# 2020–21 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season

The 2020–21 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season was the Doncaster Rovers F.C. 142nd season in their history and the fourth consecutive season in EFL League One, Along with League One, the club contested in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.
The season covered the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

## Pre-season

Donny announced 6 pre-season friendlies against Manchester United U23s, Bradford City, and Scunthorpe United, plus a home and away tie against a Championship club yet to be announced, and a non league game.

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 10 | Gillingham | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 63 | 60 | +3 | 67 |
| 11 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 63 | 68 | −5 | 67 |
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 56 | 61 | −5 | 66 |
| 13 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 64 | 62 | +2 | 65 |
| 14 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 19 | 7 | 20 | 63 | 67 | −4 | 64 |
| 15 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 49 | 46 | +3 | 60 |
| 16 | Burton Albion | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 61 | 73 | −12 | 57 |
| 17 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 50 | 57 | −7 | 54 |
| 18 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 53 | 80 | −27 | 53 |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 9 May 2021. Source: BBC

#### 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 | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | A | H |
| Result | D | W | W | L | W | W | L | L | W | D | D | W | L | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | L | L | L | D | L | W | W | L | D | L | D | L | L | L | L | L | W | L | L | D | W | L | L |
| Position | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 |

#### Matches

Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed
The 2020–21 season fixtures were released on 21 August.

### FA Cup

The draw for the first round was made on Monday 26, October. The second round draw was revealed on Monday, 9 November by Danny Cowley. The third round draw was made on 30 November, with Premier League and EFL Championship clubs all entering the competition. The draw for the fourth and fifth round were made on 11 January, conducted by Peter Crouch.

### EFL Cup

The first round draw was made on 18 August, live on Sky Sports, by Paul Merson.

### EFL Trophy

The regional group stage draw was confirmed on 18 August.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L2 | Oldham Athletic | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 9 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | ACA | Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 5 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L2 | Bradford City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 2 | |
| 4 | L1 | Doncaster Rovers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 2 | |

## Squad
### Detailed overview

    Players with previous first team games or current professional contracts with Doncaster before the start of the season, including those coming in from the Academy.
    League caps and goals up to the start of season 2019–20.
    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 |||||||||||
| — | Ian Lawlor | GK | Dublin | (1994-10-27) 27 October 1994 (age 30) | 70 | 0 | – | – | Manchester City |
| 13 | Louis Jones | GK | Doncaster | (1998-10-12) 12 October 1998 (age 26) | 0 | 0 | – | – | Academy |
| 32 | Toby King | GK | | (2002-01-04) 4 January 2002 (age 23) | 0 | 0 | – | – | |
| Defenders |||||||||||
| 2 | Brad Halliday | RB | Redcar | (1995-07-10) 10 July 1995 (age 29) | 34 | 0 | – | – | Cambridge United |
| 3 | Reece James | LB | Bacup | (1993-11-07) 7 November 1993 (age 31) | 27 | 2 | – | – | Sunderland |
| 4 | Tom Anderson | CB | Burnley | (1993-09-02) 2 September 1993 (age 31) | 62 | 4 | – | – | Burnley |
| 5 | Joe Wright | CB | Monk Fryston | (1995-02-26) 26 February 1995 (age 29) | 89 | 2 | – | – | Huddersfield Town |
| 16 | Danny Amos | LB | Sheffield | (1999-12-22) 22 December 1999 (age 25) | 6 | 0 | – | – | Academy |
| 28 | Branden Horton | LB | Doncaster | (2000-09-09) 9 September 2000 (age 24) | 0 | 0 | – | – | Academy |
| 30 | Ben Blythe | | | | 0 | 0 | – | – | Academy |
| Midfielders |||||||||||
| 8 | Benjamin Whiteman | AM/CM/RM | Rochdale | (1996-06-17) 17 June 1996 (age 28) | 115 | 14 | – | – | Sheffield United |
| 11 | Jon Taylor | RW | Liverpool | (1992-07-20) 20 July 1992 (age 32) | 28 | 6 | – | – | Rotherham United |
| 12 | Madger Gomes | CM | Alicante | (1997-02-01) 1 February 1997 (age 27) | 23 | 0 | – | – | NK Istra 1961 |
| 26 | James Coppinger | AM/RM/CM | Guisborough | (1981-01-18) 18 January 1981 (age 44) | 582 | 63 | – | – | Exeter City |
| 27 | AJ Greaves | CM | | (2000-11-17) 17 November 2000 (age 24) | 0 | 0 | – | – | Academy |
| 29 | Lirak Hasani | CM | Doncaster | (2002-06-25) 25 June 2002 (age 22) | 2 | 0 | – | – | Academy |
| 31 | Liam Ravenhill | CM | | | 0 | 0 | – | – | Academy |
| Forwards |||||||||||
| 9 | Fejiri Okenabirhie | CF | Hendon | (1996-02-25) 25 February 1996 (age 28) | 5 | 2 | – | – | Shrewsbury Town |

### Statistics

This includes any players featured in a match day squad in any competition.
    As of 5 April 2021
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy | League One Play-offs | League One Play-offs |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Ellery Balcombe | 13 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Brad Halliday | 44 | 1 | 34+2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Reece James | 39 | 7 | 33+1 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Tom Anderson | 42 | 2 | 35 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | WAL | Joe Wright | 38 | 2 | 27+3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | ENG | Madger Gomes | 23 | 4 | 11+8 | 3 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Omar Bogle | 10 | 2 | 9+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | SCO | Scott Robertson | 13 | 0 | 4+9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Fejiri Okenabirhie | 38 | 12 | 22+8 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | COD | Jason Lokilo | 33 | 1 | 8+18 | 1 | 1+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Jon Taylor | 29 | 4 | 19+6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Louis Jones | 12 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | WAL | Matt Smith | 34 | 1 | 28+3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | ENG | John Bostock | 11 | 0 | 8+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | NIR | Danny Amos | 12 | 0 | 4+3 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | ENG | Taylor Richards | 39 | 6 | 23+10 | 5 | 2+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Ed Williams | 14 | 0 | 0+8 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Tyreece John-Jules | 14 | 3 | 9+2 | 3 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | ENG | Josh Sims | 21 | 3 | 15+4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | ENG | Andy Butler | 16 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | ANG | Elliot Simões | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Cameron John | 37 | 2 | 20+10 | 2 | 2+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | James Coppinger | 30 | 5 | 13+12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | ENG | AJ Greaves | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Branden Horton | 4 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Lirak Hasani | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | ENG | Ben Blythe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | NIR | Liam Ravenhill | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | GK | ENG | Ben Bottomley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who left the club during the season ||||||
| 1 | GK | ENG | Josef Bursik | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Rayhaan Tulloch | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Ben Whiteman | 23 | 8 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | GK | ENG | Joe Lumley | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | GK | ENG | Toby King | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goals record

    As of 5 April 2021.
| Rank | No. | Po. | Name | League One | FA Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | Total |
| 1 | 9 | FW | Fejiri Okenabirhie | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 2 | 8 | MF | Ben Whiteman | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 3 | 3 | DF | Reece James | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | 17 | FW | Taylor Richards | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | 26 | MF | James Coppinger | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | 11 | FW | Jon Taylor | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | 6 | MF | Madger Gomes | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | 19 | FW | Tyreece John-Jules | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | 20 | MF | Josh Sims | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | 24 | DF | Cameron John | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | 5 | DF | Joe Wright | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | 7 | FW | Omar Bogle | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | 4 | DF | Tom Anderson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | 14 | MF | Matt Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | 2 | DF | Brad Halliday | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | 10 | MF | Jason Lokilo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| - | | | Own goal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 52 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 61 |

#### Disciplinary record

    As of 5 April 2021.
| 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 | Ellery Balcombe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Brad Halliday | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Reece James | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Tom Anderson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Joe Wright | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Madger Gomes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | Omar Bogle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Ben Whiteman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Scott Robertson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Fejiri Okenabirhie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Jason Lokilo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Jon Taylor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Matt Smith | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | John Bostock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Danny Amos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | Taylor Richards | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Josh Sims | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | Andy Butler | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | Elliot Simões | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | Cameron John | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 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 | AJ Greaves | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 45 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 0 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| 2 August 2020 | RW | Jason Lokilo | Crystal Palace | Free transfer |
| 27 August 2020 | MF | Ed Williams | Kidderminster Harriers | Free transfer |
| 28 August 2020 | CB | Cameron John | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Undisclosed |
| 11 September 2020 | CB | Andy Butler | Scunthorpe United | Free transfer |
| 1 October 2020 | RB | Charlie Seaman | AFC Bournemouth | Free transfer |
| 25 January 2021 | CM | John Bostock | Toulouse | Free transfer |
| 29 January 2021 | CF | Omar Bogle | Charlton Athletic | Undisclosed |

### Loans in

| Date from | Pos. | Name | From | Date until |
| 20 August 2020 | GK | Josef Bursik | Stoke City | End of season |
| 25 August 2020 | MF | Taylor Richards | Brighton & Hove Albion | End of season |
| 8 September 2020 | CF | Tyreece John-Jules | Arsenal | End of season |
| 11 September 2020 | AM | Rayhaan Tulloch | West Bromwich Albion | End of season |
| 16 October 2020 | RW | Josh Sims | Southampton | January 2021 |
| 16 October 2020 | DM | Matt Smith | Manchester City | End of season |
| 20 November 2020 | GK | Joe Lumley | Queens Park Rangers | 25 December 2020 |
| 6 January 2021 | GK | Ellery Balcombe | Brentford | End of season |
| 6 January 2021 | LW | Elliot Simões | Barnsley | End of season |
| 27 January 2021 | RW | Josh Sims | Southampton | End of season |
| 30 January 2021 | DM | Scott Robertson | Celtic | End of season |

### Loans out

| Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date until |
| 7 August 2020 | GK | Ian Lawlor | Oldham Athletic | 30 June 2021 |
| 17 September 2020 | MF | AJ Greaves | Gainsborough Trinity | 17 October 2020 |
| 21 September 2020 | LB | Branden Horton | Redditch United | January 2021 |
| 1 October 2020 | RB | Charlie Seaman | Maidstone United | 30 June 2021 |
| 7 January 2021 | CM | Lirak Hasani | Gateshead | End of season |

### Transfers out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Alex Baptiste | Bolton Wanderers | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Shane Blaney | Sligo Rovers | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Rieves Boocock | Cleethorpes Town | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Devante Cole | Motherwell | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Myron Gibbons | Unattached | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | RW | Alex Kiwomya | Chesterfield | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | DF | Rian McLean | Welling United | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | LW | Kieran Sadlier | Rotherham United | Rejected contract |
| 1 July 2020 | MF | Max Watters | Crawley Town | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | RM | Matty Blair | Cheltenham Town | Rejected contract |
| 14 January 2021 | CM | Benjamin Whiteman | Preston North End | Undisclosed |

## Awards
### PFA League One Player of the Month

| Month | Player | | Ref |
| January | Ellery Balcombe | Nomination | |

### Sky Bet League One Player of the Month

| Month | Player | | Ref |
| September | Madger Gomes | Winner | |

### Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month

| Month | Player | Goal | | Ref |
| September | Tyreece John-Jules | 63' vs Charlton Athletic, 19 September | Winner | |

### Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month

| Month | Manager | | Ref |
| September | Darren Moore | Nomination | |
| January | Darren Moore | Nomination | |