The 2026-27 League One campaign begins for Doncaster Rovers with a trip to the One Call Stadium where they face Mansfield Town. Both sides arrive having taken part in EFL Cup first-round ties last weekend and with contrasting narratives from last season that will shape expectations in the opening fixture.
Where both teams finished and what it means
Mansfield enter the new season on the back of their best third-tier finish since promotion, having secured a 10th-place finish with 65 points from 46 matches in 2025-26. The Stags conceded 50 goals across the campaign, a defensive record beaten by only two League One sides, and ended last term with a strong run of form — winning five and losing just one of their final 10 matches.
Doncaster returned to League One for 2025-26 and ended that season in 14th, collecting 60 points. The visitors will take heart from their away form in the previous campaign: only seven teams accumulated more than Doncaster's 27 points on the road. Their season featured a notable final-day victory at Peterborough United and, in August 2025, a 2-1 win at the One Call Stadium that will be remembered by many supporters.
- Mansfield finished 10th with 65 points and conceded 50 goals.
- Doncaster finished 14th with 60 points and took 27 away points.
- Both clubs played EFL Cup first-round ties in the days before this League One opener.
Recent results and pre-season
Mansfield's preparations concluded with a 3-1 pre-season defeat to Derby County, and they began their cup schedule with a home tie against Sheffield United, a match in which they trailed 1-0 at half-time and eventually lost 3-0. The Stags will be seeking to carry the momentum of their late-2025-26 form into the league season and target a top-half campaign.
Doncaster's pre-season was busier and included a number of fixtures as the side adjusted to life back in the third tier. The Rovers will be looking to translate their solid away performances from last season into results early in the campaign and to replicate the character shown in their run to 14th last term.
“Both clubs go into the opening fixture with clear recent form lines — Mansfield’s strong finish and Doncaster’s reliable away record — and that contrast frames what should be an intriguing season opener.”
What to watch
Key factors likely to decide the tie include defensive solidity and finishing. Mansfield conceded relatively few goals last season and fashioned a strong finish to their campaign; they will hope to defend stoutly at home. Doncaster, by contrast, have shown they can pick up points away from home and will aim to test the Stags on transitions and set-pieces.
Managerial selection and early-season fitness will also be important. Both sides endured recent cup ties and a full pre-season schedule, so team news and any late absences could influence the starting XI and tactical approach.
| Club | 2025-26 League Position | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Mansfield Town | 10th | 65 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 14th | 60 |
For Doncaster supporters, the game presents an early measure of where Grant McCann's side stand in League One after a season that saw them comfortably avoid relegation and build foundations away from home. For Mansfield, the incentive is to maintain the upward trajectory that saw them finish strongly in 2025-26.
Whichever side starts the season with a win will carry momentum into a campaign in which both clubs hope to improve on last year’s finishes; for Doncaster, securing points on the road in the opening weeks will be particularly valuable if they are to push toward the top half again.
