Doncaster vs Saints - Saturday 10th 3pm

[Football Special]

Remember these ties are decided on the day so extra time and penalties if required,  need to factor that in when booking trains etc 

[Saint86]

16 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Another nail in the coffin of the FA Cup. Fuckin draw isn't even on BBC anymore.

It was still free to watch though... Suspect the FA Cup will outlast the BBC anyway, soon as we get a change of government the BBC is getting hammered.

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

It was still free to watch though... Suspect the FA Cup will outlast the BBC anyway, soon as we get a change of government the BBC is getting hammered.

Don’t think it will even require that to happen. Boris fucked them over either intentionally or unintentionally by planting garbage like Sharp, Davie, Gibb on their leadership and boards and it’s screwed them. With the likes of Kuenssberg and Mason licking Farage’s arse out they don’t appeal to centralist/liberal-minded publics any longer and some of the Conservative-minded people never liked them anyway. To think they had reporters like John Cole, Sergeant and Simpson widely respected right across the spectrum…

Add in Wallace/Savile/Brand and it’s not a positive picture. If they’d maintained their news and sport quality they might have withstood the turbulence but they are well behind the likes of Sky and C4 now. 

Edited 9 December, 2025 by Gloucester Saint

[Gloucester Saint]

5 hours ago, Football Special said:

Winnable perhaps but terrible revenue in the context of "look what you could have won". Share of gate receipts at Anfield close to £1M , share of gate receipts at Grimsby more like £100k. 

Main TV picks will be 

Macclesfield v Crystal Palace 

Skates v Arsenal 

Derby v Leeds 

And probably Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City, Spurs v Villa as well. 

There's always a few that then move for international tv coverage,  I never quite understand that as international not impacted by 3pm black out so frustrates me they move the kick off times 

Exeter were in the crapper financially, fans trust had to make an emergency loan of £200k where they over-spent last season so City away is a penny from heaven for them. Probably not as transformative as Man U was when they were non league but very important.

Macclesfield hosting Palace WILL be transformational though financially. Derby v Leeds an interesting tie with two historically fairly big clubs. No Lee v Hunter though.

[davefizzy14]

I think its a good draw for us. Lower league side away. 

[Football Special]

Just watched the football league highlights show, Doncaster lost 5-1 at home to Plymouth yesterday and drop to 23rd in League One, definitely a kind draw for us 

[Morse]

On 09/12/2025 at 12:03, Saint86 said:

It was still free to watch though... Suspect the FA Cup will outlast the BBC anyway, soon as we get a change of government the BBC is getting hammered.

Greens aren't going to damage the BBC. 

[die Mannyschaft]

Has Doncaster sold out? Looking forward to going up as new ground for me. we should have about 1/4 of the attendance if take 3 000

[Football Special]

3 hours ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Has Doncaster sold out? Looking forward to going up as new ground for me. we should have about 1/4 of the attendance if take 3 000

We've sold about 1700 out of the 3000 so far , not surprising considering amount of traveling We've got in a month 

[Donny Saint]

Does anyone know if there are still tickets available, and if they can be bought on the day at the Rovers ground? As a Doncaster resident, I'm about 3 miles from the ground. My Rovers supporting neighbour is going to ask at their ticket office tomorrow.

Cheers

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

23 minutes ago, Donny Saint said:

Does anyone know if there are still tickets available, and if they can be bought on the day at the Rovers ground? As a Doncaster resident, I'm about 3 miles from the ground. My Rovers supporting neighbour is going to ask at their ticket office tomorrow.

Cheers

There's around 75 tickets available on the OS but I'd guess the two blocks past the available seats haven't been put on sale yet. Would guess around 2,000 sold so far and following straight after another long trip to MIddlesbrough can't see the full 3,000 being taken up. These are on general sale, can't see your Donny address being an issue for buying online tbh.

https://tickets.southamptonfc.com/selection/event/seat?perfId=10229155095219&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true

[Donny Saint]

39 minutes ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

There's around 75 tickets available on the OS but I'd guess the two blocks past the available seats haven't been put on sale yet. Would guess around 2,000 sold so far and following straight after another long trip to MIddlesbrough can't see the full 3,000 being taken up. These are on general sale, can't see your Donny address being an issue for buying online tbh.

https://tickets.southamptonfc.com/selection/event/seat?perfId=10229155095219&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true

Thanks for this information, I've just managed to get a couple of tickets.

[Toussaint]

Phhtt 

[die Mannyschaft]

Just hope its not a reserve side we put out as it may be another case of we need the player(s ) for the next game.  The new goal keeper and anyone else that's not in main 16 lineup.

[AlexLaw76]

If we do not shift to a more traditional back 4 in this game, then we wont for the rest of the season.

[Football Special]

19 hours ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

There's around 75 tickets available on the OS but I'd guess the two blocks past the available seats haven't been put on sale yet. Would guess around 2,000 sold so far and following straight after another long trip to MIddlesbrough can't see the full 3,000 being taken up. These are on general sale, can't see your Donny address being an issue for buying online tbh.

https://tickets.southamptonfc.com/selection/event/seat?perfId=10229155095219&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true

Yeah about 2200 sold, good following really considering how many away games we've had recently,  probably shift a few more before next weekend 

Can't imagine there will be a big home crowd in for it to see 23rd in league one vs midtable championship 

[LGTL]

34 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

If we do not shift to a more traditional back 4 in this game, then we wont for the rest of the season.

It’s important to have 3 central defenders on the pitch at ALL TIMES against such attacking ability that Doncaster possess.

Although he’ll probably switch to a 4, play the reserves, lose, and then use that as justification to never play 4 again.  

[die Mannyschaft]

Doncaster leaque game called off today. Looks 3c warmer next week but still -3c ish night before so will be tough and go. Think pitch inspection are done 8am, 1am midday when frost, I already be on coach at 8.15

[Sheaf Saint]

1 hour ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Doncaster leaque game called off today. Looks 3c warmer next week but still -3c ish night before so will be tough and go. Think pitch inspection are done 8am, 1am midday when frost, I already be on coach at 8.15

Interesting that all the home games in South Yorkshire today have been postponed - Sheff Utd and Rotherham as well. 

In fairness, it's pretty fucking nesh out there today! 🥶🥶🥶

[Noodles34]

Going up for this one, the start of a glorious cup run no doubt. 

Expecting changes, 

McCarthy - Roselev, Our Jack, Quarsiemodo, Edwards, Beef, Jander, Oh no Joe Aribo, Matsuki, Jay and Archer. 

Will maybe scrape a 2-1 win but hardly confident of even that. 

[Saint_clark]

I'd be shocked it Bragg doesn't start.

[Turkish]

The great fix starts here!
 

3-0 Saints Damion Downs hattrick 👊

[Pamplemousse]

Couldn't care less

[Mboto Gorge]

I’d keep Baz in goal for this, as he’s fine for League one

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, Pamplemousse said:

Couldn't care less

Dragan receiving his photo of a train will be quite exciting. 

[die Mannyschaft]

I'm going up to Doncaster with my son and fully expect a non 1st team. It will be a complete U21 side (also played sideways football v R Madrid) and a Doncaster 3-1 win.

We are in same situation as Man U where it looks to me that decisions are made upstairs and not by the coach or manager, which everyone we have.

This game will be an exact carbon copy of Boro game in tactics and formation as Saints possession sideways plan continues.

 

[S-Clarke]

Luckily we gave Fellows and Leo a nice rest over Christmas for this game, this is the big one.

In all seriousness, I'd expect to see the likes of Jelert, Quarshie, Bragg, Romeu, McCarthy, Wellington, Archer, Fraser, Matsuki, Stewart etc all start - we have a big squad, sadly full of absolute rubbish in the main.

Will be good for Romeu to get a start though, he's struggled a bit coming onto the pitch in dysfunctional performances - so it would be good to see him from a start.

[Turkish]

2 hours ago, Mboto Gorge said:

I’d keep Baz in goal for this, as he’s fine for League one

Me too, he’ll be full of confidence after his strong save yesterday. 

[Dr Who?]

Only interested as it will be a new ground to tick off for me. 🥳 

Have a feeling it might get postponed because of the weather. 

[Gloucester Saint]

5 hours ago, Turkish said:

Me too, he’ll be full of confidence after his strong save yesterday. 

What would Fabrice have called Banks’s save v Pele in 1970 if the internet had existed? Nuclear?☢️ 

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

Only interested as it will be a new ground to tick off for me. 🥳 

Have a feeling it might get postponed because of the weather. 

Just about to say that. its been freezing and thats going to continue all week up here, not getting about 3 degrees according to the forecast with sleet thursday and friday, snow on saturday. Could well be off.

[Baird of the land]

Let’s just hope one of the changes is to a 4-3-3

[Osvaldorama]

Would do us a favour if it’s called off tbf. 
 

Means more time between now and having to watch these lot try and play football 

[die Mannyschaft]

18 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Would do us a favour if it’s called off tbf. 
 

Means more time between now and having to watch these lot try and play football 

No it must be played. I'm looking forward to a free scarf, programme, pie, cheesey chips, coffee (pint option for the drinkers), away shirt, refunded travel cost and breakfast in service station. That should take the focus off the game for Saints fans.

[Dr Who?]

43 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Just about to say that. its been freezing and thats going to continue all week up here, not getting about 3 degrees according to the forecast with sleet thursday and friday, snow on saturday. Could well be off.

Could mean a mid week trip… not much fun! 

My boy has just got a wall chart for his 14th birthday to scratch off the grounds he goes to. He was born in Cambridge and has a soft spot for them. I thinking of taking in some new grounds watching Cambridge. Accrington, Oldham, Fleetwood… I don’t suppose Cambridge will take that many. I don’t seem to tick to many new ones off these days. I think with Saints it tends to be the same ground when you are up north. I think the only new one in the last 10 years has been Preston for me! Bang on half way 46/92. But think I was in the 40’s when I was in my 20’s… I’m now in my 50’s. 

[Mr Brightside]

Tickets haven’t arrived yet…may be a blessing. 

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, Dr Who? said:

Could mean a mid week trip… not much fun! 

My boy has just got a wall chart for his 14th birthday to scratch off the grounds he goes to. He was born in Cambridge and has a soft spot for them. I thinking of taking in some new grounds watching Cambridge. Accrington, Oldham, Fleetwood… I don’t suppose Cambridge will take that many. I don’t seem to tick to many new ones off these days. I think with Saints it tends to be the same ground when you are up north. I think the only new one in the last 10 years has been Preston for me! Bang on half way 46/92. But think I was in the 40’s when I was in my 20’s… I’m now in my 50’s. 

I went there in the championship season under Adkin’s so don’t even have the new ground reason to go. It going to be freezing so I’ll pass. Apathy reigns in my house 

[Gloucester Saint]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

I went there in the championship season under Adkin’s so don’t even have the new ground reason to go. It going to be freezing so I’ll pass. Apathy reigns in my house 

1-0 defeat to a Billy Sharp goal in December 2011 wasn’t it? Signed him the next month.

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

1-0 defeat to a Billy Sharp goal in December 2011 wasn’t it? Signed him the next month.

Correct we were awful 

[Gloucester Saint]

9 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Correct we were awful 

Some things never change.

[Challenger]

Got given a do it yourself enema kit for Christmas. Will probably give that a go rather than watch/listen to this lot masquerading as a football team.

[Football Special]

2 hours ago, Turkish said:

I went there in the championship season under Adkin’s so don’t even have the new ground reason to go. It going to be freezing so I’ll pass. Apathy reigns in my house 

Poor effort Sir, was expecting to see you down the front at the end with your "Gavin Bazunu can I have your shirt sign."

I saw us win 2008 think Andrew Surman might have bagged a couple for us, must be due another win there. 

[Osvaldorama]

11 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Poor effort Sir, was expecting to see you down the front at the end with your "Gavin Bazunu can I have your shirt sign."

I saw us win 2008 think Andrew Surman might have bagged a couple for us, must be due another win there. 

Im not bothering to go, but please can someone who is do me a big favour? Take a sign that says:

”Gavin Bazunu, I don’t want your shirt”

[Convict Colony]

Ah doncaster the white trash of yorkshiremen, its only positive contribution to life is being a stop on the east coast line.

To quote a famous son of their's and a saints legend

[Convict Colony]

9 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

Im not bothering to go, but please can someone who is do me a big favour? Take a sign that says:

”Gavin Bazunu, I don’t want your shirt”

Ask him for his gloves as they will hardly be used and can be resold on ebay.

Edited yesterday at 07:59 by Convict Colony

[Morse]

On 09/12/2025 at 12:03, Saint86 said:

It was still free to watch though... Suspect the FA Cup will outlast the BBC anyway, soon as we get a change of government the BBC is getting hammered.

All British institutions will be hammered. Its what Putin and Trump want/ expect from their lapdogs. 

[die Mannyschaft]

If pitch frozen which is likely as forecast says -4 Friday night then only 3c in day Saturday when will a decision be made? 8am pitch inspection,  10am call off or continue? Midday is a bit late or wait until 1pm.

Could be at Midlands if called off late morning. 

Luton away trip was called off 20 mins before KO by Doncaster Sunday which is too late. 

[Football Special]

30 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

If pitch frozen which is likely as forecast says -4 Friday night then only 3c in day Saturday when will a decision be made? 8am pitch inspection,  10am call off or continue? Midday is a bit late or wait until 1pm.

Could be at Midlands if called off late morning. 

Luton away trip was called off 20 mins before KO by Doncaster Sunday which is too late. 

Hopefully being FA Cup they make more of an effort to get it on, just dig out the orange ball if needed. 

Remember Reading away mid 90s being played when pitch was 100% frozen solid 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

2 hours ago, Football Special said:

Hopefully being FA Cup they make more of an effort to get it on, just dig out the orange ball if needed. 

Remember Reading away mid 90s being played when pitch was 100% frozen solid 

Yeah, it strangely used to add something watching a game on a white frozen pitch and an orange ball, did little for the quality of play but made for a different experience. A regular occurrence in the 70s/80s.

Fortunately I can only remember being on the road once when a game was called off when we were on the way to Wolves in the 70s and found another game on the way back.

Now 2,500 sold for this Saturday, fingers crossed for those travelling.

[Dr Who?]

5 hours ago, die Mannyschaft said:

If pitch frozen which is likely as forecast says -4 Friday night then only 3c in day Saturday when will a decision be made? 8am pitch inspection,  10am call off or continue? Midday is a bit late or wait until 1pm.

Could be at Midlands if called off late morning. 

Luton away trip was called off 20 mins before KO by Doncaster Sunday which is too late. 

Hopefully give plenty of notice so I can take in another game!