Doncaster v Derby Preview
This game involves two in form team who sit side by side in the table. Doncaster have been fantastic over the last couple of months and have dragged their way from the depths of relegation right up to 16th. Derby on the other hand have looked like a different team under new manager Nigel Clough and the Rams are one place higher than their opponents in 15th.
Doncaster’s form in recent weeks has been a joy for Sean O’Driscoll with Rovers climbing the table and proving their early season doubters wrong. However, their good form took an abrupt turn for the worst last weekend, with Swansea taking the points in a 3-1 win. Don’t let that result take away the marvelous two months Doncaster have had though. They looked down and out before Christmas yet on Boxing Day it all changed and a 4-2 win over Nottingham Forest looks to have saved their season. They went on to record seven wins out of their next eight league games meaning that they now sit on forty points and you’d have to imagine they’ll manage to stay up having accumulated that amount already.
While Derby had a miserable first half to the season, not many people really thought they were serious contenders for the drop. Having only just been relegated from the Premiership last season, the Rams still have a first rate squad and Nigel Clough will be hoping to break them into the top half this season. His first month or so at the club seems encouraging as well, with the Rams collecting some valuable wins including a double over fierce rivals Nottingham Forest. They’ve scored an impressive thirteen goals in their last four league games and when a team can hit the net on such a frequent basis, they will always succeed in this league.
As for team news, Sean O’Driscoll has been handed two boosts with the news that James Coppinger and Matt Mills have pulled through injury scares and both look set to be available for selection. However, having been sent off last week against Swansea, midfielder Ritchie Wellens won’t be featuring due to suspension. There’s plenty of good news to report for Derby as Nigel Clough welcomes back Luke Varney, Gary Teale, Chris Porter and Jay McEveley who all return from injuries. However, Clough won’t be able to rely on Nacer Barazite who will miss out through a dislocated shoulder.
This is a tricky match to predict and it could be a case of this being a huge turning point in Doncaster’s season. Derby will be tricky opponents and considering their recent good form and resurgence under Nigel Clough, we’re going to go for an away win – 3-1 Rams.
