Preview: Bury vs Rochdale and Doncaster vs Bradford

By Hugo Varley

We look ahead to two interesting games in League One this weekend.

Bury vs Rochdale 

Keith Hill and David Flitcroft may be good friends off the field but for 90 minutes on Saturday they will be rivals on the touchline at Gigg Lane.

Flitcroft’s Bury came within ten minutes of beating Wigan and making it into the top two last weekend, however two late goals from the Latics meant they had to settle for a draw.

Nevertheless, it has been a fantastic start to the season for the Shakers who have only lost one league game this season.

Rochdale have also had a bright start to the season and look set to make another challenge for the play offs this term, although Hill’s side have lost their last two league games.

The Shakers will have to make do without defender Chris Hussey who was sent off in the game against Wigan.

Flitcroft is also unable to call on the services Kelvin Etuhu, Andrew Tutte, Daniel Nardiello, Ryan Lowe and Keil O’Brien who are all out injured.

Hill also has a number of absentees with Calvin Andrew, Ian Henderson and Rhys Bennett all set to miss out after sustaining injuries in last week’s 3-2 defeat to Sheffield United.

Doncaster vs Bradford 

Darren Ferguson is set to take charge of his first game for Doncaster just a little over 24 hours after being appointed as the club’s new manager.

Donny have had a difficult start to the season and currently sit just above the relegation zone in 20th place.

Paul Dickov was sacked at the start of September after only managing six points from six games and caretaker manager Rob Jones also struggled to reverse the club’s fortunes.

Despite their poor start to the season, Doncaster are still unbeaten at home this campaign.

Bradford are another side who have failed to live up to expectations so far this season. After finishing just outside the play-offs last year, Phil Parkinson will be disappointed to see his side side currently languishing in 18th place.

Ferguson should be able to welcome back Nathan Tyson from injury and Gary MacKenzie from suspension.

As for the Bantams, loanee Kyle Reid is expected to shake of a stomach bug in time to play, whilst Christopher Routis remains an injury worry after missing Tuesday’s defeat to Barnsley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy with a calf injury.