Wednesday 19th August 2015 (7:45pm), Sky Bet League 1, Keepmoat Stadium.
Southend United are visitors to Keepmoat Stadium for the first time since losing in the League 1 play-off semi finals of 2008.The pair had drawn 0-0 at Roots Hall in the first leg before Doncaster, who had finished fourth to Southend’s fifth in the regular season, dispatched their opponents with ease.
James Coppinger was the star of the show with a resounding hat-trick for Sean O’Driscoll’s side and set up an all-Yorkshire tie with Leeds United at Wembley, which they would go on to win.
The Essex side have struggled to recover since then but did return to the third tier just last season with their own success in the play-off final win over Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley.
Former Hull City boss Phil Brown is at the helm, assisted by ex-Rovers coach Brian Horton.
Both sides are looking for their first wins of the league season; with Doncaster unbeaten after draws with Bury and Wigan while the Shrimpers drew on the opening day at Fleetwood before succumbing to Walsall at home on Saturday.
TEAM NEWS: Richard Chaplow could force his way in to contention for the game after training in the week. Paul Keegan and Dany N’Guessan are inching their way to fitness but Nathan Tyson (hamstring) and Rob Jones (knee) will both definitely miss out.
LAST TIME:
Fri 16th May 2008:
DRFC - 5 (Stock pen 11; Barrett OG 21; Coppinger 39, 52, 80)
SUFC - 1 (Bailey 88)
League 1
Keepmoat Stadium
Attendance – 13081
DRFC - N Sullivan, J O'Connor, M Mills, S Hird, G Roberts (L Guy, 68), P Green, B Stock, R Wellens (M McCammon, 73), J Coppinger, J Price (G Taylor, 76), J Hayter
SUFC - D Flahavan, S Francis, P Clarke, A Barrett, C Mulgrew, F Moussa, N Bailey, A McCormack, M Gower, L Barnard (A Revell, 62), J Walker (C MacDonald, 62)
HEAD TO HEAD: League results (in Doncaster): Rovers – 9 SUFC – 4 Draws – 2
WHAT ARE THE ODDS? DRFC 23/20; Draw 11/5; Bury 12/5.
ROVERS PLAYER: Listen to live coverage from 19:30 with Tom Biltcliffe and Danny Czepiec.
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