Watch out Peterborough United as Doncaster Rovers boss believes his side's fortunes will change soon, plus big match bits and bobs
Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann believes his side’s fortunes are about to change.
McCann brings his bottom-of-the-table side to the Weston Homes Stadium to tackle his old Peterborough United team on Saturday (3pm kick off).
Rovers are one of only two teams without a win this season – Posh drew with the other team, MK Dons, last weekend – but based on the ‘expected goals’ data they are the most hard done by team in the league. The quality of the chances they have created and given up would place them sixth in League One!
Rovers missed a hatful of scoring opportunities before losing 1-0 at AFC Wimbledon last weekend.
McCann said: “I’ve been in football long enough to know that form changes. Hopefully sooner rather than later, but we’re probably creating our own problems by not taking chances.
"It was a good performance at Wimbledon, but nobody wants to hear that. People want to see whether we've won, drawn or if we've lost.
We had numerous opportunities to score, but it will turn. I feel like I've got the best number nine in the league in Alfie May. Isaac Hutchinson also scored 20 goals last year, while Owen Bailey scored 16 goals last season, but we are rushing things and trying too hard.”
May has a decent scoring record against Posh at London Road. He scored two brilliant goals in a shock 3-0 win for Cheltenham at London Road in 2023 and scored for Birmingham City in the 2-1 win that clinched promotion from League One for ‘The Blues’ in 2025. He has scored twice for Doncaster this season, in his second spell at the club.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Attacking midfielder Hutchinson scored those 20 goals in League Two for Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham last season.
He was one of several close season signings by McCann who also recruited goalkeeper Tommy Simkin on loan from Stoke City, midfielder Jack Senior on a free transfer from Tranmere Rovers and midfielder Jordan Thomas on a free from Cheltenham.
Thomas scored an outstanding goal for Cheltenham in an EFL Trophy game at Posh in 2024.
McCann’s own son Bayley has made five League One substitute appearances for Rovers this season. He was a former Posh youth team player.
CURRENT FORM
Doncaster’s one away point this season came from a 2-2 draw at Stevenage. They have lost at Mansfield Town and AFC Wimbledon by one goal.
PAST MATCHES
Doncaster completed a League One double over Posh by winning 3-1 at London Road on the final day of last season. That result made it eight wins apiece in 23 Football League meetings at London Road.
But Posh haven’t won any of the last five meetings. They last tasted victory in October, 2015 when goals from Erhun Oztumer, Gaby Zakuani, Callum Elder and Conor Washington secured a 4-0 League One win.
REF WATCH
It will be just a second League One game for rookie referee William Davis on Saturday. He was promoted from the National League at the end of last season after impressing in a handful of League Two matches.
BIG MATCH ODDS
Posh are 13/10 to beat Doncaster on Saturday with Sky Bet. The visitors are 13/8 with and the draw is 13/5.
Posh are currently 9/4 fifth favourites to be relegated behind Bromley, Wigan, Burton and Wimbledon.