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 by The Rovers Review After two defeats in a row, Rovers look to get back on track as they host their first home league game of the 2016/17 campaign against Crawley. This is the best opportunity for Ferguson, and the players to set the standard for this season, because Crawley are a standard league two side, who are going to be similar to most of the oppositions that we'll be facing this season. I look forward to seeing what line-up Ferguson goes for, because obviously he has Wright and Middleton now back to match fitness, and may have Paul Keegan on the bench. Joe Wright has now made two appearances for the club, and has impressed on both occasions, and he even won man of the match on Tuesday vs Nottingham Forest, so I expect that he'll be one of the first names on the team sheet. It will be interesting to see what formation he goes with too, because he has received a bit of stick for his usual 3-5-2 system, but I understand he has used that, because of injuries, but now like I say, with players coming back I think it should be about time he reverts to his 4-4-2 diamond formation - but I personally think he will stick with the 3-5-2. Liam Mandeville is another player who will be giving Ferguson a headache, because he came on as a substitute during the cup game vs Nottingham Forest, and scored the equaliser to bring Rovers back into the game, but who would Fergie take out of the squad attacking wise? The debate will also continue into this match; whether Ferguson should chose Etheridge or Marosi to go in goal. Marosi impressed on Tuesday night, and with Etheridge having a poor performance on Saturday I really wouldn't want to be in Ferguson's position, because I'm torn between who I'd like to see in goal. Personally, I think Etheridge deserves another chance, because people do have off days, but at the same time I think Marosi deserves a chance after how patient he has been over recent years! Not only do we need three points from this game, but we need to make sure that we stop conceding both early and late in the game, and that we tighten up a lot more, and stop getting un-done on the counter. Last time Doncaster faced Crawley, was in February 2015, in league one, where Paul Dickov over saw a thrilling 5-0 victory for Rovers; which has been our biggest victory since. I sincerely hope that we have a similar result this Saturday, or the pressure is going to be growing even greater on Darren Ferguson! Predicted lineup vs Crawley Etheridge; Mason, Butler, Wright; Blair, Houghton, Rowe, Middleton, Calder; Marquis and Williams. 
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 by The Rovers Review It was disappointing to come away at the weekend without a point, or three, but we now look to the league cup, where Doncaster Rovers host championship side, Nottingham Forest. The board have said that they're not focusing on cup competitions this season, to prioritise promotion out of league two, so don't expect much from this match; well then again we might actually win if we play with no pressure. Doncaster last beat Nottingham Forest in 2012, 1-2, when we visited the City Ground with Kyle Bennett and Frederic Piquionne scoring the two goals. And when we last played them in league cup, in 2004, they beat us 2-0, so lets hope we get our revenge 12 years on! We've only managed to beat them 6 times in 17 games over the last 12 years, and that was when we were competing in the same division as them, but now we're two divisions below them, and getting beat by Accrington Stanley on a Saturday afternoon. With us not taking this game as serious as a league game, I expect us/hope we field some youth players, such as: Pugh, Longbottom, Mandeville and Beestin, which I think would do them some good to get some competitive first team experience. Also, from last Saturday's match I expect Lund, Coppinger and Calder will be playing, because they for me were not good enough on Saturday, so this way I think they'll have to go out there and prove to Darren Ferguson why exactly they should be in the squad for the Crawley math. One thing that excites me is that Ferguson has said he is going to give Joe Wright some game time in this match, and I think him and Baudry are going to be two key players in our defence this season, so this gives me some optimism for the future. All we need now is Baudry to get fit. In addition I would play Marko Marosi in goal. Now, I didn't slate Etheridge on Saturday, because it was a mistake, yes, but Stuckmann made mistakes too and I supported him, but I think it's about time we give Marosi a chance, and I think Tuesday would be the best possible time for him to have this chance. You never know, the healthy competition may be what they both need. Line-up I think Ferguson may go for on Tuesday v Nottingham Forrest: Etheridge; Lund, Butler, Wright, Garrett; Houghton, Coppinger, Calder, Middleton; Beestin and Marquis.
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 by Paul Williams For the first time since they were promoted back to the Football League (sorry, the EFL), Accrington Stanley aren’t favourites for relegation. That’s because they would have been starting off in League One today had they not messed up on the final day of last season. On that basis, you’d think a visit to the tiny Crown Ground would be a tough start for Rovers especially as no-one, probably including Darren Ferguson, knows who will be fit and into what formation they will be inserted after a pre-season which has been costly in terms of injury, especially for poor Luke McCullough. Stanley’s successful side of last year has been dismantled, however, and they’ve also had their problems pre-season. Goalkeeper Ross Etheridge is now Rovers’ number one and highly-rated defender Adam Buxton left for Portsmouth during the week to further disrupt the plans of long-serving manager John Coleman. Maybe the home side, like Rovers, would probably settle for avoiding defeat on the opening day to give them something to build on. Etheridge, Tyler Garratt, Matty Blair, Joe Wright and John Marquis could all make their competitive debuts for Rovers on the wrong side of the Pennines. They will be backed by a 1,000-plus following but fans may have to give the new boys a few weeks to gel. However, the opening game should give us a good idea of what to expect this season from League Two.
Key Dates First League Game: Sat 6th August - Accrington Stanley (A)
2015/16 League 2 Fixture List
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 by Adam Stubbings The game is up barring a miracle but Rovers still have one more chance to earn three points before a summer of change ahead of our inevitable drop into League Two. The Sky cameras will be on hand to witness our final game of the season as promotion hopefuls Burton visit the Keepmoat. The Brewers have been in the top two for most of the season and can seal a second successive promotion by avoiding defeat. These two sides drew 3-3 in one of the most exciting games of the season back in December, with Rovers unfortunate not to come away with more from a pulsating contest at the Pirelli Stadium. Former Rover Mark Duffy broke the resistance with a late equaliser after we had put in a sterling performance to almost earn a deserved victory against the league's best team at the time. Things would only go alarmingly downhill from there of course and soon after the winless run that has ultimately cost us our place in League One began. The defensive calamities that have plagued us throughout the year were on show even back then, but we clearly had more fortitude to compete in games at the time as well. The defeat to bottom club Crewe last Saturday confounded all of our problems and all but sealed our fate, meaning this game will serve as nothing more than a futile exercise in an uncomfortable atmosphere for Rovers, especially because the visitors are all set for the biggest party in their history. It would not be unlike our club to pull off a surprise win in this game to make our relegation all the more agonising, as we may end up down only by virtue of goal difference for the second time in three seasons, but a win could also scupper Burton's hopes if a three-goal swing comes about from a Walsall win at Port Vale, and the Saddlers leapfrog them instead. We know a thing or two about last day drama but none of it will engulf us this Sunday. Instead Darren Ferguson will look to put out a team of players set to stay and fight for an immediate return to the third tier next season. The manager revealed this week that he has already swung the proverbial axe and informed the players of his intentions for each of them. Starting at the final whistle this weekend, change is afoot at Doncaster Rovers. We must now wait to see what kind of squad the gaffer can assemble to right this desperate wrong of relegation.
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