DRFC Great twelve months for Rovers

Doncaster Rovers have enjoyed an excellent twelve month`s after initially struggling with life in the second flight of English football for the first time in fifty years.

At this stage last season Rovers had unluckily lost at home 1-0 against eventual champions Wolverhampton Wanderers but fans were still not overly optimistic.

The side were rock bottom of the Championship and struggling to score goals having only managed to find the net on eleven occasions in 24 games.

The real turning point was when they visited Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day and turned in a fantastic performance in a 4-2 victory, it was actually the first time they had managed to score more than one goal in any game in the season.

The win started a great run which saw them win their seven of the next eight games.

After Christmas, they achieved a number of first`s that included first ever away wins at Sheffield United, Ipswich, Blackpool and Charlton. A first ever home win over Sheffield Wednesday and a first ever double over Derby County.

Only Sheffield United could boast a better record over the second half of the season and Rovers managed 42 points in the 23 games winning 13 of these that saw them finish in a respectable 14th place.

Rovers suffered the loss of two key players during the summer with Richie Wellens joining Leicester City and Matt Mills joining Reading.

Despite this Rovers became early season draw specialists, drawing eight of their first eleven games.

A run of loses saw them drifting towards the relegation places, a great start to December as seen them win four out of four without conceding a goal and climb to eleventh in the table and only four points outside the play offs.

Two on loan players Jason Shackell from Wolves in the heart of defence and Billy Sharp from Sheffield United in attack have been major players in Rovers recent success.

Sharp is enjoying a spectacular run in front of goal, he`s now scored in six games in a row and nine in the last ten games.

Rovers fans will be hoping they can keep hold of the two players when the transfer window re opens in January and run towards the play off positions.

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