Doncaster Rovers will aim to climb into the top three in the League Two table on Wednesday, when they visit Highbury Stadium to take on Fleetwood Town.
The hosts climbed up to 12th spot in England's fourth tier with a draw at the weekend, while their visitors return to league action after advancing to the FA Cup third round with a victory on Sunday.
Match preview
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Fleetwood Town return to action on Wednesday aiming to bounce back to winning ways and narrow their gap to the League Two playoff places.
After suffering relegation from England's third tier last time around and setting out to climb back up at the first time of asking under the management of Charlie Adam, they currently sit 12th having earned 22 points from 15 outings.
Indeed, no side in the division have suffered fewer than the Cod Army's three defeats, but they have only managed five victories across those 15 games, including just one from their last seven attempts, ending a five-game winless streak by beating Bradford City 1-0 at home in early November thanks to Ronan Coughlan's early penalty.
It is at the back where they have excelled thus far, with only one side having conceded fewer than the 15 goals that Adam's men have allowed, but their attacking struggles continued at home to Colchester United on Saturday, as the points were shared in a goalless stalemate.
Now trailing eighth and ninth places by three points with two games in hand and the final playoff spot by four with one in hand, Fleetwood Town will be keen to stretch a four-match unbeaten run and make a return to winning ways to quickly improve their standing in the playoff race.
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That will be no easy task, though, as the visitors make the trip aiming to go eight games unbeaten in all competitions and crack the automatic promotion spots at Highbury.
Aiming to make their own return to League One under the stewardship of Grant McCann, Doncaster Rovers currently sit fourth with 29 points on the board from their first 17 outings.
The Yorkshire outfit have hit somewhat of a slower patch in recent weeks, though, failing to follow up an away win over Bradford City and break into the top three following three straight league draws with Notts County, Salford City and Carlisle United.
A trip to seventh-tier Kettering Town for an FA Cup second-round tie then followed on Sunday and the Rovers made it seven games unbeaten to progress, albeit after a tricky test, having only forced extra time in a 1-1 draw thanks to Billy Sharp's 75th minute leveller before he netted his second in the additional 30 minutes to punch their ticket to the third round.
Now turning their focus back to their promotion bid with third-placed Crewe Alexandra and second-placed Walsall only one and two points ahead respectively, Doncaster Rovers will aim to pick up another victory on the road to climb into the top three.
Team News
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Fleetwood Town will remain without defender Zech Medley on Wednesday due to a long-term injury.
After seeing out another clean sheet at the weekend, Liam Shaw, James Bolton and Finley Potter are bound to line up in a back three, while Carl Johnston is a key man on the right-hand side of their 3-5-2 shape.
Ronan Coughlan and Ryan Graydon will continue to partner up up top, having netted eight and six goals respectively so far this season, while Danny Mayor will offer further support from a midfield trio.
Grant McCann should field a similar Doncaster Rovers starting XI from Sunday's FA Cup win, with veteran defender Richard Wood remaining the only enforced absentee due to an injury.
After netting the decisive brace in that tie to move onto eight goals for the season, Billy Sharp should again get the nod over Joe Ironside to lead the line.
Jordan Gibson and Luke Molyneux will offer further support from the wings, having contributed combined tallies of nine goals and five assists in League Two so far this term, while Owen Bailey and Patrick Kelly should continue in the engine room despite competition from George Broadbent.
Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Harrington; Shaw, Bolton, Potter; Johnston, Mayor, Virtue, Helm, Hunt; Graydon, Coughlan
Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Sharman-Lowe; Sterry, Olowu, Anderson, Senior; Bailey, Kelly; Gibson, Clifton, Molyneux; Sharp
We say: Fleetwood Town 1-1 Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers have enjoyed the stronger start to their 2024-25 League Two promotion bid but face a tough test away at a Fleetwood Town side who are well versed in avoiding defeat.
With both sides possessing quality throughout their ranks, we see a draw as the most likely outcome at Highbury.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
