Marcus Braddock looks ahead to this evenings trip to Don
At 5pm on Saturday supporters of 71 of the clubs in the EFL could look back at the season so far and see at least one defeat and I'm sure we all know who the odd one out is! If you throw the other 20 clubs in from the Premier League you will find us in the company of Manchester United and Manchester City and yes, I'm making the most of our time at the top of the division, carpe diem!
Doncaster Rovers are our next opponents, a team that have not been particularly fortunate this season. Last season they returned to League One after a season on loan to the fourth tier after finishing third to Plymouth and Portsmouth. This season started pretty well for them, a draw on the opening day at home to Gillingham was the start of an unbeaten run of five games that saw them beat Bradford, Blackburn and Hull City. It also saw Rovers rewarded with an away game at Arsenal in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Sadly though, they failed to win a game in 90 minutes from then until last Saturday when they hammered a struggling Plymouth 0-3. They did beat Grimsby on penalties in the FL Trophy and they also pushed Arsenal to extra time before losing by just a single goal. The key statistic though is that Rovers have yet to record a win at home, something they will fancy their chances of doing in the potentially heady atmosphere under the lights at the Keepmoat Stadium
The Manager - Darren Fergusson.
Games in charge of Doncaster: 103. Wins: 41. Defeats: 37. Draws: 25.
Mainly known for his two spells with Peterborough United, Fergusson has also managed Preston North End. His senior career started with Manchester United under the stewardship of another Fergusson, his father Alex. He played for united for a few seasons as a bit part player but did pick up a Premier League winners Medal by playing 15 games in the 1992/3 season. In 1994 he moved to Wolves and stayed for five years as they tried in vain to win promotion to the top flight. After five years in England he spent time with Sparta Rotterdam before finishing his playing career after moving to Wrexham.
Top Scorers goals/games (cup goals in brackets)
John Marquis 4/9 (0/3)
Alfie May 3/9 (2/3)
Assists
Rodney Congolo 2
Andy Butler 1
Discipline
Ben Whitman 3 yellow cards
John Marquis 3 yellow cards
Clean sheets
Two at home and one away.
Referee
John Brooks from Leicestershire. Games this season: 11. Yellow cards: 39. Red cards: 2.
Assistants: Wayne Grunnill and Michael Denton
Fourth Official: Ricky Wootton
Squad News
Neither team have any new injury worries.
Prediction
I think we can win this one but at the same time I'd be happy with a point and a continuation of our unbeaten run. I think a good start is important this time, we're playing a team that has renewed confidence and if we can do something about that early on we can test its fragility. If the home crowd sense another winless game they may get on Rovers' backs, which doesn't usually aid a home team. They have two strikers who are knocking in goals, despite their teams poor form and Paul Hurst has already mentioned a need to counter the threat they pose. Is I've mentioned though, I've predicted a 2-2 for every game so far and we're unbeaten, it's now become a superstition.
Doncaster Rovers 2-2 Shrewsbury Town
COYB!!!
Marcus