Preview: Doncaster Rovers vs Exeter City - prediction, team news, lineups

Newly-promoted Doncaster Rovers will hope to begin their League One campaign with a victory on Saturday against visitors Exeter City at Eco-Power Stadium.

The hosts managed to hold off competition from Port Vale to win the League Two title last season, whereas Exeter finished 16th in League One in 2024-25 with 56 points, 10 points and five places above the relegation zone.

Match preview

Doncaster's rise back to the third tier has been impressive given they were nearly relegated to the National League in 2022-23 after finishing 18th, but they qualified for the promotion playoffs the following campaign before finishing four points ahead of the competition to secure the League Two title last term.

Head coach Grant McCann previously coached the club in League One in the 2018-19 season, leading them to the playoffs, but his side were defeated by Charlton Athletic in a penalty shootout at the semi-final stage.

Rovers have scored 19 goals in their six pre-season matches - conceding four - and they also scored at least two goals in seven of their final nine games of 2024-25.

Doncaster have avoided defeat in each of their six friendlies, emerging as victors on four occasions, and they also won their last four outings of 2024-25.

McCann's side were unbeaten in their final seven competitive fixtures at home - winning four times - but they did draw seven and lose four of their 23 league games at Eco-Power Stadium.

Opponents Exeter experienced a season of regression, with their points tally of 56 five worse than the total they managed in 2023-24.

The club scored 49 goals and conceded 65 times in the division last season, whereas they netted 46 times and conceded 61 goals in their prior campaign.

Manager Gary Caldwell's side have rarely played their hosts, though they did triumph 3-1 when they faced off in April 2017, winning for the second time in three encounters against Doncaster.

The Grecians come into Saturday's clash having won three of their four friendlies - drawing the other match - but they did lose two and draw one of their past four competitive games.

Exeter lost 11 of their 23 away matches in the third tier in 2024-25, with three of those defeats coming in their last eight fixtures on the road, a period in which they were also held to three stalemates.

Doncaster Rovers pre-season form:

Exeter City pre-season form:

Team News

Doncaster utilised a strong XI in a friendly against Blackpool on July 26, and many of those stars can be expected to start on the weekend, including forwards Luke Molyneux, Billy Sharp and Jordan Gibson.

Elsewhere, George Broadbent, Owen Bailey and Robbie Gotts are candidates to appear together in the middle of the pitch.

Centre-back Connor O'Riordan is on loan from Blackburn, and he is in line to make his debut stationed next to Sean Grehan.

As for Exeter, striker Sonny Cox is likely to lead the line ahead of attackers Patrick Jones and Jack Aitchison.

Caldwell deployed both Ethan Brierley and Edward Francis in a double pivot in a pre-season clash against Swansea on July 26, and he could pair them together on Saturday.

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Lo-Tutala; Sterry, O’Riordan, Grehan, Senior; Broadbent, Bailey, Gotts; Molyneux, Sharp, Gibson

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Whitworth; Turns, Fitzwater, Sweeney; Cole, Brierley, Francis, Niskanen; Aitchison, Jones; Cox

We say: Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Exeter City

Doncaster will be full of confidence given they have enjoyed a strong pre-season campaign following their promotion.

Though Exeter have more experience in League One, it would not be surprising if they were beaten by their hosts, especially as they have been susceptible to poor results on their travels.

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