Saturday 17th October 2015 (3pm), Sky Bet League One, Keepmoat Stadium.
Doncaster Rovers welcome Bradford City to Keepmoat Stadium for yet another Yorkshire derby fixture – the host’s fourth in just five games.The Bantams were, incidentally, the last team to defeat Rovers in the league at the Keepmoat Stadium back at the start of April.
It’s a run that spans nine matches and acts as a good base to work from, as the hosts look to haul themselves clear of the Sky Bet League One drop zone.
City, despite the longevity of manager Phil Parkinson – who has been at Valley Parade for over four years - haven’t got off to the best of starts and have been inconsistent to say the least.
Their league exploits of last season – where they achieved a creditable seventh placed finish – were somewhat overshadowed by their cup feats and reaching the FA Cup quarter final having defeated Chelsea and Sunderland en route.
Saturday will be the 71st meeting between the two Yorkshire clubs, with the pair taking a win apiece last term.
Jon Stead’s opener on the stroke of half time in West Yorkshire was quickly cancelled out by Reece Wabara’s back post lunge and Rovers took home all three points thanks to Curtis Main’s stunning 30 yard effort.
The return was less equally fought with the Bantams running out easy 3-0 winners thanks to goals from current Rovers defender Gary MacKenzie, Billy Clarke and Tony McMahon to all but end realistic hopes of the play-offs.
TEAM NEWS: Rovers can boast an almost full bill of health going in to the game against City, with the only doubts lingering over Mitchell Lund (concussion). Harry Forrester, Curtis Main and Nathan Tyson could return from injury while Gary MacKenzie could return from suspension and Luke McCullough from international duties.
Attendance – 8592
Keepmoat Stadium
League 1
BCFC - 3 (MacKenzie, 55; Clarke, 64; McMahon, 90+6)
DRFC - 0
Fri 3rd April 2015:
LAST TIME:
DRFC - Bywater, Furman, Clarke-Harris (Mandeville 84), Forrester (Bennett 68), Main, McCullough, Butler, Stevens, Wellens, Wabara, Coppinger (Tyson 68).
Bradford: Williams, Darby, Meredith, Liddle, Hanson, Clarke (Stead 89), Knott (Dolan 90), Yeates (McMahon 68), MacKenzie, Morais, McArdle.
HEAD TO HEAD: League results (in Doncaster): Rovers – 12, BCFC – 8, Draws – 14.
WHAT ARE THE ODDS? DRFC 21/10; Draw 21/10; BCFC 11/8.
ROVERS PLAYER: Listen to live coverage from 14:45 with Tom Biltcliffe and Daniel Czepiec.
ROVERS WALL: Follow all the action as it happens from 13:30.