The Owls and Rovers clash in a South Yorkshire derby this weekend

Sheffield Wednesday need a quick response to their midweek defeat to Notts County when they make the short trip to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

The Owls slumped to a disappointing and deserved 2-0 loss on Tuesday night so a sold-out away end in South Yorkshire will be expecting a much-improved performance.

As for their opponents, the injury-ravaged Rovers go into the fixture 19th, sitting just above the relegation zone on goal difference, following successive defeats to Leicester City and Stockport County.

To get the latest insight on the opposition, we spoke to journalist Kurt Leyland, who covers Rovers for the Doncaster Free Press...

HOW WOULD YOU SUM UP THE SEASON SO FAR?

I’d probably say they are slightly below where they'd like to be. It’s only their second season in League One. I think after finishing 14th last season Grant McCann wanted to push on and compete for the play-offs. I don't think the supporters expect that, but they just want a little bit of an improvement.

So far, they have struggled to score goals (10 compared to Wednesday’s 20) but they are not concealing loads either (13 to The Owls’ 10). They brought a lot of players in who absolutely smashed it in League Two and they haven’t quite made the jump up. They have also got quite a lot of injuries so it's kind of created this awkward formation where they're playing a three-man defence with wing-backs who are not really suited to it, they are more like wingers. free mom, defence wing back.

WHAT’S GRANT MCCANN BEEN SAYING?

At the start of the season the theme was bravery, wanting his wingers to be more willing to take on defenders and try things because he does encourage attacking football. But, at the minute, it doesn't feel like your typical Grant McCann team because of the injuries and formation. It hasn’t quite clicked yet.

WHAT’S THE MOOD LIKE AROUND THE CLUB AHEAD OF THE GAME?

I wouldn't say that they are as confident that they're going to win as they would have been a few weeks ago. Heading into Leicester, after winning the previous two, I think a lot of Rovers fans thought that they were there for the taking with the pressure on Russell Martin. The performance against Leicester wasn’t too bad but I think the Stockport game (2-0 home defeat) has kind of zapped a bit of enthusiasm out of the fans a little bit. But they will still turn up in their numbers.

WHO ARE THE KEY MAN FOR ROVERS?

Based on current form, Leoni Ayinde, a winger who came in from Ipswich on a free and was at Boreham Wood last season. He has only just come into the team but he is absolutely rapid. He was the best player on the pitch against Burton Albion when he scored and he got an assist against Peterborough United. Owen Bailey has not hit the heights of last season when he scored 16 goals, but is still a dangerman, as is experienced striker Alfie May.

WHAT IS THE INJURY LATEST, THEN?

They have a lot. Frankie Okoronkwo, James Collins and Matty Pearson are definitely out. Jamie Sterry, James Husband, Jack Senior, Tommi O’Reilly and Jordan Thomas have also been out but might make a comeback, while assessments are to be made on Josh Clarke and Tom Nixon.

PREDICTED LINE-UP?

Simkin, Byrne, Grehan, McGrath, Broadbent, Bailey, Gotts, McCann, Ayinde, Keane, May.

SCORE PREDICTION?

A battling 1-1 draw.