Matchday Live: Doncaster v Cherries (From Thisisdorset)

5:40pm

Thanks for joining us. Eddie Howe reaction online shortly...

4:55pm

Superb team performance from Cherries. A professional effort.

4:55pm

FULL-TIME

Doncaster Rovers 0 Cherries 1

4:53pm

Cherries sub: Fletcher for Grabban

4:50pm

Three minutes of added time here.

4:44pm

Thomas lashes a shot into the side netting after a spell of Cherries pressure.

4:39pm

SUBS: Blake for Paynter for Doncaster

Fogden for Barnard for Cherries

79 minutes

4:31pm

CHERRIES SUB: Wes Thomas for Josh McQuoid on 71 minutes.

4:30pm

Wes Thomas is ready to come on here...

4:25pm

Barnard is dropping deep to help out Cherries defensively, with Rovers pressing the issue now.

4:21pm

I wouldn't be surprised to see Wes Thomas replacing Lee Barnard. Barnard has worked extremely hard up top for Cherries.

4:19pm

McQuoid free-kick well hit and decent save from Woods.

4:18pm

4:16pm

Hume heads over for Rovers before Arter's 20-yard drive flies narrowly wide. Not a lot in it, tight game.

4:13pm

4:12pm

Non-league half-times: Wimborne Town 1 North Leigh 1, Mangotsfield Utd 0 Poole Town 1. Both matches in Southern League D1 S/W.

4:10pm

4:05pm

Second half under way...

3:41pm

Iain Hume curls wide for Doncaster with possibly the best chance of the half. On the turn from 12 yards.

3:36pm

David James quickly off his line to intercept Brown's attempted knockdown for Paynter. Good goalkeeping.

3:34pm

Quite a quiet period now. Both teams enjoying possession but few clear-cut opportunities.

3:29pm

Doncaster have now settled and are more in the game.

3:25pm

Confident start from Steve Cook, having replaced hip-injury victim Simon Francis at right-back.

3:21pm

Charlie Daniels free-kick flies just wide from 30 yards. Keeper Gary Woods looked worried.

3:15pm

3:14pm

3:14pm

Daniels clear down the left. Low cross, well collected by Woods.

3:13pm

Ambitious long-range shot from Grabban straight at keeper Woods.

3:12pm

Cherries still forcing the issue, with McQuoid particularly busy so far.

3:12pm

Not that it matters much to you dear Echo readers, but the press facilities here are excellent. Prime position, everything you could ask for.

3:08pm

3:08pm

Very lively start by Cherries here.

3:07pm

Daniels rolled corner to McQuoid on the penalty spot, but McQuoid mis-hits when unmarked. Good chance.

3:03pm

We're under way here.

3:02pm

Superbly observed minute's silence.

2:59pm

The teams are out. There will be a minute's silence before the game kicks off.

2:58pm

2:58pm

2:56pm

As well as Cherries updates, we hope to bring you latest score info from Bournemouth rugby, Wimborne Town and Poole Town among other local non-league action...

2:55pm

2:55pm

2:55pm

2:54pm

KEY MAN – HARRY ARTER

The midfielder has been in excellent form since Eddie Howe’s return to Cherries.

He starts today and will be tasked with pulling the strings for Cherries in the centre of the park.

Arter’s performances were rewarded last month with a new long-term contract, which runs until summer 2015.

2:52pm

HEAD-TO-HEAD

League matches only...

Doncaster wins 12

Draws 11

Cherries wins 11

• Cherries’ only previous visit to Keepmoat Stadium saw goals from Max Gradel and Jo Kuffour seal a 2-1 win.

2:49pm

FORM GUIDE

There is little to choose between the teams on recent evidence.

Doncaster had gone seven matches without defeat prior to losing at home against Crewe on Tuesday.

Since Eddie Howe’s appointment, Cherries have enjoyed a six-game unbeaten streak, with five wins, a draw and no fewer than 18 goals.

Past five league games...

Doncaster – L W W W D

Cherries – W W D W W

2:48pm

THE GAFFER – DEAN SAUNDERS

Rovers boss Saunders enjoyed a distinguished playing career at the top of the game.

A striker with clubs including Aston Villa, Oxford United, Derby County, Liverpool, Galatasary and Benfica, he scored 22 goals in 75 international appearances for Wales.

On hanging up his boots, Saunders moved into coaching with Bradford City before joining Blackburn Rovers to work under Graeme Souness, who had been his manager at Anfield.

After serving as assistant to John Toshack with the Welsh national team, Saunders was appointed manager of Conference side Wrexham in 2008.

He arrived at Keepmoat Stadium as successor to ex-Cherries boss Sean O’Driscoll in September 2011.

2:45pm

MANAGER’S THOUGHTS – DEAN SAUNDERS

Saunders told his club’s official website: “They’ve got a new manager and have turned a corner, recording four victories out of five.

“He’s a different voice in the dressing room but they have got good players and spent a lot of money.

“We’re a match for anybody in the league. We went to Tranmere and beat them as we did at Notts County – we have got a positive result against all the top teams so we have got nothing to fear.

“They are a good team so we have to be resilient. We let in the sort of goals, against Crewe, that we hadn’t been letting in so we have got to get back to being solid.

“We are going to get a minimum of five chances so we have to make sure we are solid. We are in League One and we have got to battle for every point.”

2:43pm

2:43pm

MANAGER’S THOUGHTS – EDDIE HOWE

Howe told the Daily Echo: “I think they are a much-changed side from last season in terms of their personnel. Dean Saunders has done a great job to regroup and get together a squad that is going to push at the other end of the table.

“They are a very good football team and they certainly like to play from back to front and all through the thirds of the pitch, so full credit to them and the job they have done.

“It will probably be one of our toughest examinations. I think they will be up there at the end of the season.

"They have still got a couple of Championship players who have been there and done it at the higher level, so that will help them in terms of their experience and trying to maintain their challenge.

“But it goes without saying that we certainly don’t fear anybody at the moment and we are looking forward to every game.”

2:33pm

Cherries team and team news listed in the summary above...

2:06pm

Welcome to Keepmoat Stadium for this afternoon's League One clash between Doncaster Rovers and Cherries. We'll have pre-match build-up and team news from about 2.20pm before live coverage of the game...