It was way back in September last year when we last played Donny and we snatched a draw 2 minutes from time with a superb goal from Baily Cargill after doing our usual and dominating possession, and it also gave us our first point of the season. Much has changed since then and out of the 14 that played some part in that game for us it is possible only about 3 or 4 will line up for this the reverse fixture. Indeed much has changed at Doncaster Rovers, Darren Moore at the helm seemingly going along quite nicely and had Donny playing well and up there and in contention, then he decided to jump ship to the bright lights of Sheffield Wednesday. On the face of it that doesn’t look like the smartest idea he has ever had, and currently he looks destined to be back in League 1 with relegation very much on the cards, that is if he escapes the axe, and it would be ironic if Doncaster replaced Wednesday in the Championship, still at least he will be on a good whack until that day looms.
Doncaster currently aren’t in the best of form with Interim Manager Andy Butler plucked from the dressing room Russell Martin style and given the task of getting Donny promoted. On the road they have failed to win any one of their last 6 games, but despite that are still very much in contention, I have a feeling its going to be another very close game.
THE SEASON SO FAR – Donny currently sit in5th place at the time of writing with games in hand on everyone above and below them and a record of PLAYED 34, WON 17, DRAWN 6, LOST 11, GF 53 & GA 44, giving them 57 points.
AWAY RESULTS 2020/21
Gillingham 2 Doncaster 2
Oxford 3 Doncaster 0
Crewe 1 Doncaster 0
Ipswich 2 Doncaster 1
Sunderland 4 Doncaster 1
Fleetwood 3 Doncaster 1
Lincoln 0 Doncaster 1
Swindon 1 Doncaster 2
Burton 1 Doncaster 3
Northampton 0 Doncaster 2
Hull 2 Doncaster 1
AFCW 2 Doncaster 2
Plymouth 2 Doncaster 1
Portsmouth 0 Doncaster 1
Wigan 1 Doncaster 0
Charlton 1 Doncaster 3
An AWAY record of PLAYED 16, WON 6, DRAWN 2, LOST 8, GF 21 & GA 25.
CURRENT FORM – WLDLD
YEAR OF FORMATION – 1879
CLUB NICKNAME – Donny, Rovers, Doncasterlona.
HOME GROUND – The Keepmoat Stadium (15,231)
MANAGER – Andy Butler aged 37 and born in Doncaster.
Butler stepped in as the Interim Manager when Darren Moore left to takeover at Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday. Butler is in place until the end of the season, and much will probably depend on how Donny end up this season, get them promoted via the playoffs or better and Butler can write his own contract.
There are a few similarities between Butler and Russell Martin, both were players one week, only to get thrust into the spotlight the next week.
As a defender Butler started his career at Scunthorpe United and he went on to play 663 games scoring 51 goals which is a good return for a defender. The bulk of his games were played at Scunthorpe and Doncaster , but he also played for Grimsby Town, Huddersfield, Blackpool, Walsall, and Sheffield United.
He’s only been in charge for 6 games with a record of Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 2, giving him a Win Ratio of 33%.
LATEST MATCH ODDS – MK Dons 6/5 Draw 12/5 Doncaster 23/10
FORMER MANAGERS – Not many familiar names except for Lawrie McMenemy, Darren Fergusson, Grant McCann, Cyril Knowles, Billy Bremner, Dave Mackay, Joe Kinnear, Kerry Dixon, Darren Moore, Dean Saunders, Brian Flynn, and Paul Dickov.
SHOOTERS BOOTS – Fejiri Okenabirhie with 11 goals.
MATCHDAY MASCOT – Donny Dog, with a murky past! Back in 2011 Tracy Chandeler who was the person inside the costume, appeared in just her knickers, stockings, and bra on the pages of the Sunday Sport with the Donny Dog costume, she was sacked, but was later reinstated after a fans campaign.
FAMOUS FANS – Jezza Clarkson, Louis Tomlinson from One Direction, John Parr from St Elmo’s Fire fame, Tony “Amarillo” Christie, and comedian and Golden Shot host Charlie Williams, who also played for the club on 171 occasions.
PLAYED FOR BOTH – Ademola Bankole, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Oscar Gobern, Lewis Guy, Jordan Houghton, Gary McKenzie, Michael McIndoe, and Elliot Ward.
LAST TIME ROUND – Saturday 12th Sept 2020 – Doncaster 1 MK Dons 1
Team – Nicholls, Poole, O’Hora, Lewington, Cargill, Houghton, Sorenson (Brittain), Harvie (Sorinola), Kasumu, Nombe (Mason), Morris.
Unused Subs – Walker, Freeman, Jallow, Black
Goals – Gomes 53’, Cargill 88’.
Referee – Andy Haines (3 Yellows)
Attendance – Behind Closed Doors
HEAD 2 HEAD
2020/21 – Doncaster 1 MK Dons 1 (Cargill)
2019/20 – MK Dons 0 Doncaster 1
2019/20 – Doncaster 1 MK Dons 1 (Gilbey)
2017/18 – MK Dons 1 Doncaster 2 (Ugbo)
2017/18 – Doncaster 2 MK Dons 1 (Aneke)
2014/15 – MK Dons 3 Doncaster 0 (Bowditch, C Baker 2)
2014/15 – Doncaster 0 MK Dons 0
2012/13 – MK Dons 3 Doncaster 0 (McLeod, Powell, Gleeson)
2012/13 – Doncaster 0 MK Dons 0
2005/06 – MK Dons 2 Doncaster 3 (G Smith, Wilbraham)
2005/06 – Doncaster 1 MK Dons 1 (McLeod)
2004/05 – Doncaster 3 MK Dons 0
