Preview: Doncaster Rovers v Fleetwood Town

16 August 2019

Fleetwood Town are on the road this weekend at Doncaster Rovers, and we have all you need to know ahead of the Sky Bet League One fixture.

Fixture: Doncaster Rovers v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 17^th August 2019

Kick-Off: 15:00 BST

Venue: Keepmoat Stadium, Stadium Way, Doncaster, DN4 5JW

Match officials: James Adcock (Referee), Richard Wild & Robert Merchant (Assistants), Elliot Swallow (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood started off the new season with two back to back wins in the league, with their third match of being in the first round of the Carabao Cup against Championship side, Nottingham Forest.

The manager only made two changes to the side that had started the two league fixtures, and with the Cod Army having their fair share of their chances, they could have caused an upset against the two times European Champions.

With two victories over Doncaster Rovers last season – adding up to 7-0 on aggregate – there will be plenty of confidence in the camp ahead of the 3pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon.

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DONCASTER ROVERS

Doncaster have had a steady start to the new season with two draws on the bounce. The first was at the Keepmoat Stadium against Gillingham, where the two sides played out a 1-1 draw.

Their second draw was on the road to Rochdale, and with Dale winning going into injury time, it was Kieran Sadlier’s late strike that gave Darren Moore a valuable point in Greater Manchester.

Doncaster lost main striker John Marquis in the summer to fellow league side Portsmouth, with Moore now be looking for their other attackers to fill in after losing their man who scored 26 goals in 54 appearances last campaign for Rovers.

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LAST TIME AT THE KEEPMOAT STADIUM

The last time Fleetwood and Doncaster Rovers met was on Saturday 6th October 2018, with Town coming away with all three points after a 4-0 win at the Keepmoat Stadium. Ched Evans got the ball rolling from the penalty spot, with James Wallace and Ashley Eastham scoring with their heads before the break. Ash Hunter finished the match off with a clever finish after a defensive mistake allowed the young forward in on goal.

Watch the highlights here.

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ONE TO WATCH: KIERAN SADLIER

The one to watch for Doncaster Rovers is midfielder Kieran Sadlier, who has scored two goals in their first two league matches of the season.

The 24-year-old started off his career at Cambridge United before moving to West Ham United in 2005 in their famous youth academy. He finished the club’s top youth goal scorer in the 2012-23 season, but was later released – where he joined Scottish side, St Mirren.

With 11 appearances and just the one goal at Mirren – Peterborough United came calling following a successful trial period, but it was out on loan to get game time at FC Halifax Town. Sadlier has also spent time at Sligo Rovers and Cork City.

Doncaster signed the midfielder in 2018, and HE made his debut against Preston North End in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup. His first goal for the club was against his former club, Peterborough when they beat Posh 3-1 at the Keepmoat Stadium.

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WHAT JOEY BARTON HAD TO SAY

Fleetwood’s head coach has spoken to the media ahead of his sides trip to the Keepmoat Stadium, where he touched on Doncaster’s threats, Danny Andrew’s return and much more.

You can watch the full interview on the club’s iFollow.

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TICKET & TRAVEL INFORMATION

Adults - £21

Seniors (60+) - £17

Under 18 - £8

Under 12 - £5

Coach travel is also available for the match, and with the price just £5 for Onward Card holders and £15 for non Onward Card holders, this will be the easiest way for Supporters to get to the ground. Coaches will be leaving Highbury at 10:30am

For more details on ticket and travel details, visit the ticket office at Highbury, or call (01253) 775080.

BETTING ODDS

For Fleetwood Town to pick up all three points on the road of the second time this season, supporters can get odds of 23/10 – with Town to win and both teams to score at 13/2.

With Joey Barton’s side winning 4-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium last time out, the odds of that score line being repeated is 100/1.

Conor McAleny to score at any time in the match is currently at 11/5 – with Wes Burns 5/2 to score in the 90 minutes.

You can find more odds on SkyBet. Please remember to bet and gamble responsibly.

FOLLOW TOWN ON IFOLLOW

Can’t make the game on Saturday? Well don’t worry as with iFollow Fleetwood, you won’t miss any of the action!

With video season passes available, alongside audio match passes, you can keep up to date with all that happens on a match day in the comfort of your own home.

For more details, head over to our iFollow subscription page.

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Match Reports

Report: Late heartbreak as Doncaster edge five-goal thriller

17 August 2019

An injury time own goal saw Fleetwood Town heartbreakingly lose out 3-2 at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

Conor McAleny had opened the scoring for Fleetwood inside ten minutes, but the home side bounced back with two goals from Cameron John and James Coppinger to give Darren Moore’s side the lead at half-time.

Half-time replacement Paddy Madden got Town back into the game ten minutes after the restart, and with chances falling for both sides in the second half, it was an unfortunate injury time own goal from Wes Burns that sealed all three points for the South Yorkshire outfit.

The visitors started off the better of the two sides, with the first effort at goal coming from Josh Morris, he would have had his third goal in as many games if it wasn’t for Halliday who deflected his curling shot out for a corner.

Fleetwood’s dominance was shown by getting the first goal of the match in the 10^th minute. McAleny headed the ball across goal after Jordan Rossiter fizzed the ball back into the danger zone. The perfect start for Joey Barton and his side.

Doncaster’s Alfie May had the home side’s first shot on target with a thunderous strike from 25-yards out. Alex Cairns was well behind the right footed shot, which was parried out for a corner.

Rovers found their equaliser moments later through John. The centre half twisted inside the box on a loose ball and with his strike having too much on it, there wasn’t much Cairns could do to prevent it from going in off the underside of the crossbar.

In what was an entertaining match at The Keepmoat, chances kept falling for both sides and when captain Paul Coutts stepped over the free-kick 30-yards out for Morris, Rovers goalkeeper Ian Lawlor just did enough to tip it over the crossbar.

After the frantic opening thirty minutes, the match somewhat settled down for ten minutes, but Coppinger was to have the final say in a pulsating opening stanza.

The Doncaster midfielder exploited the space he had and curled one right around the Town defender into the top corner – a goal of real quality from the home side.

Rovers started the second half as they finished the first, and when the one to watch Kieran Sadlier got passed former Doncaster defender Danny Andrew, his strike hit the underside of the crossbar.

Like just when Town were on top, Doncaster equalised and Town reserved that by grabbing their second ten minutes after the restart. Madden – who was substituted on at half-time headed the ball home from close range after a fantastic point blank range save from Lawlor.

Both managers made changes as the game was getting stretched, and when Jon Taylor ran to the byline minutes after coming on, he made Town defender Peter Clarke head the ball out for a corner kick. A header which the home fans thought he had put into his own net.

Fleetwood thought they had taken the lead after Jack Sowerby’s header ricocheted off the far post, and trickled across the line. Everybody in the stadium thought it was a goal, with Morris’ follow up effort somehow saved by Lawlor.

With chances falling for both teams throughout the match, there was time for one last chance and that fell to the home side. After a wicked ball into the Fleetwood penalty area, a deflection off Burns guided the ball home to give Rovers all three points.

Doncaster: Lawlor (GK), Halliday, James, Anderson, Sheaf, Sadiler, Whiteman ©, May (Taylor 70’), Coppinger (Gomes 90'), Ennis (Sterling 70’), John.

Subs not used: Dieng, Crawford, Blair, Longbottom.

Fleetwood: Cairns (GK), Coyle, Andrew, Clarke, Souttar, Burns, McAleny (Wallace 67’), Morris, Coutts ©, Rossiter (Madden 46’), Sowerby (Biggins 79’).

Subs not used: Gilks (GK), Eastham, Hunter, Mooney.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Tickets and travel on sale for trip to Doncaster

30 July 2019

Tickets and coach travel for Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One trip to Doncaster Rovers are now on sale.

Joey Barton’s side enjoyed a memorable 4-0 victory at the Keepmoat Stadium last season, and head to South Yorkshire for the third game of the new League One campaign.

The Cod Army will be situated in the Ellgia North Stand, with prices as follows:

Adults - £21

Senior (60+) - £17

22-24 - £17

18-21 - £13