DONCASTER v BARNSLEY

o After losing three successive home league games against Barnsley between October 2008 and January 2011, Doncaster are unbeaten in their last four against them (W3 D1).

o Barnsley have only won one of their last eight league games against Doncaster (D4 L3), a 1-0 win at Oakwell in February 2016.

o Doncaster are unbeaten in nine home league games (W6 D3); they last went 10 without defeat in the third-tier or above in January 2007 when the club had only just begun playing at the Keepmoat Stadium.

o Barnsley have picked up more points in 2019 (29 – P13 W8 D5 L0) than any other side in League One.

o Only Scunthorpe United (20) have had more different goalscorers in League One this season (excluding own goals) than Doncaster Rovers (17).

Our view

Yet another pivotal weekend in England’s Third tier begins with a vital South Yorkshire derby at the Keepmoat Stadium between sixth placed Rovers & second-placed Barnsley.

Rovers, who are without a win in their last five league games, needed a late Tommy Rowe equaliser to rescue a point & sixth place in a tense 1-1 draw at play-off rivals Blackpool in midweek. Rovers manager Grant McCann will be boosted by the return of top scorer John Marquis after a one-game suspension forced him out of the Bloomfield Road clash. Donny need to return to form quickly & recent surprise defeats by strugglers Shrewsbury & AFC Wimbledon have put their top six place in jeopardy with a host of rival clubs in better form breathing down their necks.

Daniel Stendell’s Tykes gained a draw in midweek with closest challengers Sunderland in front of over 18,000 at Oakwell which maintained the four-point gap over the Wearsiders & should come into this derby clash full of confidence. They seem to have coped with the loss, through injury, of top scorer Kieffer Moore well with goals aplenty coming from all areas of the field. Amazingly they haven’t been beaten since the 8th of December at Wycombe, EIGHTEEN games ago.

The corresponding game at Oakwell in November was an exciting 1-1 draw with Barnsley probably a little fortunate to escape with a point as Rovers had the better chances to win the game.

I’m going for Barnsley to win & cut Luton’s lead at the top to two points.

PREDICTION AWAY WIN

words Ian Bradley, D3D4 roving reporter and predictions maestro