Sports Mole previews Saturday’s League Two clash between Doncaster Rovers and Salford City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Aiming to return to the top three of the League Two table with a victory, Doncaster Rovers will welcome Salford City to the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts sit fourth after a draw last weekend but only trail the automatic promotion spots on goal difference, while their visitors dropped into the bottom half following a home defeat.
Match preview
Doncaster Rovers will bid to get back to winning ways on Saturday in the fight for automatic promotion from League Two, having remained within touching difference after a draw last time out.
After 15 games of the season in England’s fourth tier, Grant McCann‘s side currently sit fourth having earned 27 points, with only league leaders Port Vale topping their tally of eight victories.
Rovers do only boast the division’s ninth strongest home record, though, having won four and lost two of their eight matches at the Eco-Power Stadium this term, and they have failed to prevail in any of their last three matches on home turf, most recently hosting third-placed Notts County on the back of three straight away wins last Saturday.
They went into that game level on points with the visitors, and after falling behind early on, McCann’s men were able to salvage a point as Joe Ironside levelled the scores 19 minutes from time.
Now remaining fourth but only trailing Notts County and second-placed Walsall on goal difference and leaders Port Vale by three points, Doncaster Rovers will bid to end their tough run at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday and move into the automatic promotion spots with a ninth league win of the campaign.
© Imago
Their visitors, meanwhile, will also bid to get back to winning ways in Yorkshire, having seen pleasing run of results brought to an end last time out in League Two.
After a disappointing start to their first full season under the management of Karl Robinson, having earned just 12 points from their first 10 games, Salford City enjoyed an impressive upturn in form in October, putting a four-match league unbeaten run together beginning with a draw away at Crewe Alexandra and back-to-back 2-1 victories over Swindon Town and Colchester United.
A tough trip to Fleetwood Town then followed, and the Ammies earned a creditable point from a 2-2 draw, having trailed until deep into injury time until Francis Okoronkwo forced a share of the spoils in the dying seconds.
Aiming to make it five games unbeaten, Robinson’s side most recently strugglers Carlisle United last weekend and came away empty-handed after a fifth league defeat of the campaign, as Ben Barclay finally broke the deadlock in the 88th minute for the visitors.
Now on the back of a 3-2 EFL Trophy victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s, Salford City will hope to put last week’s late disappointment behind them and move back into the top half with a second away victory of the campaign in England’s fourth tier.
Doncaster Rovers League Two form:
Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):
Salford City League Two form:
Salford City form (all competitions):
Team News
© Imago
Doncaster Rovers are set to remain without defenders Richard Wood and James Maxwell due to injuries on Saturday.
Jordan Gibson should return on the wing in their 4-2-3-1 setup, likely hoping Harry Clifton and Luke Molyneux, who boasts six goals and four assists in League Two this term behind a lone striker.
After coming off the bench to net their leveller against Notts County last time out, Joe Ironside will hope to displace veteran Billy Sharp and lead the line from the outset.
Salford City are set to remain without attacker Hakeeb Adelakun, who contributed nine goals and seven assists in 21 league games for Saturday’s hosts last season, as he remains confined to the treatment room.
There is still competition in attack, though, with Cole Stockton fighting to lead the line from the start after Kylian Kouassi and Francis Okoronwo were preferred against Carlisle.
Matty Lund will hope to return to the midfield alongside Tyrese Fornah and Ossama Ashley, while Stephan Negru, Curtis Tilt and Haji Mnoga should continue in a back three.
Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Sharman-Lowe; Sterry, Olowu, McGrath, Senior; Bailey, Kelly; Molyneux, Clifton, Gibson; Ironside
Salford City possible starting lineup:
Jones; Mnoga, Tilt, Negru; Taylor, Ashley, Fornah, Lund, Garbutt; Okoronkwo, Stockton
We say: Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Salford City
Given the quality throughout Doncaster Rovers’ squad, particularly going forward, and the visitors’ struggles on the road this term, we back Doncaster Rovers to stake their claim for a return to the top three with a victory on home turf at the weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
