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by Rich Colby

It certainly wasn’t a good Friday for Doncaster Rovers when they last took to the field as they slumped to their 14th defeat of the season.  The 3-0 defeat to Bradford City pushed Rovers to 12th in the league, but they must pick themselves up as they prepare to face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

No matter what stage of the season, a local derby is always important, and this is one of the first fixtures Rovers fans look for when the list is released each June.

After the weekends results, Paul Dickov’s men now sit ten points outside the play-off places.  You would have to say it is probably too late already, but Rovers would probably have to win most if not all of their remaining games to make the top six.  A win against the Blades would drop that to seven points with six games to go.

Sheffield United have lost just once in their last six games including victories against Port Vale, Scunthorpe and Barnsley. On paper that doesn’t look promising for Rovers, but Paul Dickov’s men are a different animal away from home, so a victory wouldn’t surprise anyone in the Rovers camp.

Victory for the Blades would further secure their place in the top six barring a real collapse.  Midfielder Jason Holt will be the man to watch for them after netting in the last three games.

Rovers have no new injury concerns, but expect a few changes after Friday nights poor show as a furious Paul Dickov faced the media after.

The sides last faced each other back in November at the Keepmoat Stadium where a Jamie Murphy goal gave the Blades all three points.  The goal came just moments after Rovers had missed a penalty.  Rovers last visit to Bramall Lane was in September 2012.  The sides couldn’t be separated as they played out a 0-0 draw.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Sheffield United:  P 32/W 7/D 12/L 13
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by Rich Colby

Good Friday sees the start of a busy period for Doncaster Rovers and Paul Dickov and they make the final push in an attempt to reach the illustrious play-offs.  Tenth placed Bradford City are the visitors to the Keepmoat Stadium in a Friday night Yorkshire derby under the lights.

Rovers haven’t played for almost two weeks since their last outing and victory over Coventry City.  Since then, results for teams around them haven’t done as much damage as the league table might suggest.  Rovers have slipped to 11th in the table, but still remain just four points off 6th position having played a game less than three of the five teams above them.  Fridays game could be make or break for both Rovers and the Bantams, with a draw being no good to anybody.

Midfield legend Jamie Coppinger has had a full week of training during the international break and should feature in the squad.  Longer term absentees Paul Keegan and Rob Jones remain doubtful.  Harry Forrester recently featured in the Football League team of the month and will be hoping to keep up his good form with a start.

Bradford will still be reeling after their 1-0 defeat to Chesterfield on Tuesday night.  The defeat cost the Bantams a place in the play-off spots to which Chesterfield took full advantage whilst sneaking into that 6th position themselves.  Striker Jon Stead has always loved a goal against Rovers and the back four will need to keep him quiet to prevent him from doing the same again.  He will be the man to watch for them.

Victory for Rovers would keep them in touch with the play-off places, as would victory for Bradford.  If anyone needs that win just a little bit more though, you would have to say it was Paul Dickovs men.  A defeat and falling six or seven points behind at this stage of the season could equal season over.

The sides last met at Valley Parade back in November last year.  Rovers nemesis Jon Stead struck right on half time to give Bradford the lead, but two goals in the space of ten minutes in the second half, including a stunning strike from Curtis Main gave rovers a 2-1 victory.  The two teams haven’t played at the Keepmoat Stadium since September 2007.  Mark McCammon (2), Lewes Guy, Martin Woods and an own goal gave Rovers a 5-1 victory in the Johnstones Pain Trophy First Round.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Bradford City:  P 76/W 24/D 23/L 29
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by Rich Colby

Paul Dickov’s Doncaster will be looking to end a bad week on a high note by picking up three points at Coventry City this weekend.

Rovers have plummeted from sixth to twelfth over the last seven days and were desperately unlucky to lose to a last minute goal against Swindon on Tuesday night.  On a positive note they have saved their best form for on the road this season, being beaten just once in the last twelve away games.  They do need to start to turn the abundance of away draws into wins though if there is still the faint hope of winning the race to the final play-off places.

New Coventry manager Tony Mowbray has re-ignighted the Sky Blues over the last few games.  They have won their last two to move three points clear of the relegation zone after impressive wins at Chesterfield and Fleetwood in the space of four days.  Rovers will have to keep an eye on on-loan striker Dominic Samuel in order to keep a clean sheet and be in with a chance of maximum points.

Rovers midfielder and legend James Coppinger has trained this week and could feature in the squad, while Paul Dickov remains without long term absentees Paul Keegan and Rob Jones.

Victory for Doncaster would help to keep the season alive and keep them in touch with the play-off places.  Sitting just four points from sixth position we all know that a lot can change in a week, and Rovers need a good week with another away day at MK Dons the following Saturday.  Victory for Coventry would push them further away from the relegation zone and just four points behind Doncaster in what is a crazy league this season.

Last time the two teams faced each other on Boxing day at the Keepmoat Stadium, Rovers took the spoils.  First half goals from Andy Butler and Harry Forrester gave Paul Dickov’s men all three points in a 2-0 victory.  Rovers last visited the Ricoh Arena almost two years ago to the day in March 2013.  It wasn’t a happy trip though as they lost 1-0 to a first half strike from Cyrus Christie.

Come on you reds!

Overall record vs Coventry City:  P 21/W 7/D 6/L 8
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by Rich Colby

The floodlights will be on at the Keepmoat stadium again tonight as Rovers welcome third placed Swindon Town.

Paul Dickov’s men will be looking to bounce back on their own turf after the defeat to Peterborough at the weekend.  James Coppinger could be in line for a return after he trained with the squad yesterday, but long term absentees Rob Jones and Paul Keegan will both miss out.  Paul Dickov does expect Dean Furman, Andy Butler, Nathan Tyson and Harry Forrester all to be fit after they picked up knocks on Saturday.

Swindon know that a victory will keep up the pressure on second placed Preston for the automatic promotion places.  A win for Swindon and defeat for Preston at home to Peterborough would see the places reversed so there is much incentive for the Robins.  20-goal striker Andy Williams will be the one to watch for them.

Rovers dropped all the way to 10th in the league after Saturdays defeat.  But a win tonight would really keep the pressure on the half dozen teams vying for that 5th and 6th position in the table.

Recent encounters against Swindon have worked in favour of Rovers.  A Theo Robinson penalty gave Paul Dickov’s men all three points back in December when they squared off at the County Ground.  Last time out at the Keepmoat stadium in a game that was live on Sky Sports, Jamie McCombe’s 80th minute header gave Rovers another 1-0 victory back in April 2013.

Lets hope for more of the same tonight.  Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Swindon Town:  P 21/W 9/D 9/L 3
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by Rich Colby

The Keepmoat Stadium will hopefully see a crowd of 10,000+ as Rovers take on Peterborough United in League One.

As well as hopefully celebrating three points, Rovers will also be celebrating 11 years of James Coppinger being at the club.  The unfortunate thing for Coppinger is that he is likely to miss out due to an ankle injury.  

As far as the game itself is concerned, Rovers and Peterborough are neck and neck.  35 games played for both sides, 50 points for both sides, Rovers 6th, Peterborough 8th.  Looking at those stats it seems as though something has to give.  The form of Paul Dickov’s Rovers is patchy.  Just one win in the last five games, but unbeaten in the last three.  Look at it how you want and you could make it seem better or worse than it is.  Peterborough caretaker manager Dave Robertson as overseen three wins in the last three games for The Posh since the sacking of Darren Ferguson, giving them an unlikely boost towards the play-off spots.

There has been activity as far as transfers are concerned this week in Doncaster.  Striker Uche Ikpeazu has departed after his month on loan from Watford and returned to join Crewe Alexandra.  Rovers have replaced him with the loan signing of Rotherham striker Jonson Clarke-Harris who is likely to go straight into the squad for Saturday.

Sadly Rovers will be without Paul Keegan potentially for the rest of the season who has had a knee operation following his injury sustained at Preston North End.  He is likely to be joined on the side-lines this weekend by the man of the moment James Coppinger and long term absentee Rob Jones.

Last time the teams met in December they played out a 0-0 draw at the ABAX Stadium.  Last time the two squared off at the Keepmoat Stadium back in February 2012, the game ended 1-1.  Attacker Giles Barnes gave Rovers the lead, but Posh substitute Tyrone Barnett rescues a point for the visitors in the 90th minute.

REMEMBER: Tickets for this fixture are just £5 adults, £1 children under 11.  50p of each ticket sold will be donated to charities of James Coppingers choice.  Lets fill the Keepmoat!

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Peterborough:  P 36/W 13/D 8/L 15
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