Doncaster Rovers 2 – 0 Sheffield United
The fat lad from Sheffield is how Doncaster boss Sean O’Driscoll would describe him, and it was a mixed day for Rovers forward Billy Sharp as his side toppled a mediocre Sheffield United.
A superb one-two between James Coppinger and Sharp saw the former bury a low shot into the far corner of the net. Former Blades player Sharp then pounced on a rebound following Steve Simonson’s save from fellow striker James Hayter.
Having picked up only five points from their last possible 18, Rovers has slipped into the bottom half of the table. A series of injuries has not helped matters, with several first-team players in the treatment room.
Simon Gillett joined James O'Conner, George Friend, Wayne Thomas and James Chambers on the sidelines, while several players entered the game carrying minor knocks.
Having lost for the first time at home midweek to Derby, the formbook was not with the home side. With one victory in their last six league outings, victory was a necessity for a match that also contained significant bragging rights.
Gary Speed’s men have endured an indifferent start to the Welshman’s reign, one that has seen them causing few ruffles to the pace setters. A tight hamstring forced Stephen Jordan out of the Yorkshire derby, allowing Belgian Ritchie de Laet to step in.
The Keepmoat Stadium has been good hunting ground for the Blades, with their last defeat going back to a Third Division clash in 1983.
The home side began like the team in form as Coppinger stung the fingers of Steve Simonsen in the Sheffield goal early on. However, a series of strong moves was matched by a lack of finesse in the final third as neither side was able to take a grasp of the match.
A hot-and-cold game burst into life as a slick move from the home side resulted in Coppinger neatly slotting the ball past the onrushing Simonsen. The pressure from the home side was relentless in a passionate and vibrant atmosphere
Momentum was now firmly with O’Driscoll’s men, and the inevitable second goal came courtesy of a tidy build-up and a touch of luck. A strong run by John Oster teed up James Hayter, whose first time shot was parried to the 24-year-old Sharp.
However it wasn’t to be a fairytale ending for the former Scunthorpe forward, as a pulled hamstring brought his game to a premature end.
A burst of pace from Mustapha Dumbuya almost provided a third for O’Driscoll’s men, just shy of the hour mark. His run allowed Hayter to tee up skipper Brian Stock who blazed his first-time shot over the bar.
The visitors, who had struggled thus far, began to create opportunities as they sought to find a way back into a result that would see them drop to 18th in the league. The influential Mark Yeates presented Richard Cresswell with a golden opportunity, but his free header was glanced wide when well placed.
Further lacklustre efforts from Yeates and Ward saw the result secured by Rovers, which sees them jump up to eleventh in the table.
Match facts:
Doncaster Rovers: (4-4-2) Sullivan; O’Connor, Martis (Lockwood 76) Mills, Dumbuya; Woods (Hird 79), Stock, Oster, Coppinger; Sharp (Shiels 45), Hayter
Unused Woods, Webster, Wilson
Sheffield United: (4-4-2) Simonsen; Nosworthy, Morgan, Calve, De Laet; Ertl (Lowton 58), Britton, Yeates, Quinn; Bogdanovic (Ward 51), Cresswell (Slew 84)
Unused Wright, Taylor, Bartley, James
Booked: Doncaster Rovers: Dumbuya
Sheffield United: Quinn
Possession: Doncaster Rovers 56%
Sheffield United 44%
Shots on target: Doncaster Rovers 3
Sheffield United 5
Referee: Keith Hill
Match rating: 6/10
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