Sutton 2.0? Doncaster Rovers hoping that history repeats itself after late heroics at Wimbledon
A late, precious goal in injury time down in London? Doncaster Rovers fans have seen this one play out before.
Back in February 2024, 'that' Joe Ironside penalty rescued a point away at Sutton United. At the time, Grant McCann's side were on a rotten run and were staring down the barrel of a relegation fight in League Two.
Flash forward almost two years and barely five miles from Gander Green Lane, and this time it was Owen Bailey who popped up with a dramatic late goal. The finer details may have changed - this time it was to seal victory, away at AFC Wimbledon, amid a sticky position down at the bottom of League One - but the importance of both goals remains the same.
Whilst nobody is suggesting that another ten-match winning streak is on the cards, as was the case in the weeks and months after that Sutton game, the hope is that a solid foundation has now been laid for better times to come.
"I think certain moments in seasons have become turning points," match-winner and captain Bailey told the Free Press.
"And whether that's a goal or a bit of luck here and there - that penalty in the Sutton game for example. I think our performances have been there for a little while now but obviously to get the result, it should hopefully be a little bit of a relief, in a way.
"We're just looking upwards now and hopefully we can just go on a little bit of a run of continuing to perform well."
Another sense of déjà vu has come via the instalment of another synthetic league table in Rovers' Cantley Park training ground. McCann's novel idea - of effectively beginning the season from scratch from this point onwards - worked wonders during the tail end of the 2023-24 campaign and the hope is that it can work its magic again.
"The manager obviously made it more than clear that the main table is the one that matters," added Bailey. "But for us, if we're going to be in around the top of that mini-league table that he set up for us, then obviously we're going to be in around where we want to be.
"This (Wimbledon win) is a great start, three points and hopefully we can continue in that vein."