which will probably define our season. If we're as close to sixth as we are now after those two I will be very happy. And if we're not, I'll be disappointed but still very pleased with this season. Then we will just have to see how Mick improves us again for the next one.
Despite Doncaster's poor away form, we're all well aware how capable we are of fecking this up. Let's make sure we do our bit and get right behind the team.
Win this and next weekend is going to be fun. Four days and two even bigger games.
The only reason they aren't seen as more damning was becuase so many matches were even worse. The last match was grim:
Town 2-3 Doncaster Rovers5th Nov 2011 17:15 Second half goals from Josh Carson and Michael Chopra weren’t enough to stop the Blues from falling to a 3-2 defeat to Doncaster at Portman Road. Dismal Town were very much second best before the break with El-Hadji Diouf (2) and Billy Sharp putting the South Yorkshiremen 3-0 in front at half-time.0
The 3-2 win just after Jewell took over was good though:
Town 3-2 Doncaster Rovers22nd Jan 2011 17:12 Paul Jewell’s first home game in charge of Town saw the Blues come from behind to gain their first victory over Doncaster since 1957. The visitors went ahead in the first half through Billy Sharp but David Norris and Connor Wickham put Town in front after the break, before Sharp equalised, only for Carlos Edwards’s deflected shot to take all three points for the Blues.0
People died because of the incompetence of South Yorkshire police, the FA and Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Then the police and government lied and colluded to cover up the truth for nearly a quarter of a century. Even now the same bollocks that McKenzie published in The Sun is believed completely by far too many otherwise intelligent people.
Rotherham 1-3 Town10th Apr 2004 18:16 Three second half goals saw Town come from behind to deservedly beat Rotherham at Millmoor. Chris Sedgwick had put the home side in front in the first half but a stunning 25-yard volley from Jermaine Wright and late goals from Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi wrapped up three vital points for the Blues.0
Couple of things I had forgotten - Royle changing the team to counter the opposition and Jamma playing at right back in the second half.
Phil doesn't do the sarcastic asides in match reports ('and legal throw ins') half as much these days either.
Is Jamma's goal online anywhere? I had a quick look and couldn't see it?
