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

The hosts suffered a heavy defeat away at Colchester United last time out, while their visitors will return to league action after featuring in the FA Cup second round last weekend.

Match preview

After a dismal campaign ending in relegation to League Two last season, Doncaster Rovers set out to rebuild this time around, and they made a positive start to life back in England's fourth tier before a five-game winless run saw them drop into the bottom half with 22 points from the opening 16 outings.

The Yorkshire outfit would then end that run with a first victory under the new management of Danny Schofield as they beat Gillingham 1-0, with Harrison Biggins hitting the only goal of the contest, before dropping out of the FA Cup in their following outing due to a disappointing defeat at the hands of sixth-tier Kings Lynn Town.

They were then, at least, able to bounce back with a second straight league victory away at Grimsby, with the Rovers eventually triumphing 3-1 as Biggins was again on the scoresheet alongside a brace from George Miller.

Aiming to make it three three-point hauls on the bounce to climb closer to the playoff places, Schofield's men most recently travelled to take on Colchester United but came away empty-handed, as Alex Newby put their hosts ahead on the stroke of half time before Samson Tovide and Luke Hannant wrapped up a 3-0 home win with second-half goals.

Now rested having not been involved in the FA Cup second round over the weekend, Doncaster return to action with the aim of getting back to winning ways with just a three-point gap to the playoff places, but they face a tough test against a Walsall side who arrive in fine form.

Friday's visitors experienced a slow start to the League Two season, sitting on just 10 points from 11 games, but they have since added 17 points more points to their tally in eight further outings.

Back-to-back victories were followed by a narrow defeat away at Mansfield Town, and the Saddlers now find themselves unbeaten in five league contests, having won three of those.

Following draws with Sutton United and Carlisle United, either side of consecutive triumphs over Harrogate Town and Rochdale, Michael Flynn's side were most recently in league action at home to Crawley Town, and they climbed into the top half with a 2-1 victory thanks to Danny Johnson's 92nd-minute winner.

They now head into Friday's trip on the back of another positive result, extending their unbeaten record to seven games in all competitions and booking their place in the third round of the FA Cup, as they followed up a first-round triumph over Wycombe Wanderers with a 2-1 beating of Carlisle United on Saturday, again winning in dramatic fashion as Andy Williams drew them level in the 88th minute and Douglas James-Taylor netted the decisive goal deep into injury time.

Now full of confidence thanks to their impressive run of results, and having moved within a point of Friday's hosts and within four points of the playoff spots, Walsall will look to continue building momentum with another three-point haul when they travel to Yorkshire.

Doncaster Rovers League Two form:

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Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):

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Walsall League Two form:

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D

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Walsall form (all competitions):

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Team News

Doncaster Rovers' line will again be led by George Miller, who has enjoyed a strong start to the season since arriving in the summer from Barnsley, netting 11 goals in 20 games in all competitions including nine in League Two thus far.

In Schofield's preferred 3-4-3 setup, he should be flanked by Kyle Hurst and Luke Molyneux, with the duo having also played important roles going forward since joining at the beginning of the campaign.

Elsewhere, Ben Close and Harrison Biggins will again partner up in the engine room, while Ro-Shaun Williams remains a mainstay in the back three, likely lining up alongside Tom Anderson and Adam Long.

After a run of victories, Walsall may look to come into Friday's contest with an unchanged starting XI, although forwards Andy Williams and Douglas James-Taylor both put forward their claims to start with goals off the bench in the FA Cup triumph over Carlisle United.

Danny Johnson is bound to keep his place up front, though, with the Mansfield Town loanee sitting fourth in the League Two scoring charts with 10 goals in the fourth tier so far this term.

The defence should certainly remain untouched too, with Hayden White, Donervon Daniels and Manny Monthe enjoying success as a back three in recent weeks.

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Mitchell; Williams, Anderson, Long; Knoyle, Biggins, Close, Maxwell; Molyneux, Miller, Hurst

Walsall possible starting lineup:

Evans; White, Daniels, Monthe; Knowles, Hutchinson, Kinsella, Gordon; James-Taylor, Johnson, Maddox

We say: Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Walsall

Walsall will travel with plenty of confidence, but Friday will be a tough test away at another side fighting for playoff places, and we do not quite see them taking all three points.

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