MATCH REPORT: Rovers 0 Leeds 3
Saturday, 14th December 2013 at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Skybet League Championship
Referee – Mr Philip Dowd
Attendance – 12,192 (4,319 visitors)
A cold, windy afternoon greeted our visitors from down the M62, Leeds United. Rovers had Martin Woods starting the game, with James Coppinger dropping to the bench. They defended the North Stand end in the first half.
The first fifteen minutes or so were spent mostly in midfield as both sides sounded each other out.
Furman did get a strike in from distance on 5 minutes but it was deflected safely for Kenny to save.
In the 17th minute Leeds won a corner that was headed over by McCormack.
Two minutes later and Furman was booked for fouling Austin on the Leeds right touchline sending both of them crashing into the hoardings.
From the resultant free kick SMITH, at the far post, knocked the ball into the net.
Rovers began to hit back and just before the half hour a good move down their left broke down giving Leeds the chance of a quick break, with McCormack to the fore and shooting over from 25yards.
Past the half hour, Rovers won successive corners but nothing came from them.
The game was fairly equal at this stage. As the last six minutes came up Mowatt had a shot from 25 yards saved then a cross from the right by Austin was well over the bar from just inside the penalty area.
In the 44th minute a great long ball by Woods from well inside his own half found Robinson inside the Leeds penalty area. He controlled it well, lifted the ball over his marker but fired high over the bar.
The final action of the half came with McCormack crossing from the Leeds right and Smith, in the middle, glancing his header wide.
Half Time – Doncaster Rovers 0 Leeds United 1
Rovers started the second half quite well and in the 51st minute good work down the left gave the ball to Wellens, who drifted round three defenders into the area before hitting a low shot that skimmed the outside of the far post.
Continuing to press Quinn put over a cross in the 57th minute that Robinson headed down for Macheda to hit a good low drive that had Kenny going down to his right to save.
Then Quinn again got in another good cross that Robinson headed goalwards causing Kenny to push out for a corner.
In the 67th minute Robinson had the ball in the net and only then did the assistant put the flag up for offside.
Woods then had a go from 25 yards and was just wide.
Rovers continued to have the better of things but in the 76th minute the ball was cleared out of the Leeds defence and an attack down their left in numbers. The ball reached McCORMACK, who cut in near the byline and as Turnbull came to meet him he slid the ball past him into the net.
This setback after having most of the play in the second half knocked some of the stuffing out of the Rovers and it got worse in the 88th minute when the Rovers were caught short at the back when McCormack collected the ball on the Leeds right.
He crossed to the middle but it was too high for Smith but AUSTIN was unmarked on the left. He rifled in from 15yards for a rather flattering scoreline.
Result – Doncaster Rovers 0 Leeds United 3 (Smith 19 McCormack 76 Austin 88)
Teams – Rovers – Ross Turnbull; Paul Quinn, Bongani Khumalo, Luke McCullough, Enda Stevens; Theo Robinson, Richie Wellens, Dean Furman, Martin Woods, Federico Macheda, Chris Brown Subs used – Mark Duffy for Furman 66 mins; James Coppinger for Macheda 83 mins;
Subs not used – Billy Paynter, David Cotterill, Liam Wakefield, Alex Peterson, Jon Maxted gk
Caution – Furman 19 mins; Stevens 82 mins;
Leeds United – Paddy Kenny; Lee Peltier, Tom Lees, Jason Pearce, Luke Murphy, Rodolph Austin, Danny Pugh, Maraus Zaliukas, Alex Mowatt, Ross McCormack, Matt Smith
Subs used – Michael Brown for Mowatt 73 mins; Dom Poleon for McCormack 90+2 mins;
Subs not used -Luke Varney, Stephen Warnock, Michael Tonge, Sam Byram, Alex Cairns
Caution – Pearce 81 mins;