Doncaster Rovers vs Accrington Stanley Predictions

• Doncaster conceded at least one goal in 80% of their home matches.
• 75% of Doncaster’s points have been earned at home.
• Accrington have scored 12 times in their last three league matches

A mid season blip

For the last few seasons Doncaster Rovers have been in and around the promotion picture and, although they have previously failed to get over the line, they would have been hopeful that this season was finally the one in which they reclaimed their spot in the Championship. However, a poor run of form in the winter months so far has seen those hopes dashed and the hosts go into this weekend’s clash having claimed just two wins in their last eight outings.

A major reason for the hosts struggles is their inability to keep their opposition at bay and this fact is demonstrated perfectly by 80% of the visiting sides to the Keepmoat Stadium managing to score at least once. However, that is not to say Rovers are not well suited to this type of game as they still boast a strong home record and have scored in 90% of their matches in front of their own fans.

Away day blues

Speaking of sides who like things on their own patch, that is no truer than this weekend’s visiting side to the Keepmoat Stadium, Accrington Stanley. The visitors have earned 64% of their points on home soil and have scored 7% of their goals in front of their own fans. However, while they may prefer home comforts, they have plenty of reasons to be hopeful of three points this weekend.

The visitors received an unexpected boost when facing up against Bolton a few weeks ago as, despite finding themselves a goal down, Bolton crumbled after going down to 10 men and found themselves on the back of a 7-1 hiding. It was a boost which Stanley have clearly benefited from as since then they have gone on to get a credible point against Tranmere and they backed that up with an impressive 4-1 victory over an in form Portsmouth last time out.

Something for everyone

The hosts will no doubt go into this contest as the favourites but they are without a win in their last four league matches and we think it is too risky a proposition to back them on the win-draw-win market. Instead, we think that there is merit in backing both teams to score as it is something which has occurred in 70% of their home league matches. Our confidence in this tip is only increased further when we consider their visitors current form in front of goal and given that they have conceded in 82% of their away matches this term, it seems a pretty secure market to bet on.

In terms of a correct score tip, we think that there will be little to choose between these two sides as the hosts solid home form is cancelled out by their lack of current form while the visitors troubles on the road is balanced against their recent improvements in front of goal. Doncaster average 1.6 goals per game at home this term and have scored four times in their last four matches. Meanwhile, Accrington average just 0.73 goals per game but have that recent improvement in their favour. All of this leads us to believe that backing a 1-1 draw is the way to go.