The Saddlers take on Rovers this evening...
DONCASTER VS. WALSALL
Keepmoat Stadium
Tuesday, 2nd February 2016 (Kick-off 7.45pm)
Sky Bet League One
Keepmoat Stadium
Tuesday, 2nd February 2016 (Kick-off 7.45pm)
Sky Bet League One
OVERVIEW:
The Saddlers will climb up to second in League One with victory at Darren Ferguson’s Doncaster tonight. Walsall, who have lost only once in nine league matches, are searching for their first double of the season having beaten Rovers 2-0 back in September. The match will also see Saddlers head coach Sean O’Driscoll return to his former club, with whom he won promotion from League One in 2007/08. Doncaster, meanwhile, are 16th in the table, eight points off the play-offs.
LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Doncaster: 16th – P28 W9 D9 L10 F34 A37 PTS36
Walsall: 3rd – P27 W15 D8 L4 F45 A26 PTS53
LAST FIVE LEAGUE MATCHES: (Most recent match first)
Doncaster: LDDWW
Walsall: DWDLW
LAST TIME OUT:
26th January – Doncaster 1-2 Port Vale – League One
AJ Leitch-Smith’s brace gave Port Vale victory and condemned Doncaster to a first league defeat in five matches. Cedric Evina netted Rovers’ late consolation.
Team:Stuckmann (Marosi 48’), Alcock, Lund (Lecygne 63’), McCullough, Taylor-Sinclair, Evina, Coppinger (Mandeville 74’), Chaplow, Grant, Williams, Gooch.
Subs not used: Main, N’Guessan, Mackenzie, Keegan.
30th January – Reading 4-0 Walsall – FA Cup fourth round
Walsall’s hopes of reaching the FA Cup fifth round were ended by Championship side Reading. Matej Vydra scored twice, while Hal Robson-Kanu and Danny Williams were also on the scoresheet.
Team:Etheridge (MacGillivray 78'), Demetriou, Downing, O’Connor, Taylor, Chambers (Cook 64'), Mantom, Forde, Henry, Sawyers, Bradshaw.
Subs not used: Lalkovic, Preston, Flanagan, Morris, Kinsella.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD:
Doncaster wins: 21
Walsall wins: 29
Draws: 9
LAST MEETING:
12th September 2015 – Walsall 2-0 Doncaster – League One
Tom Bradshaw’s stunning late double gave Walsall a hard-fought victory over managerless Doncaster. The Saddlers’ top-scorer broke the deadlock with five minutes remaining when he rifled a right-foot volley into the top corner. He then secured the win in the second minute of stoppage time, with an exquisite lob over Doncaster keeper Thorsten Stuckmann.
DONCASTER MANAGER:
Darren Ferguson – The 43-year-old has won nine of his 19 matches as Doncaster boss since taking charge in October 2015. Ferguson, the son of ex-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, enjoyed two successful spells with Peterborough, where he twice won promotion from League One. The former Wolves and Wrexham midfielder also spent 12 months at Preston.
DONCASTER STAR MAN:
Andy Williams – The experienced forward was named League One Player of the Month for December after scoring four goals in as many matches. The 29-year-old is Doncaster’s top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions. He has also played for Hereford, Bristol Rovers, Yeovil and Swindon.
VIEW FROM THE DONCASTER CAMP:
Darren Ferguson (after Rovers' 2-1 defeat against Port Vale) – “We got our usual late goal at home but I don’t think we honestly deserved anything from the game. I think we tried to force the game when it went to 1-0 rather than play how we wanted to. We tried too many spectacular passes and it didn’t come off. We spoke about that at half time and started the second half really well but then conceded a sloppy goal and that makes it difficult for you.”
WALSALL TEAM NEWS:
Middlesbrough loanee Bryn Morris could make his debut. Neil Etheridge is a major doubt after coming off against Reading with a gashed knee. Midfielder Isaiah Osbourne (knee) is a long-term absentee.
REFEREE:
Ben Toner.
STAT OF THE DAY:
The Saddlers have lost only four league matches - the fewest in League One.
TUESDAY’S LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES (7.45pm unless stated)
Port Vale vs. Swindon
Shrewsbury vs. Southend