League leaders Gillingham are clear at the top of the table after four games of the 2024/25 season with ten points but face their toughest test yet as they make the trip to Grant McCann’s Doncaster Rovers, who have scored a joint-high of nine goals in the third-tier and picked up an impressive away win at Port Vale last week.
Doncaster Rovers were awarded the Team of The Week award for matchday four after the 3-2 success over Darren Moore’s side and have won the last two home head-to-head meetings between the clubs. Continue reading for The Deck’s regular preview of a selected League Two fixture each week, with Crewe Alexandra’s win over Bromley the feature for matchday four.
Doncaster Rovers Must Breach League’s Best Defence to Continue Streak
Some exceptional attacking displays have seen the home side pick up three wins with Luke Molyneux the star with five goals in all competitions. He has contributed six goal involvements in five league outings and is undoubtedly the star player in the team. He will be backed up by 38-year-old Billy Sharp and Joe Ironside for goal threat, with the latter yet to open his account after a 20-goal haul in 2023/24.
They may have their work cut against the league’s best defence with four of the last six head-to-head meetings being decided by just a single goal. They have, however, scored in 23 successive league matches in what is an incredible run so there are no issues in the final third.
Doncaster Rovers can be susceptible to conceding goals despite their output in the opposition’s final third and the first goal could be pivotal in this fixture. Grant McCann has made a move to strengthen his options in defence, with a short-term deal announced for former Carlisle United defender Josh Emmanuel. The recently turned 27-year-old was a regular for Hull City and Bolton Wanderers in League One in the 2020/21 and 2019/20 seasons respectively.
The right-back starred as Rotherham sealed promotion in the League One play-offs in 2018 and McCann was happy to add a player that he previously worked with, telling the club’s official website:
“I’m delighted that Josh has joined us on a short-term contract. He has been training with us for a week.
“He is someone I know well and I know exactly what he is capable of. He’s in a really good condition and we have done numerous tests with him to see where’s at physically. He’s in a good place.
“He adds competition to the defensive area. He’s a very good character, has been part of successful teams and loves to win.
“He has very good attributes with his pace, power and is strong in duels, one-v-ones both for and against, so he ticks a lot of boxes in what we like.”
Former Cambridge United Manager Elevates Gillingham to Top of League Two
Mark Bonner’s side have conceded just one goal from an expected goals against of 5.91 and scored their six strikes from an xG of 3.69. This indicates that they have been picking up more points than their performances may warrant and this was evidenced in the 1-0 win over Chesterfield.
Gillingham were fortunate to still be in front before Max Ehmer’s two yellow cards in the space of five minutes on the hour mark and Chesterfield were denied by the woodwork on three occasions throughout the ninety minutes. The away side also had a goal disallowed for a tight offside call.
Gillingham were second best for much of their scoreless draw with Fleetwood Town but is a testament to their resilience that they lead the table despite some indifferent performances and managing to edge tight matches is a hallmark of a side that secures automatic promotion. They face a major test of their credentials as they travel to Doncaster Rovers this weekend.
The away side concedes on average 14 shots per game, the fifth-highest total in the division and the home team averages the third-highest total of shots per game with 14.5. It is a fair assumption to assume that it could be a busy afternoon for Jake Turner in Gill’s goal, particularly with the absence of captain Ehmer due to his suspension.
Verdict
If there is a side that can stifle Doncaster Rovers’ attacking threat then it is Mark Bonner’s Gillingham but the absence of Ehmer could prove pivotal here. The 32-year-old German defender has been a stalwart in the side for many years and has surpassed 400 appearances for the club across two spells.
His experience is key to their defensive record in the current campaign and with Luke Molyneux and co. in terrific goalscoring form, it does appear to be leaning towards a home win.