PREVIEW: Doncaster Rovers vs Argyle
Ryan Lowe’s men hit the road for the second time this week, visiting play-off chasing Doncaster Rovers for Sky Bet League One action on Saturday afternoon.
The Greens will be searching for a reaction at the Keepmoat Stadium, having fell to a disappointing defeat at Northampton Town a few days earlier.
This Pilgrims’ next opponents, who currently occupy the final League One play-off position, have experienced a week of upheaval, with manager Darren Moore departing for Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on Monday.
Despite the uncertainty, interim manager Andy Butler led Rovers to a superb 2-1 victory over play-off rivals Portsmouth on Tuesday, their first win in five attempts.
Reece James give Doncaster the lead in the 12th minute though a close-range effort. Substitute Fejiri Okenabirhie, who replaced the injured Jon Taylor on the 28th minute, doubled Rovers’ lead with an impressive finish from a tight angle on 70 minutes. Former Rovers striker John Marquis, who joined Pompey from the South Yorkshire club for a seven-figure fee in 2019, scored a stoppage-time consolation for the visitors.
In our reverse league fixture at Home Park back in October, the Pilgrims secured 2-1 victory against Rovers. Top goalscorer Luke Jephcott converted a well-executed Danny Mayor assist before the break, before captain Joe Edwards secured the win in the 68th minute, converting Byron Moore’s cross. Doncaster got one back five minutes later through Rovers’ leading marksman Okenabirhie.
For Rovers, Taylor has been ruled out for the weekend’s meeting after coming off in the first-half of the victory against Pompey. Josh Sims was also substituted in midweek, but is likely to recover in time to be available on Saturday.
Tyreece John-Jules is Rovers’ only long-term absentee with a hamstring injury, while young goalkeeper Louis Jones is expected to retain his place in the starting eleven, having made his league debut in midweek.
For the Pilgrims, midfielder Lewis Macleod is available for selection, having returned to the bench in midweek, although Sam Woods is unavailable through suspension.
ARGYLE AWAY TO DONCASTER ROVERS IN THE EFL
Overall: P 20 W 4 D 8 L 8 F 28 A 34
The first time: 21 March, 1936. Division Two. Doncaster Rovers 1 Argyle 2
Bob Jack’s Argyle won 2-1 at Belle Vue in our first Football League visit to Doncaster in 1936. Jack Vidler scored both of our goals.
The last time: 13 April, 2019. Sky Bet League One. Doncaster Rovers 2 Argyle 0
Derek Adams’ Argyle dropped to 18th place and just three points outside the relegation zone following a 2-0 defeat at Rovers in 2019. Tommy Rowe and Danny Andrew scored in the first half for the home side as Argyle’s winless League One run stretched to five matches.
Biggest win: 2 October, 1958. Division Three. Doncaster Rovers 4 Argyle 6
Rovers led 4-2 at half time thanks to goals from Ron Walker (2), a Bill Graham penalty and John Meredith, with Jack Rowley’s Argyle responding from Harry Penk and Barry Meyer. In an astonishing second half turnaround, the Greens scored four times without reply thanks to a Peter Anderson hat-trick and a second from Meyer.
Most goals in a single game: Ten, in our 6-4 victory in 1958 (see above).
Saturday's clash with Rovers kicks-off at 3pm, and is available to stream live on iFollow Argyle. Click here to purchase your pass.