After an enforced two week break – due to international call ups – Rovers return to action by once again hitting the road for the long journey to Colchester.
The postponement of the game against Oldham Athletic at home has given Dean Saunders’ team much needed rest ahead of a gruelling fixture period of seven games in the next 21 days.
It will be Rovers’ first ever visit to the Weston Homes Community Stadium – the U’s four year old 10,000 seat capacity ground – which replaced the characteristic Layer Road.
John Ward’s outfit have had a poor start to the current season and find themselves near to the foot of the League 1 table and without a win after five games.
Rovers last visit to this particular corner of Essex yielded an entertaining yet ultimately unproductive afternoon for Dave Penney’s men as they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat in bizarre circumstances at the hands of the hosts who went on to gain automatic promotion alongside rivals Southend United.
Prolific centre forward Chris Iwelumo got the game off to a flying start by scoring in the first minute, before on-loan striker Jonathan Forte hit back almost immediately.
Phil Parkinson’s side then got a helping hand from the south Yorkshiremen not once, but twice, as defensive duo Sean McDaid and Steve Foster put through their own nets in quick succession. Michael McIndoe’s second half penalty was not enough for Rovers, who went on to finish the season in eighth place, two points adrift of the play-off places, but with their names firmly on the lips of many nationwide who had witnessed their terrific exploits in reaching the quarter finals of that season’s League Cup.
Dean Saunders has no fresh injury worries ahead of this fixture, but may look to rotate his side having lost back to back games by the odd goal against Crawley Town and Yeovil Town.
Head to head in Colchester: United 13 wins, Rovers 4 wins, 3 draws.
Last meeting (21/03/06, Coca Cola League 1, Belle Vue):
Rovers 0
United 0
Attendance – 4262
Travel information:
A1(M) – No scheduled roadworks will affect the journey.
A14- On the A14 eastbound between junctions J23 Huntingdon and J24 Godmanchester, minor delays can be expected at peak times due to roadworks closing one lane, between 9 pm and 6 am, from 3 September 2012.
M11- 10 minute delay expected due to ongoing roadworks.
Weather information:
Mainly dry with bright spells and broken cloud on Saturday. Temperatures will range from highs of 19° to lows of 15°.
Coverage of Colchester United v Doncaster Rovers in npower League 1 on Saturday 15th September 2012 from Weston Homes Community Stadium, will be live and exclusive on Rovers Player with Paul Goodwin and Tom Biltcliffe from 2:45pm. Don’t miss a kick!