We look ahead to Tuesday's home clash when Doncaster Rovers take on Charlton Athletic at the Keepmoat Stadium.
We welcome you back to the Keepmoat on Tuesday night for the visit of Charlton Athletic who make the long trip up from The Valley. Rovers go into the game full of confidence after the well earned draw at Blackpool on Saturday and Billy Sharp will be looking to mark his return to Doncaster with a second goal in as many games since his loan move from Southampton.
Previous Encounter
Rovers will be looking to avenge the Addicks’ last visit to South Yorkshire in league action back in 2008 and hoist themselves away from the bottom three before looking forward to a second successive home game in a week as Middlebrough come to town this coming Saturday.
Rovers went into the game in September 2008 aiming for back to back home wins after defeating Coventry City last time out in front of the home supporters, thanks to Richie Wellens’ solitary strike. The visitors hadn’t taken an away point since the previous season so the recepe for a Rovers victory looked to be the favourite outcome.
Rovers came out of the traps absolutely flying and when Lewis Guy forced Martin Cranie into a goal saving block as his shot looked to be arrowing into the goal. The passing and movement of the home side was too much for the visitors even so early in the game but in terms of the scoreline however the game couldn’t have started better for the visitors.
Andy Gray nodded them in front after just three minutes as he connected with Jonathan Fortune’s free kick. From then on though it was a resumption of normal service in a game all about Rovers who completely dominated proceedings.
Richie Wellens would have netted the goal of the season to date with a tremendous volley from fully 20 yards but ex Manchester City goalkeeper, Nicky Weaver, made a wonderful diving save to keep the visitors ahead. Rovers were full of invention and Charlton could do little about the waves of attacks from the home side but it appeared cruel luck was to be the winning attribute for the visitors.
James Hayter nodded at goal from a corner with ten minutes of the first half remaining and it looked like Weaver would have no chance of stopping the ball, but it bounced off Lewis Guy who somehow got in the way! Charlton were limited to the odd chance on the counter attack but didn’t force Neil Sullivan into any save of note, and that certainly told the story of the first half aside from the goal.
In the second half the tidal wave of attacks from Rovers continues, Gareth Taylor was guilty of pulling an effort wide after Wellens had played him in with only Weaver to beat. Hayter, Wellens and James Coppinger couldn’t breach the Addick’s backline and even with the introduction of Paul Heffernan, Darren Byfield and Stuart Elliott late into the game Rovers just couldn’t make the breakthrough.
Charlton almost nicked a second goal at the death which would have been very harsh on Rovers, but the sound of the final whistle with the scoreline favouring the away side was cruel enough after Rovers had completely dominated.
Charlton Stats
Both sides average a goal per game in Doncaster, so it promises to be a very even game. Of the seven games played between the sides over the course of history, five of them have resulted in one team winning without conceding a goal.
In fact expect a winner on Tuesday night as none of the previous encounters between Rovers and the Addicks have finished with the points being shared.
Sky Bet
Football League Sponsors Sky Bet have Doncaster Rovers at 9/5 to record a second successive home win.
Doncaster Rovers 9/5
Draw 9/4
Charlton Athletic 6/4
To open an account with Sky Bet CLICK HERE
* Odds subject to change, correct as of 27/01/14
Coverage
Rovers Player will be broadcasting Live audio commentary of the game. Don't miss a kick with out match day commentary team Danny Czepiec & Chris Donald.
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