County will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s setback at Barrow, when we take on play-off challengers Doncaster Rovers at Edgeley Park this Saturday.
Manager Dave Challinor was left frustrated after our defeat in Cumbria last weekend, describing the performance of his team as ‘horrendous’ in his post-match interview, as our five-game winning streak came to an end.
That result saw us miss out on the chance to climb into the top three for the first time this season, following Stevenage’s defeat at home to Tranmere, whilst Northampton’s win at Colchester saw us drop a place to fifth.
There were five midweek games played elsewhere in League Two this week with mixed results for our promotion rivals. Bradford and Stevenage both picked up three points away from home, whilst Northampton and Salford both drew their games against Harrogate and Barrow respectively.
We now sit four points off Carlisle in the third and final automatic promotion place and two points above Mansfield, who currently sit just outside the play-off places.
Doncaster, meanwhile, lost 1-0 at home to Bradford City last time out – a second consecutive defeat for Donny that leaves them in 13th, seven points off a play-off spot.
Please note that tickets in the home end for this game have now SOLD OUT.
Things you need to know:
- County fans can now park at the NCP Car Park at Stockport Train Station for a discounted price of just £3 on a match day, via the ParkPass App! Click here for more information.
- Coming to the game on Saturday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
- Don’t forget to turn up early to Edgeley Park to visit the County Courtyard, which will be opening its doors from 1.00pm! For more information on all the food and drink on offer this week, click here.
- As part of World Book Day earlier this week, the County Community Trust will be handing out 200 free books at the game tomorrow afternoon. Click here for more information.
- Saturday’s game will be available for our overseas supporters to stream over on Stockport County Live, featuring live commentary with Jon Keighren and Sam Byrne. Audio commentary will also be available for our supporters located in the UK. Click here to buy a pass today!
Our Opponents:
Doncaster Rovers are back in League Two for the first time since 2017 after suffering relegation last year, and have been the definition of inconsistent in the division so far, with 14 wins and 14 defeats to their name in 32 league games.
The reverse fixture between these two sides saw Rovers emerge 2-1 winners at the Keepmoat Stadium; a stoppage-time goal from Kieran Agard snatching all three points, against a County side that had Macauley Southam-Hales sent off after just twenty minutes.
That result actually formed part of a promising start to the campaign under the management of former County loanee Gary McSheffrey, with the side ending August in 3rd place having taken 14 points from their opening six games.
A run of just two wins and seven points from their next eight games, though, ultimately spelt the end of the 40-year-old’s first role in first-team management. The former Coventry City striker led his side to just 14 wins in his 46 games in charge, and having been unable to save the side from relegation last season, he was sacked with the team sat in 12th place.
His replacement came in the form of another former County loanee, Danny Schofield, who made five appearances for County in the Conference Premier whilst on loan from Rotherham United in 2013. The 42-year-old began the season in charge of Huddersfield Town in the Championship, but was sacked after just nine games, with the Terriers sat 23rd in the table.
To say results have been mixed under their new boss would be an understatement. Of his 18 league games in charge, Donny have won eight and lost nine, drawing just once – in his first game in charge. Their last ten games have seen them win five and lose five, at one following up a three-game losing streak in January with three straight wins against Tranmere, Swindon and Barrow. It’s been a real rollercoaster for the Yorkshire side.
Their away form has been a cause of concern, having lost seven and won just three of the last eleven games on the road – a run dating back to the start of October.
Such is the competitive nature of the league, however, that a good run in their final 14 games would put them in contention for a play-off spot – currently sitting seven points behind 7th-place Salford with two games in hand. They will need to find some consistency from somewhere soon though, if they are to keep alive their hopes of an instant return to League One.
Match Stats:
- This will be the 83rd competitive meeting between the two sides, with County winning 33 to Doncaster’s 35. Our last league win in this fixture came all the way back in February 1990, with a Keith Edwards brace and a Brett Angell strike sealing a 2-1 win. We have drawn one and lost four of the subsequent five league meetings since.
- County haven’t lost consecutive games in League Two since August, when we were beaten by Doncaster and then Mansfield Town a week later.
- Dave Challinor is currently looking for his 50th win as County manager, having won 49 of his 81 games in charge so far. He would become the fastest manager in the club’s history to reach this milestone.
