More than two months after the two teams were initially scheduled to meet, Preston North End will tackle Doncaster Rovers at Deepdale this Tuesday night.
After Saturday's 1-1 draw at Plymouth, PNE now face three consecutive home games starting with the visit of Sean O'Driscoll's Rovers.
Of the next three games at Deepdale, the visit of Doncaster looks to be least high-profile, especially with former managers Billy Davies and Alan Irvine set to return to their former stomping grounds. But O'Driscoll has fashioned a fine side and in recent weeks Doncaster have won twice on the road, including last weekend's impressive 5-2 victory at Bristol City.
Preston boss Darren Ferguson knows that March could be defining month for the Lilywhites. They currently lie nine points off the Play-Off zone but just six points off of the relegation zone. The Preston boss will be hopeful that come the passing of these three Deepdale fixtures the Lilywhites will still have one eye on the Play-Offs and that the whiff of the drop zone will be long gone.
Preston North End v Doncaster Rovers
Coca-Cola Championship
Tuesday 9th March 2010
Deepdale
Gaffer's Team News
"Callum Davidson is back, he's fit, he's trained, he will be involved. Coutts is back from his one-match suspension.
"Slowly but surely we are getting all our numbers back, touch wood, so I am pleased with that.
"In training he [Callum] talks well, he knows the Club well, he's good around the place so it will be good to get him back involved.
"With Tom Williams coming in it means we can give him a little bit longer, whereas before I think he has always been rushed back and that has caused more injuries and been more of a hinderance. We can do it a little bit more gradual this time, which is what you want to do with players. You don't want to throw them in with the risk of being injured again.
"I felt that Chaplow and James did fine in central midfield, we have got really good competition for places and I want that everywhere. Chappy has been out for two months but the lad is naturally fit and I was very pleased with him. Matty James has done fine since he came in there.
"I have probably got to pick two out of the three and we will see tomorrow who I go with. It is good that we have got a fit Richard Chaplow back because I don't think he was fit when we came in.
"The more competition, the harder my job is and the better for the team and the Club. It doesn't make my job any easier but that's what I am paid for."
The Opposition
Doncaster Rovers have come a long way since they were promoted back to the Football League seven years ago and they owe much of that progression to the talents of manager Sean O'Driscoll.
Doncaster fans like to think of their club as the 'Arsenal of the North' and there can be no doubt that Rovers certainly play some of the Championship's best football.
O'Driscoll's talents have certainly been recognised by bigger clubs and though the Burnley job may have passed him by, he will certainly be a name near the top of the list the next time a top Championship job becomes available.
The short-term key to Doncaster's success this season has been the loan acquisition of Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp. A free-scoring hitman with Scunthorpe, Sharp failed to rediscover that form upon his costly return to his hometown club, the Blades allowed him to link-up with Doncaster and 14 goals from 27 starts later Sharp has shown that he certainly knows where the back of the net is.
Doncaster have some fine footballers in the middle of the park, including former PNE Brian Stock and North End's January transfer targer Martin Woods.
Like North End, Doncaster still harbor Play-Off ambitions and one point ahead of the Lilywhites they will be confident upon their arrival at Deepdale.
Opposition Manager
"Jay suits our style of play perfectly and it's quite something for a club like us to attract a player from Arsenal.
"I'm so pleased to have him and hopefully we can help him make progress in his career. He has work to do on his play off the ball, but at this stage he could be anything.
"I'm not sure what position he will eventually occupy as he's not exactly a striker and not exactly a midfield player."
O'Driscoll waxes lyrical on the talents of Arsenal loanee Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who scored his first goal in Saturday's5-2 win at Ashton Gate
Opposition Player
"It's going to be a tall order now. But you never say never, the lads will keep plugging away and we've got a few of the boys coming back from injury.
"You look at teams like Cardiff, who are having a bit of a stutter at the minute and I think maybe sixth position is up for grabs if someone puts a late run in.
"But it's getting that consistency at the minute. We need to get some continuity to our games, at the minute we seem to win a few and lose a few.
"If you string a few wins together, you can kick on up the table.
"We played at Sheffield Wednesday and won and were flying that night. But we then went to QPR and we didn't - to our standards - turn up.
"It's hard to put your finger on why that happens.
"We had a great end to the season last time and have been up and down more this season; we had a lot of draws to start with, then a good run and a few defeats - it's been a strange old season."
Former PNE trialist John Oster believes that the Play-Offs are still up for grabs
Head-to-Head
PNE's all time record against Doncaster W14 D5 L8
PNE's home record against Doncaster W11 D1 L1
Last Meeting
Doncaster 1 Preston 1
(Lockwood 80; Brown 28)
Saturday 15th August 2009
Coca-Cola Championship
The Keepmoat Stadium
PNEBetting.com Odds
Preston 6/5 Draw 23/10 Doncaster 9/4
PNEBetting.com Selected Bet
Jon Parkin to score first in a 1-0 win - 30/1.
PNE Player
Jonathan Breeze will be joined by a special guest for full match commentary from PNE Player.
Any Other Business?
Did you know that Chris Brown's dad used to play for Doncaster and that Brown Jnr had a successful spell on loan with Rovers earlier in his career?
