Morecambe vs Doncaster Rovers Match Analysis and Prediction

5 years ago 642

Morecambe will be hosting Doncaster Rovers at the Mazuma Stadium on Sunday, with both teams in need for points in League One.

They both find themselves in the relegation battle affter the festive period failed to bring eihter side positive results, but will now look to begin the new year with a vital victory.

Morecambe’s stay in the League One may be a short-lived one unless results can be turned around qiuckly for Steve Robinson’s side.

They head into 2022 sitting in the 21st position, three places and four points better off their opponents on Sunday, but still in the drop zone.

A victory over Doncaster could help them out of their current position, although that could still be a tough task for the side with the division’s leakiest defence.

Greg Leigh’s goal against Crewe Alexandra in the 2-1 defeat on Tuesday was thier first in five League One matches, so unless they regain their finishing quality they had in the opening months, an immediate return to the fourth division could be imminent.

Doncaster Rovers will be opening the new year at the bottom of the League One table when they travel to Morecambe on Sunday.

However, they will also head to the Mazuma Stadium with a permanent manager in charge, with Gary McSheffrey being appointed on a full-time basis after previously overseeing their last four fixtures on an interim basis.

He has impressed the board with his influence and the reaction that the players have given him, which will certainly be necessary if he is to lift the side clear of the drop zone.

With the three defeats and the 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town all being played in front of their own supporters during his temporary reign, the new permanent manager will oversee his first away trip on Sunday.

Morecambe vs Doncaster Rovers head to head

The two League One clubs have previously met on five occasions, where Doncaster have taken two victories while Morecambe have one, and they have drawn in one in all competitions. Doncaster have scored 8 goals and conceded 6. Doncaster won 1-0 in their last encounter at home on September 18.

Morecambe 3-0 Doncaster Rovers 09/11/02

Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Morecambe 21/04/03

Morecambe 1-5 Doncaster Rovers 10/09/16

Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Morecambe 04/02/17

Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Morecambe 18-09 21

Morecambe latest home form

Morecambe have been on a poor run of form at home, as they have failed to record any victory in their last five matches. Their last home victory came 1-0 over Newport County in the FA Cup on November 6. In their last five, they have drawn two and lost three.

Morecambe 0-2 Carlisle United 09/11/21

Morecambe 2-2 Charlton Athletic 23/11/21

Morecambe 0-4 Milton Keynes Dons 27/11/21

Morecambe 0-0 Fleetwood Town 18/12/21

Morecambe 1-2 Crewe Alexandra 29/12/21

Morecambe latest away form

Morecambe have recently been on a relatively poor form on the road, as they have lost in their last two successive away matches. However, they have recently defeated Fleetwood Town in the league and Buxton in the FA Cup. They have won two and lost three of their last five.

Oxford United 3-1 Morecambe 30/10/21

Fleetwoon Town1-2 Morecambe 20/11/21

Buxton 0-1 Morecambe 04/12/21

Sunderland 5-0 Morecambe 07/12/21

Portsmouth 2-0 Morecambe 11/12/21

Doncaster Rovers latest home form

Doncaster have been on a poor run of form at home, having won just one match out of their last six matches. Their last victory came when they defeated Shrewsbury Town 1-0 on December 11. In their last five home matches, they have won one, drawn one and lost three.

Doncaster Rovers 0-0 Lincoln City 20/11/21

Doncaster Rovers 2-3 Mansfield Town 04/12/21

Doncaster Rovers 1-2 Oxford United 07/12/21

Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Shrewsbury Town 11/12/21

Doncaster Rovers 0-3 Sunderland 27/12/21

Doncaster Rovers latest away form

Doncaster have most recently been on a poor run of form on the road, having lost in their last three successive matches, including a 2-0 loss to Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Trophy. They have however recently won 1-0 and 3-2 over Scunthorpe United in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy.

Scunthorpe United 0-1 Doncaster Rovers 06/11/21

Scunthorpe United 2-3 Doncaster Rovers 09/11/21

Bolton Wanderers 3-0 Doncaster Rovers 23/11/21

Burton Albion 2-0 Doncaster Rovers 27/11/21

Crewe Alexandra 2-0 Doncaster Rovers 01/12/21

Morecambe news

Cole Stockton and Alfie McCalmont are likely to return to the starting lineup on Sunday after they missed the match against Crewe.

Adam Phillips is a huge doubt to face Doncaster, while Scott Wootton, Courtney Duffus and Freddie Price definitely remain unavailable, with Price being ruled out for several months.

Doncaster Rovers news

Doncaster will be missing the services of Rodrigo Vilca, who has returned to parent club Newcastle United after his loan spell finished.

Ro-Shaun Williams will still be unavailable as well, but Joe Dodoo has passed fit for Sunday despite coming off injured in the 3-0 defeat to Sunderland in midweek.

Prediction and Odds

Both teams enter the contest looking for a victory that would improve their position in the league, but with the dreadful away form of Doncaster, they may fall short in this game.

The potential return of Stockton and McCalmont for Morecambe may give them a boost, which could lead them to a victory here.

Odds: 1 2.30 X 2.50 2 2.95