Colchester United will take on Doncaster Rovers in their penultimate League Two game of the season on Tuesday 23rd April at the JobServe Community Stadium (KO 7:45pm).
Rewind to the middle of February, and Tuesday’s visitors Doncaster Rovers were looking anxiously over their shoulders at the bottom of League Two, sitting in twentieth place, just three points above the U’s and Grimsby Town.
A mini-revival of two wins and a draw across four matches saw them gain a bit more breathing space, with only those inside Doncaster thinking that a play-off place was achievable.
A run of nine wins in a row has seen Grant McCann’s side into eighth place, just a matter of a two-goal deficit in goal difference outside the play-offs, with Tuesday’s game in hand over seventh placed Crawley Town to be played.
That run continued on Saturday against fellow promotion rivals Barrow, who went two goals ahead just before the half-time whistle went at the Eco-Power Stadium. Once again, it was probably only Doncaster and their supporters who thought they would extend that winning run.
A goal back on the hour mark gave the hosts hope, and then three goals on the eighty fourth, eighty eighth and ninety ninth minute gave Donny a 4-2 victory that took them level with Crawley. With two games to play, Crawley have just one, Doncaster are clear favourites now to secure that play-off place that looked impossible just two months ago.
Joe Ironside, who got the ball rolling with Doncaster’s first goal of the game, and also scored his side’s fourth goal, was keen to explain that he and his teammates never thought the game was out of reach.
He told the club’s official website: “We knew what we had to do in the second half and we just went for it. Our hard work and endeavour paid off and we’re delighted to come away with the win. The gaffer wanted us to be more positive. In the first half when we got in behind them or in the pockets, we didn’t penetrate enough and maybe passed back too much.
“So in the second half, it was about letting the shackles off and just going to play. We got the ball forward quicker and credit to the subs that came on because I thought they were brilliant. We got the chances and just took them.
“There’s ninety minutes in a football match. Although we were 2-0 down, we know we’ve got the quality to get back in the game. It was keeping doing what we’ve been doing, keep believing and we’ve come away with the win.”
Last Time We Met
The U’s succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the Eco-Power Stadium on 28th November 2023. Donny went ahead after thirty-three minutes before Joe Taylor brought the score level ten minutes later. However, two second-half goals from Ironside and Mo Faal set the score at 3-1.
Ticket Info
As the game was postponed on the day, tickets will only be available to purchase at the MATCHDAY rate - click HERE to get yours from Col U Tickets. Click Here for more info.
iFollow Info
If you can't make it to the game, it will be available to stream live on iFollow with a £10 Match Pass.
A Match Pass includes full coverage of the match, including commentary from our Radio Partners at BBC Essex. Click HERE to get your match pass and support the U's from home.
