Newport County will be looking to return to winning ways as they travel to the Eco-Power Stadium to face Doncaster Rovers on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
Doncaster are one of the frontrunners for promotion this season, and they will provide tough opposition for the Exiles.
However, with a win already secured against Doncaster earlier this season, County will be hoping to complete a league double over their hosts.
Historically, Newport have dominated this fixture, winning the last four encounters and boasting a 11-3 aggregate score against Doncaster.
Pre-Match Views
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's fixture Nelson Jardim said: "We're expecting a tough game tomorrow. Doncaster are a good team and are flying – they have 17 wins and that means they are a consistent team.
"When a team has won 17 times in League Two this season, it shows they have strength in every area, and we need to be mindful of that.
"They've got really good players, they're an organised team, and they have a clear, concise way of playing. They're definitely one of the best teams in the division."
Opposition Form
Doncaster are having an impressive season, currently sitting in third place in the automatic promotion spots after 33 matches. Under the management of Grant McCann, the Rovers have accumulated 58 points from 17 wins, 7 draws, and 9 losses.
Doncaster rank highly in attacking statistics, with McCann’s side having scored 48 goals so far this season. They are third in expected goals (49.0), third for shots on target per match (4.5), and third for big chances created (72).
A key player for Doncaster has been Luke Molyneux. The right winger has made a significant impact, scoring 11 goals to become the club’s top scorer and registering 6 assists, which sees him tied with Jamie Sterry as the team’s top assist provider.
Previous Meeting
The reverse fixture at Rodney Parade in August is still fresh in the minds of County fans.
Despite going a goal down to an Owen Bailey strike in the first half, the Exiles turned the game around after the break, scoring three goals in 30 minutes.
Bobby Kamwa and Kai Whitmore both scored on their home debuts, while Matt Baker netted his first professional goal to seal a 3-1 victory for Newport.
Head-to-Head
Historically, Newport County have had the upper hand in this fixture. Of the 49 encounters between the sides, County have won 22, while Doncaster have claimed 15 victories, and 12 matches have ended in draws.
Last season, the Exiles completed a league double over Doncaster, winning 4-1 at Rodney Parade and 1-0 at the Eco-Power Stadium. Newport will be aiming to repeat this feat after their 3-1 victory at home earlier in the current campaign.
Shared Shirts
One notable player to have represented both Newport County and Doncaster is Omar Bogle. The striker made 86 appearances for the Exiles, scoring 27 goals from July 2022 to June 2024. Bogle had a brief spell at Doncaster in the 2021/22 season, making 27 appearances and scoring 3 goals before moving on to Hartlepool United.
Another player who has played for both clubs is Aaron Lewis. The Swansea-born midfielder was loaned to Doncaster Rovers in 2019, where he made his professional debut away at Portsmouth in League One. After returning to Swansea, Lewis was released and moved to Lincoln City. Following a successful stint at Lincoln, he signed for Newport County in January 2021, going on to make 85 appearances, scoring 3 goals. Lewis was a key figure for County until his departure for Mansfield in the summer of 2023. At Mansfield, he helped the club earn promotion to League One, making 44 appearances in his first season.
Key Facts
- Doncaster Rovers have lost each of their last four league games against Newport County, conceding 3+ goals in three of those matches.
- Newport County have lost just two of their last 11 away Football League games against Doncaster Rovers (W5 D4), keeping five clean sheets in the process.
- Doncaster lost their last home league game 2-1 against Grimsby Town and will be looking to avoid losing successive matches on home soil for the first time since January 2024.
- Newport have lost just one of their last seven league games (W4 D2), keeping four clean sheets during that time.
