Saturday 3rd October 2015 (3pm), Sky Bet League One, Keepmoat Stadium.
Another home game for Doncaster Rovers brings with it not only another South Yorkshire derby – a week on from losing to Sheffield United – but arguably the chance for Rob Jones to stake his claim for the Doncaster Rovers first team manager’s position.Jones, who took over the reins from Paul Dickov, has overseen two losses and two draws – the latest of which came in an eventful clash against Swindon Town on Tuesday evening. The Robins took the lead through Nicky Ajose before a swift riposte courtesy of Keshi Anderson and Andy Williams.
Rovers’ first win since late August evaded them, however, when Jon Obika nodded home a last gasp leveller.
All of which was observed under the watchful eye of Barnsley manager Lee Johnson, who was present at Keepmoat Stadium.
Johnson’s troops sit on the periphery of the play-off zone having overcome high flying Gillingham at Oakwell last weekend thanks to Ben Pearson and Sam Winnall.
Rovers took four points off the Tykes last term. Having drawn 1-1 at Oakwell in December - with Theo Robinson’s second half goal cancelling out Lewin Nyatanga’s early opener - the pair reconvened six weeks later at Keepmoat Stadium where substitute Harry Forrester curled home the only goal of the game late on to take the three points – and bragging rights!
Doncaster have not lost at home to their close rivals in the last three outings since January 2011 in the Championship.
TEAM NEWS: Gary MacKenzie will serve the second of his three match suspension with Aaron Taylor-Sinclair likely to deputise in the heart of the defence instead of the injured Rob Jones. Harry Forrester, Cameron Stewart and Paul Keegan are all vying for starting spots.
LAST TIME:
Attendance – 9005
Keepmoat Stadium
League 1
BFC - 0
DRFC - 1 (Forrester, 84)
Sat 17th Jan 2015:
DRFC - Bywater, Stevens, Wabara, Butler, McCullough, Wellens, Keegan, Coppinger (c), Bennett (Forrester- 68’), Main (Tyson- 65’), Robinson (Middleton- 89’)
Barnsley - Turnbull, Berry, Nyatanga, Hourihane (c), Jennings (Phenix- 64’), M'voto, Smith, Holgate (S/O), Lalkovic, Waring (Lita- 72’), Kiwomya.
HEAD TO HEAD: League results (in Doncaster): Rovers – 15, BFC – 9, Draws – 10.
WHAT ARE THE ODDS? DRFC 6/4; Draw 23/10; BFC 7/4.
ROVERS PLAYER: Listen to live coverage from 14:45 with Tom Biltcliffe and Danny Czepiec.
ROVERS WALL: Follow all the action as it happens from 13:30.