Doncaster Rovers and Accrington Stanley meet at the Eco-Power Stadium in an all-League Two affair in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Both sides showed strong form throughout October and are now looking up the table, but attention will turn away from league matters for the weekend as they get their FA Cup campaigns underway.

Match preview

Doncaster come into this tie as slight favourites thanks to home advantage, but also because of their excellent record at making it through the early rounds.

In the past 10 seasons where Rovers have entered at the first round stage, they have progressed on eight occasions, but one of the few failures came last year, when they were embarrassingly beaten by sixth-tier King's Lynn at home.

Grant McCann's side have shown promising signs in cup competitions so far this season as they are still in contention in the EFL Trophy, while they also knocked out in-form Championship side Hull City in the EFL Cup, before only losing late on against Premier League Everton.

Cup form gave the side some respite after a very poor start in the league saw them prop up the EFL after seven games, taking just two points.

However, fortunes have been turned around since, with six wins in nine games since, rewarding the club for sticking with McCann despite such a concerning start.

The sides are yet to meet in the league, and Accrington are not a side Doncaster have enjoyed much success against recently, but they did taste success in the last meeting back in February 2022 - ending a nine-game winless run in this fixture.

While Doncaster are often strong in early rounds, Accrington are anything but, having lost in the first round on nine occasions in the 17 seasons since their promotion to the EFL in 2006.

Long-serving manager John Coleman did lead them on their joint-best-ever cup run last season though, reaching the fourth round before losing to Leeds United.

That was the fourth time Stanley have made it that far in the FA Cup, and it is often one extreme or the other with them in this competition, as in the previous seven seasons, Accrington have either made it to Round Four or gone out at the first hurdle.

They do at least bring good form into this one, as Coleman led the side to five straight wins through the middle of October after a rather slow start.

That run was ended last weekend though, when they were disappointingly beaten at home by a struggling Colchester United side.

Despite that defeat though, Accrington remain in the final League Two playoff spot and are just four points adrift of the automatic places in what is shaping up to be an incredibly close-fought campaign at the top.

Team News

Doncaster were able to recall Jack Senior to the side for the win over Grimsby Town, with the full-back starting after missing six weeks of action.

Ian Lawlor may come into the side in goal after losing his place as number one to Louis Jones shortly before the side's upturn in form, as his only appearance since came in the EFL Trophy.

Luke Molyneux is set to miss out after he went off injured early last weekend, joining James Maxwell and Tommy Rowe on the treatment table.

Accrington may well extend Jon McCracken's emergency loan spell for another seven days so he can feature here, with number one Toby Savin still absent with injury.

Seamus Conneely was an unused sub once more for Stanley as he continues his recovery from injury, but this fixture may provide an opportunity for him to get some minutes under his belt.

Injured trio Liam Coyle, Seb Quirk and Sean McConville remain absent for the visitors though.

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Lawlor; Nixon, Bailey, Olowu, Senior; Broadbent, Westbrooke, Close, Sotona; Ironside, Goodman

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
McCracken; Mellor, Pickles, Gubbins, Longelo-Mbule; Martin, Woods, Leigh; Pritchard, Andrews, Whalley

We say: Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Accrington Stanley

In what is a tough encounter to call on paper, home advantage and a strong recent cup record may favour Doncaster slightly in this one.

Accrington are notorious for struggling to get past the first round, and having been given a difficult draw, another early exit could be on the cards for Coleman's men.


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