Bristol Rovers vs Doncaster preview
Last Updated: 07/12/18 4:50pm
Bristol Rovers will hope Wednesday's Checkatrade Trophy win over Swansea Under-21s can provide a much-needed spark for their league form.
Rovers host Doncaster on Saturday sitting in the League One relegation zone, having lost five straight games in all competitions prior to their midweek triumph. Daniel Leadbitter, James Clarke, Michael Kelly, Stefan Payne and Ed Upson all came into the side for the clash with the Swans and will hope to keep their places.
Goalkeeper Jack Bonham, who was forced off by a back injury just after half-time in their last league game against Gillingham, played for 90 minutes on Wednesday but Ollie Clarke missed out again through injury.
Doncaster have no fresh injury concerns. Joe Wright could soon be back in contention after making quicker-than-anticipated progress following the ankle injury he sustained five weeks ago in an accidental training ground clash with Andy Butler.
The defender was initially expected to be out until the end of the year but he is now back on the grass and boss Grant McCann is hopeful he will be available at some point in December. Will Longbottom is Rovers' only other absentee while Leeds loanee Mallik Wilks will be among those hoping to force his way into the starting line-up.
1:40 Opta stats
In all competitions, Bristol Rovers have lost six of their last seven matches against Doncaster, although they did win their last League One encounter in January last season (3-1).
Doncaster have won each of their last three league visits to Bristol Rovers, having only won two of their first 14 away games against them in the Football League prior to this.
1:46 Bristol Rovers have lost each of their last three league games - the Pirates last lost four consecutive league games in August 2017.
Doncaster have kept just one clean sheet in their last 15 league games (W7 D3 L5), however that did come in their last outing against Blackpool (2-0).
No League One player has scored more goals this season without registering a single assist than Doncaster's John Marquis (10 goals, 0 assists).
