Doncaster vs Exeter Prediction: Rovers set for more home success

The champions of League 2 kick off their League 1 campaign on home soil this weekend as Doncaster Rovers host Exeter City on Saturday afternoon (15:00, Sky Sports+). 

Grant McCann’s side will hope for another successful season, and below you can find my Doncaster vs Exeter predictions featuring team news and betting tips. 

Football Odds

Team News

McCann will hope to continue the momentum from last term and he’s made a decent number of signings this summer. Connor O’Riordan joins on loan from Blackburn Rovers, while Matty Pearson and Brandon Hanlan have both arrived on free transfers. 

There’s plenty to work with for the gaffer, while 39-year-old Billy Sharp is still an option to come off the bench, having hit nine goals in 43 League 2 appearances last season. 

Jayden Wareham is the big summer arrival from Reading and he has been handed the number nine shirt that had been retired for nine years in the memory of Adam Stansfield. His son Jay wore the number for the Grecians when on loan in 2022/23, but now Wareham has been given the number with the blessing of the Stansfield family. 

It means Wareham will start up front in this opener, and be relied upon heavily by Exeter City this season. Elsewhere Sonny Cox and Josh Magennis will hope for minutes in the attack, while Ethan Brierley has joined on loan from Brentford and is certainly one to watch. 

Doncaster vs Exeter Odds

Doncaster are the 9/10 favourites to win this game giving them an implied win probability of 53% heading into this opening fixtures. Exeter meanwhile are 16/5 to take all three points away from home and a draw can be backed at 5/2. 

Over 2.5 goals is 10/11, BTTS is 4/5 and Sharp - EFL icon - is the favourite to open the scoring at 7/2 for the hosts. 

Doncaster to win @ 9/10 

I’m fairly confident that Doncaster can have a reasonably successful season back in League 1, and although the play-offs may be slightly beyond them. They won the title last term having ended the campaign with an 11-game unbeaten run, and there is no reason why that form can’t continue against a weak Exeter outfit. 

Today's Football Fixtures

The Grecians deserve credit for being fan-owned, but manager Gary Caldwell has been overperforming with the players at his disposal. In Magennis they have experience up top, while Wareham is a new addition to shake things up, but I just feel they could be in for a season of struggle. Donny picked up an average of 1.87 ppg at home last term, losing just four times in 23 - so let’s back that strong home form to continue in the division above. 

Luke Molyneux to score anytime @ 15/8

Luke Molyneux swept up at Doncaster’s end of season awards last term, while he was also nominated for League 2’s Player of the Year award, after a simply staggering year. Donny had a few options up top and rotated a far bit, with Joe Ironside not quite finding the net as much as he should have. 

Instead, it fell to Molyneux to step up to the plate and he delivered a ridiculous 16 goals and 12 assists in 45 league appearances. Only four players were more prolific than the winger in the entire division, and he should make the step up with ease. Still Donny’s biggest goal threat, I think there’s decent value to be had in backing him to score at anytime. 

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