Crewe vs Doncaster Prediction: Rovers to run riot at Gresty Road

Doncaster Rovers are writing one of the most remarkable stories in the Football League this season. They were 20th in League One, on the edge of a relegation battle, when Walsall beat them 3-1 in early March. Since then, Grant McCann’s side have embarked on a ten-match winning run, which has propelled them into the top seven. 

It’s been the most amazing turnaround, and one that Donny fans are hopeful will end in promotion. Below you can find my Crewe vs Doncaster prediction, as the two teams meet for a place at Wembley.

Team News

Crewe will welcome back striker Courtney Baker-Richardson for this semi-final after he returned from injury to make a substitute appearance against Colchester last weekend. He has missed the last six weeks, but has scored 10 goals in 24 starts this season. Alex will definitely be without goalkeeping duo Tom Booth and Harvey Davies, while Jack Powell, Luke Offord and Owen Lunt will also miss the first leg. 

Lee Bell has other concerns in the form of Matus Holicek (ankle), Lewis Billington (calf), Christopher Long (knee), Ed Turns (knee) and Conor Thomas (hamstring)- although they are all being given as much time as possible to try and make the squad.

Doncaster Goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala has had his final day red card against Gillingham rescinded after handling outside of the penalty area, so he will be back for the away side. McCann should now be able to name the same XI that has served him so well over the past few months.

Match Odds

Crewe are 9/5 to win this match while Doncaster are priced at 7/5 to win this first leg. That gives them an implied win probability of 41% at Gresty Road, with a draw priced at 5/2. BTTS is priced at 4/6 and over 2.5 goals is 4/5. 

Doncaster to win to nil @ 100/30

Rovers are on fire at the moment, and only failed to win on the final day after that wrongly-awarded red card. They were 2-0 up at Gillingham before that decision and had won their last ten games on the trot before that. I don’t just think Rovers are going to hammer Crewe home and away, I think they are going to win the play-offs entirely. 

Form is so crucial heading into the play-offs and Doncaster are looking unstoppable right now. The same cannot be said of Crewe. Alex have only won one of their last nine games in total, and they’ve lost their last three home matches all by a 3-0 scoreline. I think they are going to struggle again here, as Doncaster have looked supremely good over the last two months.

#PickYourPunt - Joe Ironside to score 2+ and Doncaster to win by 2+ @ 18/1

As I’ve just stated, I think Rovers will win this game fairly comfortably. They’ve scored 19 goals in their last six games and they’ve hit nine goals in their last three matches on the road. When you combine that with Crewe’s recent home misery - which has seen Wrexham, Grimsby and even League Two’s bottom club Forest Green come away from Gresty Road with 3-0 wins - you have a recipe for another big away win. 

Doncaster should be able to win by 2+ goals, while I’m also backing their main man to bag a brace. Joe Ironside is in the middle of a purple patch that has seen him score six goals in his last five appearances. He is now on 20 goals for the season, and should be able to take advantage of this shaky defence. 

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