Crewe vs Doncaster predictions: Rovers to gain semi-final advantage
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- Crewe have won just one of their last nine League Two matches
- Doncaster are on a 12-game unbeaten streak
- Recommended bet: Doncaster to win
Crewe and Doncaster go head-to-head in the first leg of their League Two semi-final play-off at the Mornflake Stadium on Monday evening.
The Railwaymen stumbled their way to the end of the campaign, winning just one of their last nine fixtures, and they face a huge battle to overcome a Doncaster side in red-hot form.
Rovers were down in 20th position after a 1-1 draw at Bradford on March 5, some 14 points adrift of the top seven, but they proceeded to rack up 10 straight wins and a draw to secure their play-off place.
Team news
Tom Booth, Harvey Davies, Jack Powell, Luke Offord and Owen Lunt remain absent for Crewe, who will also have to make late decisions on the availability of Lewis Billington, Matus Holicek, Ed Turns, Chris Long and Conor Thomas.
Doncaster are able to call upon the services of goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala, whose red card against Gillingham on the final day of the season was overturned on appeal.
Jon Taylor and George Miller are both closing in on a return from injury, though it is unclear if this game will come too soon for them, while Ben Close, Liam Ravenhill, Caolan Lavery and Bobby Faulkner are sidelined.
The stats
Crewe have rather laboured towards the play-offs, winning just one of their last nine games, while they have failed to score in five of their last seven assignments.
Lee Bell's side have lost each of their last three home matches 3-0, while a 1-0 victory over relegated Sutton is the club's sole win at the Mornflake Stadium from the last seven attempts.
Doncaster recorded 10 victories in a row before drawing with Gillingham on the last day of the campaign to secure a play-off place, something that looked impossible a couple of months ago.
Rovers are unbeaten in their last six away matches, winning four and drawing two.
Prediction
These two teams could hardly be in more contrasting form heading into this semi-final first-leg clash, with Crewe scratching around for form while Doncaster's confidence is through the roof.
The Railwaymen need to find something quickly if they are to keep their hopes of reaching League One alive, but it is hard to make an argument for them given the dire form over the last month, even if they are at home on Monday.
Doncaster have been sweeping sides away since the start of March and the fact they leapfrogged from a relegation battle into the play-off positions is an incredible achievement.
Rovers have all the momentum heading into this contest and they should have enough confidence and quality to take an advantage with them back to the Eco-Power Stadium for Friday's return leg.
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