O'Driscoll unhappy with replay against Villa

Last updated : 25 January 2009 By Donnysteve
Speaking to today's News Of The World about yesterday's FA Cup clash
DONCASTER boss Sean O'Driscoll cursed the prospect of a money-spinning replay at Villa Park after seeing his side draw 0-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium.

"We could have done without the replay. I'm sure Villa boss Martin O'Neill feels the same.

"It's another game and we only have a small squad and a lot of people injured.

"I'm not saying we're disappointed to go to Villa Park because it will be a great experience, but the Cup games are taking us away from the league.

"It makes no sense to play well here and not turn up against Sheffield United in midweek. Is it a good result financially? Ask the chairman.

"We gave a good account of ourselves and we were indebted to keeper Neil Sullivan on a few occasions, but it was a good game. Villa are an excellent side but we matched them and caused them a lot of problems.

"I'm pleased with the performance.

" We controlled a large part of the game. We had a bit of luck too because they are a threat and have a lot of pace."

O'Neill was more fulsome in his praise of the Championship strugglers and was relieved to secure a replay.

He said: "They had the better of the first half. We were more like ourselves in the second half and had some great chances but could have been out of it in the last few minutes."

Had referee Mark Halsey allowed the game to go on any longer, one imagined O'Neill getting on his knees in begging desperation as edgy Villa grabbed a replay against a Rovers side which defied its lowly Championship status.
The tale of plucky lower-league teams scrapping and hoofing their way to an FA Cup shock is a fixture of every season.

But if you imagine that's how Doncaster made Villa scramble for the full-time whistle, think again. At times they outplayed rather than outmuscled their illustrious guests.

Twice they hit the bar, as did Villa, but it was the fluency of the hosts' play which earned a deserved second chance.

Aside from a 25-minute spell at the start of the second half when Villa finally arrived, Rovers were the better side, exposing several of O'Neill's understudies in a thorough examination of how much the Premier League men really wanted to be there.

It wasn't that O'Neill deliberately picked a weakened side. His starting XI was as good as any available, given Ashley Young's suspension and Martin Laursen's knee injury.

But Villa full-backs Carlos Cuellar and Nicky Shorey endured the kind of afternoon which raises doubts about the true depth of O'Neill's squad.

As for Nigel Reo-Coker, he ran about a bit, flattered to deceive and promptly disappeared with an injury after 70 ineffective minutes.

Villa could have trailed after 11 minutes. Gareth Roberts — a one-time FA Youth Cup winner at Liverpool alongside Michael Owen — should have found the target with a close-range volley.

Shots from long distance proved to be Rovers' biggest threat, with Martin Woods volleying a stunning 30-yarder against the bar after one of numerous howlers by Cuellar.

Woods was denied more agonisingly three minutes from time when a 25-yard free-kick bounced off the upright to safety.

It wasn't all Doncaster, though, and, after what one presumes was the mother of all half-time tantrums from O'Neill, Villa responded well immediately after the interval.

James Milner came to the fore and should have grabbed a hat-trick, twice forcing Sullivan into good saves and also heading over a Gareth Barry corner.

Then Steve Sidwell nodded wide when it was easier to score and Gabby Agbonlahor belted against the bar when one-on-one.

For a brief spell, Doncaster look certain to succumb but they rallied after O'Driscoll's well-timed substitutions and switched the momentum back to the Villa end.

Every Cup winner endures one afternoon where they look back and remember how it almost ended so prematurely.

If O'Neill leads his men out at Wembley in May, it will be this trip to the Keepmoat Stadium that he will recognise as his great escape.