Rovers return to home action for the first time since New Year’s Day when they host Burton Albion in Sky Bet League One on Saturday.
Rovers return to the Keepmoat Stadium following last weekend’s 3-2 defeat away at Wycombe Wanderers, with John Marquis and Tommy Rowe putting Rovers ahead, before Curtis Thompson and Paris Cowan-Hall’s brace saw the Chairboys snatch three points.
Burton arrive in South Yorkshire off the back of a 3-2 defeat of their own, losing out at home to Gillingham last Saturday in another game full of drama, as Scott Fraser’s double saw Burton come from two goals down, before Josh Rees last-minute winner.
Brief history of Burton Albion
Burton play at the 6,912-capacity Pirelli Stadium, which has been their home since 2005 following their move from Eton Park.
They are nicknamed the Brewers after the historic brewing industry which stems back hundreds of years in the town.
Burton returned to League One this season following two years in the Championship, being relegated on the final day of the last campaign after defeat at Preston North End. The Brewers won promotion from the third tier on the final day of the 2015/16 season, getting the point they needed in a goalless draw against Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium, sealing back-to-back promotions following their title-winning exploits in League Two the year before.
During the 2005/06 season, whilst still in the Conference, the Brewers famously held Premier League giants Manchester United to a draw at home in the FA Cup third round, drawing 0-0 at the Pirelli Stadium, before losing out in the replay at Old Trafford.
Who’s the gaffer?
Nigel Clough is the man in charge of the Brewers, currently in his second stint in the hot-seat at the Pirelli Stadium.
His first spell in charge saw him spend 11 years in the dugout, all but one of which he was also registered as a player. He left the Brewers with them flying high in the Conference in 2009, taking the job at Derby County, before making a move to take control of Sheffield United. Whilst at Bramall Lane, he led the Blades to the FA Cup semi-final, where they would narrowly miss out on a place in the final after being defeated by Premier League side Hull City.
Clough returned to Burton in 2015, with his first game back in charge of the Brewers coming against Rovers at the Pirelli Stadium in a 3-3 draw, and he has since gone on to take charge of 162 games in his second spell, winning 53, drawing 37 and losing 72. This leaves him with a total win percentage of 32.7 per cent.
Ones to watch
Scott Fraser
The midfielder joined the Brewers ahead of their return to League One, joining from Scottish Championship side, Dundee United. Fraser spent 13 years with the Terrors, joining his hometown club as a youngster and coming through the youth set up at Tannadice. He joined Airdrieonians on loan during the 2014/15 season, five times in 28 appearance. He finished his time with United making over 100 appearances, scoring 15 times, and he is now looking to cut his teeth in England following his move south of the border.
Marcus Harness
The Brewers youth academy product made his Burton debut against Notts County back in September 2013. Harness made 18 appearances as the Brewers were promoted to League One in 2015, before making a further five appearances the following season as they achieved their second successive promotion, this time to the Championship. Harness spent time on loan at National League side Aldershot Town during the 2015/16, and spent last season on loan at Port Vale, playing in 35 games in League Two for the Valiants. Harness broke through into the Brewers team this season, and scored a hat-trick, as well as picking up an assist, in their 4-0 win away at Rochdale this month.
Liam Boyce
The Northern Ireland international scored the only goal when the two sides met at the Pirelli Stadium back in August. Boyce began his career with Cliftonville back in his home county, before a brief spell with Werder Bremen II between 2010 and 2011. Boyce re-joined Cliftonville for a further two seasons helping them to back-to-back league and cup doubles, before his impressive form saw him make a move to Scotland with Ross County. After 48 goals in 99 league games for the Staggies, Boyce joined the Brewers in 2017, though a knee-injury kept him out of action for much of last term. Boyce has played 17 times for his country, making his debut against Scotland in 2011, whilst scoring his only goal for the Green and White Army against New Zealand in June 2017.
Last time out
The Brewers ended Rovers’ 100 per cent start to this season when the two sides met back in August at the Pirelli Stadium, with Liam Boyce’s goal just two minutes into the second half the difference between the two sides.
Rovers’ first, and only, win at home against the Brewers came during the 2015/16 season in the first round of Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, with Marko Marosi coming off the bench to be the hero.
Marosi replaced Thorsten Stuckmann at the break, and with the game goalless after 90 minutes, going on to save Tom Naylor’s spot-kick as Rovers progressed through after a 5-3 shoot-out victory.
Tickets for Saturday's Sky Bet League One clash against the Brewers are still available via the Club Doncaster Box Office. Purchase yours now by either visiting in-store at the Keepmoat Stadium, by calling on 01302 762576, or online at tickets.clubdoncaster.co.uk.