Saturday 21st November 2015 (3pm), Sky Bet League One, Keepmoat Stadium.
A resurgent Rovers side return to league action at Keepmoat Stadium when they host an ailing Rochdale side on Saturday.Though the teams are separated by just a point in mid-table, Rovers have won their last three games 2-0 – with in form striker Andy Williams bagging four goals – while Keith Hill’s Dale are without a league win in seven league games and have been kept scoreless in four of their last five outings.
Both sides are currently on very different tracks with the hosts, buoyed by a win over lowly Blackpool at the weekend, looking up the League One table rather than down.
Last season’s league encounters ended a ten year wait for the pair to meet on an even keel and the bragging rights belonged to Paul Dickov’s side who gained four points from six over the roses rivals.
Rovers had to show real persistence to break down a resilient rear-guard action from Rochdale who had Matty Done sent off early in the second half for a nasty looking lunge.
Done had put Hill’s side ahead early on, only to see his effort cancelled out by Kyle Bennett’s low finish. Done then undid all his hard work and put a point in jeopardy with his misdemeanour. Two late strikes from Theo Robinson and Curtis Main gave the Yorkshiremen a deserved win.
The return had an air of inevitability about it as the pair contested a fairly forgettable draw, resigned to the notion that neither would make the end of season play offs. Kyle Bennett was again on target for Rovers, before Ian Henderson equalised on the hour mark for a share of the spoils.
Saturday’s encounter will be the 102nd between the pair, with Rovers unbeaten in the last seven meetings.
TEAM NEWS: Luke McCullough could return from international duty with Northern Ireland U21’s. Richard Chaplow, Rob Jones, Gary MacKenzie, Paul Keegan and Curtis Main remain side-lined. Mitchell Lund (shoulder) should shake off a knock.
Attendance – 5695
Keepmoat Stadium
League One
RFC 1 (Henderson, 59)
DRFC 1 (Bennett, 17)
Last time out (Sat 11th April 15):
DRFC - Bywater, Stevens, Wabara, Butler, McCombe, Furman (Forrester 73’), Wellens, Coppinger (c), Bennett, Tyson (Mandeville 80’), Main (Clarke-Harris 67’)
Rochdale - Jones, Rafferty (Camps 53’), Bennett, Eastham, Vincenti, Allen, Rose, Logan (Andrew 67’), Cannon, Kennedy, Henderson (c)
Head to head league results (in Doncaster):
Rovers – 35
RFC – 8
Draws – 10
WHAT ARE THE ODDS? Rovers 13/8, Draw 23/10, RFC 13/8
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