Rovers return to home action this weekend when they host fellow promotion challengers Charlton Athletic in Sky Bet League One on Saturday.
Rovers will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat away at Shrewsbury Town following first half goals from Josh Laurent and Tyrese Campbell at New Meadow.
Charlton on the other hand will be buoyed by last weekend’s late drama, with Igor Vetokele scoring in injury time to secure a 2-1 win away at London rivals AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
Brief history of Charlton Athletic
Charlton play at the 27,111-capacity The Valley stadium in south-east London, which has been their home since 1919, barring a seven-year spell away from Greenwich between 1985 and 1992.
Their nickname is the Addicks, which comes from the pronunciation of the word ‘Athletic’ in south-east London.
This season is the Addicks third successive season in League One, following their relegation from the Championship in 2016. The Addicks have title-winning history in this division, having last won the League One title in 2012, storming to the top with 101 points.
Last season saw the Addicks finish sixth in League One, qualifying them for the play-offs. They met Shrewsbury Town in the play-off semi-finals, however it would be the Shrews who would progress 2-0 on aggregate.
Who’s the gaffer?
Lee Bowyer is the man at the helm at The Valley, taking permanent charge this season following a temporary spell in the dugout towards the end of the last campaign. The former Leeds United, Newcastle United and Birmingham City midfielder is in his first managerial role with the Addicks, and he helped guide them into the play-offs whilst in caretaker charge last term.
So far, Bowyer has overseen 53 games in charge of the Addicks, winning 25 of those, whilst drawing 11 and losing 17, leaving him with a total win percentage of 47.17 per cent.
Ones to watch
Lyle Taylor
The Montserrat international signed from cross-London rivals AFC Wimbledon over the summer. Taylor began his career with Millwall, though it would be his drop into non-league with Concord Rangers that would kick-start his career. 34 goals in one season for Concord saw him sign for AFC Bournemouth before a successful season with Falkirk where he would score 24 goals in 34 league games for the Bairns. After time with Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United, he joined Wimbledon in 2015, going on to become a fans’ favourite with the Dons, scoring 23 goals in his first season, including the opening goal in their 2017 League Two play-off victory over Plymouth Argyle at Wembley Stadium. Taylor switched to south-east London to link up with the Addicks and he hit the ground running with eight league goals from his first 15 games, as well as a hat-trick against Mansfield Town in an FA Cup first round replay back in November.
Chris Solly
The Addicks legend is also a one-club man, having come up through the academy before his senior debut in 2009. Solly was a key figure in the Addicks’ 2011/12 League One title win, going on to win the club’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards following their promotion, as well as winning it the senior award again the season after following a solid season in the Championship. Despite Solly entering his 11th season of professional football at The Valley, Solly has only scored three goals in a Charlton shirt, with the last of those coming this season, bagging a last-minute equaliser away at Luton Town, his first goal since 2012.
Ben Reeves
The Addicks midfielder is a Northern Irish international, making his debut in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Greece in October 2014. After coming up through the ranks at Southampton, Reeves went on to join Milton Keynes in 2013. In his first season at Stadium:MK, he won both the Fans and Players’ Player of the Year, and his second season would be even more successful, helping them to win promotion to the Championship, finishing as runners-up in 2015. Reeves signed a two-year deal at The Valley in the summer of 2017, and he played 29 times last season as the Addicks made it to the League One play-off semi-finals, losing out to Shrewsbury Town.
Who’s the ref?
Ben Toner will be the man in the middle when the two sides meet at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday, and you can read more about him here.
Last time out
Rovers were on the winning side at The Valley for just the second time ever back in December as they progressed through to the third round of the FA Cup. Goals from Andy Butler and John Marquis saw Rovers win 2-0 following a reverse score line in the league the month before.
Rovers last win over the Addicks at the Keepmoat Stadium came back in January 2014 with both sides competing in the Championship. Abdoulaye Meite opened the scoring before Chris Brown scored from the spot, with Lawrie Wilson sent off for Charlton for giving away the penalty. Mark Duffy scored a fine solo effort late on in the second half to seal three points.
Tickets for Saturday’s clash with promotion rivals Charlton Athletic are still available via the Club Doncaster Box Office. Secure your seat now by either visiting in-store at the Keepmoat Stadium, by calling on 01302 762576, or online at tickets.clubdoncaster.co.uk.