Doncaster Rovers shared the points with Notts County in a 1-1 draw at home this week, while also completing a deadline-day loan signing and mourning a club legend. The result leaves Grant McCann's side 20th in the League One table with three points from four games, having scored four goals and conceded five so far this season.
Doncaster took the lead against Notts County on Tuesday through Isaac Hutchinson's close-range finish in the 36th minute. The visitors had earlier hit the crossbar through Luka Smyth, but Rovers held the advantage at the break.
Notts County equalized in the 64th minute when Ollie Cooper met a Callum Roberts cross with a powerful first-time strike. Doncaster pushed for a winner late on, with Alfie May seeing a header clawed off the line by County goalkeeper James Belshaw, but the match finished level. The draw extended Rovers' winless start to the campaign, with their current form reading DDDL.
Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann believes James Collins will be a top signing for the club after securing the striker on loan from Lincoln City until January. The 35-year-old forward is nearing the end of his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury suffered last December and is expected to join the squad for training in the coming weeks.
McCann told the Doncaster Free Press he was delighted to bring in a player with Collins' experience and goal-scoring record. "I think he’ll be a really great signing for us," McCann said. "An experienced leader, a goalscorer, a tremendous person." Collins has over 200 senior career goals and helped Lincoln win promotion last season before his injury.
Tributes have been paid following the death of former Doncaster Rovers player and prominent local businessman John Fairhurst at the age of 82. Fairhurst, who passed away on August 27, made 24 appearances for the club after joining in 1961, making his debut away at Gillingham.
After his football career, he became managing director of Polypipe, one of Doncaster's major manufacturers, which remained a valued partner of the football club. A club spokesperson said everyone at Doncaster Rovers was saddened by the news and sent condolences to his family. His funeral is scheduled for September 23 at Doncaster Minster.
Oxford United have announced ticket details for their away trip to face Doncaster Rovers at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday, September 26. According to Oxford's official club website, tickets for the League One fixture will go on sale from Monday, September 7, with the visitors receiving a full allocation of 2,915 seats.
Priority sales windows will be in place for Oxford supporters, and the club has provided travel information for fans making the journey. Doncaster currently sit seven points behind league leaders Huddersfield Town as they prepare for their next match.
The immediate focus shifts to a home fixture against Plymouth Argyle on September 5. Plymouth are currently 16th in the table, providing Rovers with an opportunity to secure their first win of the season in front of their own supporters. Fans can check the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page.
Following that, the loan arrival of James Collins will add competition up front once he is fully fit, while the squad looks to improve on a defensive record that has seen them concede five goals in four matches. The latest League One standings show the tight nature of the early-season table.
