Swindon Town will play host for the first time in 2021 and fourth placed Doncaster Rovers will be the guests at the County Ground.
We face Rovers off the back of an impressive 3-2 win over Ipswich Town last Saturday.
It was the new boys who proved to be the difference makers, with new signing Dom Thompson assisting Diallang Jaiyesimi’s brace and supplying the pass to Scott Twine who spectacularly beat David Cornell from 35-yards in what was the goal of the game, and maybe even the goal of the season.
As well as being a vital three points, it was also a huge performance from the lads and they will need to do it once more against Darren Moore’s high-flying side.
Only recently, Doncaster narrowly overcame the Reds 2-1 at the Keepmoat stadium with Reece James scoring a brace for Moore’s side and Jaiyesimi replying for the Town from the penalty spot in the dying seconds.
However, this is a very different Swindon side to the one that finished 2020, and should the Reds harness the same energy and clinical edge from Portman Road, then it should be a very exciting contest.
The Opposition:
Donny are yet to participate in a league fixture in 2021 but were surprised by Shrewsbury in their last match on the 22nd December, losing 1-0 at home thanks to a 53rd minute header by Aaron Pierre.
However, before that set back, they recorded a four-match winning streak and affirmed themselves as strong contenders for promotion.
Rovers have also secured their fair share of January reinforcements, with promising attacking midfielder Elliot Simoes signing from Barnsley and goalkeepers Joe Lumley and Ellery Balcombe arriving from Queens Park Rangers and Brentford respectively.
However, they also suffered a big blow with joint top goal-scorer and midfield general Ben Whiteman departing to join Preston North End.
Doncaster typically set up with a 4-2-3-1 formation and look to overload the wide areas with full-backs Joe Wright and Reece James stretching opposition defences.
It is the latter who Swindon will need to keep a firm eye on as James is now the top goal-scorer for Moore’s side despite playing as a defender.
While Swindon were beaten by Rovers in December, their recent record against Doncaster is reasonably good, winning twice, losing twice and drawing once in the last five meetings.
Team News:
Tommy Wright confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Ellis Iandolo was back in training, but is a few weeks off being ready to play. Jonathan Grounds will also not make the matchday squad as he recovers from a calf injury sustained against MK Dons. Kieron Freeman is still not quite ready and Joel Grant is available for selection having not played a game since our win against Oxford at the end of November.