TABLE-topping QPR travelled to Belle Vue in good spirits as they faced a struggling Doncaster Rovers.
Table-topping QPR travelled to Belle Vue in good spirits as they faced a struggling Doncaster Rovers.
Teams: Doncaster Rovers v Queens Park Rangers
Date: Saturday January 21, 1967.
Competition: Football League Division Three.
Venue: Belle Vue, Doncaster
See Also: QPR 6-0 Doncaster Rovers – 17-09-66.
QPR were looking good early bets for promotion with their only defeats of the season coming against Watford (0-1) and Oldham Atheltic (0-1) in 25 games of the 1966-67 season.
They took this form to the home of Doncaster Rovers with a view to emulating their six-nil crushing of the Yorkshire outfit only four months previous.
Goals from Keen, Roger Morgan, Sanderson and Marsh secured the points in style for Rangers as the R`s not only displayed their dominance at home, but their improving away record was proving formidable as they sat atop of the Third Division.
Ten games undefeated on their travels included the 7-1 mauling of Mansfield Town as goals were one of the distinct features of Rangers rise to the top of the league. Indeed the R`s had scored 95 goals in all competitions and 1967 was only 21 days old.
Keith Kettleborough had taken over from Bill Leivers at Belle Vue at the beginning of December and had an immediate impact with four successive victories, three of which came at home. Three away games on the trot yielded no points for Doncaster who were heavily reliant on their home form to keep them in the division.
Alec Stock named the same eleven for the third successive game after back to back wins over Watford (4-1) and Reading (2-1).
Les Allen partnered Rodney Marsh in attack, with the latter looking to extend a good mini spell of three goals in the previous two fixtures.
It was skipper Mike Keen`s goal that had given the R`s a first half lead at Belle Vue before Doncaster hit a second half equaliser as both keeping their respective impressive records intact – sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
The R`s then embarked on a 14 game unbeaten run in their chase for promotion, but they also had one eye on the League Cup having dispatched of Birmingham City in a doubled legged tie that sandwiched the Doncaster Rovers fixture.
The R`s went on to win an unprecedented double which has yet to be emulated. They were victorious in the third division with 67 points a full 12 points clear of second placed Middlesbrough.
While some might say the Cup is a distraction the R`s complemented their excellent league form with a League Cup victory over West Bromwich Albion at Wembley. The R`s coming back from two goals down to secure their only major trophy to date.
Doncaster Rovers were relegated along with Workington Town, Darlington and Swansea Town with 32 points, nine points from safety and 20th place Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.
Final Score: Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Queens Park Rangers
Attendance: 12,062
Queens Park Rangers: Springett, Watson, Langley, Keen, Hunt, Sibley, Lazarus, Sanderson, Allen, Marsh, Morgan R.
To read the full catalogue from Rangers games in history, click here.
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