DRFC Review of the season - January

We now take a look back at January when Rovers have to wait until halfway through the month before pulling on their kit again due to the arctic conditions sweeping the country.

Rovers start the month by cancelling the contract of Stuart Elliott who has struggled to hold down a regular starting place since arriving from Hull City in 2008.

The FA Cup tie at Brentford is the first game of the month to fall foul of the weather. With both sides in the draw for the fourth round, the winners will travel to Derby County or Millwall when the draw is made.

Billy Sharp wins the PFA Fans player of the month for December after scoring in four of the clubs five games.

Billy Sharp is also nominated for the Coca Cola Championship player of the month and boss Sean O`Driscoll is in the running for the manager`s award.

Rovers first league game of the new year at Preston North End is the next game to be postponed due to the weather.

Both Billy Sharp and Sean O`Driscoll are overlooked when the winners are announced for the player and manager of the month awards.

Sean O`Driscoll is strongly linked with the vacant manager`s job at Premiership club Burnley. The Turf Moor club opt for Brian Laws when they are unwilling to match the compensation asked for by Rovers Chairman John Ryan for O`Driscoll`s services.

Rovers trip to Brentford in the FA Cup once again falls to the weather. They do find out whom they will be playing in the fourth round as Derby beat Millwall to progress.

The players finally get to back to action with the home game against Watford and return with a win. Dean Shiels and Gareth Roberts score the goals to keep the points at the Keepmoat in a 2-1 victory.

Rovers finally get their FA Cup tie on at Brentford and progress to the fourth round with a late winner by James O`Connor.

John Oster who signed on a short-term deal at the start of the season extends the deal and he will now stay at the Keepmoat for the remainder of the season.

Rovers are back in FA Cup action four days after knocking out Brentford and go down to a late winner by Jay McEveley at Derby.

Billy Sharp continues to be nominated for awards, after picking up the PFA Fans player of the month award for December he is once again in the running for January.

Youngster Jordan Mutch signs on loan from Birmingham City on an initial one-month loan deal.

Rovers suffer a heavy 4-1 home defeat by Middlesbrough; the one bright note is a fantastic goal by Mutch on his debut.

Cardiff City inflict Rovers second defeat in a week when Jay Bothroyd scores a very late winner for the Bluebirds.

Michael Chopra had earlier given the home side a lead before Gareth Roberts scored a deserved equaliser for Rovers halfway through the second half.

The defeat sees Rovers finish the month in thirteenth place.

Next week we will be looking back at February when Rovers have a mixed month, the highlight of which is a first ever league win at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday.


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