Doncaster v Stevenage preview
Last Updated: September 21, 2012 12:39pm
Saunders: Looking to rotate
Team news for Saturday's League One clash between Doncaster and Stevenage at The Keepmoat Stadium.
Doncaster manager Dean Saunders could make changes to his starting line-up.
The visit of Boro, for what will be the first ever Football League meeting between the two clubs, kicks off a sequence of five matches in 15 days in all competitions for Rovers.
Saunders has kept faith with almost the same starting XI for the opening five League One games, resisting changes following back-to-back defeats to Crawley and Yeovil. Indeed, his only change in the league game at Colchester on Saturday was Paul Keegan replacing the injured Billy Paynter (thigh).
However, the Rovers boss is wary of his small squad's workload and has hinted at freshening things up this weekend.
"The boys I had on the bench on Tuesday night [away at Sheffield United] weren't 100% fit. James Harper, Robbie Blake, Iain Hume and Shelton Martis are not 100%, and James Husband is only 18 so I didn't feel I could stick them into a derby game like that," said Saunders. "But this weekend I might have a re-think. It's not fair on the lads to play three games in one week."
Striker Paynter should come back into the squad after missing the last two matches but experienced goalkeeper Neil Sullivan (calf) will remain out.
Stevenage will check on Darius Charles, Robbie Rogers and Filipe Morais ahead of the clash.
Defender Charles sat out Tuesday's 3-1 win over Walsall after picking up a knock while wingers Rogers and Morais have missed the last three games with hamstring problems.
Former Cardiff full-back Miguel Comminges made his Boro debut in midweek and will keep his place if Charles is ruled out again.
Midfielder James Dunne and striker Marcus Haber dropped to the bench against Walsall and could struggle to regain their places after their replacements, Robin Shroot and Greg Tansey, both scored.
Left-back Lee Hills is still building up his fitness following a thigh injury and could be back in a couple of weeks.
Matches
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npower League 1
Table
npower League 1
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 84 |
| 2 | Bournemouth | 46 | 83 |
| 3 | Brentford | 46 | 79 |
| 4 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 77 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 74 |
| 7 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 71 |
| 8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 70 |
| 9 | Walsall | 46 | 68 |
| 10 | Crawley Town | 46 | 68 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 67 |
| 12 | Notts County | 46 | 65 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 64 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 59 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 46 | 55 |
| 16 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 55 |
| 17 | Carlisle United | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Stevenage | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 51 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 46 | 51 |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 48 |
| 22 | Bury | 46 | 41 |
| 23 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 41 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 46 | 32 |
