Bury v Doncaster Rovers Match Preview
by The Rovers Review
Darren Ferguson has called for a ‘tougher mentality’ as Rovers prepare to visit struggling Bury.
Striker Andy Williams has been absent for the majority of the season after suffering an injury in a Checkatrade Trophy game earlier in the season, but Ferguson has declared him fully fit and he may be “quite close” to being involved in the team this Saturday.
After having a child in the summer and losing his brother to cancer a few months ago, Matty Blair was given last week off work – meaning he missed the 3-0 home defeat to Walsall – but he will return this Saturday and come straight back into contention.
Rovers are currently going through tough patch of form where they’re struggling to get a grasp on the league because they’re consistently being inconsistent with their performances and results alike. Ferguson acknowledges Rovers’ current form, but says it’s part and parcel of football, “One minute you’re very excited and you’re very optimistic and you’re thinking, 'well I’ve got to keep their feet on the ground', and the next minute it can be, ‘well I’ve got to pick them up again because we’re feeling dejected and very pessimistic'. That’s just the emotion of football.” He said.
Going into this game Rovers do have the slightly better defence out of the two teams, with Bury conceding 23 goals in their last 15 games and Rovers conceding 20. The amount of goals both teams have leaked in this season reflects their league positions, which leaves them with only one place between the pair, with Bury sitting 22nd (in the relegation zone), while Rovers lay 20th – three points clear of the drop zone.
The last time Rovers travelled to Gigg Lane they lost 1-0 in April 2016, which contributed to the then 17 game win-less run Ferguson’s team went on. The last win against Bury came at the Keepmoat in 2012, where Rovers beat Bury 2-1 thanks to goals from Kyle Bennett and Chris Brown.
