by Paul Williams

Maybe the FA Cup is not the draw it once was and a home game in the third round against Bristol City is hardly a glamour tie. But it is a home tie and they have been as rare as snow at Christmas over the last few years.

It is also an opportunity for lower-league clubs to swell the coffers and return of JET (Jay-Emmanuel Thomas) to the Keepmoat is an interesting aspect of the visit of the current League One leaders. The Robins beat Rovers 3-0 at Ashton Gate at the start of the season but PD’s men rather self-destructed that day. Recent results suggest the gaffer may have finally found his best formation but there will have to be some tinkering over the next month as Dean Furman probably plays his final game before jetting off to captain South Africa in the Africa Cup Of Nations while the future of several loan players has yet to be officially decided. Will Richie Wellens also be risked returning from injury?

City manager Steve Cotterill is a bit of a love-hate figure with Rovers fans from previous visits with former clubs – basically, everyone loves to hate him. He has selection problems of his own but City have been taking the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy seriously this season and there’s no reason to suspect that he won’t field his strongest team for a tie that they will also view as winnable, given Rovers’ home record.

Overall record v Bristol City:  P 42/W 11/D 12/L 19