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by The Rovers Review

It was disappointing to come away at the weekend without a point, or three, but we now look to the league cup, where Doncaster Rovers host championship side, Nottingham Forest. The board have said that they're not focusing on cup competitions this season, to prioritise promotion out of league two, so don't expect much from this match; well then again we might actually win if we play with no pressure.

Doncaster last beat Nottingham Forest in 2012, 1-2,  when we visited the City Ground with Kyle Bennett and Frederic Piquionne scoring the two goals. And when we last played them in league cup, in 2004, they beat us 2-0, so lets hope we get our revenge 12 years on!

We've only managed to beat them 6 times in 17 games over the last 12 years, and that was when we were competing in the same division as them, but now we're two divisions below them, and  getting beat by Accrington Stanley on a Saturday afternoon.

With us not taking this game as serious as a league game, I expect us/hope we field some youth players, such as: Pugh, Longbottom, Mandeville and Beestin, which I think would do them some good to get some competitive first team experience.

Also, from last Saturday's match I expect Lund, Coppinger and Calder will be playing, because they for me were not good enough on Saturday, so this way I think they'll have to go out there and prove to Darren Ferguson why exactly they should be in the squad for the Crawley math.

One thing that excites me is that Ferguson has said he is going to give Joe Wright some game time in this match, and I think him and Baudry are going to be two key players in our defence this season, so this gives me some optimism for the future. All we need now is Baudry to get fit.

In addition I would play Marko Marosi in goal. Now, I didn't slate Etheridge on Saturday, because it was a mistake, yes, but Stuckmann made mistakes too and I supported him, but I think it's about time we give Marosi a chance, and I think Tuesday would be the best possible time for him to have this chance. You never know, the healthy competition may be what they both need.

Line-up I think Ferguson may go for on Tuesday v Nottingham Forrest:

Etheridge; Lund, Butler, Wright, Garrett; Houghton, Coppinger, Calder, Middleton; Beestin and Marquis.
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by Paul Williams

For the first time since they were promoted back to the Football League (sorry, the EFL), Accrington Stanley aren’t favourites for relegation. That’s because they would have been starting off in League One today had they not messed up on the final day of last season.
 
On that basis, you’d think a visit to the tiny Crown Ground would be a tough start for Rovers especially as no-one, probably including Darren Ferguson, knows who will be fit and into what formation they will be inserted after a pre-season which has been costly in terms of injury, especially for poor Luke McCullough.
 
Stanley’s successful side of last year has been dismantled, however, and they’ve also had their problems pre-season. Goalkeeper Ross Etheridge is now Rovers’ number one and highly-rated defender Adam Buxton left for Portsmouth during the week to further disrupt the plans of long-serving manager John Coleman. Maybe the home side, like Rovers, would probably settle for avoiding defeat on the opening day to give them something to build on.
 
Etheridge, Tyler Garratt, Matty Blair, Joe Wright and John Marquis could all make their competitive debuts for Rovers on the wrong side of the Pennines. They will be backed by a 1,000-plus following but fans may have to give the new boys a few weeks to gel. However, the opening game should give us a good idea of what to expect this season from League Two.
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Key Dates

First League Game: Sat 6th August - Accrington Stanley (A)
Boxing Day: Mon 26th December - Notts County (A)
New Years Eve: Sat 31st December - Mansfield Town (A)
First Game 2017: Mon 2nd January - Stevenage (H)
Easter Weekend: Sat 15th April - Colchester (A)
Easter Weekend: Mon 17th April - Blackpool (H)
Last Game: Sat 6th May - Hartlepool (A)


2015/16 League 2 Fixture List

AUGUST
SAT 06 AUG 2016 Accrington Stanley
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 13 AUG 2016 Crawley Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
TUE 16 AUG 2016 Cambridge United
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 19:45 H
SAT 20 AUG 2016 Cheltenham Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 27 AUG 2016 Yeovil Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
SEPTEMBER
SAT 03 SEP 2016 Crewe Alexandra
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 10 SEP 2016 Morecambe
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 17 SEP 2016 Newport County
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
SAT 24 SEP 2016 Luton Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
TUE 27 SEP 2016 Carlisle United
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 19:45 H
OCTOBER
SAT 01 OCT 2016 Portsmouth
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 08 OCT 2016 Barnet
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
SAT 15 OCT 2016 Colchester United
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
SAT 22 OCT 2016 Blackpool
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 29 OCT 2016 Wycombe Wanderers
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
NOVEMBER
SAT 12 NOV 2016 Exeter City
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 19 NOV 2016 Hartlepool United
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
TUE 22 NOV 2016 Stevenage
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 19:45 A
SAT 26 NOV 2016 Leyton Orient
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
DECEMBER
SAT 10 DEC 2016 Plymouth Argyle
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 17 DEC 2016 Grimsby Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
MON 26 DEC 2016 Notts County
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 31 DEC 2016 Mansfield Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
JANUARY
MON 02 JAN 2017 Stevenage
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
SAT 07 JAN 2017 Portsmouth
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
SAT 14 JAN 2017 Barnet
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 21 JAN 2017 Crewe Alexandra
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
SAT 28 JAN 2017 Yeovil Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
FEBRUARY
SAT 04 FEB 2017 Morecambe
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
SAT 11 FEB 2017 Newport County
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
TUE 14 FEB 2017 Carlisle United
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 19:45 A
SAT 18 FEB 2017 Luton Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
SAT 25 FEB 2017 Accrington Stanley
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
TUE 28 FEB 2017 Cambridge United
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 19:45 A
MARCH
SAT 04 MAR 2017 Crawley Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 11 MAR 2017 Cheltenham Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
TUE 14 MAR 2017 Notts County
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 19:45 H
SAT 18 MAR 2017 Leyton Orient
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 25 MAR 2017 Plymouth Argyle
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
APRIL
SAT 01 APR 2017 Grimsby Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 08 APR 2017 Mansfield Town
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
SAT 15 APR 2017 Colchester United
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
MON 17 APR 2017 Blackpool
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
SAT 22 APR 2017 Wycombe Wanderers
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
SAT 29 APR 2017 Exeter City
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 H
MAY
SAT 06 MAY 2017 Hartlepool United
Sky Bet League Two
K.O. 15:00 A
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by Adam Stubbings

The game is up barring a miracle but Rovers still have one more chance to earn three points before a summer of change ahead of our inevitable drop into League Two.

The Sky cameras will be on hand to witness our final game of the season as promotion hopefuls Burton visit the Keepmoat. The Brewers have been in the top two for most of the season and can seal a second successive promotion by avoiding defeat.

These two sides drew 3-3 in one of the most exciting games of the season back in December, with Rovers unfortunate not to come away with more from a pulsating contest at the Pirelli Stadium. Former Rover Mark Duffy broke the resistance with a late equaliser after we had put in a sterling performance to almost earn a deserved victory against the league's best team at the time.

Things would only go alarmingly downhill from there of course and soon after the winless run that has ultimately cost us our place in League One began. The defensive calamities that have plagued us throughout the year were on show even back then, but we clearly had more fortitude to compete in games at the time as well.

The defeat to bottom club Crewe last Saturday confounded all of our problems and all but sealed our fate, meaning this game will serve as nothing more than a futile exercise in an uncomfortable atmosphere for Rovers, especially because the visitors are all set for the biggest party in their history.

It would not be unlike our club to pull off a surprise win in this game to make our relegation all the more agonising, as we may end up down only by virtue of goal difference for the second time in three seasons, but a win could also scupper Burton's hopes if a three-goal swing comes about from a Walsall win at Port Vale, and the Saddlers leapfrog them instead.

We know a thing or two about last day drama but none of it will engulf us this Sunday. Instead Darren Ferguson will look to put out a team of players set to stay and fight for an immediate return to the third tier next season. The manager revealed this week that he has already swung the proverbial axe and informed the players of his intentions for each of them.

Starting at the final whistle this weekend, change is afoot at Doncaster Rovers. We must now wait to see what kind of squad the gaffer can assemble to right this desperate wrong of relegation.
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by Adam Stubbings

As the Tour de Yorkshire rolls into town this weekend, football matters turn west as Rovers look to navigate the penultimate stage of an unlikely race to survival.

Victory over Coventry last Saturday put us in the remarkable position of being able to guarantee our  run in this relegation battle continues on to the final day. It is now seven points from three games after the turnaround finally began, and Rovers will feel that their next opponents Crewe are there for the taking.

The Alex are rock bottom of the league, relegated a couple of weeks ago and now certain to finish in 24th place. They haven't won in fifteen outings dating back to February, and have managed just six victories in the league all season.

But Rovers know a thing or two about wretched runs and how to end them. Two weeks ago, we humbled the division's best side in Wigan and have found belief, consistency and that crucial cutting edge to give ourselves a fighting chance. Rovers need to overhaul two teams to survive, and there remain four within reach.

Darren Ferguson will also be able to draw on the never-say-die spirit that saw us come from 2-1 down in injury time to remarkably win the reverse fixture back at the Keepmoat in December, one of the most incredible finishes in the history of the stadium. Rovers are now on a four match unbeaten run against Crewe, and should be confident of making it five tomorrow afternoon.

Gary McSheffrey is out for the season after going off injured against former club Coventry, meaning Nathan Tyson will have to fill the considerable boots of a man who brought toughness, experience and assists aplenty to the team, whilst Richard Chaplow is also out injured after a good run of form, but he may return for the final game against Burton.
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