Preview: Exeter City vs Doncaster Rovers – prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to finish a winless begin to life again below Matt Taylor and start a climb out of the League One relegation zone, Exeter City will welcome Doncaster Rovers to St James Park on Monday.

A loss on Friday leaves the hosts twenty first and three factors adrift of security, whereas the guests are seven factors higher off after their very own Good Friday defeat.

Match preview

Exeter City full their Easter Weekend at St James Park on Monday in want of an vital three-level haul of their League One survival bid.

After overseeing an upturn in type between mid-December and late January, Gary Caldwell departed for Wigan Athletic in mid-February, leaving them in a comparatively wholesome mid-desk spot on 39 factors from 30 video games.

The return of standard former Manager Matt Taylor didn’t encourage one other climb to assured security, although, along with his first seven video games again on the helm producing two factors, which means they headed into the Easter double-header within the drop zone on the again of 5 straight defeats and a goalless stalemate in opposition to Leyton Orient.

A troublesome journey to resurgent fellow strugglers Blackpool then adopted final outing in a real six-pointer, and Taylor’s males suffered one other dangerous defeat, as Tom Bloxham scored the only goal of the game within the first half to ship them dwelling empty-handed.

Now discovering themselves twenty first and three factors adrift of security with simply 5 video games remaining, Exeter City will likely be determined to finish their winless run on Monday and start a climb out of the underside 4 earlier than they run out of time.

© Iconsport / PA Images, Alamy

Their guests, in the meantime, head south in search a return to profitable methods to strengthen their improved survival bid after a setback on Friday.

After discovering themselves in a regarding place on the backside finish of the division across the midway stage, Doncaster Rovers gave their hopes of a second straight season in League One a significant enhance with an upturn in type in 2026, culminating in a 5-recreation unbeaten streak together with three wins heading into the Easter weekend to maneuver onto 50 factors from 39 video games with a wholesome lead above the underside three.

A gathering with Mansfield Town then adopted on Friday, however Grant McCann‘s aspect failed to increase their sizzling streak and transfer all however out of attain of the underside 4, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat as Rhys Oates and Jon Russell scored second-half targets for the guests.

Now sitting seventeenth, and nonetheless main the hosts within the backside 4 by seven factors with six video games left to play, Doncaster Rovers will look to bounce again to profitable methods on Monday to all however assure a secure end.

Exeter City League One type:

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Doncaster Rovers League One type:

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Team News

© Iconsport / News Images, News Images LTD / Alamy

Exeter City are unable to name on first-selection goalkeeper Joe Whitworth, who stays confined to the therapy room alongside Jack Fitzwater, Jake Doyle-Hayes and Ed Turns.

Star man Jayden Wareham will lead the road in a bid to finish his six-match drought, having managed 16 league targets this time period.

Kyle Magennis could are available to affix him up entrance, whereas Ilmari Niskanen presents help from the wing with 10 League One assists to his identify this time period.

Doncaster Rovers are nonetheless with out Sean Grehan, Tom Nixon, Billy Sharp and Francis Okoronkwo as a consequence of ongoing accidents.

Luke Molyneux was match to function from the beginning on Friday after his personal damage setback, although, and he ought to proceed in a supporting function having managed eight targets and 7 assists within the league this time period.

Captain Owen Bailey can also be certain to proceed behind a striker, with 12 league targets to his identify from midfield this time period, whereas there’s competitors for the opposite locations with Brandon Hanlan, Elliot Lee, Hakeeb Adelakun, Glenn Middleton, Harry Clifton and Jordan Gibson left to battle for 2 or three spots.

Exeter City potential beginning lineup:

Bycroft; Sweeney, Woodhouse, Andrew, McMillan; Cole, Cummins; Niskanen, Aitchison; Magennis, Wareham

Doncaster Rovers potential beginning lineup:

Lo-Tutala; Sterry, Byrne, Pearson, Senior; Gotts; Molyneux, Bailey, Clifton, Gibson; Lee

We say: Exeter City 1-2 Doncaster Rovers

While Doncaster Rovers suffered a setback on Friday, they head to an Exeter City team devoid of confidence and we again the guests to return to profitable methods with their superior high quality.

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