Tuesday 10th January 2015 (7:45pm), Sky Bet League One, Checkatrade.com Stadium.
Doncaster will be aiming for the stars at the Checkatrade.com Stadium on Tuesday night when they face an out of form Crawley Town side in the flight path of Gatwick Airport.Rovers away form has been a runaway success and they are eight without defeat on the road, but must overcome a daunting 430 mile round trip and a Red Devils side with just one win in their last fifteen outings.
In the opposite dugout to Paul Dickov will be former Rovers manager Dean Saunders, who will be looking to avoid the ignominy of a third relegation on his managerial CV.
Former Welsh international Saunders presided over a tumultuous campaign at the Keepmoat Stadium, but took Rovers to the brink of promotion before departing for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He left South Yorkshire with a 35% win rate and was installed at Crawley after John Gregory’s exit.
Doncaster have only travelled to this corner of Sussex on one prior occasion. A 1-0 reverse at home – where Nicky Ajose scored a late winner for the visitors – was quashed by a spirited draw on a Monday night in February 2013.
Josh Simpson put the Sussex outfit ahead midway through the first half in front of just over 3200 people; only for Rovers left back James Husband to salvage a draw on the stroke of half time with a lunging effort.
The sides have met this season, in a goalless stalemate at Keepmoat Stadium that was light on chances.
Last time out (18/02/13):
Crawley 1 (Simpson, 25)
DRFC 1 (Husband, 43)
League 1
Broadfield Stadium
Attendance – 3267
CTFC - P Jones, M Sadler, M Dumbuya, M Connolly, J Walsh, B Clarke, N Adams, D Bulman, J Simpson (S Torres, 41), M Sparrow, J Proctor
DRFC – G Woods, J McCombe, P Quinn, T Spurr, J Husband, R Jones, L Fowler (K Bennett, 75), J Coppinger, D Cotterill, J Harper, B Paynter
Head to head league results (in Crawley):
Rovers – 0
Crawley – 0
Draws – 1
Team News:
Rovers – Luke McCullough (hamstring) and James Coppinger (ankle) are likely to miss what is just Doncaster’s second ever trip to Crawley. Abdul Razak is still awaiting international clearance. Any changes to Saturday’s side that drew with Walsall would be assumed tactical.
Town - Keeper Brian Jensen, midfielder Josh Simpson and striker Matt Harrold all appear to be struggling for Saunders' side, but defender Dean Leacock could return.
Fancy a flutter? Rovers EVS, Draw 5/2, Crawley 16/5.
Listen to ROVERS PLAYER live coverage from 19:30 with Tom Biltcliffe and Danny Czepiec.
Follow ROVERS WALL for all the action as it happens from 18:45.