by Rich Colby

Rovers face the long journey to Kent this weekend to face Justin Edinburgh’s Gillingham in League One.

Rovers extended their fantastic away record of just one defeat in the last eleven league away games on Tuesday night at Preston.  And they will be hoping to make that one defeat in the last twelve at the Priestfield Stadium come 5pm Saturday.  Doncaster haven’t visited Gillingham for over seven years, the last meeting in November 2007 ending in a 1-1 draw.  A second half James Hayter penalty moved Rovers to 9th in League One in a season that would eventually lead to promotion at Wembley.

On to the present and things are once again looking bright for Paul Dickovs men.  3 points against The Gills would maintain their stay in that final play-off spot which so many teams are aiming for.  They will probably have to do it without Paul Keegan though who will miss out through a knee injury picked up at Preston.  A scan will reveal if we are sadly to miss him for the rest of the season.

A win for Gillingham will move them to within a point of Rovers and ever closer to the play-off spots that they will also be aiming for.  Top scorer Cody McDonald will have to be watched closely by Butler and Co to stop him from adding to his impressive 14 goals so far this season.  Gillingham will be full of confidence after comfortably beating fellow play-off hopefuls Swindon 3-0 during the week, making it four victories from their last six games.

Rovers will be looking to avenge their defeat to Gillingham back in December when they came to the Keepmoat Stadium and left with all three points.  Two second half goals by Luke Norris gave Gillingham a 2-0 lead, Curtis Main gave Rovers a late consolation goal from the penalty spot.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Gillingham:  P 56/W 12/D 13/L 31

by Rich Colby

Rovers make the trip to Deepdale as they take on Preston North End in another game under the floodlights.

Both sides currently occupy places in the play-off spots, Preston sitting in 3rd while Rovers sit 6th.  The Lillywhites will be the favourites for the win and rightly so after winning their last five league games in a row, scoring ten goals and conceding a perfect zero.  But as we all know, this is League One, where nothing is a formality.  Paul Dickov’s men are no mugs though, only loosing once on the road in the last ten league games, proving that tonight could be an interesting fixture.

Paul Dickov should have a fully fit squad to choose from with long term absentee Rob Jones the only exception.  Preston present problems all over the field but up front is where they are most deadly, and Rovers will have to keep an eye on top scorer Joe Garner, scorer of 14 goals so far this season.

Last time the sides met back in August at the Keepmoat Stadium they fought out a 1-1 draw.  Chris Humphrey gave Preston the lead mid-way through the second half, but a last minute strike by Nathan Tyson gave Rovers a point.  On their last visit to Deepdale IN December 2012, Rovers secured all three points.  Davis Syers, David Cotterill and Billy Paynter all struck to give Rovers a comfortable 3-0 win.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Preston North End:  P 34/W 11/D 8/L 15

by Rich Colby

After recently recording their best run of the season with three wins on the bounce, Doncaster will be looking to avoid three defeats on the bounce as they entertain Colchester United at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Paul Dickov will want to raise the spirits in the Rovers camp as they suffered defeats to Port Vale (3-0) and Bristol City (3-1) in the space of four days.  James Coppinger could return to the squad after missing the last month of action giving Paul Dickov an almost fully fit squad to choose from.

Colchester sit one point and one place outside the relegation zone, but their confidence will be up after their 3-2 defeat of Bristol City last Saturday.  The Rovers defence will have to be alert after the U’s netted three times in the first half to secure victory.

Doncaster have won the last three meetings between the sides.  Kyle Bennets second half strike secured all three points back in August.  And last time out at the Keepmoat Stadium a late David Cotterill goal was all that was needed to win the game for Rovers.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Colchester:  P 43/W 19/D 7/L 17

by Rich Colby

The floodlights will be on at the Keepmoat Stadium tonight as Rovers take on Bristol City for the fourth time this season.
Paul Dickov’s men will be looking to get back to winning ways after their three match winning run was halted at Port Vale on Saturday.  The 3-0 defeat ended Rovers brief four day stay in the play-off places as they slipped to 7th.  

Bristol City remain top of the table despite their surprise 3-2 defeat at Colchester at the weekend.  This their second defeat in three games may concern manager Steve Cotterill a little, but overall The Robins are in good form loosing just two of the last ten in the league.  Ex-Rovers man Jay Emmanuel Thomas will be the one to keep quiet for City as he aims to push his goal tally for the season into double figures.

Rovers remain without midfielder Jamie Coppinger who should hopefully return against Colchester at the weekend.  Rob Jones also misses out but Paul Keegan could return after missing out at Port Vale due to a thigh injury.

The teams last met recently in the third round of the FA Cup in January.  A 1-1 draw at the Keepmoat Stadium forced a replay at Ashton Gate where two goals from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas secured a place in the fourth round for the Robins.  Back in September Bristol City took all three points at Ashton Gate in a 3-0 victory.

Victory for Rovers will put them back into the play-off spots providing Bradford don’t win at Swindon.  Victory for Bristol will extend their lead at the top of the table.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Bristol City:  P 45/W 11/D 14/L 20

by Rich Colby

Rovers visit Port Vale this weekend aiming to make it four wins out of four.

Paul Dickov's men managed to grind out a win against in-form Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday night despite not being at their best, and were rewarded by jumping into the play-off positions.  Dickov is now starting to have a bit of a selection headache though.  Harry Forrestr should return after missing out on Tuesday, Abdul Razak will also be pushing for a starting place after impressing when he came on as a substitute.  Its a good problem to have for the club, but I don't envy Paul Dickov for which eleven to pick.  Jamie Coppinger, Luke McCullough and Rob Jones are all expected to miss out.

Port Vale sit 15th in the league, six points behind Rovers.  Their form is patchy of late with three wins, one draw and four defeats in the last eight games.  Rovers will be mindful of the 3-1 defeat to Vale at the beginning of the season and also of striker Tom Pope who scored on that day.

Rovers last visited Vale Park in November 2007 and came away with all three points.  George Pilkington gave Port Vale an early lead after 10 minutes, but Rovers came storming back in the second half with goals from Lewis Guy, James Hayter and Richie Wellens.

Victory for Rovers could potentially move them to 5th providing Sheffield United loose by a couple of goals or more to Coventry City at Brammal Lane.  Defeat would see Paul Dickov's men slip out of the Play-Off places if Bradford and or Oldham win their games against Walsall and Leyton Orient.  Victory for Port Vale could move them into the top half of the table and 3 points behind Rovers.

Come on you Reds!

Overall record Vs Port Vale:  P 48/W 20/D 8/L 20