Two sides in the hunt for promotion square off in League Two on Tuesday evening, as Salford City host Doncaster Rovers at the Peninsula Stadium.
The visitors are still chasing an automatic promotion spot, and they currently sit in fourth spot in the table, just one point behind third-placed Walsall.
Match preview
Doncaster picked up a valuable point at the weekend, drawing 1-1 at home against fifth-placed AFC Wimbledon.
Rovers fell behind early on to a fifth-minute strike by Alistair Smith, but they were given a man advantage when Wimbledon skipper Jake Reeves was sent off in the first half.
Despite having one more player for most of the game, Doncaster struggled to find an equaliser, and when Billy Sharp was dismissed, that task became even more difficult.
However, they kept going, and they got their reward when Jamie Sterry equalised with 11 minutes remaining, to ensure that Doncaster stayed above the Dons in the table.
That draw meant that Tuesday’s visitors are now undefeated in their last six league matches, with four draws and two victories during this spell.
On Tuesday, Rovers will look to continue their excellent away form this season, as they boast the best record on the road in League Two, having secured 34 points from 20 away matches.
Another win on their travels in midweek would move Doncaster above both Walsall and Bradford City in the standings, with just four games left for both sides, so they must make the most of their game in hand.
The visitors are also still in contention for the League Two title, and a victory against Salford would move them to within two points of league leaders Port Vale.
Doncaster have been prolific in front of goal this season, with their record of 62 goals this season fuelling their promotion ambitions, as Rovers have the fourth-strongest attack in the division.
However, Salford still have hopes of reaching the playoffs, and victory for the hosts would move them to within two points of Grimsby Town in seventh.
With some favourable fixtures on the horizon against the likes of Morecambe, Carlisle United and Accrington Stanley before the end of the season, there is potential for the hosts to make up ground on those currently in the playoff zone.
Karl Robinson‘s men have been in good form themselves lately, as they are unbeaten in their last five, with three of those matches ending in wins for Salford.
Salford’s recent good form comes after a disappointing run of just one win in 12 league matches, and come the end of the campaign, Robinson’s men may well point to that period as the defining moment of the season.
Their latest victory came on Friday evening against one of the sides currently occupying a place in the playoff zone, as Salford recorded a 3-1 victory away to Notts County.
Matthew Platt scored an own goal to give the Ammies the lead, before Kelly N’Mai doubled their advantage early in the second half.
The experienced David McGoldrick pulled one back for County, before Luke Garbutt killed off any hope of a comeback with a third goal for Salford.
That result continued an impressive season on the road for Robinson’s men, who have the sixth-strongest away record in League Two, with 30 of their 61 points coming away from home.
One of those points came in the last meeting between the two sides back in November, as the sides drew 1-1 at the Eco-Power Stadium.
Kylian Kouassi put Salford ahead that day, before an equaliser from Sharp meant that both teams had to settle for a point each in Yorkshire.
Team News
Salford have several injury concerns ahead of this match, with Stephan Negru, Ryan Watson, Conor McAleny and Dan Chesters all sidelined due to injuries.
Other absentees for the hosts include Frankie Okoronkwo, as well as Kouassi, who netted Salford’s goal in the match between these two sides back in November.
In bad news for Rovers, the promotion hopefuls will be without Joseph Olowu for the rest of the campaign due to a thigh injury.
Meanwhile, Sharp, who scored for Doncaster in the reverse fixture, will be suspended for this clash, after the former Sheffield United striker was sent off in the draw against AFC Wimbledon at the weekend.
Salford City possible starting lineup:
Young; Garbutt, Tilt, Shephard, Mnoga; Adelakun, Fornah, Ashley, Woodburn; N’Mai, Stockton
Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Sharman-Lowe; Senior, Wood, Anderson, Sterry; Bailey, Broadbent, Molyneux, Clifton, Gibson; Street
We say: Salford City 1-2 Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster have the best away record in League Two, and we think that they can win once again on the road here.
Both teams will be up for this game, but the visitors will be motivated by the opportunity to move into second with a victory in this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
