FC United of Manchester v Doncaster Rovers - Workload welcomed as Rovers look to make up for lost time

With an international break looming, many are starting to feel the strain of the Football League treadmill.
BRING IT ON: Doncaster's Fejiri Okenabirhie welcomes the number of games currently coming Rovers' way. Picture: Howard Roe/AHPIX.BRING IT ON: Doncaster's Fejiri Okenabirhie welcomes the number of games currently coming Rovers' way. Picture: Howard Roe/AHPIX.
BRING IT ON: Doncaster's Fejiri Okenabirhie welcomes the number of games currently coming Rovers' way. Picture: Howard Roe/AHPIX.

Striker Fejiri Okenabirhie has started Doncaster Rovers’ last six games, spread over 20 days. He cannot wait to make it seven in 21 at FC United of Manchester in the FA Cup this evening.

Given his chance by an injury to Tyreece John-Jules, the 24-year-old is pleased to be back on the field after having six unwanted months off when League One football went into a coronavirus-induced hibernation, then started 2020-21 on the bench.

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“As a player you want to be playing,” he says. “I’m enjoying playing football.

SIDELINED: Doncaster Rovers' manager Darren Moore is missing from the touchline for the FA cup tie after going into self-isolation. Picture: Andrew Roe/AHPIXSIDELINED: Doncaster Rovers' manager Darren Moore is missing from the touchline for the FA cup tie after going into self-isolation. Picture: Andrew Roe/AHPIX
SIDELINED: Doncaster Rovers' manager Darren Moore is missing from the touchline for the FA cup tie after going into self-isolation. Picture: Andrew Roe/AHPIX

“Six months after the season got cancelled is a long time.

“As the games are so close together it’s likely people are going to get injured so we have to manage that but being fit and able to play is something you can’t take for granted, so I’m just glad to play as much as I can.

“You do miss it when you’re not able to do what you love. I don’t think there will ever be another period that long unless you’re injured, so I’m just happy to be back now and trying to do as well as we can.

“I’m feeling really good. Playing most of the games helps your fitness and your sharpness and I’ve managed to get a couple of goals as well so I’m just trying to perform as consistently as I can with my performances and help the team as much as I can.

Doncaster Rovers' Fejiri Okenabirhie.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonDoncaster Rovers' Fejiri Okenabirhie.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Doncaster Rovers' Fejiri Okenabirhie. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
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“It’s tough playing Saturday-Tuesday, there’s not much time to recover but you want to be playing anyway so you have to get on with it and be ready for each game. I’m enjoying playing, that’s what you want.”

Okenabirhie is excited by playing in the FA Cup, too, as most players seem to be despite the competition’s increasingly downtrodden reputation.

“I really enjoy playing in the Cup, it’s a special competition and every game in it is one to enjoy,” he says. “It’s a cup game so anything can happen but if you can get on a run it’s always a positive thing for the club. I’m looking forward to the game on Saturday.”

FC United, formed out of the disillusionment created by the Glazer family’s debt-leveraged takeover of Manchester United, play in the Northern Premier League, and should therefore be no match for a third-tier side who have already beaten Lincoln City, Ipswich Town and Portsmouth this season.

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But the BBC Two TV cameras will be at the 5.30pm kick-off for a reason.

Quite apart from the fact this match is being played in a competition which trades off the romance of shocks, Doncaster – who will have to make do without Darren Moore on the touchline today as he in self-isolation after being in contact with a positive COVID-19 case – have fared better this season against the teams who come at them.

Where they have struggled, at times, is when the onus is on them to make the running, as it will be at Broadhurst Park.

“It will be a different kind of test but it’s something we’re ready for,” says Okenabirhie.

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“Teams have set up to stop us before and we’ve been able to get over that so we’ll just focus on what we’re doing and implement the gameplan as well as we can. I know if we play as well as we can we’ll be able to put in a good performance and get through to the next round.

“I guess it’s all part and parcel of being a footballer, these different experiences – of sometimes being the underdog, sometimes being the favourite, and having to handle the different pressures.

“You have to be able to do that and bring a consistent level of performance.

“A couple of seasons ago I played against Salford, but they were in the National League. I’ve not played against a non-league team from this level as a league club but I’ve been at a non-league team before (with Farnborough and Dagenham and Redbridge) so I know what they’ll be thinking and how they’ll want to approach the game as well.

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“It definitely won’t be an easy game, we’ll have to be right on it but we’ll be ready.”

So how will the Red Rebels be thinking?

“They’ll be looking to cause an upset and enjoy the occasion,” he explains. “We have to be ready for that and just know what we’re about, do our job and get into the next round.

“They’ll want to show what qualities and abilities they’ve got but we’ll have to do the same. It’s still an even game but we know what we’re about and what we can do. We’ll be right on it, we won’t take the game lightly.”

There is a confidence about Rovers at the moment, and Okenabirhie shares it.

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“We made a positive start to the season but I feel like we’ve still got more in us,” he says.

“There’s a few games we’re disappointed we’ve lost but I feel as a whole there’s a lot of things we’re doing right and it’s just about being consistent, really, in what we’re doing. The decision-making in the right areas of the pitch can turn draws into wins and losses into draws but we’re doing a lot of things right so we just have to continue working hard.

“I always have standards I hold myself to in whatever game so I have a level of performance I want. I just try to play my game every time and bring the qualities I have to the team winning.

“I’ve got a few goals so far and I’d like to have more but I feel like I’m in a good place where I can keep improving and hopefully get more goals as the season goes on.”

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It will only mean more work for Okenabirhie if he does. That is fine by him.

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