Walsall and Doncaster Rovers will meet for the 66th time when the Saddlers travel to the Keepmoat Stadium on Friday (2nd December), 7.45pm.
Michael Flynn’s side will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to eight in all competitions when they take on the team who sit one place (10th) and one point above them in the Sky Bet League Two table.
Ahead of Friday’s clash, we take a look back at some memorable encounters between the two teams at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Doncaster 0-3 Walsall – 21st October 2017
The Saddlers ended a six-match winless run with an emphatic victory over Doncaster back in October 2017.
Darren Ferguson’s Doncaster started well and came close to taking the lead in the first half when Tommy Rowe struck the post and Jon Marquis missed the target from the rebound.
Jon Whitney’s men opened the scoring in the second half when Tyler Roberts managed to nick the ball off Joe Wright on the by-line and rolled it across to Erhun Oztumer whose first touch took the ball past the goalkeeper and he slotted it into the empty net.
Walsall doubled their advantage just four minutes later when Joe Edwards burst forward and slid the ball to Oztumer who again went round the goalkeeper and fired the ball into the net past the covering defenders to score his second of the match.
Rovers tried to force their way back into the game but the Saddlers put the result beyond any doubt when Amadou Bakayoko charged down Rodney Kongolo’s poor clearance and set up Kieron Morris who coolly finished from close range.
The win moved Walsall up to 14th in League One.
Highlights:
Doncaster 0-2 Walsall – 7th February 2015
Walsall were still on a high going into this clash with Doncaster in 2015 as 11 days earlier, they secured their spot at Wembley for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final and the club’s first ever trip to the national stadium was booked.
A draw with Gillingham was played out in between this match and the semi-final against Preston North End but the Saddlers were looking to leapfrog Rovers and climb into the top half of the League One table.
Dean Smith’s side got off to a flying start and took the lead after just three minutes when Jordan Cook hooked in Anthony Forde’s corner at the near post.
Rovers pushed for an equaliser and came close when former Saddler Andy Butler had a fine header saved by Richard O’Donnell.
Walsall defended well throughout and managed to get the security of a second goal on 70 minutes when substitute Jordy Hiwula, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes, headed in Cook’s cross to mark his Saddlers debut with a goal after signing on loan from Manchester City in the winter transfer window.
The victory saw Smith’s side close the gap on the League One play-offs to just three points.
Highlights:
Doncaster 2-3 Walsall – 2nd October 2007
Walsall edged a five-goal thriller on an eventful afternoon at the Keepmoat Stadium in October 2007.
Matt Mills opened the scoring for Doncaster after 17 minutes but Danny Fox levelled for the Saddlers 11 minutes later.
Lewis Guy restored Rovers’ lead five minutes before half time but Walsall fought back again as Mark Bradley equalised on 66 minutes before Tommy Mooney turned the game on its head with a penalty 19 minutes from time.
There was late drama as Doncaster themselves were awarded a penalty but James Coppinger missed his spot-kick in the dying minutes before Guy was sent off in injury time.