Sky Bet League One, Saturday 27th September 2014 (3pm), Bescot Stadium.
Doncaster Rovers head to Walsall on Saturday looking to build on their relatively positive away form.Paul Dickov’s men have landed two wins from three league games on the road and will renew acquaintances with many former Rovers’ currently residing in the Saddlers ranks.
James’s O’Connor, Chambers and Baxendale all ply their trade at the Banks’s (Bescot) Stadium; however sentiment will go out the window for the visitors who were buoyed by their recent win over local rivals Chesterfield.
Rovers won on their last visit to face the Midlands outfit on the opening day of the 2012/13 season.
Neat link up play from new strike force Chris Brown and Billy Paynter got Dean Saunders’ side off to the perfect start within five minutes of the season before wing pair David Cotterill and Kyle Bennett got involved.
Cotterill, then a new signing, scored a Beckham-esque goal from the halfway line to beat, and embarrass David Grof on 26 minutes.
Not to be outdone, Bennett bent a 25 yard curler home in front of the visiting army of supporters and send Rovers to the top of the league; a place where they would find themselves at the end of the campaign.
However, Rovers’ elevation to the Championship was not to be straightforward as the visit of Walsall would prove. Dean Smith’s men came to the Keepmoat Stadium in February 2013 and, in an attempt to derail the hosts promotion bid, swept Brian Flynn’s men aside with an impressive 2-1 win.
Billy Paynter netted once again for Rovers, but his 16th minute strike was sandwiched in between Doncaster-born Andy Butler’s early opener and Febian Brandy’s late winner.
Last time out (09/02/13):
DRFC 1 (Paynter, 16)
Walsall 2 (Butler, 2; Brandy 81)
League One
Keepmoat Stadium
Attendance – 7013
DRFC – G Woods, J McCombe, P Quinn, T Spurr, R Jones, J Coppinger, D Cotterill, P Keegan (L Fowler, 65), J Harper, B Paynter (K Bennett, 76), C Brown
WFC – I McLoughlin, A Butler, B Purkiss (J Chambers, 42), A Taylor, P Downing, J Baxendale (C Westcarr, 68), A Chambers, S Mantom, F Brandy (N Featherstone, 89), W Grigg, J Paterson
Head to head league results (in Walsall):
Rovers – 7
Walsall – 18
Draws – 3
Team News:
Rovers - Nathan Tyson (concussion) will join Curtis Main and Rob Jones (both knee) on the sidelines. Harry Forrester (foot) should shrug off a knock.
Fancy a flutter? Rovers 5/2, Draw 23/10, Walsall 11/10
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