The Game
Argyle v Doncaster Rovers. Saturday, 7 March. 3pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
Doncaster started the season really well, winning five of their first seven games, and sat second after the first week of September. However, Rovers only picked up three points in their next ten league games.
A win at home to Peterborough United ended that barren run, but it was a bit of a false dawn, as Doncaster lost their next five, including a defeat at home to Argyle.
2026, though, has been an improvement. Since the turn of the year, Donny have played ten games and won five of them. They started January with home draws against Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic, mixed in with a win at AFC Wimbledon and a 3-0 victory at home to Leyton Orient.
A run of three away games saw losses at Bradford City and Wycombe Wanderers either side of a win at Burton Albion, then Doncaster won two in a row, winning at home against Huddersfield Town then 2-1 at local rivals Rotherham United. Most recently, Doncaster lost 4-0 at home to Cardiff City.
The Gaffer
Grant McCann was a midfielder throughout his playing days, growing up in Northern Ireland before joining West Ham United’s academy. McCann would go on to feature for a host of EFL sides – most notably Cheltenham Town, Scunthorpe United and Peterborough United – before finishing his career back in Northern Ireland with Linfield.
Upon retiring, McCann returned to former club Peterborough, to take up a coaching role. This eventually led to the Northern Irishman being named Posh manager in 2016, a post he would hold for nearly two years. Just months after being sacked, McCann joined Doncaster Rovers. In his only season, initially, with the club, the former midfielder led Rovers to the League One play-offs, in which they lost on penalties in the semi-final.
McCann stepped up to the Championship with Hull City in 2019; he spent two-and-a-half seasons there, in which he oversaw both relegation and promotion. In 2022, he returned to Peterborough for a third time but was unsuccessful and was sacked within a year. The former Northern Ireland international then went back to Doncaster Rovers, where he currently remains. After missing out in the play-offs during his first campaign in charge at Eco-Power Stadium, McCann got the job done in his second, leading Rovers to the League Two title last season.
The Squad
Owen Bailey (below) has started all 33 league games for Doncaster this season. The club captain typically plays as a defensive midfielder, but has also played at centre-back and right-back. He has scored 11 league goals this season, 14 in all competitions. Signed from Gateshead in 2023, the 27-year-old has now played over 150 games for Donny.
Elliot Lee was a deadline-day signing for Doncaster, in the recent transfer window. Lee, 31, had plenty of loans away from first club West Ham United, before making a name for himself at Luton Town. After loans to Oxford United and Charlton Athletic, Lee moved to Wrexham, and has played just over 150 games for the North Walians. Struggling for game time this season, he moved to Doncaster in the window, on loan, and has played six times since his arrival.
Another transfer window arrival was Zander Clark. The 33-year-old goalkeeper is on loan from Hearts, and has played seven times since arriving, picking up three clean sheets. Formerly of St Johnstone, Elgin City and Queen of the South, Clark signed for Hearts in 2022. He has four caps for Scotland.
Earlier This Season
Argyle won 5-1 at Doncaster when the sides met in December. Brandan Hanlan put Rovers in front after just four minutes, but Argyle hit back quickly, with a Lorent Tolaj equaliser, and by 23 minutes were 3-1 up, with Owen Oseni scoring before Tolaj got his second. In the second half, Tolaj sealed his hat-trick from the spot, and Xavier Amaechi made it five to round off a great day for the Greens.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin at 2pm, with Aaron Cusack, Erin Black and Brian McGlinchey building up to the game, before commentary of the match comes from Charlie Price and Katie Middleton.
Match passes to watch this game on Argyle TV are available overseas, while the match is available to watch on Sky Sports+ in the UK & Ireland. CLICK HERE for more information.
