Away, away, away - Doncaster Rovers' remarkable cup draw streak continues
We shouldn't have been remotely surprised, should we?
Another cup draw, another away tie for Doncaster Rovers. Monday night saw Grant McCann's side handed a low-key away tie at fourth tier Crewe Alexandra in the first round proper of this season's FA Cup. It continues a hugely lop-sided sequence for Rovers after three away draws in this term's Carabao Cup, too.
Looking back over the past few seasons, starting with the Covid-affected 2019-20 campaign, Rovers have a quite remarkable recent history when it comes to being sent on the road. Just six of their last 28 ties in the FA Cup or Carabao Cup have been at the Eco-Power Stadium (and one of those was an enforced replay after if finished all-square in the original FA Cup tie away from home).
Whilst there have been some plum trips in that time - such as a visit to Everton's Goodison Park in its last-ever season and the recent game at the state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - there's also been some stinkers such as long jaunts up to Barrow, a Sunday morning down at Kettering or midweek dates with Salford and Accrington Stanley.
When asked about the oddity after the win over Stanley in this season's Carabao Cup second round, McCann told the Free Press: "I think we deserve a good home tie, don't we? Hopefully the footballing gods can draw us at home against someone." Sadly, the draw had other ideas.
Now, another road trip awaits with the Gresty Road tie scheduled for the weekend of November 1/2.