# 2017–18 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season

The 2017–18 season was Doncaster Rovers's 139th season in their existence, 15th consecutive season in the Football League and first back in League One following promotion last season. Along with League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.
The season covered the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.

## Squad
### Detailed overview

    League caps and goals up to the start of season 2017–18.
    Players with name and squad number struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
| No. | Name | Position (s) | Place of Birth | Date of Birth (Age) | Club caps | Club goals | Int. caps | Int. goals | Signed from |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||||
| 1 | Ian Lawlor | GK | Dublin | (1994-10-27) 27 October 1994 (age 30) | 19 | 0 | – | – | Manchester City |
| 13 | Marko Maroši | GK | Michalovce | (1993-10-23) 23 October 1993 (age 31) | 29 | 0 | – | – | Wigan Athletic |
| 33 | Louis Jones | GK | | (1998-10-12) 12 October 1998 (age 26) | – | – | – | – | Academy |
| — | Ross Etheridge † | GK | Chesterfield | (1994-09-14) 14 September 1994 (age 30) | 6 | 0 | – | – | Accrington Stanley |
| Defenders |||||||||||
| 2 | Craig Alcock | RB/LB/CB | Truro | (1987-12-08) 8 December 1987 (age 36) | 54 | 0 | – | – | Sheffield United |
| 3 | Danny Andrew | LB | Holbeach | (1990-12-23) 23 December 1990 (age 33) | – | – | – | – | Grimsby Town |
| 5 | Mathieu Baudry | CB/DM | Le Havre | (1988-02-24) 24 February 1988 (age 36) | 31 | 5 | – | – | Leyton Orient |
| 6 | Andy Butler | CB | Doncaster | (1983-11-04) 4 November 1983 (age 41) | 117 | 10 | – | – | Sheffield United |
| 8 | Niall Mason | RB | Bromley | (1997-01-01) 1 January 1997 (age 27) | 38 | 0 | – | – | Aston Villa |
| 15 | Joe Wright | CB | Monk Fryston, England | (1995-02-26) 26 February 1995 (age 29) | 22 | 0 | – | – | Huddersfield Town |
| 20 | Tyler Garratt | LB/CB | Lincoln | (1996-10-26) 26 October 1996 (age 28) | 2 | 0 | – | – | Bolton Wanderers |
| 25 | Mitchell Lund | RB | Leeds | (1996-08-27) 27 August 1996 (age 28) | 40 | 1 | – | – | Academy |
| 29 | Reece Fielding | CB | Doncaster | (1998-10-23) 23 October 1998 (age 26) | – | – | – | – | Academy |
| 32 | Cody Prior | LB | | | – | – | – | – | Academy |
| — | Danny Amos | LB | Sheffield | (1999-05-20) 20 May 1999 (age 25) | – | – | – | – | Academy |
| — | Cedric Evina | LB/LM | Cameroon | (1991-11-16) 16 November 1991 (age 33) | 77 | 1 | – | – | Charlton Athletic |
| Midfielders |||||||||||
| 4 | Luke McCullough | CB/RB/DM | Portadown | (1994-02-15) 15 February 1994 (age 30) | 86 | 1 | 5 | 0 | Manchester United |
| 10 | Tommy Rowe | LM/LB/CM | Wythenshawe | (1989-05-01) 1 May 1989 (age 35) | 56 | 16 | – | – | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| 17 | Matty Blair | CM/RW/LW | Warwick | (1989-06-21) 21 June 1989 (age 35) | 45 | 3 | – | – | Mansfield Town |
| 22 | Alfie Beestin | AM | Leeds | (1997-10-01) 1 October 1997 (age 27) | 3 | 0 | – | – | Tadcaster Albion |
| 24 | Harry Middleton † | CM/AM | Doncaster | (1995-04-12) 12 April 1995 (age 29) | 63 | 0 | – | – | Academy |
| 26 | James Coppinger | RM/CM/RB | Guisborough | (1981-01-18) 18 January 1981 (age 43) | 472 | 53 | – | – | Exeter City |
| 27 | Issam Ben Khémis | DM | Paris | (1996-01-10) 10 January 1996 (age 28) | – | – | 1 | 0 | FC Lorient |
| 30 | Jacob Fletcher | CM | | 23 May 1999 (age 18) | – | – | – | – | Academy |
| — | Tony Donaldson † | CM | | Age 19 | – | – | – | – | Runcorn Linnets |
| Forwards |||||||||||
| 9 | John Marquis | CF/LW | Lewisham | (1992-05-16) 16 May 1992 (age 32) | 45 | 26 | – | – | Millwall |
| 11 | Andy Williams | CF | Hereford | (1986-08-14) 14 August 1986 (age 38) | 83 | 23 | – | – | Swindon Town |
| 14 | Liam Mandeville | CF | Lincoln | (1997-02-17) 17 February 1997 (age 27) | 32 | 8 | – | – | Academy |
| 19 | Alfie May | CF | Leeds | (1993-07-02) 2 July 1993 (age 31) | 16 | 3 | – | – | Hythe Town |
| 21 | Will Longbottom | CF | Leeds | (1995-12-12) 12 December 1995 (age 28) | 4 | 0 | – | – | Academy |
| 23 | Alex Kiwomya | CF | Sheffield | (1996-05-20) 20 May 1996 (age 28) | – | – | – | – | Chelsea |

### Statistics

This includes any players featured in a match day squad in any competition.
    As of 5 May 2018
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | IRL | Ian Lawlor | 39 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Craig Alcock | 17 | 0 | 6+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Danny Andrew | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | NIR | Luke McCullough | 13 | 0 | 10+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | FRA | Mathieu Baudry | 26 | 1 | 19+3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Andy Butler | 43 | 4 | 34+2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | NED | Rodney Kongolo (on loan from Manchester City) | 42 | 1 | 17+18 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Niall Mason | 50 | 3 | 37+3 | 3 | 2+1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | John Marquis | 51 | 15 | 45 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | ENG | Tommy Rowe | 47 | 9 | 40 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Andy Williams | 13 | 1 | 3+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Ben Whiteman | 47 | 7 | 34+8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | SVK | Marko Maroši | 18 | 0 | 12+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | ENG | Liam Mandeville | 24 | 4 | 7+10 | 1 | 0+2 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 15 | DF | WAL | Joe Wright | 38 | 0 | 32+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Jordan Houghton (on loan from Chelsea) | 40 | 1 | 33+4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | ENG | Matty Blair | 46 | 2 | 32+8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | ENG | Tom Anderson | 7 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Alfie May | 31 | 6 | 13+14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Tyler Garratt | 21 | 0 | 10+3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | ENG | Will Longbottom | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Alfie Beestin | 33 | 2 | 17+9 | 2 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Alex Kiwomya | 12 | 1 | 5+7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | IRL | Andy Boyle | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | James Coppinger | 42 | 5 | 34+4 | 3 | 2+1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | TUN | Issam Ben Khémis | 9 | 2 | 2+1 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Reece Fielding | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | ENG | Jacob Fletcher | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | ENG | Tyler Walker | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | IRL | Cody Prior | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 33 | GK | ENG | Louis Jones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | FW | ENG | Louis Scattergood | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 35 | DF | ENG | Keegan Townrow | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | GK | ENG | Declan Ogley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | MF | ENG | Morgan James | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 38 | FW | ENG | James Morris | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 39 | DF | NIR | Danny Amos | 4 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 40 | DF | ENG | Branden Horton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who left the club during the season: ||||||||||||||
| 18 | DF | ENG | Harry Toffolo (on loan from Norwich City) | 17 | 0 | 11+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Harry Middleton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

#### Goals record

    As of 5 May 2018.
| Rank | No. | Po. | Name | League One | FA Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | Total |
| 1 | 9 | FW | John Marquis | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 2 | 10 | MF | Tommy Rowe | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 3 | 12 | MF | Ben Whiteman | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | 19 | FW | Alfie May | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | 26 | MF | James Coppinger | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | 6 | DF | Andy Butler | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | 14 | FW | Liam Mandeville | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | 8 | MF | Niall Mason | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | 22 | MF | Alfie Beestin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | 17 | MF | Matty Blair | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | 18 | DF | Tom Anderson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | 27 | MF | Issam Ben Khémis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 13 | 5 | DF | Mathieu Baudry | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | 23 | FW | Alex Kiwomya | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | 24 | DF | Andy Boyle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | 16 | MF | Jordan Houghton | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | 7 | MF | Rodney Kongolo | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | 11 | FW | Andy Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| - | | | Own goal | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 52 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 70 |

#### Disciplinary record

    As of 5 May 2018.
| No. | Pos. | Name | League One | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy | League Trophy | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | GK | Ian Lawlor | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Luke McCullough | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Mathieu Baudry | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Andy Butler | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Rodney Kongolo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Niall Mason | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | John Marquis | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Tommy Rowe | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Andy Williams | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | Ben Whiteman | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Marko Maroši | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | Liam Mandeville | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Joe Wright | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | Jordan Houghton | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | Matty Blair | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | Tom Anderson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | Alfie May | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Alfie Beestin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | James Coppinger | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Issam Ben Khémis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 62 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 0 | 0 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 1 July 2017 | LB | Danny Andrew | Grimsby Town | Free |
| 1 July 2017 | RW | Alex Kiwomya | Chelsea | Free |
| 1 July 2017 | CB | Niall Mason | Aston Villa | Undisclosed |
| 3 August 2017 | RM | Issam Ben Khémis | Lorient | Free |
| 11 January 2018 | AM | Benjamin Whiteman | Sheffield United | Undisclosed |
| 16 January 2018 | LB | Shane Blaney | Finn Harps | Undisclosed |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 July 2017 | CM | Paul Keegan | Waterford | Released |
| 1 July 2017 | MF | Joey McCormick | Pickering Town | Released |
| 1 July 2017 | LW | Gary McSheffrey | Eastleigh | Released |
| 1 July 2017 | CF | Joe Pugh | North Ferriby United | Released |
| 1 July 2017 | LB | Aaron Taylor-Sinclair | Plymouth Argyle | Released |
| 31 August 2017 | MF | Harry Middleton | Port Vale | Free |
| 25 January 2018 | GK | Ross Etheridge | Nuneaton Town | Released |
| 27 January 2018 | CM | Tony Donaldson | | Released |
* ↑ Paul Keegan joined Waterford following his release.
* ↑ Joey McCormick joined Pickering Town following his release.
* ↑ Gary McSheffrey joined Eastleigh following his release.
* ↑ Joe Pugh joined North Ferriby United following his release.
* ↑ Aaron Taylor-Sinclair joined Plymouth Argyle following his release.
* ↑ Ross Etheridge joined Nuneaton Town following his release.

### Loans in

| Start date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| 1 July 2017 | AM | Benjamin Whiteman | Sheffield United | January 2018 |
| 3 August 2017 | CM | Rodney Kongolo | Manchester City | January 2018 |
| 30 August 2017 | DM | Jordan Houghton | Chelsea | 3 January 2018 |
| 31 August 2017 | LB | Harry Toffolo | Norwich City | 3 January 2018 |
| 4 January 2018 | CM | Rodney Kongolo | Manchester City | End of season |
| 5 January 2018 | DM | Jordan Houghton | Chelsea | End of season |
| 30 January 2018 | CB | Andy Boyle | Preston North End | End of season |
| 31 January 2018 | CB | Tom Anderson | Burnley | End of season |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date until |
| 1 July 2017 | LB | Cedric Evina | Crawley Town | 30 June 2018 |
| 3 July 2017 | RB | Mitchell Lund | Morecambe | 30 June 2018 |
| 12 August 2017 | DF | Reece Fielding | Biggleswade Town | January 2018 |
| 12 August 2017 | GK | Louis Jones | Gainsborough Trinity | 10 September 2017 |
| 12 August 2017 | DF | Tyler Walker | Biggleswade Town | January 2018 |
| 1 September 2017 | FW | Will Longbottom | Kidderminster Harriers | 28 September 2017 |
| 14 September 2017 | GK | Louis Jones | Tadcaster Albion | 11 October 2017 |
| 10 November 2017 | GK | Louis Jones | Sheffield | 10 December 2017 |
| 24 December 2017 | DF | Kane Bingley | Ossett Town | |
| 31 January 2018 | FW | Liam Mandeville | Colchester United | End of season |
| 2 February 2018 | DF | Danny Amos | Buxton | 2 March 2018 |
| 2 February 2018 | DF | Reece Fielding | Biggleswade Town | End of season |
| 2 February 2018 | DF | Tyler Walker | Biggleswade Town | End of season |
| 9 February 2018 | FW | Will Longbottom | Halesowen Town | 10 March 2018 |
* ↑ On 14 September 2017, Reece Fielding extended his loan with Biggleswade Town until January 2018.
* ↑ On 14 September 2017, Tyler Walker extended his loan with Biggleswade Town until January 2018.
* ↑ On 29 September 2017, Louis Jones was recalled to Doncaster Rovers following an injury to Ian Lawlor.

## Competitions
### League One
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 13 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 60 | 66 | −6 | 59 |
| 14 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 59 | 68 | −9 | 57 |
| 15 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 52 | 52 | 0 | 56 |
| 16 | Oxford United | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 61 | 66 | −5 | 56 |
| 17 | Gillingham | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 50 | 55 | −5 | 56 |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 5 May 2018. Source: 11v11.com

#### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | H |
| Result | D | W | D | L | D | L | L | L | W | L | L | W | L | W | L | W | D | D | L | W | L | D | W | W | W | D | D | D | D | L | D | D | L | W | L | D | W | W | D | W | D | L | L | D | D | L |
| Position | 13 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 |

#### Matches

On 21 June 2017, the league fixtures were announced.

### FA Cup

In the FA Cup, Doncaster Rovers were drawn away to Ebbsfleet United in the first round, Scunthorpe United at home in the second round and Rochdale at home in the third round.

### EFL Cup

On 16 June 2017, Doncaster Rovers were drawn away to Bradford City in the first round. A home tie versus Hull City was confirmed for the second round. An away trip to Premier League side Arsenal was drawn for the third round.

### EFL Trophy

On 12 July 2017, the group stage draw was complete with Doncaster Rovers facing Grimsby Town, Scunthorpe United and Sunderland U23s in Northern Group H. After finishing second in the group stages, Doncaster Rovers were drawn away to Rochdale in the second round.
| Pos | Lge | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L1 | Scunthorpe United (A) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 | Round 2 |
| 2 | L1 | Doncaster Rovers (A) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 7 | Round 2 |
| 3 | L2 | Grimsby Town (E) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 | ACA | Sunderland U23s (E) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 2 | |