Burton Albion v Doncaster Rovers
Burton - 3 (Butcher 18’, 61’, Duffy 89')Rovers - 3 (Williams 4’, Keegan 70’, Tyson 83')
Saturday 19th December, 2015
Pirelli Stadium, Burton
SkyBet League One
It was a thrilling game at the Pirelli Stadium with goals from Andy Williams, Paul Keegan and Nathan Tyson. It looked as though Rovers would take all three points but former Rovers winger Mark Duffy popped up with an 89th minute equaliser for the teams to share the spoils.
Unsurprisingly Darren Ferguson kept his faith in the same eleven that were victorious in dramatic fashion against Crewe last weekend and made no changes.
Nigel Clough took charge of his first game in charge of Burton who were currently five points clear at the top of the League One table.
Rovers went into the game having won four out of their last six league games, with Burton being the only team to better them, having won five of their last six.
It was straight into the action for both sides from kick off and the home side had the first attempt on goal as former Rover Mark Duffy attacked down the right before shooting with his left, but his effort was a tame on and Thorsten Stuckmann easily saved.
Minutes later Stuckmann was forced to make a great save as Abdenasser El Khayati was played through one on one. Attempting to slide the ball home, Stuckmann was quickly out to deny him.
On the break Mitchell Lund crossed the ball to Andy Williams who brilliantly chested the ball down before smashing it past Jon McLaughlin in the Brewers goal, Rovers were ahead.
It was a very open game and took fifteen minutes for Burton to get the equaliser. With Williams pass being intercepted in midfield, Calum Butcher was played through one one one and nicely finished into the bottom corner.
Former Rovers winger Mark Duffy should have put the hosts ahead when he found himself one on one with Stuckmann. Despite having all the time in the world he couldn’t find the net as the Rovers keeper made a great save.
The sides were level at half time with all to play for in the second half.
HALF TIME: Burton 1-1 Rovers
Darren Ferguson’s side started the second half on top and were awarded a penalty when Nathan Tyson was taken down in the box after getting on the end of a Lund cross. In-form Williams stepped up but saw his spot kick saved by McLaughlin.
The Brewers took advantage of the missed penalty and on the hour mark went ahead. In similar fashion to the first goal, Butcher slotted home for his second after being put through one on one.
However, it took just ten minutes for Rovers to draw level. As Conor Grant headed drove at goal he was taken down to win a free kick 20 yards out. Up stepped Paul Keegan who beautifully curled the ball into the top corner to score only his second goal for the club.
Andy Butler went close when his header was cleared off the line, and the Rovers defender then won another penalty for the visitors as he was clearly pushed in the back by Burton’s Phil Edwards.
This time Nathan Tyson took the responsibility of the spot kick and made no mistake in scoring with seven minutes to play.
Burton pushed for an equaliser and applied heavy pressure on the Rovers defence in the final minutes. As the ball fell to Mark Duffy in the left of the area, he hit a great shot through a number of bodies finding the top corner.
In added time Duffy should have won it for the hosts as he found himself one on one with Stuckmann again, but the German goalkeeper was rapid off his line to make a vital save and secure a point for Darren Ferguson’s side.
FULL TIME: Burton 3-3 Rovers
Team Lineups-
Burton: McLaughlin, Edwards, Mousinho, Beavon, El Khayati, Butcher (84’), McCrory, Naylor O'Connor, Duffy, Flanagan
Unused Subs: Matthews, Cansdell-Sherriff, Reilly, Thiele, Binnom-Williams, Palmer
Cautions: Mousinho 52’, Edwards 81'
Rovers: Stuckmann, Butler, Evina (McCullough 54’), Alcock, Taylor-Sinclair, Grant, Coppinger (c) (Chaplow 90’), Middleton, Tyson, Williams, Lund (Keegan 54’)
Unused Subs: Marosi, Whitehouse, Davies, Mandeville
Cautions: Butler 70'
Attendance: 4,103