Founded: 1879
Nickname: Donny/Rovers
Stadium: Keepmoat Stadium (15,239 capacity)
Honours: League One Champions 2012-13. Play-Off Winners: 2007-08 Division Three (North) Champions 1934-35, 1946-47, 1949-50. Runners-up (not promoted): 1937-38, 1938-39.

In September 1879 Albert Jenkins, a fitter at Doncaster’s LNER Engineering works, “The Plant,” gets up a team to play the Deaf and Dumb Institute. The game ends up a 4-4 draw and Jenkins and his team-mates decide to form a football club called Doncaster Rovers.

In June 2020 League One clubs voted to end the 2019-20 season, which has been suspended on 13th March due to COVID-19. Earlier, all EFL members had agreed that league placings would be determined by points-per-game (PPG) formula based on matches already played. Rovers were placed 9th with a PPG of 69.88.

Storylines – Doncaster

We look at some storylines leading up to this afternoons game.

Charlton 2 Northampton 1 – League One

The striker converted from the penalty spot in the 65th minute before lashing in a second late on.

The Cobblers pulled a goal back at the death through debutant Alex Jones.

After a disappointing first half, Jake Forster-Caskey put a free-kick just wide five minutes after the restart, and the midfielder then earned a penalty for the hosts when he was flattened in the area.

Washington stepped up to fire home past Mitchell with a powerful low drive.

Chuks Aneke almost added a second in the 84th minute, but his header was tipped over the bar by Mitchell. But Washington made sure of victory a minute later when he pounced on a rebound off the goalkeeper, after an effort from substitute Andrew Shinnie.

A late header by substitute Jones gave Northampton some hope, but Charlton held on to leave them one point off the play-off places.

Crewe 1 Doncaster 0- League One

Rovers, seeking a third consecutive win under Andy Butler’s stewardship, lacked a clinical edge around the box in the first half and were punished by a fine finish from the Frenchman early in the second.

Reece James was thwarted by Dave Richards when the keeper came off his line smartly – and James then wanted too much time after he was slipped free on the left of the box and Rio Adebisi got across to make a decisive block.

After Doncaster had an effort ruled out for a foul on the keeper when Jason Lokilo’s corner flew straight in past Richards, Crewe came close when Luke Murphy steered wide at full stretch after Charlie Kirk had delivered across the face of goal.

Dave Artell’s side went closer when Owen Dale cut in from the right and drove an effort narrowly wide.

After the restart Richards kept out James Coppinger’s angled drive and Doncaster keeper Louis Jones excelled when tipping Mandron’s set-piece header over the bar.

But he was given no chance when Mandron made the most of Kirk’s swift break and turned and fired into the bottom corner in the 56th minute.

Doncaster came closest to levelling when sub Cameron John swerved a low, angled effort past the far post.

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.

Last 3 meetings

Played	Won	Draw	Lost	F	A
54	19	11	24	64	68

Biggest Win	09/03/1976 – 4th Tier – Belle Vue – 4-0 W – Bill Dodgin Jnr
Biggest Loss	21/04/1984 – 4th Tier – Clive Walker 4-1 L
First-Ever Game	10/02/1900 – Midland – County Ground – 4-2 W

Played for Both – Charlton Athletic

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Tom Nield will be the man in charge when Rovers host Northampton Town at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday.

Nield was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2017 but had his 2019/20 campaign cut short when his other role as an NHS nurse saw him called up to the front line when it came to battling COVID-19.

Saturday will be his 24th game this season. He has so far handed out 87 yellow cards and two reds.

Nield will be assisted by Gareth Mellor and Anthony Moore. The fourth official will be James Oldham.

His latest Cobblers Game

Date	Comp	Match	Y	R
16/09/20	EFL Cup	Bristol City 4 Cobblers 0	1	0

His latest Doncaster Games

Date	Comp	Match	Y	R
06/10/10	FLT	Oldham 2 Doncaster 0	2	0

If you are looking to purchase a match pass for this game, a match pass costs just £10 for all UK based supporters and can be purchased here.
Fans overseas will be able to view on Season Passes or by purchasing a match pass.

Due to the BBC’s current travelling restrictions for reporters, there will be no BBC Radio Northampton commentary accompanying the iFollow pictures.

On iFollow, viewers will have the choice to watch the game with stadium sound only or with home commentary.

BBC Radio Northampton audio commentary will be available for listeners in Northamptonshire on 104.2 or 103.6 FM and DAB, and for audio only subscribers on iFollow.

BBC Radio Northampton commentating from the iFollow feed from the studio will be for radio use. Unfortunately, this would have too much of a delay to be used alongside the iFollow pictures.

Doncaster Rovers have won each of their last two league games against Northampton Town, keeping a clean sheet in both of these games.
Northampton Town are winless in their last four away games in the Football League against Doncaster Rovers (D1 L3), with the Cobblers last winning such a meeting in November 1996 (2-1).
Doncaster Rovers have two wins from their last eight matches in League One (D1 L5). However, the two wins were achieved during their last three matches in the league.
Northampton Town have two wins from their last 14 matches in League One (D5 L7), though these victories have come across their last three league games.

Stats	Doncaster	Northampton
Games Played	31	34
Goals	51	31
Shots on target	143	111
Shooting accuracy	51.40%	43.50%
Goals conceded	39	52
Clean sheets	6	8
Yellow cards	42	67
Red Cards	0	3