The slight margin of Doncaster's 1-0 victory in Leeds hid a multitude of opportunities on a day of concerted dominance which justified their chairman's confidence.

Ryan had waited patiently for the moment when he could look down on Leeds United, and the events of January 19 gave him that pleasure. It is an experience he plans to enjoy for a second time in a month tomorrow.

The difference of 10 League One points that stands between Doncaster in second position and Leeds in seventh is apparent proof of the superiority of South Yorkshire's most vibrant club, though the picture is distorted by Leeds' 15-point deduction.

Ryan pre-empted United's High Court appeal against the penalty yesterday by publicly supporting the Football League's original decision to remove points from Elland Road, but goalkeeper Casper Ankergren is more concerned with his suggestion that Doncaster are a more capable team than Leeds.


United have won 18 league matches to Rovers' 16, and both have lost seven. The goal difference built up by Leeds is superior by a margin of three.

Ankergren could not deny that Doncaster deserved their win at Elland Road last month, but the Dane is unimpressed by the assumption that Leeds will dance to the tune played by their hosts tomorrow.

"They're a good team," said Ankergren. "We played against them a month ago and they were the better team on the day so it's definitely about revenge for us.

"They've been doing alright but I do remember that they lost 4-0 at home against Swansea City not too long ago.

"We need to show the fans – and show ourselves – that we're a better team than Doncaster. I think that we are if you take it player-for-player, but that's not always how it works out. We need to show it.

"Of course it's a big game for us, but all the games this season have been very important because we started with the minus 15 points.
"It's 11 versus 11 on a football pitch, and that's it."

This week, beginning with Tuesday's match against Nottingham Forest, was seen by Gary McAllister as a period of paramount importance to Leeds, and United's manager is aware that a defeat at the Keepmoat Stadium tomorrow will threaten to put automatic promotion beyond his players.

Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Forest at Elland Road has already made the possibility unlikely, but United's players and staff were satisfied with a point secured seven minutes from time by Jermaine Beckford's penalty and assisted by Ankergren's brilliant save from Nathan Tyson with the visitors leading 1-0.

Doncaster's attack are expected to keep the Danish goalkeeper as busy as he was on Tuesday evening but Ankergren is waiting with interest to discover whether the pressure of retaining an automatic promotion position will affect Sean O'Driscoll's players, who have claimed nine wins from 11 games and given no hint of nervous tension.

Ankergren said: "Sometimes it's easier to come from behind than to lead the chase.

"You could say they're slight favourites so let's see if they can cope with that pressure.

"We've still got 14 games left and that's a lot of points to play for. A draw was fair enough (against Forest) and it was a good game with a good tempo. Both teams played decent football."

McAllister was 10 days away from succeeding Dennis Wise as United's manager when Doncaster collected their first competitive victory at Elland Road four weeks ago, but the dissatisfaction among his players over their performance against Rovers has become apparent this week.

A free-kick from Brian Stock separated the teams, though the cheap manner in which his set-piece slipped through United's fractured wall was symptomatic of the general drop in the quality of performances produced by Leeds. Swansea's 4-0 victory last month proved that Doncaster are far from infallible, but Rovers will threaten Leeds with a heavy defeat if United repeat of last month's insipid showing.

McAllister, whose players are being asked to compensate for the loss of Andrew Hughes to injury and Beckford to suspension, said: "Doncaster try to be inventive, and we'll respect them.

"They're above us in the league. But as I said before Forest, if we're going to reverse that then we need to reverse that Elland Road result.
"It's a result that hurt the players because they didn't perform on the day. I can see an eagerness in their eyes. They want to put it right."
McAllister is not oblivious to the fact that he has failed to record a victory as United's manager, albeit with only three matches under his belt.
The club, meanwhile, have failed to win in six.
He is reluctant to make too much of those statistics for fear that his players will take the cue to panic. McAllister wants patience but progress with it, a case of more haste and less speed.

"The club needs a win," he said. "For me as a new arrival as well, I'd like that first win.

"But I don't want it to be a desperate thing – I don't want the players to try to get it through desperation.

"Two draws on the bounce is two games undefeated, and team spirit is something you gain when you get results."