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by Rich Colby

Doncaster supporters will be hoping to see a drastic improvement in performance and organization as they take on MK Dons at the Keepmoat Stadium.  Manager Paul Dickov is firmly under fire from large proportions of the Rovers faithful after two poor performances against Fleetwood Town and Leyton Orient.

One piece of positive news this week is the loan signing of experienced centre-half and Doncaster born Andy Butler from Sheffield United.  Butler has a mass of experience at this level and will bring with him a leading voice as well as physical presence in the back four.  I’d imagine he will go straight into the team to face MK Dons probably along side Luke McCullough at centre half.

Rob Jones remains the only absentee for Rovers.  Apart from the skipper, Paul Dickov has a fully fit squad at his disposal.

MK Dons come into the game flying high in 4th position in the league and will be looking to take the points from a Doncaster side who look devoid of confidence over the last couple of weeks.  Top scorer with eleven goals already this season Benik Afobe will be the man to watch for them.  He will need to be severely watched by Butler & co in order to stop him getting to the 12+ mark.  3 points for the Dons could push them into the top two providing other results go their way.

Victory for Rovers could push them further towards the mid-table mark and hopefully move them a little further away from the drop zone.  Currently one point from the bottom four with a vastly dropping goal difference is getting a little worrying for even the hardened Rovers fans.

Come on Donny!  Give the fans something to shout about with a positive performance, leadership and passion for the shirt.  That’s all we want!

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs MK Dons:   P 6/W 3/D 2/L 1
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by Rich Colby

After five successive games on the road, its home sweet home (hopefully) for Rovers on Tuesday as they take on Leyton Orient at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Paul Dickov will quickly want to ‘right the wrongs’ of Saturdays under-par performance at Fleetwood Town.  There usually is a good reaction after a defeat in the previous game.  Rovers have only lost back to back league games on one occasion so far this season, and Rovers will want to keep that record intact by walking away with at least 1 point.

The only absentee from the Rovers team will be skipper Rob Jones who remains sidelined with a knee injury.  Apart from that, Paul Dickov has a full squad at his disposal.  Expect at least one change from the side that lost a Fleetwood.  Dean Furman may return in an attacking midfield role and Theo Robinson could play a part.  Dickov has admitted that his patience with the current squad has snapped after the weekend, and is actively looking at the loan market for at least 2 players.  Whether any materialise in time for the Orient game is another matter.

The O’s are currently in a bit of disarray themselves lying 20th in the league with only 2 wins so far this season.  However, they did get a decent draw at home to high flying MK Dons on Saturday so there are signs of progress at Brisbane Road.  Defender and joint top scorer Roman Vincelot will be the man to watch for them, especially from set-pieces.

Rovers haven’t lost in the last 8 games to Leyton Orient.  Heres hoping that run is extended to 9 games come 9.45pm on Tuesday night.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Leyton Orient: P 29/W 10/D 6/L 13
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by Rich Colby

After spending last weekend without kicking a ball due to the international break, Rovers are back in action on Saturday as they travel to Lancashire to face Fleetwood Town.

The ‘Cod Army’, as they like to call themselves, had an excellent start to the season and occupied top spot at the end of August, but they have stuttered a little in the last month or so winning just once in their last nine games. Rovers will want to take advantage of that, but in order to do so, they’ll have to stop striker Stephen Dobbie. His experience and craft will count for a lot for the opposition and he is the one to watch for them.

Paul Dickov’s men went into the international break on a high following the league victory against Scunthorpe and beating Burton Albion in the JPT.  Rob Jones remains out with a knee injury, but Curtis Main could feature. One man bang in form at the moment is midfielder Dean Furman, but its 50/50 whether he’ll start the game having just returned from South Africa.

Rovers will probably field a side very similar to the one that beat Scunthorpe two weeks ago with hopefully the same outcome. This will be Doncaster’s first ever visit to Fleetwood, and they’ll be looking for a result to push them into the top half of the table. The fans will be back on the terracing in the Percy Ronson Stand behind the goal making plenty of noise as usual. Hopefully the players can give them something to shout about in this interesting League One clash.

Come on you reds!
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by Rich Colby

Rovers fans traveling along the M1 will still be singing renditions of ‘Nathan Tyson baby’ as they travel to the Pirelli Stadium to face Burton Albion in the Johnstones Paint Trophy. A much better display against Scunthorpe in the M18 derby has made the season look a little bit brighter, and Paul Dickov’s men will be chomping at the bit to make it two wins on the bounce.

Their opponents, Burton Albion, currently occupy third position in League 2, but have stuttered a little over the last few weeks with defeats to Wimbledon, Bury, Brighton (League cup) and Cambridge.  The Brewers will still be confident though, after all they have home advantage and it’s a cup-tie where form counts for nothing. Top scorer and striker Lucas Akins will be the one to watch for them.

At the time of writing, Doncaster have no new fresh injury worries. Rob Jones will still be absent after a knee op, and will remain so for the next couple of weeks at least. Curtis Main is back training with the squad and could also feature. Midfielder Dean Furman will also be absent after joining up with the South Africa squad, so expect Paul Keegan to take his place.

Hopefully Paul Dickov will keep a very similar side and formation to the one that beat Scunthorpe at the weekend. Following the Burton game Rovers have an 11 day break after next weekends game against Notts County was called off due to international call-ups, so they’ll want to go into the break on a high.

The two sides haven’t met since the conference days of 2003, over 11 years ago. Hopefully Rovers will have that little bit of extra quality and qualify for round 3 on the road to Wembley!

Come on you reds!
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by Rich Colby

A miserable defeat in the midlands last weekend has hopefully come as a wake-up call to the Rovers players and management.  Paul Dickov’s men will look to get their season back on track with a victory over one of their biggest local rivals Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park.

To lots of Rovers fans (myself included), Scunny in the big game of the season.  If we beat Scunny, everything is all right with the world again.  I’m sure most fans of other clubs say the same about their local rivals.  Luckily for me, I have many happy memories of Scunthorpe away.  Names such as Mickey Norbury, Leo Fortune-West, Graeme Lee and Billy Sharp bring back fond memories of thrashings, last-minute draws and last-minute winners.  Rovers need that good feeling back this weekend.

Captain Rob Jones remains out for Rovers after having an exploratory knee op this week.  Curtis Main and Nathan Tyson should be back in the fold for Paul Dickov’s men.

Scunny have been hit with a bit of an injury crisis and have 7 players out, including Rovers former midfield maestro Dave Syers.  The Iron have picked up just 2 wins so far this season, but another former Rover and now Iron manager Russ Wilcox’s men mustn’t be taken for granted.  If Rovers want the points from this one they’ll have to dig deep and raise a bit of confidence.  Recent acquisition Billy Kee is my man to watch for them.

Rovers have won the last 4 in this fixture, let's get behind the lads and the manager this weekend and make it 5 in a row over The Iron!

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Scunthorpe:   P 60/W 23/D 20/L 17
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