Doncaster Rovers v Luton Town Match Preview
by The Rovers Review
After suffering a 2-1 defeat away to promotion rivals, Carlisle United, Rovers look to extend their home run by bouncing back and beating fellow promotion rivals, Luton Town.
Defenders, Andy Butler and Mathieu Baudry should be available for selection after missing Carlisle's defeat through sickness bug and injury respectively. Gary McSheffrey is nowhere near starting, but Ferguson has alluded to the fact that he is considering him to be an impact player as it stands. Liam Mandeville has begun training on the grass, but isn't any closer to featuring again.
Ferguson has said there is no "doom and gloom" with anyone associated with the club after failing to win in three matches, but he did say that his team needs to be more "ruthless", in both boxes.
Loanee midfielder, Jordan Houghton, has said that the current form is "dissapointing", but is confident of replicating the same run Rovers did after falling to defeat at Plymouth a few months ago. Houghton also said that he hasn't thought about his future for after the season, but would be open to a possible return to the Keepmoat.
Head-to-heads
Luton have the second best defence in the league - just behind Portsmouth - due to them only conceeding 29 goals within 31 games. However, the second best defence in the league will come up against the best offensive team, with Rovers scoring 60 within just as many games.
Rovers remain unbeaten at home this season, and with just 8 more home games to go will they be able to continue this form? Or will Luton, who have 24 points from 15 games (away from home), be able to do something no other team have done at the Keepmoat this year, and that is beat Rovers?
Players to watch
Striker, Danny Hylton, has 18 goals in total for the hatters this season, with 14 coming in league two.
Their star midfielder, Cameron McGeehan is out with a broken leg, and he managed to score 10 league goals, before his huge injury midseason.
Previous encounters
In the reverse fixture, Luton beat Rovers frustratingly 3-1, after Rovers took the lead early on courtesy of, James Coppinger.
In the previous home fixture in 2008, Rovers won 2-0 with goals from: Matthew Mills and Mark McCammon.
Overall, Rovers have quite a poor record over Luton winning 7, drawing 5 and losing 11 since 1947.
Predicted lineup v Luton Town
Lawlor; Blair, Baudry, Butler, Mason; Houghton, Grant, Rowe, Coppinger; Marquis and Williams.
