Match Preview: Doncaster Rovers

23 December 2022

Tranmere Rovers look to start a busy festive period with a victory over Doncaster Rovers on home soil this Boxing Day.

10^th place Doncaster Rovers come into the game after a narrow 1-0 win over Newport County two weeks ago, again with their pitch falling victim to the snow and cold weather last weekend, where they were scheduled to face Harrogate Town. The visitors have picked up 9 points from a possible 15 in the last five games.

Boss, Micky Mellon, expressed his frustrations after the last game for Rovers, a 2-1 loss away at Grimsby Town.

“We didn’t start the game anywhere near well enough. We were losing everything, not competing well enough. We had to either set the tempo or match the tempo, and we said about that, but we didn’t. It wasn’t good enough.”

One positive for Tranmere fans to look out for is the positive home form this season, with a higher points-per-game ratio for the team at Prenton Park than when on the road. As well as this, the opposition, Doncaster, have won 4 away from home this season out of 11, with an average points per game of 1.36.

One To Watch: George Miller

Born in Manchester, George Miller is a 24-year-old forward who joined Doncaster Rovers in the summer of 2022.

Miller signed his first professional contract back in 2016, aged 18, with Bury FC – after spending 2 years at the club in their academy setup. He made his League One debut in February 2016, coming on as a substitute in a defeat to Barnsley.

He scored his first goal for Bury in a 3-2 defeat against Northampton Town in October that year.

He then signed a contract with Middlesborough back in 2017 – a club where he failed to make an appearance – going out on numerous loans in his 2-year spell at the club – at Wrexham, Bury and Bradford City.

A permanent transfer came in 2019 to Barnsley, where he stayed until the summer of 2022.

Just 6 appearances were made by Miller for the Tykes, with further loan moves to Bradford City, Scunthorpe United and Walsall – making a total of 66 appearances in the three moves – scoring 13 goals.

A move to South Yorkshire in the summer means that Miller has taken League Two by storm – currently sitting 6^th in the top goal scorer charts for the fourth division, with 9 goals in 16 appearances - the away side’s top scorer.

The Manager: Danny Schofield

Doncaster Head Coach, Danny Schofield, was appointed the boss at the Eco-Power Stadium in October this year.

The former Huddersfield Town manager started his senior football career at The Terriers back in 1998, where he stayed for 10 years, playing in their First Team 248 times as an attacking midfielder - scoring 39 times.

In the remaining 9 years of his career, Schofield enjoyed spells at numerous different clubs – including making 43 appearances for Yeovil Town, 67 appearances for Millwall, 37 for Rotherham United, 8 for Accrington Stanley and 5 for Stockport County, before dropping to non-league.

His non-league career spanned over 3 seasons, for 3 different clubs – FC Halifax Town, Bradford Park Avenue and Mickleover Sports, before retiring in the summer of 2017.

During his non-league career, he started his coaching qualifications, so as soon as retirement came, Schofield was a coach at Leeds United Academy. In 2019, the current Donny manager left United to coach Middlesborough’s Under 23 team.

After just six months on the East Coast, he returned to boyhood club Huddersfield Town after the sacking of Danny Cowley. He was caretaker manager at Town, before a new manager came in and Schofield hence dropped down to the B Team.

He was then promoted to First Team Head Coach after the sacking of Carlos Corberan, however, was sacked after just 1 win in the first 8 games.

Doncaster then came calling, where Danny was appointed as Head Coach in October.

Match Coverage:

Saturday's game will be streamed live on iFollow in both the UK and abroad! Click here to get your match pass now for just £10

You can also follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @tranmererovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Match reaction from Micky Mellon and a player will follow on our website and YouTube channel.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Tranmere Rovers 3-0 Doncaster Rovers

26 December 2022

Tranmere Rovers recorded a convincing win on home soil on Boxing Day with a 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers at Prenton Park.

Goals from Kane Hemmings, Kieron Morris and Paul Lewis was enough to send the SWA home happy in the last home game of 2022.

It was a cagey opening to proceedings with both sides looking to retain possession. Doncaster worked their way into the Tranmere box before Seaman’s low driven cross went all the way along the six yard box without anyone getting on the end of it.

Tranmere’s first chance to hit the target came via a Josh Hawkes 25 yard free kick but his attempt to dip the effort over the wall only resulted in it sailing over the bar.

Just past the half hour mark, Tom Davies was given the freedom of the back post to try and guide his header past Mitchell in the Doncaster goal. His header was powerful from Dacres-Cogley’s cross but it was well held by the keeper.

Right on the stroke of half time, Micky Mellon’s men got their noses in front. Some fantastic link up play between Morris and Dacres-Cogley on the right led to Kane Hemmings getting in front of his man and poking the ball home from close range to give Rovers the advantage at the break.

Tranmere started the second half as they meant to go on. Josh Hawkes’ curling shot from the inside right of the box just swerved inches past the far post.

It didn’t take long for Rovers to double their lead as in the 60th minute Kieron Morris played a nice one two with Tom Davies before unleashing a sublime effort into the far corner with his left foot, giving Mitchell no chance and putting Tranmere in cruise control.

With 12 minutes left on the clock, substitute Paul Lewis put the icing on the Christmas cake. More good play from Dacres-Cogley down the right who shifted the ball onto his right foot before delivering a pin point cross onto the head of Lewis who powered his header into the back of the net from 10 yards out.

The visitors very nearly grabbed a consolation in the 89th minute as George Miller controlled in the box and beat Doohan but Dacres-Cogley was there to clear off the line and preserve the clean sheet for Tranmere.

The referee sounded his whistle and Tranmere pick up a Boxing Day win and will bounce into the upcoming festive games with a spring in their step.

Tranmere team: Doohan, Dacres-Cogley, Davies, Turnbull, Hawkes (McAlear 87’), Merrie, O’Connor, Morris, Hemmings (Burton 87’), Mumbongo (Lewis 70’)