If ever there was a season of two halves as far as the Rovers were concerned, then this was the one. The Rovers had looked like real promotion contenders for much of the first half of the season, but fell away badly as it progresses and eventually ended the campaign in a greatly disappointing 12th place in Division Two.

Following the first ever midweek start to a League season, the Rovers commenced with a fine away victory at Swansea and, whilst the first home game, against Lincoln City, was only drawn, the following eight League games produced seven wins. The only defeat in this run came at Everton, where the Rovers lost heavily before an attendance of 58,000. The Rovers' League form then stuttered a little with a further three losses in the next five games. One of these was a home defeat by Rotherham United, which came as an especially bitter pill to swallow. The team continued to progress however, and were still very much in the promotion pictures as Christmas approached.

The festive period saw the Rovers engaged in a 'double header' with Blackburn Rovers. However, there was little Christmas cheer for Rovers followers as the men from Ewood Park won both encounters by the same scoreline - two goals to nil. The New Year opened with an excellent home victory over Notts County, before the Rovers treated their supporters to arguably the best ever performance by a Doncaster team in winning at Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup. Their success was all the more remarkable bearing in mind the quality of the opposition. Sunderland were a first division club with many illustrious names within their ranks, but two goals from Eddie McMorran within the first half hour garnered the Rovers a momentous victory.

Despite this, the Rovers' league form fell apart, with only the occasional draw providing the dwindling band of Rovers supporters with any comfort. The FA Cup did provide some much needed relief, as the Rovers won by two goals to nil in the fourth round at Plymouth Argyle, but their Cup dreams were finally dashed at Leyton Orient in round five,when they conceded three second half goals after leading by a goal to nil at half time.

As mentioned earlier, the League campaign meandered to a disappointing close, with just two League successes between Christmas and the end of the season. Indeed, the last 17 League games provided just 10 goals - a sad conclusion to what had been a highly promising start.

Leading scorers: Lawlor 17, Tindill 12, McMorran 10

Division Two
1953-1954
 
P
W
D
L
F
A
Points
Leicester City
42
23
10
9
97
60
56
Everton
42
20
16
6
92
58
56
Blackburn Rovers
42
23
9
10
86
50
55
Nottingham Forest
42
20
12
10
86
59
52
Rotherham United
42
21
7
14
80
67
49
Luton Town
42
18
12
12
64
59
48
Birmingham City
42
18
11
13
78
58
47
Fulham
42
17
10
15
98
85
44
Bristol Rovers
42
14
16
12
64
58
44
Leeds United
42
15
13
14
89
81
43
Stoke City
42
12
17
13
71
60
41
DONCASTER ROVERS
42
16
9
17
59
63
41
West Ham United
42
15
9
18
67
69
39
Notts County
42
13
13
16
54
74
39
Hull City
42
16
6
20
64
66
38
Lincoln City
42
14
9
19
65
83
37
Bury
42
11
14
17
54
72
36
Derby County
42
12
11
19
64
82
35
Plymouth Argyle
42
9
16
17
65
82
34
Swansea City
42
13
8
21
58
82
34
Brentford
42
10
11
21
40
78
31
Oldham Athletic
42
8
9
25
40
89
25