# 2008–09 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season

During the 2008–09 English football season, Doncaster Rovers F.C. competed in the Football League Championship.

## Season summary

Doncaster endured a tough start to life in the second tier of English football and stood bottom of the league after 24 games with only 4 league wins. However, Doncaster went on an eight-match unbeaten run that lifted them to mid-table, and finished the season in a secure 14th place, above more fancied sides like Crystal Palace and Derby County.

## Squad

    Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | SCO | Neil Sullivan |
| 2 | DF | ENG | James O'Connor |
| 3 | DF | WAL | Gareth Roberts |
| 4 | DF | NED | Jos van Nieuwstadt |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Matthew Mills |
| 6 | DF | ENG | James Chambers |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Lewis Guy |
| 8 | MF | WAL | Brian Stock |
| 9 | FW | JAM | Darren Byfield |
| 10 | FW | WAL | Gareth Taylor |
| 11 | DF | ENG | Adam Lockwood |
| 12 | FW | ENG | James Hayter |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Ben Smith |
| 14 | FW | IRL | Paul Heffernan |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Mark Wilson |
| 16 | FW | NIR | Dean Shiels |
| 17 | MF | SCO | Martin Woods |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | DF | SCO | Sean McDaid |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Richie Wellens |
| 20 | MF | ENG | John Spicer |
| 21 | DF | ENG | Sam Hird |
| 22 | GK | WAL | Kyle Letheren (on loan from Barnsley) |
| 23 | FW | WAL | Jason Price |
| 24 | DF | SCO | Gordon Greer |
| 25 | MF | NIR | Stuart Elliott |
| 26 | FW | ENG | James Coppinger |
| 27 | FW | COD | Kazenga LuaLua (on loan from Newcastle United) |
| 29 | FW | ENG | Waide Fairhurst |
| 31 | FW | ENG | Tomi Ameobi |
| 32 | FW | ENG | Stephen Brooker |
| 33 | GK | ENG | Gary Woods |
| 34 | MF | ENG | Robbie Clark |
| 35 | DF | ENG | Charles Fisher |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Andrew Boyce (released) |
| 27 | MF | ENG | Craig Nelthorpe (to Oxford United) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 30 | DF | ANT | Shelton Martis (on loan from West Bromwich Albion) |

## Competitions
### Championship
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 12 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 51 | 58 | −7 | 61 |
| 13 | Watford | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 68 | 72 | −4 | 58 |
| 14 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 17 | 7 | 22 | 42 | 53 | −11 | 58 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 52 | 55 | −3 | 56 |
| 16 | Blackpool | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 47 | 58 | −11 | 56 |
* ↑ Crystal Palace were give a one-point deduction for using an ineligible player during a match against Sheffield United on 3 May 2009.

#### Results

Championship match details :
| Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 9 August 2008 | Derby County | A | W | 1–0 | Guy 59' | 33,010 |
| 16 August 2008 | Cardiff City | H | D | 1–1 | Guy 67' | 11,873 |
| 23 August 2008 | Queens Park Rangers | A | L | 0–2 | | 15,536 |
| 30 August 2008 | Coventry City | H | W | 1–0 | Wellens 31' | 11,806 |
| 13 September 2008 | Birmingham City | A | L | 0–1 | | 18,165 |
| 16 September 2008 | Charlton Athletic | H | L | 0–1 | | 10,483 |
| 20 September 2008 | Bristol City | A | L | 1–4 | Wellens 69' | 15,960 |
| 27 September 2008 | Southampton | H | L | 0–2 | | 10,867 |
| 30 September 2008 | Sheffield United | H | L | 0–2 | | 14,242 |
| 4 October 2008 | Barnsley | A | L | 1–4 | Stock 11' pen. | 15,086 |
| 18 October 2008 | Blackpool | H | D | 0–0 | | 11,342 |
| 21 October 2008 | Reading | A | L | 1–2 | van Nieuwstadt 74' | 17,294 |
| 25 October 2008 | Norwich City | A | L | 1–2 | Stock 77' pen. | 24,543 |
| 28 October 2008 | Barnsley | H | L | 0–1 | | 13,251 |
| 1 November 2008 | Swansea City | H | D | 0–0 | | 9,534 |
| 8 November 2008 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | L | 0–1 | | 20,872 |
| 15 November 2008 | Ipswich Town | H | W | 1–0 | Martis 42' | 10,823 |
| 22 November 2008 | Burnley | A | D | 0–0 | | 12,173 |
| 25 November 2008 | Nottingham Forest | H | D | 0–0 | | 12,612 |
| 29 November 2008 | Watford | A | D | 1–1 | Brooker 70' | 14,008 |
| 6 December 2008 | Plymouth Argyle | H | W | 1–0 | Stock 37' | 10,187 |
| 9 December 2008 | Preston North End | A | L | 0–1 | | 13,152 |
| 13 December 2008 | Crystal Palace | A | L | 1–2 | Heffernan 15' | 13,811 |
| 20 December 2008 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | L | 0–1 | | 13,669 |
| 26 December 2008 | Nottingham Forest | A | W | 4–2 | Heffernan 12', 65', Woods 33', Wellens 45' | 26,501 |
| 28 December 2008 | Burnley | H | W | 2–1 | Coppinger 37', Stock 40' pen. | 14,020 |
| 17 January 2009 | Southampton | A | W | 2–1 | Woods 46', Coppinger 81' | 15,837 |
| 27 January 2009 | Sheffield United | A | W | 1–0 | O'Connor 50' | 26,555 |
| 30 January 2009 | Norwich City | H | D | 1–1 | Heffernan 23' | 12,384 |
| 7 February 2009 | Blackpool | A | W | 3–2 | Stock 26', Hird 54', Coppinger 64' | 7,452 |
| 14 February 2009 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | W | 1–0 | Heffernan 31' | 14,823 |
| 17 February 2009 | Bristol City | H | W | 1–0 | Heffernan 4' | 10,928 |
| 21 February 2009 | Swansea City | A | L | 1–3 | Coppinger 11' | 16,161 |
| 27 February 2009 | Derby County | H | W | 2–1 | Heffernan 56', Wilson 71' | 14,435 |
| 3 March 2009 | Charlton Athletic | A | W | 2–1 | Coppinger 50', Stock 78' pen. | 20,815 |
| 7 March 2009 | Cardiff City | A | L | 0–3 | | 17,821 |
| 10 March 2009 | Queens Park Rangers | H | W | 2–0 | Stewart 23 o.g., Heffernan 30' | 10,223 |
| 14 March 2009 | Birmingham City | H | L | 0–2 | | 11,482 |
| 17 March 2009 | Reading | H | L | 0–1 | | 10,393 |
| 21 March 2009 | Coventry City | A | L | 0–1 | | 18,498 |
| 4 April 2009 | Watford | H | L | 1–2 | Hayter 85' | 12,126 |
| 11 April 2009 | Ipswich Town | A | W | 3–1 | Roberts 9', Heffernan 74', Hayter 85' | 19,918 |
| 13 April 2009 | Preston North End | H | L | 0–2 | | 11,648 |
| 18 April 2009 | Plymouth Argyle | A | W | 3–0 | Spicer 15', Hayter 33', Heffernan 70' | 11,100 |
| 25 April 2009 | Crystal Palace | H | W | 2–0 | Shiels 45', Hayter 75' | 12,031 |
| 3 May 2009 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | L | 0–1 | | 28,252 |

### FA Cup

FA Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Third round | 13 January 2009 | Cheltenham Town | A | D | 0–0 | | 4,417 |
| Third round replay | 20 January 2009 | Cheltenham Town | H | W | 3–0 | Stock 26', 58', Hird 36' | 5,345 |
| Fourth round | 24 January 2009 | Aston Villa | H | D | 0–0 | | 13,517 |
| Fourth round replay | 4 February 2009 | Aston Villa | A | L | 1–3 | Price 45' | 24,203 |

### Football League Cup

League Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Ref. |
| First round | 12 August 2008 | Notts County | A | L | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | | 3,272 | |