Back in September, Doncaster Rovers’ awful start to the season saw them take just two points from their opening seven games to sit bottom of League Two, leaving manager Grant McCann fearing for his job. However, the turnaround since, especially over the past few weeks has been nothing short of remarkable.
Adding players such as winger Hakeeb Adelakun and goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala to the team in January proved to be a stroke of genius, adding to the experience of the likes of Tommy Rowe and Tom Anderson.
Lincoln City loanee Adelakun is fighting for a contract as his Imps deal runs out at the end of the current season, but he has been a revelation since arriving at the Eco-Power Stadium. The 27-year-old has seven goals and five assists in just 15 games, culminating in him winning the League Two Player of the Month for February.
Furthermore, he has wonderfully complimented attacking players already at the club such as Joe Ironside and Luke Molyneux. Between the three of them, they have 45 goal contributions. French keeper Lo-Tutala, on loan from Championship club Hull City, has also been in brilliant form keeping six clean sheets already from just 14 matches.
Hakeeb Adelakun showing just why he was League Two’s best player last month. 😳#drfc
— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) March 9, 2024
pic.twitter.com/dHbVpxJBzu
Rovers are no strangers to the opposition having the ball with themselves having an average of 49% possession, but they are clinical on the counter-attack as proven by the fact they’ve scored 59 goals.
The likes of Ian Lawlor, Tom Anderson, Zain Westbrooke and George Miller have all missed big chunks of McCann’s side’s current season with numerous injuries, with the latter playing just two games this season.
Up to a month ago, Rovers were as low down as 20th in the table with 40 points from 35 games and only 13 points above the drop zone. With players returning from injury and the team beginning to gel, they did the unthinkable and embarked on an unbelievable run of form.
One month ago, Doncaster were 20th. As things stand, they’re four points off the play-offs. Remarkable. #drfc https://t.co/IT6MrSy9Te
— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) April 9, 2024
Doncaster are in a rich vein of form, winning seven on the bounce since then for the first time in 77 years. The 2-1 win at home to Walsall on Tuesday evening was made even more important by seventh-placed Crawley Town’s 4-1 defeat against Wrexham. As a result, they are now just four points off the play-off spots.
Even if they are unable to make up the ground, they have already beaten last season’s points tally where they finished 18th on 55 points. With four matches remaining they are already on 61 points this season.
The next two games are at home against Accrington Stanley tomorrow afternoon before facing fifth placed Barrow the weekend after. They then finish with an away double-header against relegation-threatened Colchester United and Gillingham and there’s every chance that Doncaster could sneak into the top seven with two or three wins from these remaining fixtures.
Results will need to go in the South Yorkshire club’s favour, but one thing is for sure, since being relegated from League One in 2022 this is one of the best chances they will have to complete the fairytale season. As they look to return to the third tier, Doncaster could definitely be one to watch out for.
