by Rich Colby

Paul Dickov’s men travel to bottom of the table Crewe Alexandra on Saturday, with the aim of winning back to back league games for the first time since March.  Confidence should be back amongst the Rovers side after solid victories recently over Weston Super Mare and Rochdale, and also three wins in the last four games.

Last Saturdays late winning goals by Theo Robinson and Curtis main pushed Rovers up to 16th in the table and they will be looking to move up to mid table with victory at Gresty Road.

The hosts from Cheshire are battling hard with a very young side on a limited budget.  Crewe are currently three points from safety and will be striving for victory just as much as Rovers.  The Railwaymen are without a victory in their last six games but Rovers will still have to keep a close eye on loanee striker Nicky Ajose.  The Leeds striker knows where the goal is after scoring 17 goals last season for Swindon and Peterborough in League One.

Rovers only injury worry is left back Cedric Evina who remains sidelined.  Midfielder Jamie Coppinger should be ok to play despite being taken off last week at Rochdale.  Rob Jones could also feature in the squad.

Heres hoping for another successful away day and 3 points to move Rovers further up the table.

Come on you reds!

Overall record v Crewe:  P 94 / W 39 / D 24 / L 31

by Rich Colby

Rovers travel to Lancashire this weekend to face Rochdale at Spotland for the first time in over a decade.  

Paul Dickov’s men will want to build on the positive performance at Weston Super Mare on Tuesday night, but it will be no easy task.  Keith Hill’s Rochdale currently lie in 8th position in League One and will be looking for maximum points which could see them sneak into the play-off positions.  The man to watch for them is winger and joint top scorer with 8 goals Matty Done.

Rovers centre backs Andy Butler and Luke McCullough returned to the side during the week and should keep their place for the visit to Spotland.  Rob Jones is training again but isn’t expected to be risked this weekend.  Jamie McCombe and Cedric Evina are definite absentees at the back, but Nathan Tyson should return after being rested mid week.  Dean Furman is also back from international duty and available for selection.

Rovers last visited Spotland back in March 2004 during the division 3 title winning season.  A late late Mark Albrighton goal gave the visitors a valuable point on the road to the league championship in a game where there were probably more away fans than home fans.

Paul Dickov will be desperate for maximum points this weekend to try an push Rovers into a much safer mid-table position.  They remain unbeaten when Andy Butler is in the side, so heres hoping for a solid performance and three points on Saturday.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Rochdale:   P 103/W 52/D 17/L 34

by Rich Colby

Rovers are back at the Keepmoat this weekend for a South Yorkshire derby against Sheffield United.  After being without a game since the win at Bradford two weeks ago, the last minute cancellation at Weston Super Mare last week was a bit of a blow to Paul Dickov’s men.  After a couple of much better performances against MK Dons and Bradford, Rovers will have wanted to keep the momentum going but sadly it wasn’t to be.

Rovers are looking for just their second win at the Keepmoat Stadium this season.  A shambolic stat in comparison to the record on the road.

The Blades go into the game knowing that victory could push them into a play-off spot in the table.  Their away form is mixed having won four games on the road this season and recording maximum points in the last two at Bradford and Crewe.  The man to watch for them will be former Everton midfielder Jose Baxter, a man Paul Dickov should know all about after he managed him at Oldham.

Rovers will be without Andy Butler who unfortunately isn’t allowed to play against his parent club.  Cedric Evina will also miss out.  Luke McCullough could miraculously play despite being in the Northern Ireland squad to face Romania tonight.  Should he make it he will replace Butler at Centre back and Evina will be replaced by Enda Stevens.

Doncaster are undefeated against The Blades in the last seven games. The two sides couldn’t be separated in the last three games though equaling three draws.  Heres hoping Paul Dickov’s men can extend that unbeaten run to eight come Saturday evening.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Sheffield United:   P 31/W 7/D 12/L 12

by Rich Colby

“WE’VE GOT DONCASTERRRR” cried an elderly gentleman as he watched the F.A. Cup first round draw in the club house of his local football team in Somerset.  A roar went up from the other supporters who surrounded him.  Weston-Super-Mare Football Club had the BIG draw that they had worked so hard and already played three games to get to.  The magic of the FA Cup has returned.

Weston-Super-Mare currently lie in 20th position in the Vanarama Conference South, three leagues below the full-time professionals of Doncaster Rovers.  This mere fact won’t damage their confidence going into what is probably the biggest game in their history.  The Seagulls are at their home The Woodspring Stadium and will be backed by a near full house of 3000+ locals.

The FA Cup is always capable of providing a shock, and Rovers will need to get through Weston captain Tom Jordan if they want to make it a smooth passage to round two.  The experienced defender and son of former Manchester United hitman Joe Jordan was also in the Havant and Waterlooville side that played at Anfield seven years ago.

Rovers manager Paul Dickov has a couple of injury worries.  Striker Nathan Tyson is likely to miss out with a knee injury and is likely to be replaced by Theo Robinson.  Robinson will want to try and impress if selected after a spell on the bench of late.  Rovers will also be without left-back Cedric Evina for the next 4 weeks at least after the injury he picked up in the game against Bradford last week.  Captain Rob Jones will also miss out but Jamie Coppinger should return.

Paul Dickov will be boosted by the loan signing of Enda Stevens for a month from Aston Villa.  He will replace Evina at left-back.  Andy Butler and Sam Johnstone have also been given clearance from their parent clubs to play in the cup, providing further strength to the Rovers back line.

Donny will want to build on the progression they have made in the league over the last couple of weeks.  The positive results and performances against MK Dons and Bradford City will need to be matched at the Woodspring Stadium if they want to qualify for the second round.  Anything less could result in a long journey home from Somerset.

In the FA Cup every dog has its day, hopefully that dog will be Doncaster Rovers come Saturday evening.

Come on you reds!

by Rich Colby

Rovers face the short trip to West Yorkshire on Saturday afternoon to face mid-table Bradford City at Valley Parade (now formally known as the Coral Windows Stadium).

Paul Dickov will be desperate for a turn in fortune as many of the Rovers faithful still have him under incredible pressure.  Two astute loan signings in the last ten days suggest that he has the boards full backing, so its up to the fans to try and accept that and give the team their full support.

Centre back Andy Butler proved a vital acquisition at the back last week against MK Dons in what was a much better performance from the squad as a whole.  And that stability in the back line will look to be continued again at Valley Parade as we welcome back goalkeeper Sam Johnstone on loan.  The Manchester United shot stopper showed to many Rovers fans last season his clear ability between the sticks.  He will look to put in the same kind of performances in his second loan spell.

In other team news, Rovers could potentially have captain Jamie Coppinger back after he missed last weeks game.  Rob Jones remains sidelined, and goalkeeper Jed Steer has returned to Aston Villa after his successful loan spell at the Keepmoat.

The Bantams currently occupy 12th spot in League One.  Manager Phil Parkinson will be another man watching from the sidelines in hope of a turn in fortune.  Bradford have only won twice in their last ten league games.  The recent acquisition of John Stead will be a boost for them.  Stead has always seemed to like scoring a goal against Rovers, and he will be the one to watch.

This is a vital game for both sides who will be trying to turn recent poor form around.  Lets hope it’s the reds of Doncaster who will be having a happy Saturday evening.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Bradford:   P 75/W 23/D 23/L 29