Saturday 3rd January 2015, Keepmoat Stadium, FA Cup Round 3.
Doncaster Rovers take on opponents from the same division once again when attentions turn to the lure of the FA Cup this weekend.With Sheffield United’s recent semi-final exploits fresh in the mind for those in South Yorkshire, both Rovers and League One table-toppers Bristol City, who cross paths at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday, will be hoping to emulate the fortunes of a third tier side.
The Robins have not ventured past this stage of the competition for eight years, while the wait has been slightly less for Rovers, who reached the fourth round in 2010, when they were beaten 1-0 by Derby County at Pride Park.
City have not won at the Keepmoat since Jamie McCombe’s late headed goal earned Gary Johnson’s promotion chasing visitors a 1-0 win.
The pair met earlier in the season in a league encounter at Ashton Gate and it was an afternoon to forget for the visitors. Aaron Wilbraham prodded home a scrambled goal early on before Mark Little pounced on a comical mix up between goalkeeper Jed Steer and Cedric Evina.
Rovers – having already lost skipper Rob Jones to injury – then pressed the self destruct button early on in the second half when Harry Forrester was red carded for a second bookable offence.
Things went from bad to worse for Paul Dickov’s men when Reece Wabara was caught in possession and expensive signing Kieran Agard scuffed home his first goal in Bristol colours.
The game will be the sixth time an FA Cup 3rd round has been played at Keepmoat Stadium.
Attendance – 11733
Ashton Gate Stadium
League 1
Doncaster 0
Bristol City 3 (Wilbraham 13, Little 30, Agard 82)
Last time out (Saturday 13th September 2014):
Bristol City - F Fielding, D Williams, A Flint, L Ayling, J Bryan, M Little (S Wagstaff, 72), W Elliott, L Freeman (M Pack, 72), K Smith, A Wilbraham (J Emmanuel-Thomas, 82), K Agard
DRFC - J Steer, L McCullough, C Evina, R Jones (J McCombe, 23), R Wabara, J Coppinger, R Wellens, P Keegan (N Tyson, 45), H Forrester (s/o 51), K Bennett, T Robinson
Head to head Cup results: N/A
Team News:
Rovers – Rovers will be able to call on Kyle Bennett and Nathan Tyson after injury. Reece Wabara has penned a new contract extension so should continue as normal, while Dean Furman will play his last game before joining South Africa for international duty.
Bristol City – City are waiting on the availability of loanee forward Matt Smith, who helped former Oldham boss Paul Dickov to some FA Cup shocks at Boundary Park. Kieran Agard and Aaron Wilbraham may struggle to make the game.
Fancy a flutter? Rovers 19/10, Draw 5/2, Bristol City 31/20
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