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Donacien: Everyone Seems to Be Gelling Well
Monday, 20th Aug 2018 06:00

New right-back Janoi Donacien believes fans and players are “gelling well together” following a summer of change which saw nine new additions to the squad under incoming manager Paul Hurst. The St Lucian felt the backing of the Portman Road faithful helped the 10-man Blues to record Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa.

“It was a good battling display,” the 24-year-old said. “It took a lot for us to come back, especially from a goal down against a good team that should be up there this year. We just stuck at our jobs and kept going to the end.”

Did Donacien feel the game, in which the Town crowd more than played their part, forged a new bond between the players and the team? “No, to be fair, in the first game of the season against Blackburn I felt like the fans were all the way behind us.

“At the end, we were signing autographs for the fans and they were just happy to see us. Everyone seems to be gelling well together.

“Everyone at the ground and the club is really nice. Everyone just wants to see you do well. Everyone’s behind you. It helps when you have really good people behind you, especially if you have a bad day.”

Regarding Tayo Edun’s controversial red card for two bookable offences, he said: “I didn’t see the tackles and I can’t remember the first one, but the second one a lot of the lads said it was a bit harsh. But what can you do? It’s the ref’s decision.

“It was a knock that it came so quickly after we equalised. We had to react quickly and get our heads back in the game.

"If you let yourself down and don’t concentrate, a team like that will punish you straight away.

“I’m not sure what’s possible for us this season. We’ll just keep going game by game and keep working hard. Who knows what can happen?

“It’s a bit early to say where we can get to in the table or we can do this or that. We’ll just keep working hard together and that should take us through.”

Donacien, who spent six years with Villa as a youngster, captaining their U23s and appearing on the first-team bench twice without making his debut, spent last season playing for Accrington Stanley as they carried off the League Two title and says moving to the Championship is a big change.

“It’s completely different,” he reflected. “Coming out in front of these stands and massive, massive crowds, that’s what I want to do and what I look forward to. I want to play in front of big crowds here.”

Accrington chairman Andy Holt famously took his players to McDonald’s as a post-victory treat last season but Donacien says that’s not something he’s carrying into his time at Town.

“No, absolutely not,” he added. “I haven’t had McDonald’s in ages. I’m off McDonald’s now. Absolutely put off.”

How does he compare his old Accrington manager John Coleman with his new Town boss Hurst? “They are both very successful managers. John Coleman has done a lot for Accrington and he did a lot for me.

“The gaffer here seems like he’s got the same work ethic and he wants to get the best of his group of players.”

Donacien is currently on loan at Town with his £750,000 move from Stanley becoming a permanent deal once he has received his permanent leave to remain from the Home Office.

Speaking on Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch on BBC Radio Suffolk, club secretary Stuart Hayton outlined the current position.

“We await news, he’s waiting for his passport back is the news, without telling you too much of his confidential information,” he said.

“Once he gets a passport back that has a stamp in that says he has leave to remain then we can make the deal permanent and he becomes our player.

“But we’re still waiting news of the passport and once it comes through we’ll make him a permanent player.”

Blues MD Ian Milne added: “We’re not expecting any problems on that, he will get it. It’s just that the machinery of the Home Office needs to work its wonders.”


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depressed added 06:12 - Aug 20
Played really well on saturday, as did the team...loving the positivity from the players manager and fans. Onward and upward. COYB !
20

Cakeman added 06:18 - Aug 20
Pleasing words from Donacien who I thought had a fine game and who is setting in nicely.
He very much looks like a ‘proper' full back. Encouraging for the future. Nothing wrong with the McDonalds though particularly their breakfasts.
9

blue75 added 07:59 - Aug 20
Thought the lad had a really good game Saturday very comfortable at RB didn't seem intimidated by the so called super stars of villa!! His tackling was good all game not big lunges but the simple nick it off the toe ones really pleased to have a proper RB that we own!!
7

marcusevans added 08:00 - Aug 20
I would describe his performance on Saturday as Big and Tasty
6

runningout added 08:05 - Aug 20
Keep improving, and if he's his own worst critic he'll be laughing..
2

Dissboyitfc added 08:09 - Aug 20
Long while since we had a proper specialist who is good at RB, Played really well and is getting better by the game!
4

rfretwell added 08:37 - Aug 20
To think so.e on here were saying after Blackburn that they hope he doesn't get leave to remain! He was awesome on saturday and got forward to support Edwards really well. Those two will develop into a real force down the right.
7

JewellintheTown added 08:46 - Aug 20
McDonalds? Tightwad, Coleman. Do right by us JD and we'll sort you out a Harvester, my son. Go easy on the sauces and dressings though.
3

truckerblue added 09:23 - Aug 20
I'll hold my hands up and admit I did slate him after the Blackburn game but man did he make me eat my words Saturday. Played a blinder along with the rest of the lads. Long may it continue and got a feeling he's only gonna get better.
10

OwainG1992 added 10:14 - Aug 20
I felt he improved highly in the Blackburn game when he went to RB. But you could tell it was a new team. The team performance overall was really impressive against Villa. Long may it continue!
3

afcfee added 10:22 - Aug 20
He had a really good game Saturday, Villa tried putting a lot of pressure on his side and had a lot of experienced players to deal with like Hutton. Even made couple of good runs forward which is hard when ten, would liked better final delivery but sure can blame fatigue with the amount of effort everyone put in.
2

Karlosfandangal added 10:23 - Aug 20
Let's hope the fans still back him and the club when we have a sticky patch and not in the top six........think he will be ok as they are still having a pop at Chamberscabd Skuse.

-3

JETPower added 11:12 - Aug 20
Sounds like a future ITFC captain, Heard it here first...
0

BobbyBell added 11:50 - Aug 20
Everything is positive here and we must be patient while the bonding continues. My fiend in Norfolk tells me that the 'Pinkun' is AGAIN obsessed with slagging us off. It seems they are getting very nervous and jittery and they think it makes them better if they constantly put us down.
0

afcfee added 19:36 - Aug 20
Chambers has been great but Skuse has been very bad. Matter of time till dropped IMO.
0


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