Yeovil Town make their first ever visit to Doncaster Rovers' new Keepmoat Stadium tomorrow (Tuesday) evening for a League One match that much like Saturday's game sees them face a side with strong playoff ambitions. Doncaster have been steadily improving after a poor start to the season and now lie in 8th position in the table, 10 points behind the Glovers but with a game in hand. They are three points away from a playoff position at present.
As has been the case for nearly all matches since the turn of the year, much of the pre-match build-up is about who is on the treatment table and Doncaster are no exception. Donny suffered a series of weekend injuries, with in-form striker Paul Heffernan the most significant. Rovers are awaiting the outcome of a scan on an ankle injury but early expectations are that he will be missing for four weeks - a real body blow for a striker who has scored 20 goals so far this season. To make matters worse, the man who replaced him in Saturday's match, Mark McCammon, suffered a back injury. Winger James Coppinger will need a fitness test on a thigh problem whilst defender Alan Wright will miss out due to an ankle injury.
On the long term list, Steve Roberts (ankle) and Gareth Roberts (hamstring) remain on the treatment table whilst, goalkeeper Ben Smith (knee) is not expected to make it. In addition midfielder Paul Green has tendonitis.
All of that overshadows what has been an impressive run of form for the Yorkshire side in recent months. Manager Sean O'Driscoll is the current holder of the Manager of the Month award, gained for his club's string of performances during January that saw Rovers reach the JPT Final as well as climbing to the edge of the playoff positions. Losing three out of their five matches in February has seen that run thwarted somewhat, although a 1-0 win at the Keepmoat Stadium over Port Vale on Saturday gave them their first three points of the month.
The Glovers' squad availability is decidedly less complicated. Mark Lynch and Paul Terry are long term knee injuries whilst Andy Lindegaard's groin problem will keep him out of contention. Otherwise, team selection is merely a matter of whether central defender Scott Guyett has had enough time to recover from a minor ankle injury sustained in Saturday's 1-0 win over Swansea City. If Scott is fit, expect Terrell Forbes to continue at right-back. If not, then Matthew Rose will come in, allowing Forbes to move to a more central position. Elsewhere it is merely a matter of manager Russell Slade making judgements on whether any of his players are looking jaded during a period that will see them complete their fourth match in 11 days tomorrow night.
Rather unusually, the Glovers have yet to play Doncaster this season, with the return match between the two sides currently scheduled as the final home match at Huish Park. Last season the Glovers did the double over Donny, with a 1-0 win at Belle Vue being followed up with a 3-0 win at Huish Park. The Glovers have had a cracking record at Doncaster's former ground - can they carry that 'voodoo sign' into the Keepmoat Stadium?
Doncaster's new ground facilities are detailed in the Ciderspace guide to Doncaster, although you may find your parking point to have a familiar look to it - Doncaster recommend the Belle Vue car park as one option for those who wish to avoid the 5 pound parking fee at the new stadium.
The match is currently being advertised by Yeovil Town's official site as an ALL TICKET match, stating that no tickets will be sold to away fans on the day of the match. We would therefore strongly advise that you do not travel to Yorkshire without a ticket, or without an assurance that you will get hold of one upon your arrival. Note also that the weather forecast for Doncaster is for heavy rain/sleet during the afternoon and early evening. We'd therefore strongly recommend that you allow some extra time for your journey and dress appropriately for the occasion.
Link: Ciderspace Guide To Doncaster.
Link: Metcheck.Com : Doncaster Weather Forecast.
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26 February 2007 : 
