This is certainly a fixture that features little versus large although there’s no getting away from the fact that Doncaster are the more shrewdly managed club at the moment. Despite possessing finances that are just a fraction of their opponents, Rovers are sat in a comfortable 16th position while Middlesbrough have been fighting down at the bottom all season and are in 21st.
Like most sides in the division, Doncaster have experienced something of a rollercoaster campaign and while they were in the top six just a couple of weeks ago, Rovers have now slid down to 16th following some poor results. Sean O’Driscoll may well be slightly concerned with his sides poor after the Keepmoat outfit were thrashed 5-1 to Leicester in their last outing, while they lost 1-0 in the game before that against Crystal Palace. Recent results mean they are now without a win in three and with six points separating them from both the playoffs and the bottom three, the next few weeks could be very important for the rest of their campaign. Despite this poor form, their last defeat at home came in mid-October so Donny fans should still possess plenty of optimism ahead of this fixture.
All throughout the season people have been saying that Middlesbrough must soon be set to rise from their dreadful slump although as of yet, it still hasn’t happened. Since taking over, Tony Mowbray hasn’t seen too much of an upturn in fortunes at the Riverside although having beaten high flying Cardiff in their last game, Boro fans will certainly have more confidence heading into this one. As it stands, Mowbray’s men are sat just one place outside the relegation zone, with goal difference being the only reason for that. However, with a packed Christmas schedule around the corner, Mowbray will know that it might not be long before they rise up the league if they can build on their last result.
Sean O’Driscoll has seen his side hit by injuries throughout the campaign and he looks set to be without three players for this encounter. Simon Gillett, George Friend and Mustapha Dumbuya are all on the sidelines and unavailable for selection. O’Driscoll may even turn to Bryron Webster who was recalled from his loan spell with Hereford earlier in the week. The visitors are meanwhile relying on the fitness of David Wheater and Nicky Bailey, who are both doubts for this one having missed training through injury this week.
Middlesbrough may head into this game with extra confidence following victory last week, but their whole season has been made up of one step forward, two steps back. For that reason, and Doncaster’s reasonable home form, we’re going to predict a win for Sean O’Driscoll’s men here
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