Doncaster Rovers: Darren Ferguson admits changes will come in FA Cup tie

Darren Ferguson is refusing to hide the fact he will be resting some of his players for this weekend's FA Cup clash with Oldham Athletic.
Tommy Rowe will sit out for Rovers at OldhamTommy Rowe will sit out for Rovers at Oldham
Tommy Rowe will sit out for Rovers at Oldham

But the Doncaster Rovers boss is confident the side he puts out will be good enough to win at Boundary Park.

Ferguson was keen for Rovers supporters to be aware that he will not be fielding a full strength side this weekend as he feels he must use the break from league action to his advantage.

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“This is about the only opportunity I’ve got to get some rest into some of them,” he told The Star. “I’m hoping we take a lot of fans but I think it’s important I get a message to the supporters that there are going to be changes.

“But the team I pick I expect, if we get it right, will win the game.

“It’ll be a really strong team but certainly one or two will be getting a rest.

“It’s a good opportunity for some of them to get game time.

“I’d have preferred it if we’d gone into this bit of a break with a win.

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“But it’s a two week break from league action. It’s a different kind of pressure.

“It’s come at the right time for us. There are seven off the top of my head who hve played virtually every game.

“I need to get some rest into some of them, not all of them.”

Tommy Rowe is one player who will certainly miss the game despite being given the all-clear on the foot injury suffered against Wycombe Wanderers last week.

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James Coppinger is another whom Ferguson is likely to consider resting. Craig Alcock will make his first appearance of the season.

Ferguson said: “I probably would have given Tommy a break anyway. He wouldn’t be ready for it any way.

“He’ll get a bit of a rest, which he probably needs now. And it’s the same for one or two others as well.

“Frazer Richardson is a possibility but Craig Alcock will almost certainly play.”

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Hosts Oldham sit 22nd in League One having won just three games this season.

They have won just once at Boundary Park, when they toppled League One leaders Scunthorpe United last month.

Ferguson said: “It’s always a hard place to go and a hard game.

“They’re not having a great time of it at the moment but it’ll be a tough game. They’ll make it into a real cup tie.

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“I think they need a win themselves so they’ll see this as an opportunity to get that.

“We’ve got to make sure we concentrate on dealing with the nitty-gritty of the game, the second balls and things like that. It will be a proper cup match which is fine, it’ll suit us.

“We need to look after the ball when we’ve got it.”