On Saturday afternoon Walsall Football Club will travel to the Keepmoat Stadium to take on Doncaster Rovers in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season.
Dean Smith's Saddlers head into the game on the back of a 1-1 Sky Bet League 1 draw with Gillingham.
The Saddlers have won two of their last five league games (last two, drawn one), and will seek to move up the table having dipped to sixteenth thanks to other teams' results.
Top scorer Tom Bradshaw (hamstring) has been ruled out for a few weeks, which could lead to 'Deadline Day' loan signing Jordy Hiwula making his debut ahving arrived on a one-month loan from Manchester City.
whilst midfielder Sam Mantom (knee) will be out for the foreseeable future.
Top scorer Tom Bradshaw (hamstring) has been ruled out for a few weeks, which could lead to 'Deadline Day' loan signing Jordy Hiwula making his debut ahving arrived on a one-month loan from Manchester City.
whilst midfielder Sam Mantom (knee) will be out for the foreseeable future.
THE OPPOSITION...
Twelfth placed Doncaster arrive at the game on the back of a 2-2 Sky Bet League 1 draw away to Chesterfield.
Donny have drawn four of their last five league games, and will be looking to get back to winning ways this weekend.
Rovers' only injury doubt is over midfielder James Coppinger (ankle). Coppinger suffered ligament damage in the 2-2 draw at Chesterfield, but has not been ruled out of the side this weekend.
Dean Furman is pushing for a return after returning from the African Cup of Nations. Furman was a late substitute in the draw at Chesterfield, and may be recalled to the starting line up.
Defender Rob Jones continues to step up his return to full fitness following a long-term injury.
The Saddlers will be up against former skipper Andy Butler, who moved to Doncaster from Sheffield United in January.
Donny have drawn four of their last five league games, and will be looking to get back to winning ways this weekend.
Rovers' only injury doubt is over midfielder James Coppinger (ankle). Coppinger suffered ligament damage in the 2-2 draw at Chesterfield, but has not been ruled out of the side this weekend.
Dean Furman is pushing for a return after returning from the African Cup of Nations. Furman was a late substitute in the draw at Chesterfield, and may be recalled to the starting line up.
Defender Rob Jones continues to step up his return to full fitness following a long-term injury.
The Saddlers will be up against former skipper Andy Butler, who moved to Doncaster from Sheffield United in January.
HEAD TO HEAD...
In terms of head-to-head, of the fifty-seven previous meetings, it's Walsall that hold the advantage with twenty-seven wins to Rovers' twenty-one. There have also been nine draws during the fixtures history.
Their first encounter took place on 19th January 1924, with the match ending 3-0 to Doncaster at their then home of Belle Vue.
The Saddlers made quick their revenge; by defeating Rovers 5-2 at Fellows Park, just a week later.
In more recent times, Walsall have won three drawn one and lost one of the last five meetings, their most recent encounter taking place at Banks's Stadium on Saturday 27th September 2014, the Saddlers' winning the match by three goals to nil, James Baxendale, Tom Bradshaw and Anthony Forde grabbing the goals as the visitors failed to hit the back of the net.
OFFICIALS...
The referee for this weekends match is scheduled to be Mr. Graham Scott who is based in Oxfordshire.
Referee Scott has taken charge of twenty-nine games in various competitions this season, where he has issued ninety-four yellow and two red cards. He has also awarded ten penalties so far this campaign.
The last Walsall match officiated over by Scott was last season's Sky Bet League 1 trip to face Leyton Orient, at the Matchroom Stadium.
The match, which ended 1-1, thanks to goals from David Mooney and Craig Westcarr, took place on Saturday, 28th September 2013, saw Walsall captain Andy Butler, and Orient defender Romain Vincelot dismissed, whilst Adam Chambers and Shaun Batt were booked.
Mr. Danny Gratton and Mr. Alix Pashley are scheduled to be assisting the referee, whilst Mr. Ian Dudley will be Fourth Official.
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