A game that ebbed and flowed from the start was a great advert for League One football with some superb goals from both sides. United edged it on goals but were fortunate to escape with the victory after Rovers had enjoyed the better of possession and the chances. Indeed United for one of the few times this season could claim to have had the fortune as Rovers hit the United bar and had a very good penalty appeal turned down amidst a number of other good chances. United had fewer chances and efforts but were clinical with what they did have and with it took a huge step towards securing a play off place with now only 5 games left to play.
Manager Clough tweaked his side with Terry Kennedy and Jamie Murphy missing out due to injury replaced by Jose Baxter and Matty Done with Chris Basham going back to centre back and Done starting out wide.
Rovers had former Blade Andy Butler at the heart of the defence and featured an attacking line up with Nathan Tyson, James Coppinger, Kyle Bennett all starting.
In a sign of things to come, there was a chance inside the opening two minutes as Bennett worked an opening and sent over an inviting cross and as Freeman dithered Main attacked it and forced Howard into a low save to his right hand side. United came back and Done was lively snapping at the heels of Doncaster’s defenders before a clumsy foul on Davies saw a free kick for United but Baxter could only hit the wall. Baxter shot off target on the next attack before Harris in an unfamiliar wide right position also blazed wide. Doncaster then came back at United in an end to end game and scored a tremendous opening goal.
Coppinger strode away from Coutts and supplied BENNETT. The winger came inside and as Freeman backed off, he hit a superb curling effort which nestled into the top corner giving Howard no chance and stunned the Kop.
United’s response saw a decent appeal for a penalty when Baxter’s effort hit a Doncaster hand but the referee adjudged it to be accidental before Harris seemed too pull a hamstring and had to go off. McEveley came on and went to centre back with Freeman coming to the left hand side and Brayford going back to his natural right back position.
United had not made Bywater make a save but were level when Freeman played a ball forward and as McCombe dithered, Done nipped in and invited the clumsy foul. It was a routine spot kick award despite Dickov’s protestations. Done had simply been quicker than the Doncaster man. BAXTER hit it and took another great spot kick smashing it high into the top corner giving Bywater no chance.
After the goal the action did not let up as first Bennett had another long range effort that was well saved by Howard low down before Davies nearly stole in for the home side. It had been an even game but Doncaster had shaded the chances on goal in an entertaining first half.
The second half saw Doncaster start stronger as they continued to control midfield coupled with United’s sloppy play on the ball. Butler had a headed cleared and the same man missed a guilt edged chance as the ball came across to the far post as he somehow miskicked. United had not got going and then Coppinger who had caused problems down the right, jinked inside and hit a shot narrowly over. Soon after poor United defending saw Basham fail to clear and then McEveley was ball watching as the ball came across and Coppinger’s shot spun up and hit the post and away. It was a lucky let off for United.
They took advantage and raced up the other end. Freeman found Davies who put in a great ball and DONE again showed his predatory instinct as this time he got ahead of Butler and turned the ball home in off the post.
United though never seemed to have control of the game and more sloppy play saw them give the ball away and Tyson nearly profited. However soon after they were level. BENNETT took up possession and hit another tremendous shot that soared high into the top corner again giving Howard no chance. Another superb goal but one that could have been avoided in the build up despite the quality.
The game was now finely poised but in truth Doncaster looked the more dangerous from an attacking sense and Doyle was brought on for Baxter to try and give United a foothold in the midfield area; a phase of the game they had struggled with all game. Coutts went to the right hand side. Indeed it was Doyle who won a tackle that led to United regaining the lead in this topsy turvy contest.
The ball found its way to the right hand side and United won a throw in. DAVIES received it from Brayford and let it run across his body before taking a touch to find a yard and then hit a superb arrowed left foot drive that was in as soon as it left his foot. Another brilliant goal in a truly captivating contest.
Alcock came on for the tiring Flynn and went to left back with Freeman moving further forward. Tyson forced Howard into a low save and then Brayford made a mistake in miskicking clear but made amends to head away Wellens shot that seemed goal bound. The right back then was fortunate to escape a strong penalty appeal when he seemed to move his hand towards the ball from a long range shot. The Rovers bench were apoplectic and it did look a very good shout but then United had also had an appeal in the first half.
Rovers had created a number of chances and a further one came when Bennett fired over and then Brayford and Basham had to kick clear. United were hanging on and Butler was free at the back post to head down but Main’s effort was saved by Howard. The keeper then saved a low Wabara shot. United were struggling to hang on but they managed to negotiate the four extra minutes more comfortably than they had for much of the previous 90! The final whistle came and signalled United’s second win within four days and gives them an eight point cushion in the play off race and with it maybe ended maybe Barnsley and Doncaster’s hopes of extending their own seasons.
United – The game was very exciting. We scored three goals and there was end to end action. It was really enjoyable. The best game of the season by a mile for entertainment. However taking that aside and putting a manager’s hat on, it was a very bitty performance again from United. It was another disjointed home performance but in a different way to some of the other performances at the Lane. We did actually look decent at times going forward and did look like scoring even thought we did not have that many chances. The two strikers were excellent and worked hard all night causing McCombe and Butler all sorts of problems. They held it up, chased and looked a goal threat.
However many other parts of the United side were less than convincing. The midfield were poor all night, got overran for long spells and also were so sloppy in possession. At the back we looked at full stretch, failed to mark and got ran at and beat much of the game. With better finishing and a bit more luck Doncaster could have scored 5 or 6 goals aside from the 2 wonder strikes they did scored. Howard played well and I suppose we kept at it and got some blocks/tackles in but we looked a tired side at times and I felt we were fortunate to win.
Doncaster deserved at least a draw and probably more on possession, chances and football. They had 14 shots and 8 on target and I cannot recall us having many others aside from the three goals we scored. In a way that is good as that is efficiency I suppose but on other nights we would not have got away with it. We showed good spirit and kept coming back and at times did play some decent stuff ourselves but overall we will have to do much better than that and have more control in midfield if we hope to win the playoffs. Some good signs but some worrying ones as the midfield still does not control game and too many players are so inconsistent.
We were so poor on the ball and it seemed to spread with not one player guilty but it being mixed about in terms of give always. I also felt we lacked movement in terms of midfield runners and relied too much on exceptional work rate from front two (Done did start wide but move around with Davies). We missed Murphy’s wing play and also Kennedy at the back. Hopefully we can get these two fit and also now try and win the couple of game we need to secure a playoff spot. We have a decent run in with Yeovil, Orient and Oldham all in the bottom half and two more local teams at the Lane. We do need to show some level of consistency though. I did not go to Barnsley as was at my sisters in Wales but it seems like we were excellent. Then tonight a really patchy performance (yes, I know we won). It was the same in that trio of home games. We seem incapable of putting two decent performances together and rest assured if we had lost say 4-2 tonight, you could not have gone away and complained. It was pleasing for us to have some run of the ball and a few decisions go for us as we have hardly had much of these this season.
Doncaster – One of, if not, the best sides I have seen at the Lane this season. Controlled midfield much of the game and had a rea go and always looking to attack. Wellens ran the game for long spells and Bennett and Coppinger were threats all game. The lad Tyson was a nuisance with power and pace and they looked a real goal threat, Better finishing, a bit more luck and they could have had 5 goals easily. They looked a mobile, strong and pacey side going forward and clearly have badly underachieved but from what I saw of them tonight. They did not look as good at the back and I felt Butler and McCombe were slow and cumbersome and Davies and Done, in particular, really caused them all sorts of problems. They are good in the air but against pace and movement they struggle. Butler did not look any better than what we have but does win headers and him and Collins although slow would probably have prevented a lot of set play and headed goals we have conceded.
Dickov was entertaining to say the least as he moaned and groaned all game; spending most of his time balling at the fourth official and linesman on his side. To be fair he did not get the best of the decisions but he was embarrassing as he did not shut up all night. It was very Warnock-esque. They now will not make the playoff as are too far behind. Based on what I saw today then they should be much higher. They played more fluent football than most I have seen this season and showed some good technique and skill. They will need to start fast next season or Dickov will be under pressure as they have a lot of Championship players in ability and wage (I would hazard).
Howard 7.5/10 – Made some really good saves and his handling for the most part was really good although you could argue if any of the efforts they had at goal had beaten him you would be criticising him. No chance on the goals. His kicking was awful as he seemed to constantly find touch or kick high balls that went barely to halfway.
Freeman 6/10 – Weird game. He actually did some decent things going forward and was involved in some of our better attacks but then at the back was as poor as he has been since he returned at both right and left back. On the first goal he gave Bennett too much time to line up the shot and then second half he got beat quite a lot from Coppinger when he went to left back. Coppinger continually fainted to cross and then beat him. He never got tight enough all game.
Brayford 6/10 – Another less than solid performance but he kept going Headed one off line but it was his effort that led to it and also was lucky to escape a hand ball appeal. He was sloppy but was moved from centre back to right back. Still nowhere near standard he showed last season and seems sluggish in everything he does.
Harris – Started game with some decent balls and then some poor pieces of play. Had one long range shot before he pulled up and was taken off on the half hour.
Basham 6.5/10 – Our best defender and I don’t think he was great. Won a few headers and blocks but also made a few mistakes or was slow to clear second half and looked tired. Many who went to Barnsley said he was excellent in midfield and for all plaudits he had had for being centre back; I feel he has been less effective at the back in this position in recent times. He gives us strength and a presence when he plays midfield so may be best he returns there but sadly we have limited centre back options.
Holt 4/10 – Anonymous much of the game. Someone near me did not even know he was playing until about 10 minutes from the end. He did have a decent spell at the end as he bought a few free kicks and had a few runs but up to that he contributed nothing. Never on the ball and then defensively never got a foot in.
Coutts 4/10 – Another really poor performance. He played much of game centrally but then went wide right. Had two or three tidy square or backward balls but offer nothing going forward and also did not win 50/50’s ad Doncaster completely won midfield for me. He gives it away more than he keeps it. On the first goal his man just ran past him and he let him go without even a challenged. Went wide right and showed how slow he is as he tried to beat his man but lacked pace to do this. Just cannot see what he offers to the side. Maybe it is me but what are his qualities? Welllens gave him a bit of a lesson tonight.
Flynn 6/10 – Worked hard and kept going and had a few runs up and down but was crowded out or lacked end product. Kept going but eventually he went off seemingly shattered.
Baxter 5/10 – Another performance where he showed a few glimpses but all too often gave it away or was lacking. He set them on the attack three times first half and then on the second goal he made a pathetic stretched attempt to stop a sideways ball rather than actually run across. They scored soon after (great goal) as his laziness cost us. He still played some good balls forward to Done and was as good as the rest of a poor midfield but another that plays about 1 good game in 3 if we are lucky. Does take a great penalty though!
Davies 8/10 – Led line well with little service from poor midfield and held it up when he could and worked very hard. Tried to link and turn the defence but at times got crowded out. The ball generally sticks when it goes up to him which is a real positive after some of issues this much of the season. Set up the second and then scored a tremendous winner that was barely a half chance.
Done 8/10 – Thought he was excellent all night. Worked incredibly hard, chasing defenders down, snapping at them and running the channels. First half he started wide left and was our main threat and had a few half chances that came from his strong running. Won penalty with his quick thinking and then poached a second goal. He never stopped and was tireless and the Kop gave him a round of applause for his closing down and ability to give it all for the cause. Cannot be dropped as he scores goals and works so hard. Ridiculous that he has been in and out of the team. Whether it is wide, or preferably up top, he has to play for me.
Subs-
McEveley 5/10 – Another who was less than convincing. He made some clearances but everything was at full stretch. He gave away his usual silly free kicks and either is too tight (to give away such fouls) or way off his man. A player that never fills me with confidence.
Doyle – Brought on to give us some bite as we needed something as we were getting overrun. Did get a few tackles in but we still never really had any control in this area.
Alcock – Played at left back and was error prone for the time he was on. He kicked a few out, gave it away and left his man. A poor player that should not be near the team in my opinion.
Manager rating –
Clough 6.5/10 – We won. The performance was average again though. He lost two key players due to injury and thus had to juggle things but again we never had control of midfield and he keeps messing Basham around which means he will never have a run in one position. He also needs to give Done a regular start as every time he plays he scores and/or looks dangerous. Overall still no closer to knowing his best team or their positions and we are now into game 41/46 of the season. I hope we can finish well and try and put two good games together and go into the playoffs with this run of form. At least we do seem set to make them now but I am still not convinced we have enough to win 3 games against decent sides. Doncaster today played us off the park for long spells and we were fortunate to win.
Officials – Actually I liked the fact he tried to play on a lot and let some physical stuff go. He only booked one player all night and was intent on letting the game go without need to stop things. He even let quick free kicks go at times without bothering if they were slightly out of position. He got the penalty right for us but then he really should have given them one for Brayford and maybe the one in the first half for us could have been given if not as blatant. The two linesmen were poor and even though Dickov was over the top with his incessant rage; they did not help the referee and neither seemed to want to make a decision. The one where Bywater seemed to handle outside the area was a casing point but that was a hard one to tell. They missed a number of other incidents where they had to help the referee.
Crowd – Another big crowd of over 20,000 with a few thousand from Doncaster adding to a good atmosphere. Of course goals and chances help but crowd were treated to a really good game as two teams attacked and made it a really exciting contest. After some dire stuff this year you went away thinking you had seen a really good end to end game of football.