Rovers must protect against ‘Potent’ Posh

Former Wrexham manager Dean Saunders crosses swords with former Racecourse Ground veteran midfielder Darren Ferguson for the second time this season.

The Welshman was victorious over the Scot in the sweltering heat of London Road back in October as Rovers prospered 2-1 thanks to a thirty yard wonder strike from Brian Stock and Kyle Bennett’s winner.

The only win in the last five games for either team was Peterborough’s 3-0 demolition last weekend of troubled Bristol City which saw the Posh rise to the comfort of 18th place. Rovers, by contrast, will have to show character if they are to get a maximum for the first time since the start of the year and try and climb out of trouble as they languish in 24th.

Rovers will also have to try and avenge last week’s 3-2 defeat suffered at Elland Road without injured quartet James Coppinger (cheekbone), Habib Bamogo (hamstring), George Friend and Martin Woods (both knee). Mamadou Bagayoko, the rangy Malian striker, who had given Rovers a two-goal cushion with his double in West Yorkshire, could feature, as could returning centre half Habib Beye, who served the last of his three match suspension.

Manager Dean Saunders, who has rubbished reports linking him with Newcastle United youngster Mehdi Abeid, bemoaned the lack of luck that his side endured in that Yorkshire derby and will be hoping for better fortune this time around against a Posh side who haven’t won on the road since Boxing Day.

Ferguson may call upon new loan signing Tyrone Barnett, whose move from League 2 outfit Crawley could end up as a permanent transfer that will potentially reach a fee of £1.1M – bankrolled by millionaire London Road chairman Darragh MacAnthony.

Barnett (above) might find a creative midfield very much to his liking and there is a rarely a drought of chances or games in which the Cambridgeshire side don’t score.

Grant McCann to score first, but Rovers win 2-1, in a repeat of October’s game, is a tasty 145/1 with some bookmakers.

Last meeting (npower Championship, London Road, October 1st 2011):
Peterborough United 1 (McCann, 19)
Doncaster Rovers 2 (Stock, 55. Bennett, 67)
Attendance - 8220



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