by Paul Williams

Whatever the rights or wrongs of Gary Mackenzie’s red card on Saturday, his suspension means that it will be yet another different Rovers back four for the visit of Swindon.

It could be a quartet of southpaws (left-footers) if Rob Jones has to dig the boots out of mothballs, which would make us look even more lop-sided than normal at the back (hard to imagine, I know). But maybe it would confuse the Robins enough for us to sneak a much-needed win.

Swindon made the play-offs last year and won 2-1 at the Keepmoat, even though Rovers had taken the lead by that rarity – a Curtis Main goal. But they’ve hardly set League 1 alight this season so far and are clearly missing the goals of Andy Williams who will, of course, be lining up against his former team-mates for Rovers this week. Fabian Robert has moved in the opposite direction and the Frenchman has settled in well at the County Ground so will be a threat for the visitors, who are proving better on the road this season.

Crystal Palace loanee Keshi Anderson could make his home debut for Rovers having looked lively before lack of match practice told on Saturday and Jones’ attacking options have increased in the last week with the return to fitness of Danny N’Guessan and Harry Forrester. How good would it be to go into Saturday’s clash with the Dingles on the back of three points?

by Paul Williams

So Billy is a Blade again! Our old number 10 must be hoping it’s third-time lucky at the club he’s always supported but I’m sure he’ll be respectful to the Rovers fans at Bramall Lane this weekend given the support we’ve given him in the past.

Five goals in as many games suggests Sharp is enjoying himself again and the Rovers defence will have to make sure they restrict his sights of goals. But it hasn’t been all plain sailing for Sheffield United lately, especially at home where they’ve lost to Bury and Colchester already this month, and patience is not a virtue common with most United fans who have seen their team fail to win any of their last four.

They do concede a lot of goals though, of course, that may not matter much given Rovers’ lack of firepower at present.

Jones has said Andy Williams is "fine" and should be at the Lane, despite being forced off with a broken nose against Oldham. Nathan Tyson is edging closer to a first-team return and Danny N’Guessan is going to be an asset once he’s fully fit. On loan strike Keshi Anderson will be keen to impress and Richie Wellens was the best player on the pitch in the corresponding fixture last season so could make his first start under Rob Jones in the South Yorkshire derby.

We don’t have a bad record at Bramall Lane and could do with a lift. The longer we can keep Sharp and co at bay, the more home fans will get frustrated – they are, after all, supposed to win League 1 this season! What better place to properly get our campaign up and running.

by Paul Williams

Did we teach Oldham players bad habits while they were at the Keepmoat?

Joseph Mills got himself sent off when we last played the Latics and Jonathan Forte, who scored in the first-ever match at the KM, received his marching orders against Bradford a couple of weeks ago and misses a reunion with one of his former clubs this weekend.

Oldham are also looking for a new manager after Darren Kelly was sacked following last week’s 5-1 home defeat by yet another managerless club, Peterborough. Former Blackburn midfielder David Dunn has been named as interim player-manager and the club have already appointed an assistant, which seems a strange move if they are not to give Dunn the job on a full-time basis.

Rovers dropped into the bottom four after defeat at high-flying Walsall last Saturday but it’s about time Rob Jones’ boys were getting the rub of the green. They gave as good as they got at the Banks’s Stadium and deserved at least a share of the spoils. Oldham’s defence looks vulnerable so there is no reason why we can’t pick up a second league win of the campaign and start making up lost ground on those above.

by Paul Williams

Maybe a change of manager will bring about a change or fortune – or maybe it won’t.

Opinions are divided about whether Paul Dickov was given enough time this season to gel his new-look squad but performances certainly haven’t got any better since last season and, if possible, the goals have dried up even more. Most would agree that the current squad should really be doing better so now it’s up the Corporal, for the time being, to galvanise his troops and start moving the club in the right direction again.

Walsall have obvious Rovers connections in defender Jimmy O’Connor and assistant manager Richard O’Kelly and were going great guns prior to last Saturday’s home defeat by Bury, their first of the campaign. No doubt that was the curse of the Manager Of The Month award for Dean Smith but he can welcome back a couple of players from international duty against Rovers, who have included Richie Wellens in the matchday squad. Paul Keegan could make his first league start of the season and Danny N’Guessan is also likely to feature.

We’ve had mixed results at the Banks’s Stadium in recent years but a point would probably be a decent return this time considering all that has gone off in the last seven days.