Doncaster Rovers v Cheltenham Town - Leaders strive to maintain and end records at Keepmoat

IT is not only Doncaster Rovers who have their sights on taking another step towards history this afternoon.
Doncaster Rovers' Niall Mason.  Picture: Jonathan GawthorpeDoncaster Rovers' Niall Mason.  Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Doncaster Rovers' Niall Mason. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Opponents Cheltenham Town can set a new club Football League record for the amount of minutes they have gone without conceding a goal if they shut out the League Two leaders for the opening 50 minutes.

The Robins last conceded in the 50th minute of the 2-1 defeat at Stevenage on February 14, with goalkeeper Scott Brown having not seen his goal breached in six hours and 40 minutes since then, keeping four clean sheets in a row.

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Cheltenham’s all-time record without conceding a league goal is seven matches, with that run ironically ending at Doncaster in their 1998-99 Conference campaign.

For Rovers, their horizons do not exclusively include promotion with everyone at the club conscious of their unbeaten home league streak at the Keepmoat which stretches back almost a year.

Ensuring that record remains intact over the course of a season represents a motivation, although the primary aim is not just promotion, but winning the title, according to defender Niall Mason.

The loanee said: “I think if you spoke to anyone at the club if we came second or third and still got (automatic (promotion), we would all be disappointed with that.

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“The main goal is to win the league – that’s the only focus really.”

Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Ferguson.Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Ferguson.
Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Ferguson.

Cheltenham manager Gary Johnson serves a touchline ban this afternoon after being sent off in the Robins’ goalless draw with Mansfield last weekend and his opposite number, Darren Ferguson, admits his absence may be a factor in proceedings.

The Rovers chief said: “It could be. Gary is very vocal and experienced. Although I don’t know how much of an influence he has on the touchline, he’s a very experienced manager and the (recent) performance they gave against Carlisle was as good as I have seen in a while.”