Doncaster Rovers v Portsmouth: team news, predicted XIs, referee, form guides and key stats
Pompey travel to Doncaster tonight looking to add weight to their own promotion credentials while at the same time bidding to put a huge dent in Rovers’ aspirations.
Only three points separate both teams in the table, with Pompey fourth (52 points) and Rovers sixth with two games in hand.
Pompey boss Kenny Jackett will be looking for a reaction after Saturday’s disappointing home draw against Gillingham.
Meanwhile, the hosts will be desperate to reverse form that has seen them pick up just one point from their past five games.
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Donny also have the small matter of being of being without a manager to contend with, after Darren Moore left on Monday to take up the vacant manager’s job at Sheffield Wednesday.
With all that in mind, tonight’s game promises to be an intriguing battle.
Kick-off is at 7pm.
Doncaster Rovers team news
Donny’s preparations for tonight’s game suffered a huge blow on Monday when it emerged boss Darren Moore had departed to take up the vacant managerial job at Sheffield Wednesday.
Veteran defender Andy Butler has since been placed in charge until the end of the season – and he’ll be hoping to his knowledge of the players and club will help steady the ship.
The move couldn’t have happened at a worse possible time for Donny, with their Championship ambitions faltering in recent weeks.
The Keepmoat side sit sixth following four defeats and a draw from their past five games.
Predicted starting XI
Ellery Balcombe, Brad Halliday, Tom Anderson, Joe Wright, Reece James, Matt Smith, John Bostock, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Taylor Richards, Josh Sims, Omar Bogle. Subs: Louis Jones, Cameron John, Scott Robertson, Madger Gomes, Jon Taylor, James Coppinger, Elliot Simoes.
Pompey team news
Tom Naylor (back) and Ellis Harrison (knee) have been given the all-clear after receiving knocks in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Gillingham.
They are now expected to start tonight’s trip to managerless Doncaster.
James Bolton, however, failed a fitness test on his ankle before the team departed for Yorkshire.
Haji Mnoga is pencilled in to retain his place at right-back, with regular starter Callum Johnson still out with a groin injury.
Although, Jack Whatmough might also be an option for the problem full-back position.
Winger Michael Jacobs continues his recovery from a hamstring injury but is unlikely to be part of the match-day 18 for the trip to the Keepmoat.
Predicted line-up
Craig MacGillivray, Jack Whatmough, Sean Raggett, Rasmus Nicolaisen, Charlie Daniels, Marcus Harness, Tom Naylor, Andy Cannon, Harvey White, Ronan Curtis, Ellis Harrison. Subs: Lewis Morgan, Haji Mnoga, Lee Brown, Ryan Williams, George Byers, Jordy Hiwula, John Marquis.
Match-day odds (bet365)
Doncaster Rovers: 21/10
1-0 9/1, 2-0 14/1, 2-1 10/1, 3-0 /1, 3-1 22/1, 3-2 33/1
Pompey: 13/10
1-0 15/2, 2-0 10/1, 2-1 17/2, 3-0 20/1, 3-1 18/1, 3-2 25/1
Draw: 14/5
0-0 9/1, 1-1 11/2, 2-2 12/1, 3-3 40/1
First goalscorer: John Marquis (4/1), Ronan Curtis and Ellis Harrison (both 11/2), Fejiri Okenabirhie (6/1)
Referee
Ross Joyce (Teeside)
Doncaster Rovers stats
League position: 6th
Top scorer: Fejiri Okenabirhie (11)
Top assists: Josh Sims (6)
Most appearances: Brad Halliday (36)
Pompey stats
League position: 4th
Top scorer: John Marquis (14)
Top assists: Marcus Harness (9)
Most appearances: John Marquis (37)
Form guide (all competitions)
Doncaster Rovers: P36 W18 D5 L13
Past five games
L 2-1 Ipswich (A) – League One
D 3-3 Hull (H) – League One
L 1-0 Accrington (H) – League One
L 4-1 Sunderland (A) – League One
L 3-1 Fleetwood (A) – League One
Pompey: P40 W21 D7 L12
Past five games
D 1-1 Gillingham (H) – League One
W 1-0 Oxford United (A) – League One
L 1-0 Blackpool (H) – League One
L 3-1 Bristol Rovers (A) – League One
W 2-0 Swindon (H) – League One
Other fixtures (7pm kick offs unless stated)
Accrington Stanley v Ipswich Town, Blackpool v Crewe Alexandra, Burton Albion v Bristol Rovers, Gillingham v MK Dons (6pm), Hull City v Rochdale, Lincoln City v Fleetwood Town, Northampton Town v Plymouth Argyle, Oxford United v Peterborough United, Shrewsbury Town v AFC Wimbledon, Sunderland v Swindon Town, Wigan Athletic v Charlton Athletic.