Southend v Doncaster preview

Shrimpers tackle Rovers in first leg of semi final

By James Pearson   Last updated: 9th May 2008

steve tilson southend

Tilson: Near full-strength squad

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Southend are close to full-strength against Doncaster as the race for Championship football via the play-offs gets underway.

The Shrimpers will have manager Steve Tilson back in the dugout for the first-leg of their semi-final tie after serving a two-match touchline ban.

Tilson has a near virtual full-strength side to choose from with Lee Barnard available after making a full recovery from a slight calf strain, while young winger Damian Scannell has returned to training following an infection in his groin.

Tilson will be without a trio of long-term injury absentees - defenders Che Wilson (Achilles) and Lewis Hunt (hernia) as well as striker Richie Foran (knee) will all play no further part this season.

Triple boost

Doncaster, who are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion, could be handed a triple injury boost.

Long-term injury victims Mark Wilson (groin), Adam Lockwood (foot) and Steve Roberts (knee) are all in with a chance of appearing in Friday's crunch clash.

Midfielder Paul Green is also expected to shake off an ankle injury as Rovers look to bury the memory of last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Cheltenham that allowed Nottingham Forest to bag second spot.

Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll believes his players are over last Saturday's defeat: "In football, as a player or as a manager, you deal with disappointment a lot more than you deal with success.

"We've got another opportunity now and not a lot of teams get the chance of having another opportunity."

Catch all the action from Roots Hall live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD.