A big weekend in Sky Bet League One begins in front of the TV cameras on Friday night when Doncaster Rovers take on Barnsley in a huge Yorkshire derby at the Keepmoat Stadium. Both these sides want to be playing Championship football next season and this match could go a long way to assisting or hampering each of them in that quest.
Doncaster are looking to fend off a host of clubs surging for their final position in the top six while Barnsley are doing everything they can to hold off Sunderland in the race for automatic promotion so this is a massive match.
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Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster have hit the skids at the wrong time having not won since they exited the FA Cup last month. They are winless in five matches but four of those have been on the road so this run does need to be put into a little bit of context. They needed to get back to the Keepmoat where they are unbeaten since October, so this match comes along at a good time.
Goals have been an issue for Doncaster recently. Only twice in their last eight outings have they scored more than one goal but when they have done that they have won the match so there is a hidden message in that. Only Peterborough have conceded more than them in the top 10 which is another reason why they have to find more goals if they are going to make the playoffs.
Barnsley
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Barnsley are the standout side in this division behind Luton Town and they have the chance to showcase that here. In fairness to them we saw it a couple of weeks ago when even with 10 men they beat Southend United in front of the cameras and they head into this match without a defeat in 17 matches.
Barnsley play a free flowing, easy on the eye style of football but with the weather gong around the country, whether they will be able to play the way they want to would be a concern here. You don’t go unbeaten in so long if you can mix it up when needed but you get the feeling that this will be a test. It will be interesting to see if the pressure of playing first gets to them too.
Team News
Doncaster will be able to welcome top scorer John Marquis back from suspension for this match which will be a massive boost for them. Joe Wright and Ian Lawlor will continue to miss out with their injuries.
Barnsley will be without the suspended Cameron McGeehan and Jacob Brown while star striker Kieffer Moore has been ruled out for the season with a head injury. Cauley Woodrow becomes an important man in their absence.
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Betting
Barnsley are all the rage here and I certainly understand why but this is a tough test for them because Doncaster are a different side at home than they are on the road. One of Luton’s four defeats came at the Keepmoat this season while Sunderland only edged Doncaster out 1-0 here back in October. That was the last time any side left this part of Yorkshire with three points.
While I get why Barnsley are a warm order, and I agree if there is a winner in this match it may well be them, I’m not as convinced that they will win as I would want to be if I’m betting. There are better opportunities to come on Saturday and so I’ll keep my powder dry until then.
Tips
No Bet
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