It’s a welcome return to home soil this weekend as Brighton and Hove Albion make the long trek up from the South Coast as Rovers look for three points and a morale boosting victory.
The Seagulls come to the Keepmoat following a controversial draw at the Amex at the start of the week.
The last time Brighton visited Doncaster in November was in 2006 where Rovers occupied 18th spot in League One and were looking like favourites to pick up three points as they were four games unbeaten in all competitions as the game kicked off.
Rovers were at their opponents from the off and it took little more than ten minutes for them to get their first shot on target, Adam Lockwood smashing a close range effort goalwards but it was well save by Wayne Henderson who reacted remarkably well considering the close proximity to the shot.
Rovers continued to dominate proceedings and the visitors were to be struck with the curse of the former player. Jonathan Forte swung in a pinpoint cross and former Brighton striker Mark McCammon did the rest confidently heading home from inside the box.
The visitors finally made their presence known when Tommy Fraser fired a shot in from distance but debutant, Neil Sullivan, did well to deny them the equalising goal before the break.
Into the second half Brighton were to pressure Rovers, but Lockwood in particular in the home defence was a real rock. In fact the whole Rovers team defended well as a unit to stifle the visitors for much of the remainder of the game, limiting them to hardly any real chances of note and not even allowing the visitors to get shots away from distance for large periods of the half.
The Rover’s resistance was finally tested as the game went into the final ten minutes or so, there were a couple of late scares when Alex Revell somehow managed to screw his effort wide of the mark while in a good position and Dean Cox curled a good effort wide of the upright but Sullivan arguably had it covered.
Rovers took the spoils and moved level on points with Brighton and taking them to five games unbeaten, a run which would eventually be broken after 12 games in the last game of the calendar year.
Stats
The last time the sides met in Doncaster in November, Rovers took the win.
Although games between the sides haven’t been high scoring over the years, there have only been three 0-0 draws in 23 previous games.
Rovers haven’t been beaten by the Seagulls at home since 1997.
We have lost just one of the last five meetings with Brighton at home.
Rovers average 1.27 goals per game at home against this weekend’s visitors who have an average of under a goal per game whilst in South Yorkshire.
The highest record win over Brighton came in 96/97 when goals from Colin Cramb, Michael Smith and Martin McDonald won the game.
Of the eleven games played in South Yorkshire, Rovers have taken the win five times with Brighton winning just two and four games finishing in a draw.
Sky Bet Odds
Sky bet have Rovers at 12/5 to win on Saturday with the draw at 12/5 and a Brighton win 11/10.
Open an account with Sky Bet www.skybet.com/doncaster
Coverage
Rovers Player will be broadcasting live audio commentary of the game.
Join Chris Donald & Danny Czepiec on air at 2.45pm.
Contact the commentary team during the game on Twitter. Tweet @drfc_official using the hashtag #drfclive.
Rovers Player are offering a 2-4-1 offer, get two months subscription for the price of one (£4.49).