We build up to Tuesday's clash with Burnley at Turf Moor.
Rovers are back on the road on Tuesday as we make the trip to Turf Moor, Burnley, to face Sean Dyche’s side who are in the hunt for a place in the Premier League.
The Clarets are in fine form at the moment but they will no doubt be wary of Rovers who will have no doubt turned heads with the convincing win over Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend and of course extended the recent unbeaten run to four games.
Previous Encounter
Back in November 2010, Rovers made the journey into Lancashire to face Burnley who were under a little pressure following three games without a win, the Clarets were back in the Championship after their brief sojourn with the top flight and many expected Rovers to fall on their sword but they couldn’t have been more wrong.
The home side started brightly with Wade Elliot having two bites at the cherry to open the scoring within the first 10 minutes. Jay Rodriguez slid the ball into Elliot who hit a first time effort goal-wards, which Neil Sullivan saved but it rebounded back to the Burnley midfielder who must have thought he had the easiest of chances to score but Shelton Martis had other ideas as he made a wonderful saving challenge.
Clarets fans were incensed minutes later when the ball struck Wayne Thomas on the hand from Danny Fox’s cross but the referee, David Foster, didn’t think it was deliberate handball and play continued.
Before the home side could regroup from the disappointment it got worse as Rovers hit them with a real sucker punch of a goal. Breaking quickly from their own half, James Coppinger crossed from the right, Jack Cork made a hash of his clearance, it hit the post and left James Hayter with the easiest of chances to simply sweep home.
The visitors had unsettled the home side and David Healy almost doubled their lead but Lee Grant saved well from the Irishman. Just before the break though the hosts had the perfect chance to get back into the game, Dean Shiels was adjudged to have handled Chris Eagles’ cross and this time it was a penalty. But Sullivan was in no mood to concede as he saved superbly from Eagles to keep things level at half time.
Burnley came out for the second period looking for a quick response, but again Sullivan was up to the task as he once again denied Eagles who had tried his luck from range.
Chris Iwelumo just missed getting on the end of a Fox cross as the hour mark passed, but with their next attack the home side did get back on level terms.
Eagles swung over the corner and Clarke Carlisle nodded goal-wards, it rebounded off the post but into the path of Jack Cork and he stabbed home from close range.
Rovers responded well as John Oster forced Grant into a wonderful diving save, tipping the midfielder’s shot from fully 25 yards round the post.
Both sides looked to press for the winner but neither side could get their noses in front, a credible point for Rovers who stayed in touch with the host on 23 points, sitting two places below them, albeit on goal difference, in 11th place in the Championship table.
Burnley (A) Stats
Burnley hasn’t been the happiest of hunting grounds for Rovers over the years but they have only lost once in their last three visits to Turf Moor. However, of the 16 games played on the home ground of the Clarets, Rovers have picked up positive results in half of those fixtures. Gaining three victories and five draws.
This will be the 33rd meeting between the two sides, if Rovers are to pick up three points it will be their 13th victory over Burnley in all competitions.
Rovers have averaged a goal per game against the Clarets over the course of history and hopefully that trend will be at least matched this week.
Rovers have played Burnley three times in March over the course of history and have never lost as they have won twice and drawn once.
Sky Bet
Football League Sponsors Sky Bet have Doncaster Rovers at 6/1 to record a victory at Turf Moor.
Burnley 1/2
Draw 3/1
Doncaster Rovers 6/1
To open an account with Sky Bet CLICK HERE
* Odds subject to change, correct as of 24/03/14
Coverage
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