by Rich Colby

After another away win in the league on Saturday, Rovers are on the road again this evening when they visit Watford at Vicarage Road in the Capital One Cup.

Rovers have failed to concede a goal away from home so far this season and will be hoping to keep that run going tonight.  But they'll have their work cut out to stop the Watford hitmen, who have netted 10 goals from their first 5 games of the season.  

Both teams will go into the game full of confidence after victories at the weekend; Rovers winning 1-0 at Colchester and Watford cruising to a 4-1 win against Leeds. My man to watch for them will be striker Troy Deeney, a player who you can never afford to take your eye off in and around the box.

Rovers will still have absentees in Curtis Main, Rob Jones and Harry Forrester who serves the final game of his suspension. I expect Paul Dickov to change it up a bit tonight and save one or two for the Oldham game on Saturday. A cup run is always good, but it wont be a priority for Paul Dickov's men.

Rovers can go out any enjoy the game tonight without any pressure, but Dickov will still demand a performance.

Come on you reds!

Overall Record vs Watford:

P 21 / W 6 / D 6 / L 9

After a hard fought draw on Tuesday evening, Rovers are back on the road with a trip to Colchester United's Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Rovers last visit to Colchester's newly built ground in September 2012 ended in a 2-1 victory and Paul Dickov's men will be looking for victory again after a mixed start to the season.  Excellent against Yeovil, poor against Port Vale, hard working and determined against Preston has yielded 4 points from our first 3 games.

Colchester will be looking to get back to home comforts after a bad start to their season.  Their solitary point came in the first game of the season at home to Oldham Athletic and has since been followed by 3 successive defeats, firstly in the Carling Cup, then league defeats on the road by Bristol City and Notts County.  Colchester will be no pushovers though and my man to watch for them will be striker Freddie Sears.  The former West Ham United mad has already netted once this season, and will be looking for more this weekend.

If Rovers are to be victorious in Essex this weekend it will have to come without key man Harry Forrester.  A failed appeal to the FA means Forrester will serve the second game of his 3 match suspension.  Also missing will be striker Curtis Main (Knee) and inspirational leader Rob Jones is likely to be out too.  Jones was forced off early on Tuesday night on medical advice after a re-occurrence of a neck injury.  

Reece Wabara is likely to deputise at centre-back and expect Liam Wakefield to come in at right-back for Rovers.  Rovers have said goodbye to Paul Quinn this week after 2 years at the club.  There is certainly competition for places going forward for Rovers.  Nathan Tyson will be pushing for a start following his goal after coming on as sub on Tuesday evening.

So heres hoping Rovers can take full advantage of Colchesters bad start with another 3 points in Essex.

Come on you reds!

Prediction: Colchester 1-2 Rovers

Following yesterday's announcement from DRFC that David Blunt and Dick Watson have agreed to become Chairman and
President of the club the VSC would like to welcome them respectively to these positions, state that we are looking
forward to working alongside them and wish them all the best in these roles moving into the future.

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After a defeat you want your next game as soon as possible, and Rovers will be looking to bounce back straight away when Preston North End visit for the Keepmoats first evening game of the season.

Most would describe Saturdays defeat against Port Vale as a bit of a shock.  By the time Rovers had eventually woken up they found themselves 3-0 down.  Kyle Bennetts exquisite execution to make it 1-3 in the latter stages of the game was the only good point in what was a bad day.

Preston North End come into the came following an unbeaten start to the season.  North End provided a complete performance in front of their travelling fans as the won 4-0 at Scunthorpe over the weekend.  The Rovers defence will need to up their game to stop the man to watch Joe Garner, currently the leagues joint top scorer after netting 2 at the weekend and a last minute equalizer on the opening day.

Rovers have injury doubts over Curtis Main who is due to have a scan on a knee injury, and Reece Wabara (hamstring).  Expect both to miss out, but Harry Forrester who was unfortunate to receive a red card in the closing stages of the Port Vale game could feature after Rovers have decided to launch an appeal to the FA.  Liam Wakefield and Theo Robinson should be the ones to come in as replacements for injuries.

Paul Dickov will be looking for a huge improvement against the in form North End.  Preston have a good record too when visiting South Yorkshire, Rovers haven't beaton Preston at home since 1994.  Heres hoping they can break that 20 year duck with a victory.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Preston North End

P 33
W 11
D 7
L 15

by Rich Colby

Rovers return to the Keepmoat Stadium after a 4 month absence to face Port Vale. 2 wins from 2 games, 4 goals scored, 0 conceded has given the reds the perfect start to the season.

Hopefully the sublime finishing of Rovers forwards will continue especially with Curtis Main who appears to have hit the ground running. This alongside Harry Forrester and Theo Robinson finally being back to full fitness seems to have helped woes towards the end of last season to finally disappear.

Port Vale arrive at the Keepmoat Stadium for the first time in 6 years off the back of a win and a draw. The man to watch for them is striker Tom Pope, renowned for popping up when least expected.

There is competition for places amongst the Rovers back line with 'Boom Boom' Mccombe returning to the first team for the mid week Carling Cup victory over York City. Mccombe admitted he thought Paul Dickov was stark raving mad to put him straight back into first team action, but it came off with a solid display.

Expect a similar side to the one that beat Yeovil last week after a few were rested during the week. Rovers have won the last 4 against Vale, heres hoping that's 5 come 5pm.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Port Vale;

P 41
W19
D5
L17