The Cobblers head to Doncaster Rovers tomorrow for a Boxing Day clash and on the back of a good run of results in recent weeks. Following draws at home to Carlisle United and away at Nottingham Forest, Stuart Gray’s men picked up a big 4-1 win at home to Bournemouth on Friday night to mean we go to Doncaster full of confidence. The hosts will also be buzzing after a 4-0 win at Crewe at the weekend.
The Cobblers will make a late decision on the fitness of Andy Holt before the game while Ryan Gilligan is suspended for the trip to the Keepmoat Stadium. Ian Henderson, Giles Coke and Chris Doig are all still missing through injury.
Doncaster have no new injury worries ahead of the game and boss Sean O’Driscoll could name an unchanged side from the one that beat Crewe 4-0 at Gresty Road at the weekend. Paul Heffernan is still missing with an ankle injury though while Graeme Lee once again sits out with a knee problem.
The Story So Far…Doncaster Rovers in 2007/08
Rovers sit just a point behind the playoff places in League One following a good first half of the campaign and will be hoping to improve their consistency in a bid for a charge for the top six in the second half of the season.
Doncaster began the season with a goalless draw at home to Millwall but lost their next two games, a 2-1 defeat at newly promoted Hartlepool United and a home loss to Bournemouth by the same score line.
But they began September with their first win of the campaign as two goals from Ritchie Wellens helped them to come from behind to win 2-1 at Swansea. The Cobblers then beat them 2-0 at Sixfields as Ryan Gilligan and Andy Kirk killed them off in the second half. September continued to be a roller coaster month as Rovers recorded home wins over Crewe and Cheltenham either side of a 3-2 defeat at Southend United.
October began with a 3-2 home reverse at the hands of Walsall before the club drew at Luton and beat Huddersfield at the Keepmoat Stadium. A draw at Forest was followed by a good home win, 4-2 against Leyton Orient.
November began well with 2-1 win at Swindon as Brian Stock and Lewis Guy scored the goals at the County Ground. This was followed by a 1-1 draw at Gillingham and a 0-0 stalemate at home to Tranmere. Victory at Port Vale (3-1) ended the month in the league before they went out of the F.A. Cup at the hands of Oldham Athletic.
Two draws at the start of December frustrated Doncaster’s attempts to break into the top six as they were held by both Brighton and Oldham. Defeat at home to Yeovil was followed by last weekend’s thumping 4-0 win at Crewe as two goals from Jason Price and injury time strikes from Paul Green and Lewis Guy set them up well for the Cobblers clash.
Recent Meetings
07-09-07: COBBLERS 2-0 DONCASTER
Goals from Ryan Gilligan and Andy Kirk in the second half give the Cobblers a good victory back in September at Sixfields.
05-05-07: DONCASTER 2-2 COBBLERS
In a fans’ dedication to loan striker, doctor Kenny Deuchar, the Cobblers following donned white coats as Jason Crowe and Mark Hughes goals cancelled out strikes from Craig Nelthorpe and Gareth Roberts on the final day of last season.
09-12-06: COBBLERS 0-2 DONCASTER
Late goals from Paul Heffernan and Lewis Guy seal the win for Rovers.
30/01/04: DONCASTER 1-0 COBBLERS
Paul Green’s eighth minute goals is enough to win the game for the home side back in League Two.
20/08/03: COBBLERS 1-0 DONCASTER
Lawrie Dudfield’s goal fifteen minutes from time hands the Cobblers victory in early season in 2003/04.
For The Record…Doncaster v Cobblers
Games Played: 50
Doncaster Wins: 21
Draws: 11Cobblers Wins: 18
The Cobblers will make a late decision on the fitness of Andy Holt before the game while Ryan Gilligan is suspended for the trip to the Keepmoat Stadium. Ian Henderson, Giles Coke and Chris Doig are all still missing through injury.
Doncaster have no new injury worries ahead of the game and boss Sean O’Driscoll could name an unchanged side from the one that beat Crewe 4-0 at Gresty Road at the weekend. Paul Heffernan is still missing with an ankle injury though while Graeme Lee once again sits out with a knee problem.
The Story So Far…Doncaster Rovers in 2007/08
Rovers sit just a point behind the playoff places in League One following a good first half of the campaign and will be hoping to improve their consistency in a bid for a charge for the top six in the second half of the season.
Doncaster began the season with a goalless draw at home to Millwall but lost their next two games, a 2-1 defeat at newly promoted Hartlepool United and a home loss to Bournemouth by the same score line.
But they began September with their first win of the campaign as two goals from Ritchie Wellens helped them to come from behind to win 2-1 at Swansea. The Cobblers then beat them 2-0 at Sixfields as Ryan Gilligan and Andy Kirk killed them off in the second half. September continued to be a roller coaster month as Rovers recorded home wins over Crewe and Cheltenham either side of a 3-2 defeat at Southend United.
October began with a 3-2 home reverse at the hands of Walsall before the club drew at Luton and beat Huddersfield at the Keepmoat Stadium. A draw at Forest was followed by a good home win, 4-2 against Leyton Orient.
November began well with 2-1 win at Swindon as Brian Stock and Lewis Guy scored the goals at the County Ground. This was followed by a 1-1 draw at Gillingham and a 0-0 stalemate at home to Tranmere. Victory at Port Vale (3-1) ended the month in the league before they went out of the F.A. Cup at the hands of Oldham Athletic.
Two draws at the start of December frustrated Doncaster’s attempts to break into the top six as they were held by both Brighton and Oldham. Defeat at home to Yeovil was followed by last weekend’s thumping 4-0 win at Crewe as two goals from Jason Price and injury time strikes from Paul Green and Lewis Guy set them up well for the Cobblers clash.
Recent Meetings
07-09-07: COBBLERS 2-0 DONCASTER
Goals from Ryan Gilligan and Andy Kirk in the second half give the Cobblers a good victory back in September at Sixfields.
05-05-07: DONCASTER 2-2 COBBLERS
In a fans’ dedication to loan striker, doctor Kenny Deuchar, the Cobblers following donned white coats as Jason Crowe and Mark Hughes goals cancelled out strikes from Craig Nelthorpe and Gareth Roberts on the final day of last season.
09-12-06: COBBLERS 0-2 DONCASTER
Late goals from Paul Heffernan and Lewis Guy seal the win for Rovers.
30/01/04: DONCASTER 1-0 COBBLERS
Paul Green’s eighth minute goals is enough to win the game for the home side back in League Two.
20/08/03: COBBLERS 1-0 DONCASTER
Lawrie Dudfield’s goal fifteen minutes from time hands the Cobblers victory in early season in 2003/04.
For The Record…Doncaster v Cobblers
Games Played: 50
Doncaster Wins: 21
Draws: 11Cobblers Wins: 18
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