Doncaster Rovers

Rovers face second-placed Stevenage at the Eco-Power Stadium on Tuesday night in Sky Bet League Two.

Danny Schofield saw his side draw 1-1 in his first game in charge at Crewe Alexandra last time out.

Here we provide all the details on our latest opponents.

Manager

Former Rotherham and Leeds United manager Steve Evans is now with his ninth club after his appointment as Stevenage boss in March.

Promotions with Boston United and Crawley Town led to a move to Rotherham United in 2012, with the Millers in Sky Bet League Two at that point. Evans guided them to back-to-back promotions in his first two seasons in charge, and then helped secure their Championship safety in his third.

He departed in September 2015, and was appointed at Leeds United less than a month later. He has since had spells with Mansfield Town, Peterborough United and Gillingham, prior to his move to Stevenage.

The 59-year-old has turned the tables at the Lamex Stadium, having been in 22nd and three points above the relegation zone when he first took over, they now sit second 15 games into the current campaign.

Form

Stevenage’s defeat to Northampton last time out was their first in six league outings. That run started with a narrow win over Harrogate Town at the end of September.

They began October with a win at Steve Evans’ former club Crawley, before comfortably beating Sutton United three days later. Another three points followed at the Lamex Stadium against Swindon, with their last result before the Northampton fixture a 1-1 draw at Gillingham. 

Key men

Attacking midfielder Jordan Roberts joined Stevenage in the last transfer window after a spell in Scotland with Motherwell.

Roberts established himself with Aldershot at the start of his career, before his first experience north of the border with Inverness Caledonian Thistle. That was brief though and he would spend the next two years back south with Crawley Town.

He had his first taste of working under Steve Evans in a loan spell with Gillingham in 2020, and with more than 250 career games to his name, could prove to be a shrewd addition for Stevenage.

The 28-year-old scored in the opening day win at Tranmere Rovers, and has added a further four goals to his tally since. He missed Saturday’s defeat to Northampton through suspension after collecting five yellow cards, but could return for Tuesday night’s game at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Forward Danny Rose signed for Stevenage in the summer after spending the past two seasons with fellow League Two side Northampton.

Barnsley-born, Rose came through the ranks at his hometown club and made 18 first team appearances, before making a loan move to Bury permanent in 2014. He scored 16 goals in 26 league starts for the Shakers, prior to signing for Mansfield where he worked with Steve Evans for the first time.

Rose enjoyed the most productive spell of his career at the One Call Stadium, playing more than 160 times across a four year spell. He has adapted well since joining Stevenage, scoring six goals in all competitions this season, including one against his former club at the weekend. 

Experienced striker Luke Norris has been with Stevenage since January 2021 when he joined from Colchester United.

A product of the Brentford Academy, Norris made four first team appearances for the Bees while also spending time on loan at Northampton and Dagenham and Redbridge. He signed permanently for Gillingham in 2016 and has since equally successful spells with Swindon Town and Colchester.

The 29-year-old now has 95 career goals, with 84 of those coming in the league. He has found the back of the net four times this season, with three of those coming at the Lamex Stadium.

Last league meeting

A Fraser Franks own-goal secured a 1-0 win for Rovers when the two sides last met in Sky Bet League Two in January 2017. That victory secured a league victory over Stevenage for Darren Ferguson’s side.