There are always goal aplenty when these two Yorkshire rivals meet as Leeds look to make it five straight wins at the Keepmoat
The Sky cameras head to the Keepmoat Stadium on Thursday, where Doncaster will host Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in the final game of the Capital One Cup first round.
The two sides may currently be separated by one division, but, just 30 miles apart and having shared a league for three of the past five seasons, they are certainly no strangers to one other.
It was Donny who prevailed in the most significant meeting between the two sides in recent memory, triumphing 1-0 in the 2008 League One Play-Off Final at Wembley.
Since then, however, it has been Leeds who have most definitely held the edge, winning six and drawing one of the last eight meetings, including victories in all four of their last visits to the Keepmoat – two of which also came in the League Cup during 2011/12 and 2013/14.
Off the pitch, the drama at Elland Road shows no sign of abating with controversial owner Massimo Cellino – who stated “I can change manager like underwear if needs be” upon arriving in England – having just appointed his fifth coach in less than 18 months at the helm.
Current incumbent Uwe Rosler will be determined to be the one that sticks, having laid much of the groundwork for Brentford’s current success and guided Wigan to the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and Championship play-offs before things went horribly wrong last season.
Leeds came within minutes of a perfect start on Saturday as Mirco Antenucci’s stunner was wiped out by a late Burnley equaliser, and last season’s top scorer will surely prove crucial to their fortunes this time around.
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Despite finishing comfortably in mid-table, it was Doncaster’s home form that prevented any potential promotion push last season, recording just seven wins and holding the inauspicious record of having the worst home record in League One.
Perhaps ominously for this season, it took an accidental goal from Harry Forrester with an over-hit back-pass to break the deadlock against newly-promoted Bury at the weekend, with Rovers allowing the opposition to walk in an equaliser before the final whistle.
Even Doncaster manager Paul Dickov should not keep Leeds fans up at night when it comes to the dreaded curse of the former player, given that the much-travelled striker’s record at Elland Road came to the grand total of five months, four appearances, one start and no goals.
One thing is for sure, though: with 28 goals in the last seven meetings between the two rivals, it should be an entertaining – and raucous – affair.
