The story of how Doncaster Rovers downed League Two high-flyers Carlisle United
and live on Freeview channel 276
But to do so Rovers must reverse the 3-0 defeat they suffered the last time they played the fourth-placed Cumbrians in October.
That game was Gary McSheffrey’s last in charge of the club and one week later Danny Schofield was in the Doncaster dugout.
Carlisle head into the clash following two straight wins, while Rovers beat Rochdale 4-3 last time out.
Scroll down for live updates.
Doncaster Rovers v Carlisle United LIVE
Key Events
- Doncaster could move back into the play-offs for the first time since September with a win
- Paul Simpson’s Carlisle beat Rover 3-0 in their last meeting in October
- Fourth-placed Cumbrians have won their last two, while Doncaster beat Rochdale 4-3 on Thursday
Miller breaks away
But chooses the wrong option with teammates in the box, instead he seemingly goes for goal and misses high and wide.
Chance came after a Carlisle defender misjudged the flight of the ball.
Carlisle get us started
Rovers kicking towards a busy away end in the first half. Carlisle fans making plenty of noise.
Schofield on the January transfer window
“We enter the January transfer window confident that we have collectively put in the hard yards to identify players will improve the squad.
“Work has been ongoing since I came to the club to narrow searches for specific positions.”
A minute’s applause to be held this afternoon
In memory of Rovers fans who died in 2022 and football legend Pele.
Doncaster Rovers unchanged
Adam Clayton returns to the bench in place of Reo Griffiths.
Tommy Rowe misses out again and there’s no Jon Taylor either.
Who’s available today?
Joseph Olowu, Bobby Faulkner and Ollie Younger all remain out.
Jon Taylor will almost certainly miss today’s match, while Tommy Rowe is touch and go. There’s better news on skipper Adam Clayton, however.
Carlisle are League Two’s second-highest scorers.
Only three teams in the division - Crawley (20th), Hartlepool (21st) and Rochdale (23rd) - have conceded more than Doncaster this season.
Carlisle Utd have scored in 10 of their 12 away matches this term and in all of their last five trips on the road.
Rovers have kept just one clean sheet at home in the league until now.
Happy New Year!
While it’s the beginning of a new year today also marks the end of the busy festive period, which saw Rovers beaten 3-0 at Tranmere before atoning for that somewhat with a 4-3 win over Rochdale at the Eco-Power Stadium on Thursday.
Three points against Paul Simpson’s fourth-placed Carlisle this afternoon would be a statement victory, to say the least. It would arguably be the best result since Danny Schofield took charge.
Interestingly, Simpson was in the frame to take over after Richie Wellens’ exit before Gary McSheffrey was handed the reigns.
How different things might have been, we’ll never know.