Doncaster Rovers

Home comforts for Doncaster Rovers as goals from Coppinger and Main secure three points at the Keepmoat.

Doncaster Rovers - 2 (Coppinger 17' , Main 25’)
Fleetwood Town - 0

Saturday 29th August, 3pm
Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
SkyBet League One

Fleetwood came to the Keepmoat having won two games on the bounce, while Doncaster Rovers were on the search for their first victory of the season.

It was a quiet opening 15 minutes from both sides, however it was the away team who enjoyed the majority of the possession.

Fleetwood had the first chance of the game, coming from a corner taken short. Stephen Jordan got on the end of a dangerous ball into the box and headed towards goal but it was over Stuckmann’s crossbar.

Against the run of play, Curtis Main won a free kick in a good position outside the Fleetwood area. Aaron Taylor-Sinclair delivered a wicked ball in towards goal and James Coppinger rose to get a vital flick towards goal. Chris Maxwell was beaten and Rovers took the lead.

Minutes later Andy Williams broke towards goal. Heading his own ball forwards he was brought down by the Fleetwood man. There was an argument for a red card but the referee pulled out a yellow instead.

Enjoying their football, Paul Dickov’s men doubled their lead on 25 minutes. Andy Williams was in the thick of the action again and with the help of Main made it 2-0. The Rovers pair found themselves two on one with the Fleetwood defender, Williams squared the ball to Main who easily slotted home from ten yards.

Fleetwood weren’t without their spells of possession but despite playing a nice passing game, Stuckmann remained untested at the end of the first half.

HALF TIME: Rovers 2-0 Fleetwood

Fleetwood almost pulled a goal back straight from the restart. Winning a free kick on the edge of the area, Jimmy Ryan stepped up and fired towards goal but Stuckmann made an excellent save low to his left.

Jamie Proctor threatened the Rovers goal when he tried to find a way through but he was stopped in his tracks by Stuckmann who was quick off his line to make the save.

Like the first half Fleetwood were enjoying spells of possession but it was Rovers who came close again. Finding some space, Williams weaved his way into the box before looking to slot the ball into the bottom corner, however Maxwell got a hand to it conceding a corner.

Against the run of play again Rovers broke, this time through Cedric Evina. Switching the ball to debutant Cameron Stewart, the Ipswich loanee found his way into the box before shooting at goal but his shot was well blocked.

There was late drama as Conor McLaughlin kicked out at Williams but again the referee only produced a yellow card to the Fleetwood defender. It was all Rovers in the final ten minutes and the referee blew the final whistle giving Rovers all three points at the Keepmoat Stadium.


Team Lineups-

Rovers: Stuckmann, Lund, Butler, MacKenzie, Taylor-Sinclair, Evina, Middleton, Chaplow, Coppinger, Williams, Main (Stewart 68’)

Subs not used: Marosi, P.McKay, Carberry, Whitehouse, Linley, Mandeville

Fleetwood: Maxwell, McLaughlin, Andrew, Jordan (Grant 71’), Bell, Ryan, Proctor, Della-Verde, Hornby-Forbes (McManus 86’), Sarcevic (c), Ball (Matt 61’)

Subs not used: Nirrenold, Cartwright, Sowerby, Arestidou


Attendance: 4,876 (176)