MX23RW : Friday, November 1 01:06:03| >> :120:24733:24733:
[monks data]
Barrow
FA Cup | First Round
Nov 2, 2024 at 3pm UK
The Dunes Hotel Stadium
Doncaster Rovers

Barrow
vs.
Doncaster

Preview: Barrow vs. Doncaster Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's FA Cup clash between Barrow and Doncaster Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

A pair of top-half League Two sides vie for FA Cup progression at Holker Street on Saturday afternoon, as Barrow and Doncaster Rovers begin their latest tournament campaigns in the first round.

While both teams are competing in the upper echelons of the fourth-tier table, the hosts are enduring a dismal winless sequence, while their visitors are firmly in the promotion mix.


Match preview

Barrow manager Stephen Clemence during his side's Carabao Cup match against Chelsea, on September 24, 2024© Imago

Barrow undoubtedly have bigger fish to fry in the 2024-25 campaign than the FA Cup - even if there is always scope for a quintessential giant killing - but Stephen Clemence's side have not shown the sort of form that will get fans dreaming of a shock scalp.

Indeed, Saturday's hosts come into the first-round contest winless in each of their last five matches across all competitions, a streak that began with a 3-0 EFL Trophy loss to Fleetwood Town, confirming their elimination from the tournament before the final matchday.

Barrow have since accrued just two points from a possible 12 in their last four League Two fixtures, suffering 1-0 defeats to Morecambe and Accrington Stanley before holding Notts County and Bromley to 1-1 stalemates in their most recent two battles.

Clemence's team were moments away from ending their winless sequence at Bromley, only to concede a last-minute penalty as they sit in an unspectacular ninth position in the League Two standings, albeit just one point adrift of the playoff places.

Yet to advance beyond the third round of the FA Cup, Barrow's 2023-24 showing ended in the second round with a defeat at the hands of Maidstone United, and notching just two goals across their last 450 minutes of football does not bode well for the visit of their more in-form rivals.

Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann pictured on July 23, 2024© Imago

Doncaster's own FA Cup history is of course modest in itself, but the visitors to Holker Street do have a handful of last-16 and fifth-round appearances to their name, reaching the latter stage in 2018-19 before being swept aside by Crystal Palace.

Rovers also made a fourth-round appearance in 2020-21 - falling to West Ham United's superiority that year - but have since failed to progress beyond the second stage, bowing out at that point in the 2023-24 season against Peterborough United.

However, Grant McCann's side have already achieved a measure of knockout success this season - winning two of their three EFL Trophy fixtures to guarantee a spot in round two, most recently overcoming Barnsley 3-1 away from home on Tuesday evening.

That triumph came just three days on from a 2-1 league beating of Bradford City, which leaves them fourth in the table, and Rovers have now won each of their last four on the road in all tournaments, scoring at least two goals every time.

Such statistics makes for incredibly pleasant reading for the Rovers faithful, who witnessed their side edge out Barrow 1-0 in League Two action at the beginning of October, but Saturday's hosts have won each of the last two battles at Holker Street.

Barrow form (all competitions):


Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):


Team News

Doncaster Rovers striker Billy Sharp pictured on September 12, 2024© Imago

Barrow lost no players to injury during their draw with Bromley last time out, but head coach Clemence was given a red card for protesting the awarding of the penalty and has now been charged with two breaches of misconduct by the FA, which he has until Friday to respond to.

The hosting head coach could therefore be at risk of missing Saturday's first-round match through suspension, but Connor Mahoney is back in the ranks after a serious thigh injury.

Mahoney could very well come into consideration for a start up front as Clemence seeks solutions to the Barrow attacking blues, while 38-year-old veteran Sam Foley is an option for change in midfield.

As far as Doncaster are concerned, Richard Wood and Zain Westbrooke are making positive strides in their recoveries, while Tom Nixon returned from a month on the sidelines in the win over Barnsley in midweek.

It may be too soon for Nixon to make back-to-back starts, though, so Jordan Gibson could operate on the right instead, opening up a spot in attack for ex-Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp to slot into.


Barrow possible starting lineup:
Daniels; Feely, Vassell, Canavan, Jackson; Campbell, Gotts; Mahoney, Spence, Kouyate; Garner

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Lawlor; Emmanuel, Anderson, Senior; Gibson, Close, Kelly, Fleming; Sbarra; Ironside, Sharp


SM words green background

We say: Barrow 0-2 Doncaster Rovers

Barrow boss Clemence - who may or may not be on the touchline for this game - is still searching for solutions to his side's attacking troubles, whereas Doncaster are scoring for fun on the road.

As a result, we have complete faith in Rovers to book their spot in the second round with minimal stress.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


ID:556842:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect10436:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Data Failed

Who will win Saturday's FA Cup clash between Barrow and Doncaster?

Barrow
Draw
Doncaster Rovers
Barrow
25.0%
Draw
12.5%
Doncaster Rovers
62.5%
16
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Birmingham City head coach Chris Davies in September 2024.
Read Next:
Birmingham City handed National League opponents in FA Cup first round
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
12.15am
Texans
@
Jets
Tables header RHS


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!