by The Rovers Review

After grinding out a 1-0 victory at home on Monday, Rovers face a visit from fellow league two promotion candidates Portsmouth on Thursday night.

Liam Mandeville is expected to miss this encounter due to suffering a slight 'knock' prior to the Stevenage game.

Andy Williams and John Marquis are expected to be given a chance to rekindle their partnership upfront against Portsmouth. Conor Grant is expected to keep his place in midfield with his return to the club last week.

18 year-old Tony Donaldson in the last few days signed for Rovers on an 18 month contract and he is expected to make his debut on the bench.

Head-to-head
Rovers remain unbeaten at home this term, but will they crack under the pressure of Sky's cameras as Portsmouth have won six of their thirteen away games this season?

Portsmouth have the best defence in the league as they've only conceded 22 goals in 24 games and Rovers have conceded 31 in just as many games.

Players to watch
Midfielder Gary Roberts is the player to watch on the Portsmouth team with him being their top goal scorer with 7 goals, and threatened Rovers with an equaliser late on in the previous game, but never managed to score.
Roberts is closely followed by striker Michael Smith, who has scored 6 goals, with three coming in the league.

Previous encounters
Rovers last faced Portsmouth in October at Fratton Park, which saw Rovers be 2-1 victors with goals from John Marquis and Andy Williams. Carl Baker was the only consolation for Portsmouth that day.

Overall, Rovers have won 4 and drawn 3 out of 10 encounters against Portsmouth since 1947, so hopefully Rovers good record will continue in front of the TV cameras this Thursday as Rovers look to gain way at top of the league - doing the double over Portsmouth would definitely be a statement to the rest of  the league!

Predicted lineup v Portsmouth
Marosi; Baudry, Butler, Mason; Houghton, Blair, Rowe, Grant, Coppinger; Marquis and Williams.

by The Rovers Review

After drawing 1-1 with local rivals, Mansfield Town on the final day of 2016, Rovers look to bounce back by beginning 2017 with 3 points against visitors Stevenage.
 
James Coppinger is available for selection after serving his three match ban, which he picked up v Plymouth at beginning of December. Consequently Ferguson has to decide whether to drop Liam Mandeville, John Marquis or Andy Williams if he wants Coppinger to return to the starting eleven.

At the time of writing this preview we're still waiting to hear about two new signings that Ferguson told the press would be available for this game. One is expected to be non-league striker, Alfie May, who has been confirmed to be coming to Rovers by his club Hythe. The other is rumored to by ex-Rovers loanee, Conor Grant. Either way, these two signings could come into contention for the Stevenage game, should they be announced in time.

Mitchell Lund has recently returned to training and will be edging closer to returning to the match-day squad.

Head-to-head
Rovers go into this match with the joint best home record in league two - on par with second place, Carlisle United. Stevenage, however, are fifth on the away form table with them earning 20 points on the road so far this term.

Both teams are also in the top six for best offensive teams in the league with Stevenage scoring 35 goals from 23 games and Rovers scoring 45 also in 23.

Players to watch
Striker Matt Godden is their main threat, netting 7 goals in the league so far this team. Godden is also Stevenage's best player for assists with him getting 6 in total this season - so it's safe to say he is massive attacking threat for Boro.

Previous encounters
We last faced Stevenage last month (December 2016) in the action packed 4-3 win for Rovers at Broadhall Way. Goals from Butler, Mandeville, Blair and an own goal from their goalkeeper Jamie Jones helped Rovers secure the three points.

Predicted lineup v Stevenage Town
Marosi; Alcock, Butler, Baudry, Mason; Houghton, Blair, Rowe, Coppinger; Mandeville and Marquis.

by The Rovers Review

After securing three points on boxing day with a victory v Notts County, Rovers look to local rivals, Mansfield Town for a victorious end to 2016.

James Coppinger will serve his final ban, for the new year's eve trip, meaning Mandeville will continue in his role of CAM, with Marquis and Williams up front.

This would also be Frazer Richardson's last match, although he will miss it through injury. If Mitchell Lund returns from injury on time, then it looks like Richardson will not be remaining at the Rovers.

Tommy Rowe picked up a 'knock' against Notts County, and it is believed that it might not be too serious, but whether or not that means Rowe is available or not for Mansfield is yet to be decided.

Mathieu Baudry was also iIll during the 1-0 victory, and was substituted at half time for Joe Wright, who also impressed. If Baudry is still ill then Ferguson will have every confidence in Wright to step-up again.

Head-to-head
Rovers go into this game at top of league two, on 45 points, while Mansfield sit in 17th place with 26 points. Mansfield have one of the worst attacks in the league - other than Accrington - as they've only scored a dismal 21 goals in league two from 22 games, where as Rovers have triumphed, scoring the most in the league with 44 goals.

On the contrary, the Stags have a better defensive record than Rovers with them only conceding 28 goals so far, and Rovers conceding 30 goals out of 22 games.

We've met before
Mansfield have two former Rovers players in their side, which could feature against us on New Year's Eve:

James Baxendale: making two appearances from 2011-2012
Oscar Gobern: making 5 appearences while on loan from QPR during 2015.

Players to watch
Their striker, Matt Green, is their most threatening player, and is also their top scorer, scoring 7 goals so far this term.

Previous encounters
Last time we faced each other was during our 2-0 victory at the One Call Stadium back in August this year, during the group stages of the 'Checkatrade Trophy', with goals from Beestin and Calder. Back in 2004 - when we last faced them in the league - it also was victory for Rovers at Mansfield with two goals from Greg Blundell in the second half secured the three points after we went a goal down, during the first half.

Overall, Rovers have won 20 games out of 66 games, drawing 16, since 1932.

Predicted lineup v Mansfield Town
Marosi; Alcock, Butler, Baudry, Mason; Houghton, Blair, Middleton (pending the result  of Rowe's injury), Mandeville; Marquis and Williams.

by The Rovers Review

After a positive 1-0 victory against the closest thing to local rivals this year, Grimsby Town, Rovers travel to struggling Notts County for a Boxing Day match.

James Coppinger is half way through his 3-match ban, so will not be involved for this match. Craig Alcock, who missed the Grimsby game, due to a last minute knock on his back, is expected to return back to the side. Should Alcock return, Blair will likely be pushed back into midfield, and that could come at a cost for Harry Middleton, who featured for the first time in the league since October against Grimsby. Liam Mandeville could continue the role he played - filling in for Coppinger at CAM - with Williams and Marquis continuing to try and rekindle their partnership upfront.

Head-to-head
County have one of the worst home records in the league with them only winning one game at home this season. Rovers are quite inconsistent away from home however, because we've won 5 on the road, but also lost 5. Rovers are currently the best offensive team in the league, with a total of 43 goals scored already this season, and County have one of the worst defences in the league, racking up with 36 goals conceded against them.

Players to watch
Although they have one of the worst defences in the league, County actually have former championship goalkeeper Adam Collin in goal, who has previously played for Rovers' local rivals Rotherham United. Former Rovers striker Jonathan Forte is County's main striker since signing for John Sheridan's side in the summer, and he has gone on to score 5 goals in 17 appearences for the Magpies.

Previous encounters
Last time Rovers faced Notts County was in April 2015, where we were defeated 2-1 at Meadow Lane. A penalty from former Rovers striker Nathan Tyson was the only consolation during that defeat.

Overall we've won just as many as we've lost by beating the Magpies 23 times since 1930, out of 54 encounters.

Predicted line-up v Notts County:

Marosi; Alcock, Baudry, Butler, Mason; Houghton, Blair, Rowe, Mandeville; Marquis and Williams.

by The Rovers Review

Rovers will miss their captain as Grimsby Town visit the Keepmoat. James Coppinger will miss this Saturdays game against the Mariners after picking up a straight red card for putting his hands on Argyles keeper McCormick at the weekend, after McCormick taunted Rovers youngster, Liam Mandeville, for missing a penalty.

Harry Middleton, Alfie Beestin and Riccardo Calder are a few possible replacements for James Coppinger. After impressing against Blackpool in the Checkatrade Trophy, Harry Middleton is the player I'd expect to get the nod. That could, in turn, result in Darren Ferguson changing his system by playing Tommy Rowe in Coppinger's position, and putting Middleton on the wing, similar to where he played against Morecambe earlier on in the season.

For the first time this season Rovers have failed to score in a game. If Mandeville and Marquis will get the nod again this week the pressure will be on them both to bounce back. Andy Williams should also be edging closer to his first start since his return from injury.

As it stands, there are no new fresh injury concerns for Rovers - for once.

Head-to-head
Rovers are the second best team at home in the league, and we're joint with Carlisle on points at home (24), but Grimsby have scored one more, and conceded one less than us, at home. Grimsby are the ninth best team in league two for reasons; they've won 4 on the round out of 10, and have collected 15 points out of a possible 30.

Player to watch
Grimsby's 23 year-old striker Omar Bogle is the player to watch, as he's score a whooping 16 goals already this term, with all 16 coming in league games.

Previous encounters
Last time we faced Grimsby was in the former Johnstones Paint Trophy, where we drew 2-2 in November 2007. Grimsby won 5-4 on penalties; goals from Lewis Guy and Paul Heffernan helped Rovers get to the shoot out.

Predicted lineup v Grimsby Town
Marosi; Alcock, Baudry, Butler, Mason; Houghton, Blair, Middleton, Rowe; Mandeville and Marquis.