Ahead of Saturday visit to Doncaster we look at our last there meetings.
05/12/20 – The Cobblers 0 Doncaster 2
The Cobblers had a mountain to climb following Shaun McWilliams’ early red card, and goals from Tyreece John-Jules and Joe Wright meant the 1,000 returning home supporters were given little to cheer.
Ben Whiteman and Harry Smith exchanged long-range efforts but the game’s big moment came after only 18 minutes when McWilliams was given his marching orders for a reckless challenge on Reece James.
Doncaster proceeded to dominate possession and while they struggled to create many clear chances, they were handed the opening goal in the 36th minute. Mark Marshall lost possession and John-Jules nipped in before dinking over Steve Arnold.
Arnold saved from James in first-half stoppage-time but Rovers scored their second just short of the hour-mark through Wright, who headed in James’ cross.
John-Jules stung the palms of Arnold before the Northampton goalkeeper pulled off a fine penalty stop from Whiteman late on, but the result was never in doubt.
26/12/17 – Doncaster 3 The Cobblers 0
Veteran midfielder James Coppinger marked his return from injury with a goal before Niall Mason scored his second penalty in as many games to give Rovers a cushion at half time. Andy Butler made sure of the three points just after the hour mark.
Butler, Ben Whiteman and Tommy Rowe all went close to giving Doncaster the lead before Coppinger did, bundling in from close range in the 33rd minute after John Marquis and Alfie May both had efforts saved.
Northampton were rather toothless throughout but Shaun McWilliams drew a fine low save from Ian Lawlor.
Moments later, Matt Grimes clipped Marquis from behind in the box and Mason drilled home the penalty to make it 2-0 on 43 minutes.
Doncaster were comfortable after the break with Northampton struggling to threaten.
And they put the game to bed in the 66th minute when Butler forced the ball home after a Mathieu Baudry header was cleared off the line.
09/09/17 – The Cobblers 1 Doncaster 0
The former Chelsea striker was taking charge of his first game after replacing Justin Edinburgh this week, and saw his new side post their first points of the League One campaign.
It took just 21 seconds for the Dutchman to celebrate the first goal of his Sixfields tenure, as George Smith raced down the left and set up Matt Crooks for a simple finish inside the area.
Cobblers, but Rovers were much the better side in the second half, with Tommy Rowe and James Coppinger going close.
Rovers laid siege to the Northampton goal in the last 10 minutes, and only an acrobatic save from Matt Ingram denied Ben Whiteman a late equaliser.
But for all their aerial threat, Doncaster could not break down a Northampton side desperate to earn their new gaffer his first win.