Having finally got our first three points back in the Football League at the weekend, County travel to recently relegated Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night in what is our first ever match at the Eco-Power Stadium.
Kyle Wootton’s second-half header against Colchester on Saturday gave County a deserved first league win of the campaign at the third attempt, and lifted us up to 16th in the fledgling league table.
We’ll be looking to win back-to-back games in the Football League for the first time since February 2009, when Cheltenham Town and Carlisle United were both put to the sword, and a win in Yorkshire would see us climb above Doncaster in the table as we look to move closer to the play-off places.
Rovers are unbeaten in their three league games so far this season as they look for a quick return to League One following relegation last season. They maintained that unbeaten record in dramatic circumstances at the weekend, going 2-0 down in the 84th minute away at AFC Wimbledon before two late goals from Ro-Shaun Williams and former County hero Tommy Rowe saw them rescue a point.
Our Opponents:
Last season was a miserable one for Doncaster Rovers and their fans, as a five-year spell in League One came to an end following relegation back to League Two, with their lowest points tally in the third tier since 1988 (38).
They endured a terrible start to the 2021/22 campaign under new manager Richie Wellens, as they picked up just four points from their first nine league games under the former Salford and Swindon boss to leave them bottom of the table.
Although things improved slightly over the next few months, leaving them with 13 points after 19 games, they remained six points from safety in December, leading them to part company with the manager, who is now in charge of current league leaders Leyton Orient.
U18s coach and former County loanee Gary McSheffrey was appointed as Wellens’ replacement on a permanent basis, after a short spell as caretaker boss – for his first full-time role as a manager.
Although the Yorkshire side did pick up some eye-catching results under the 40-year-old, including away wins at MK Dons and eventual play-off winners Sunderland, they were ultimately unable to find a way out of the bottom four.
Their relegation was officially confirmed on the final day of the League One season after a 1-1 draw away at Oxford United, although their inferior goal-difference meant their fate was all-but-sealed heading into that final game. They won just ten league games all season, and only bottom side Crewe lost more than their 28 games in the division.
McSheffrey has remained in charge over the Summer, tasked with the aim of a return to the third tier at the first time of asking. His side have been busy in the transfer market so far, with some notable new additions strengthening what is already an experienced squad.
Hartlepool United’s double Player of the Year Luke Molyneux has joined on a two-year-deal after scoring 12 goals last season; the attacking midfielder is yet to make his debut due to injury, but could be involved in the matchday squad for the first time on Tuesday night.
Striker George Miller has also joined permanently from League One side Barnsley. The forward also scored 12 goals in League 2 last season whilst on loan at Walsall, and is already off the mark for his new club having scored in their win against Sutton a fortnight ago.
Experienced attacking midfielder Lee Tomlin has also made the move to the Eco-Power. The 33-year-old has spent most of his career playing in the Championship before a short spell at Walsall last season, and had a controversial start to life at his new club when picking up a bizarre red card on the opening day against Bradford.
Despite that red card, which came just before half-time, Doncaster held on for a 0-0 draw at the home of the pre-season promotion favourites, before following that up with a dramatic win against Sutton a week later. The side trailed 1-0 heading into stoppage time, before two late, late goals turned the game on its head.
It means the side have now scored two late goals in each of their last two league games, earning them four points in the process – Dave Challinor will be keen to emphasis the importance of staying focussed all the way on Tuesday night.
One to watch:
One man with plenty of experience in this Doncaster squad is midfielder Tommy Rowe, once a promotion winning hero at Edgeley Park. Tommy made his name for himself as a left-winger at County, coming through the academy to become a key part of our 2008 promotion winning side under Jim Gannon.
He has since gone on to have a very successful career in the Championship with Peterborough, Wolves and Bristol City, and is now in his second spell at Doncaster after making over 100 appearances for them between 2016-2019. It was his sensational strike that sparked their late comeback at Wimbledon on Saturday, and the 33-year-old will be looking to add another promotion to his CV this season.
Match Stats:
- This will be the first meeting between the two sides since 2005 and our first away from home since 2004, when Doncaster still played at their Belle Vue Stadium
- Our last league win against Doncaster came all the way back in 1990, winning 3-1 with two from Keith Edwards and one from Brett Angell, although we have beaten them twice in cup competitions since then
- If County win on Tuesday, it will be our best start to a Football League season after four games since 1999/2000, when the Club were in the Championship
