Report
Rovers earn a point at Highbury and remain unbeaten away from home since October.Fleetwood - 0
Rovers - 0
Saturday 23rd January, 2016
Highbury, Fleetwood
SkyBet League One
Unbeaten on the road since October, Rovers were looking to extend this run a little further as they took on Fleetwood.
Darren Ferguson’s men pulled off a dramatic late comeback last weekend against Gillingham. As they looked to be beaten, Cameron Stewart and Andy Williams raised the roof at the Keepmoat with two late goals to earn Rovers a point.
New signing Lynden Gooch arrived on loan from Sunderland earlier in the week and made his Football League debut as he was named in the starting eleven.
Rovers started the game brightly, James Coppinger had an early effort at goal after cutting inside and finding space to shoot but Chris Maxwell made the save comfortably.
The hosts settled and enjoyed a good spell of possession working the ball well. They went close when David Henen’s dangerous cross was met by Amari’i Bell at the back post. At full stretch the midfielders effort hit the side netting.
The visitors tested the Fleetwood defence as Richard Chaplow struck a shot from 25 yards that was just over the cross bar.
Shortly after, Lynden Gooch almost put Rovers ahead with a stunning effort. Cutting inside from the left, the new American man curled a shot from 30 yards. Dipping towards goal Maxwell was forced into a good save.
HALF TIME: Fleetwood 0-0 Rovers
Rovers had the first real chance of the second half as Paul Keegan bent a free kick from 25 yards inches past the post.
James Coppinger then broke from the defence and released Andy Williams down the right. Beating his defender for pace, Williams drove at goal before shooting on the angle but he dragged his shot just wide.
Midway through the second half Fleetwood regained control of the match and started to dominate. Alex Kiwomya fired a deadly ball across the face of goal that only needed a touch to be a certain goal but a full stretch Devante Cole couldn’t make contact.
Rovers had a let off when Jimmy Ryan hit an absolute belter from 25 yards and with Stuckmann beaten the Fleetwood number 8 could only watch as it cannoned back off the cross bar.
It was a game of very few chances and the referee blew for full time as it ended goalless in the North West.
Team Lineups-
Fleetwood: Maxwell, McLaughlin, Jonsson, Pond (c), Bell, Ryan, Grant, Sarvevic, Haughton (Cole 59’), Henen (Kiwomya 61'), Davis
Unused Subs: Jordan, Forbes, Nirennold, Hutnter, Gogic
Cautions: Pond 75’, Grant 88’, Davis 90'
Rovers: Stuckmann, MacKenzie (Lund 58’), Evina, Alcock, McCullough, Taylor-Sinclair, Coppinger, Grant (Chaplow 17’), Keegan, Williams, Gooch
Unused Subs: Marosi, Main, N'Guessan, Mandeville, Davies
Cautions: Gooch 75’, Evina 80’, Chaplow 90'
Attendance: 3,508 (582)