Preview: Doncaster Rovers v Fleetwood Town

23 April 2021

Fleetwood Town face Doncaster Rovers on Saturday 24 April at the Keepmoat Stadium in Sky Bet League One, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 3pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Doncaster Rovers v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 24 April 2021

Kick-off: 15:00

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

Match officials: Samuel Barrott (Referee), Geoffrey Russell & Billy Smallwood (Assistant Referees), David Avent (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood head into their league clash against Doncaster after a 2-0 loss to Crewe Alexandra at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Simon Grayson’s side started the game strong, creating better chances, but it was Owen Dale who opened the scoring as he placed the ball past Alex Cairns from close range. Kyle Vassell had his penalty saved shortly after and Chris Porter, who also had a penalty, converted his meaning Crewe would walk away winners on the night.

In the game before, Town narrowly lost out to top of the table, Hull City. The Cods opened the scoring in the first half when Vassell finished off a wonderful move. However, despite a valiant performance, second-half goals from Josh Magennis and Keane Lewis-Potter were enough to cancel out the Cod Army’s early goal.

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DONCASTER ROVERS

Doncaster are currently sat in mid-table and have struggled for form as of late, with only one win in their last 11 games.

In their last outing, they travelled to the Wham Stadium on Tuesday, where they lost 2-1 to Accrington Stanley. Dion Charles broke the deadlock as he converted his first-half penalty, only for Tyreece John-Jules to cancel that goal out with 15 minutes to go. More unfortunate news for Rovers came at the end of the game as they conceded yet another penalty with seconds to go, which Charles calmly slotted home to secure the win.

Doncaster won their game before that when they faced off against Shrewsbury Town away from home. Fejiri Okenabirhie found the back of the net within the first 15 minutes and Taylor Richards managed to add a second late on in the second half, seeing them travel home happy.

ONE TO WATCH: FEJIRI OKENABIRHIE

One to watch from Doncaster is forward, Fejiri Okenabirhie. The 25-year-old is currently the top scorer for Donny this season with ten goals.

Okenabirhie started his youth career at Premier League side Arsenal before joining Stevenage as an apprentice in 2012. After becoming a key player in their FA Youth Cup run in the 2012/13 season, he joined Bedford Town on a youth loan.

The Hendon-born forward made his debut in a defeat to Bristol City in 2014, but most of his time at the Boro was spent on loan at clubs like Farnborough, Cambridge City, and Royston Town, before moving on to Harrow Borough in November 2015.

He had a successful stint at the Isthmian League Premier Division side, scoring eight goals in 30 games, and he caught the attention of Dagenham & Redbridge and signed a two-year deal there. Okenabirhie carried on his goal-scoring form at Dagenham, as he nagged 19 goals in his two years there and he managed to earn a move to League One side, Shrewsbury Town.

He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the season, and it only took eight appearances to open his goal tally, which came in a 6-0 win over Tranmere Rovers. The forward would score 12 goals in his time there and would move onto Doncaster in 2020. Since moving to Donny, Okenabirhie had scored 15 goals in 48 appearances.

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WATCH TOWN ON iFOLLOW!

Supporters can now purchase video match passes for Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One clash against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

With fans still unable to attend games, the iFollow match pass is your best option to watch the Cod Army play.

Simon Grayson's side are set to travel to the Keepmoat Stadium to face Doncaster in a league clash on Saturday and you can watch the game for just £10!

If you'd like to purchase your match pass, click HERE.

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town take three points from their trip to Doncaster

24 April 2021

Fleetwood Town beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium in Sky Bet League One on Saturday afternoon.

Barrie McKay scored the only goal of the game five minutes after break, squeezing the ball under the Rovers goalkeeper after creating space on the left-hand side.

Fleetwood had the opening chance of the game when Sam Finley worked some space on the edge of the area. His effort towards goal was deflected behind for a corner and Danny Andrew’s resulting set piece was dealt with by the Rovers defence.

Just after, McKay was at the heart of the action down the left. His cross towards the back post found Callum Camps whose effort went just wide of Jamie Jones’ goals.

Fleetwood carried on the pressure, attacking the Doncaster goal, as Andrew came close when his long-range effort from the right-hand side flew past the post.

The best chance of the half came just after the half hour mark as Sam Finley worked an effort from inside the opposition’s box, which had to be cleared off the line.

Five minutes later, Kyle Vassell almost opened the scoring. After a chain of step overs, he finds the perfect angle, but his right footed effort struck the woodwork.

Five minutes after the break, the first chance of the second half led to the first goal of the game. McKay drove forward down the left before firing an effort towards goal, squeezing the ball underneath the Rovers keeper to give his side the lead.

Town almost doubled the deficit as James Hill rose highest in the penalty area when he got on the end of McKay’s lofted free kick, but he couldn’t make his header count.

The hosts had an opening on goal in the 65th minute. Taylor-Richards squeezed a shot in from a tight angle, but Alex Cairns was equal to the effort and pulled off a fine diving save to his left.

At the other end, Kyle Vassell almost made it two when he received the ball from McKay on the left-hand side. However, his strike could only find the side netting.

More brilliant work from Town’s Scottish winger McKay who drove down the flank before squaring the ball across the face of goal, finding Callum Camps whose shot went just wide of the target.

A minute later, Camps had another effort on goal, but he was unable to find the target - McKay the architect once again. The game then fizzled out with Grayson’s men taking all three points back to the Fylde Coast.

Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew, Connolly (C), Camps, Rossiter, Vassell (Garner 76), McKay, Donacien, Finley, Biggins, Hill

Subs not used: Coleman (GK), Whelan, Duffy, Sheron, Baggley, Feeney.

Doncaster XI: Jones (GK), James, Anderson (C), Wright, Robertson (Bostock 45), Okenabirhie, Smith, Richards, John-Jules (Coppinger 62), Sims, Butler

Subs not used: Bottomley (GK), Gomes, John, Greaves, Horton