Peterborough United will have the backing of over 2,000 fans as they travel to play-off rivals Doncaster Rovers.
Doncaster Rovers -Vs- Peterborough United
Venue: Keepmoat Stadium
Date: Saturday, 14th March, 2015
Kick-off: 15:00pm
Posh have a 100% winning record under caretaker boss Dave Robertson are winning matches against Bradford City, Sheffield United and Leyton Orient. Can they make it four out of four when they take a trip up the A1 to play-off rivals Doncaster Rovers?
Rovers currently sit in the final play-off place but are level on points with 8th placed Posh. Donny have drawn their last two matches at Gillingham and Preston North End but they won the last time they played at home.
HEAD TO HEAD
There have been 33 League matches played between these two sides and things couldn`t be more even. There have only been six draws in that time while both sides have won on 13 occasions!
The last two meetings have actually ended in draws with a goalless draw earlier in the season at the ABAX Stadium while it was 1-1 at the Keepmoat in February 2012.
The two sides first met in competitive action in the 1960/61 season in Division 4. The matches were played within a week of each other in September 1960 with the first match taking place at Belle Vue in front of just under 10,000 fans. Posh took the honours 2-1 with both Posh goals coming from none other than Terry Bly!
The return fixture just six days later saw Posh run out comfortable 6-2 winners with over 16,000 fans packing London Road. Bly only scored one of the goals this time but it was Peter McNamee who scored a hat-trick. Jimmy Dunne and Billy Hails scored the other goals.
The last time Posh travelled to the Keepmoat Stadium, they left it very late to score an equaliser. Rovers had taken the lead on the stroke of half-time but it was debutant Tyrone Barnett who came off the subs bench to claim a point for Posh with the equaliser in the 90th minute.
TEAM NEWS
Doncaster Rovers
Rovers will introduce a new face to their fans on Saturday but a familiar one to Posh fans after Jonson Clarke-Harris signed on a youth loan from Rotherham United.
“I can`t wait to get going and hopefully be in the team for Saturday,” said Clarke-Harris.
“Peterborough are one of my previous teams and I`m looking to cause an upset if that`s what it takes to push my career forward and help Doncaster finish in that top six.”
The match will celebrate James Coppinger`s 450th appearance for the club (although he hasn`t reached that figure yet!) and he will be hoping to add to his 6 goals he`s scored this season but he needs to recover from injury to take his place in the side.
Rovers have had a settled side for a while which has seen them move up the table after a slow start to the season which coincided with a number of injuries and an unsettled team.
Paul Keegan remains on the sidelines with a knee injury while striker Uche Ikpeazu has returned to parent club Watford.
Peterborough United
Posh will be without Marcus Maddison after the club failed to get his red card he received against Leyton Orient rescinded.
Dave Robertson will still be without long term injury victims Jack Baldwin and Jermaine Anderson but Shaun Brisley has recovered from the injury which kept him out of the O`s game last Saturday.
Joe Newell has also recovered from the injury which forced him out of the O`s match at half-time which means Posh could remain unchanged. The only uncertainty will be surrounding the front pairing as Robertson tries to find a goal scoring partnership.
Robertson spoke to PUTV this week ahead of the game. Watch what he had to say HERE.
Vital Posh predicts the starting line-up will be:
HOTSHOTS
Doncaster Rovers
9 – Curtis Main
9 – Nathan Tyson
7 – Harry Forrester
6 – James Coppinger
Posh
8 – Conor Washington
7 – Marcus Maddison
5 – Kyle Vassell
4 – Christian Burgess
REFEREE
NIGEL MILLER will take charge of the match.
To find out more about the official CLICK HERE.
He will be assisted by Nick Greenhalgh and David Storrie.
The fourth official is Jason Tyas.
PREDICTION
Rovers have been hard to beat of late especially at home having won three of their last four home matches with the only defeat coming to League leaders Bristol City.
Posh have also turned the corner since caretaker boss Dave Robertson has taken over with the players showing a very determined attitude.
All in all, it could end in stalemate but will there be any goals?
With over 2,000 Posh making the trip, they may not have any goals to cheer as Vital Posh believe the match will remain goalless: 0 – 0.
Don`t forget you can predict the Doncaster v Posh match. Vote for what you think will be the score HERE. Voting closes at 10am on Saturday morning.
Don`t forget to vote in the following polls which are currently running at the time of print:
GOAL of the Month – February 2015
Posh v Leyton Orient – Man of the Match
Rate the Ref – Mark Brown – Posh v Leyton Orient
UP THE POSH
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