Team news

Lee Bowyer is a doubt while Ridgewell, Bent, Traore, Parnaby, Phillips, Agustien and McFadden are all definitely out.

Garry O’Connor will probably be on the bench again but would expect to see some action this time.

Doncaster have less injury worries but their joint leading scorer and captain Brian Stock will require an injection to play.

Previous Meeting

Blues won 1-0 back in September despite playing with ten men for two thirds of the game after Mehdi Nafti was sent off. A goal early in the second half from Cameron Jerome settled the match in which Blues were outplayed for long periods. However for all their attractive build up play Doncaster lacked the required cutting edge to punish us.

Recent Form

Doncaster Rovers sit in mid table in what is their first season in the Championship.  They have recently climbed away from the relegation zone mostly due to their excellent home form. They have won their last four games at home conceding only one goal in the process. In fact they have only conceded eleven goals at home all season. On the other hand they are the leagues lowest scorers with only thirty-three.

Blues have not won away since Boxing Day a run which was extended by another lacklustre performance at Barnsley. We have managed to shore things up at the back but goal scoring has proved to be our Achilles heal. The front two of Costly and Jerome look dangerous but seem to lose the plot when they get into the penalty area.

My prediction 0-0. It’s live on Sky from 5:20 if you want to put yourself through it.