Saturday 14th March 2015 (3pm), Sky Bet League One, Keepmoat Stadium.
Doncaster Rovers host Peterborough United on Saturday looking to strengthen their play-off credentials.Posh are level with Paul Dickov’s team in the hunt for promotion but have not defeated the South Yorkshire side in their last eight meetings – spanning seventeen years – and three different divisions!
United’s last win on Doncaster soil came at the start of the ill fated 1997/98 campaign where they routed the sorry hosts 5-0.
The Cambridgeshire side are on a roll of late – taking nine points out of their last three games – since parting company with manager Darren Ferguson, who was in his second spell in charge at London Road.
In his place is the relatively unknown Dave Robertson, assisted by experienced players Aaron McLean and Grant McCann. Robertson couldn’t have got off to much of a better start and has been given the backing of larger than life chairman Darragh MacAnthony.
Standing in United’s way will be a resilient Doncaster who’ve lost just three of their last thirteen league games since the sides played out a largely forgettable at Lodnon Road over the Christmas period – remembered more for Marc De Val’s last game in a Rovers shirt than anything else.
The home side are using the fact that Club stalwart James Coppinger is nearing in on his 450th appearance for Rovers to promote the game, however the skilful midfielder will miss this ‘six-pointer’.
The sides have not met at Keepmoat Stadium for three years – since a 1-1 draw – where goals were scored at the end of each half.
Giles Barnes’ towering header put Dean Saunders’ relegation threatened side ahead on the stroke of half time, before being cancelled out by Tyrone Barnett’s last gasp effort. Rovers finished bottom of the pile at the end of the campaign; twelve points from safety and 14 adrift of Posh.
Last time out (25th February 2012):
DRFC 1 (Barnes, 40)
PUFC 1 (Barnett, 90)
Championship
Keepmoat Stadium
Attendance – 10,375
DRFC – D Button, P Chimbonda, S Martis, T Spurr, H Beye, S Gillett, G Barnes, B Stock, E Diouf (J Hayter, 85), M Bagayoko (J Oster, 73), K Bennett (F Robert, 80)
PUFC - P Jones, G Zakuani, M Little, R Bennett, M Briggs, L Frecklington (T Rowe, 68), G McCann, L Tomlin (E Sinclair, 57), G Boyd, P Taylor, D Ball (T Barnett, 53)
Head to head league results (in Doncaster):
Rovers – 7
PUFC – 6
Draws – 3
Team News:
Rovers – Paul Keegan (knee) has had surgery and will be out for up to six weeks. James Coppinger (ankle) will also miss out. Uche Ikpeazu has returned to his parent club Watford but Jonson Clarke-Harris could make his Doncaster debut after penning a loan deal from Rotherham.
PUFC – Midfielder Marcus Maddison will miss out through suspension. Michael Bostwick has signed a long term deal to keep him at London Road.
Fancy a flutter? Rovers EVS, Draw 12/5, Peterborough 23/10.
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