Matchday Guide | Doncaster (A)

31 March 2023

Crewe Alexandra travel to Yorkshire to take on Doncaster Rovers on Saturday (3pm).

Lee Bell’s side will hope to bounce back from a three-game winless run, and an extended break following the international break.

The Opposition

Doncaster sit 12th in League Two on 51 points and look very unlikely to be involved in promotion or relegation issues. The Yorkshire side have been on an inconsistent run recently, winning one of their last five. Last time out, they lost to promotion-chasers Northampton Town 2-0.

The Gaffer

Danny Schofield took charge of Rovers in October 2022, with his first game coming against the Alex earlier this season.

Having played for Huddersfield Town for the majority of his career, he went on to manage them at the start of this season but was dismissed from his post in September after a difficult start to the campaign.

Fighting Talk

Danny Schofield: “We need to eradicate mistakes – that goes without saying. How we do that is by continually working on being focused and as well-prepared as possible.”

Lee Bell: “I really respect what Danny Schofield is trying to do at Donny, he is sticking to how he wants them to play. They have some injuries, but it will be a tough test and we’ll have to implement what we want to do in the game and impose ourselves."

Team News

Doncaster are expected to be without George Miller, Harrison Biggins, Charlie Lakin, James Maxwell and Ro-Shaun Williams for the encounter. Ben Nelson should feature following his recent international call-up. Crewe Alexandra will assess the fitness of Connor O’Riordan, Tariq Uwakwe, Rod McDonald and Christopher Long for Saturday’s fixture. Ryan Finnigan and Zac Williams are sidelined.

Head-to-Head

Rovers boast the better record in this fixture, winning 43 out of the 106 meetings between the sides. The Alex won 36.

Earlier this season, it ended 1-1 at Mornflake Stadium. Courtney Baker-Richardson put the Railwaymen in front but Miller levelled on 77 minutes.

Officials

Ross Joyce will take charge of proceedings on Saturday, having last officiated the Alex in October 2022, a 0-0 stalemate away to Carlisle United.

He will be assisted by Declan Ford and Simon Clayton, with Aaron Bannister appointed as fourth official.

Ticket details:

Category	Prices
Adults	£20
Over 60s	£16
18-24 years	£16
17 & Under	£5

All under-13s must be accompanied by an adult/senior/18-24yrs

Directions

For advice on travelling to Doncaster Rovers via road or rail, click HERE.

Elsewhere in League Two

Friday: Stockport County v Salford City; Tranmere Rovers v Harrogate Town. Saturday: AFC Wimbledon v Rochdale; Barrow v Gillingham; Bradford City v Grimsby Town; Colchester United v Newport County; Hartlepool United v Swindon Town; Leyton Orient v Carlisle United; Mansfield Town v Crawley Town; Northampton Town v Stevenage; Walsall v Sutton United.

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Match Reports

Match Report | Doncaster 0 Crewe 2

1 April 2023

Railwaymen register first away win of 2023
Goal and assist for Baker-Richardson
Third of the season for O’Riordan

Crewe Alexandra recorded their first away win of the year at Doncaster Rovers.

First-half goals from Courtney Baker-Richardson and Connor O’Riordan proved enough for all three points at Eco-Power Stadium.

The success has lifted Crewe to 17^th, with 45 points in League Two.

It was a deserved win on the road, and a confidence boost ahead of the visit of Barrow on Good Friday.

Boss Lee Bell made four changes to the side that lost at Gillingham. James Beadle, O’Riordan, and Lachlan Brook, were restored to the starting 11 after returning from international duty, while Baker-Richardson started up front.

Dave Richards, Elliott Nevitt, and Regan Griffiths, dropped to the bench, while David Amoo was not in the squad.

For Doncaster, who were missing a number of players through injury, Tommy Rowe made his 600^th career appearance.

Crewe started on the front foot and won three corners in the opening 12 minutes. Callum Ainley saw a good strike blocked by Charlie Seaman as they looked for an opener.

Brook forced a fumbled save from keeper Jonathan Mitchell on 24 minutes, and Joel Tabiner was just inches away from range shortly after.

Crewe deservedly hit the front on 32 minutes after Rio Adebisi’s ball into the box found its way to Baker Richardson, who beat Mitchell from an angle.

And on 38 minutes it was 2-0, when Ainley’s swirling corner was nodded back across goal by Baker-Richardson and O’Riordan was on hand to help it home from close range.

On the stroke of half-time, James Beadle made an important save as Kyle Hurst looked to pull one back before the whistle.

Seaman lobbed just over the bar early in the second half, as the hosts began to enjoy more territory.

Chances were at a premium as the sides scrapped it out in the middle, and both keepers were well protected.

Christopher Long, on for his first action since September 3, failed to make a convincing connection when the ball dropped in the box.

Bell switched to 4-2-4 for the final 20 minutes, sensing an opportunity to get a third. Baker-Richardson nearly got it, but Ben Nelson made a brave block.

Beadle made two great stops from a Nelson header and Rowe as the home side pressed in the final 10 minutes.

On 89 minutes Nevitt was denied by Mitchell from point-blank range, but Crewe had already done enough.

Doncaster (3-5-2): Mitchell; Anderson, Nelson, Olowu (Faulkener, 19); Rowe (Barlow, 84), Seaman, Molyneux, Hurst, Close; Miller (Goodman, 46), Ravenhill (Westbrooke, 46).

Subs not used: Bottomley, Agard, Degruchy.

Booked: None.

Crewe (4-3-3): Beadle; Mellor, O’Riordan, Offord, Adebisi (Robertson, 55); Thomas, Ainley (Griffiths, 71), Tabiner (Nevitt, 71); Agyei, Brook (Long, 62), Baker-Richardson.

Subs not used: Richards, Griffiths, Colkett, Nevitt, Kempster-Down.

Booked: None.

Referee: Ross Joyce.

Attendance: 5,993.