Doncaster 1 Coventry 0 - 30/08/2008
Doncaster 1 Coventry 0 - 30/08/2008
Doncaster Rovers: Neil Sullivan, Sam Hird, James O'Connor, James Chambers, Matthew Mills, Richard Wellens (Darren Byfield 88), Brian Stock, James Coppinger, Lewis Guy (Martin Woods 65), James Hayter, Gareth Taylor (Adam Lockwood 81)
Subs not used: Mark Wilson, Paul Heffernan
Goals: Richard Wellens 31
Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Daniel Fox, Scott Dann, Marcus Hall (Michael Doyle 72), Elliott Ward, Aron Gunnarsson, Guillaume Beuzelin, Jay Tabb, Freddy Eastwood (Leon Best 65), Michael Mifsud, Clinton Morrison (Leon McKenzie 69)
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Ben Turner
Attendance: 11806
Referee: R Shoebridge
Teamtalk
Richie Wellens produced a moment of magic as Doncaster beat Coventry 1-0 for a first Championship victory at the Keepmoat Stadium this season.
Wellens stunned Coventry after 31 minutes with a superb 25-yard drive which gave goalkeeper Keiren Westwood no chance.
Moments earlier, Freddy Eastwood missed from close range with the goal at his mercy at the opposite end to compound matters for the Sky Blues, who suffered a third defeat in seven days.
Michael Mifsud, substitute Leon Best and Scott Dann also went agonisingly close for the visitors, with the latter denied by a goal-line clearance from Rovers captain Brian Stock late in the first half.
Chris Coleman's Coventry side appeared content to soak up the early pressure as James Coppinger lashed over from 25 yards after six minutes.
There was plenty of industry from both sets of players but nothing in the way of clear-cut chances before the game sprang into life just after the half-hour mark.
Stock first tried his luck with an ambitious volley from the edge of the penalty area but failed to test Westwood.
Eastwood then spurned a gilt-edged opportunity to break the deadlock. Jay Tabb's cross from the right flank caused the Rovers defence problems and Clinton Morrison's near-post flick eventually ran into the path of Eastwood nine yards out, but the Wales international hit the side-netting with a clear sight of goal.
Coventry were left to instantly rue Eastwood's miss as Wellens opened the scoring in style.
The ball broke to the former Oldham and Blackpool midfielder 25 yards out and Wellens unleashed an unstoppable shot which nestled in Westwood's top right-hand corner.
Coppinger could have doubled Doncaster's lead six minutes before the interval but scooped over from 20 yards after jinking in from the right wing.
A series of corners late in the half almost saw Coventry haul themselves back into the game. Dann first powered a firm header just over after meeting Dan Fox's corner on the stroke of half-time and the same combination linked-up minutes later, with Stock this time on hand to hack the ball off the goal-line from directly underneath the crossbar.
The lively Mifsud fired another warning shot to the home side five minutes after the restart with a soaring 20-yard effort which failed to test veteran goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.
Sullivan had to be alert to smother Morrison's scuffed close-range shot from Dann's cushioned header after 57 minutes as Coventry continued to surge forward.
Lewis Guy twice spurned opportunities to ad a second for Rovers either side of a fine finger-tip save from Sullivan to deny Mifsud from 15 yards just after the hour.
The game was rapidly turning into a frenetic end-to-end encounter and Coleman hauled off Morrison and Eastwood and sent on Best and Leon McKenzie in a desperate attempt to muster an equaliser.
With 13 minutes remaining, Dann's header from Aron Gunnarsson's long throw-in was saved by Sullivan and Best could only watch on moments later as his nine-yard shot from Fox's corner rolled wide.
Goal-hero Wellens was given a standing ovation from the home faithful as he was withdrawn late on as Rovers clung on to record a first win since the opening day success at Derby.
CCFC
The Sky Blues are beaten by a goal to nil following a poor display against Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Richie Wellens' stunning first half strike was all that separated the sides but in truth the home side had a number of good chances to extend their lead and the Sky Blues now have to face a fortnight with no action on the back of a disappointing defeat.
Freddy Eastwood and Keiren Westwood both returned for the Sky Blues having recovered from injury and manager Chris Coleman was clearly on the offensive as City lined up in a 4-3-3 formation - Michael Mifsud joining Clinton Morrison and Freddy Eastwood up front.
But it was Doncaster who did the early pressing - Richie Wellens coming close to converting a deep cross from the right before he turned provider for the in-form Lewis Guy, whose shot was blocked by Marcus Hall.
City were showing very little as an attacking outlet, doing no more than forcing three corners in the opening stages, which came to nothing,
Doncaster, on the other hand, were playing crisp, lively football and continued to peg City back - Gareth Taylor going close on 26.
Three minutes later and Mifsud had the ball in the back of the net but he had long since been flagged offside.
City were pressing for the first time in the match and on 30 minutes, Freddy Eastwood was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance, blasting into the side netting from no more than 10 yards after Morrison laid a Jay Tabb cross back to him.
And the Sky Blues were instantly made to regret that missed opportunity when Wellens gave the home side the lead on 31 minutes in spectacular style. Picking the ball up some 30 yards from goal, no City man closed him down and he unleashed a ferocious drive into the top corner, leaving Westwood with no chance.
Slack play from City allowed James Coppinger to break from midfield but he blasted over from the edge of the box before Mifsud showed no composure, blazing well over after he had broken the offside trap.
Right at the end of the first half, Scott Dann came close to replicating his last ditch heroics against Newcastle, heading a Danny Fox corner towards the goal only for Doncaster skipper Brian Stock to clear off the line.
Coleman made no changes at the break, giving his players a chance to redeem themselves after a below par first 45 and on 50 minutes Mifsud fired narrowly over from the edge of the box.
Morrison was next to go close for City, but strong defending from Matt Mills prevented the forward getting a clean strike after he collected from a Mifsud cross.
Elliott Ward breathed a huge sigh of relief with half an hour left on the clock when his poor clearance allowed Lewis Guy a clear run on goal but the Doncaster man fired wide.
City broke and Mifsud brought a good save from Neil Sullivan but the game had become extremely stretched with Doncaster going close to scoring a second on the counter attack through Gareth Taylor.
Coleman made his first chance on 65 minutes, introducing fit-again Leon Best for a frustrated Eastwood who had failed to produce on his return from injury.
The Sky Blues boss didn't wait long to make his final two changes, bringing on Leon McKenzie for Clinton Morrison before Michael Doyle replaced Marcus Hall, with Aron Gunnarsson switching to right-back.
Amidst all the changes, Doncaster threatened to double their lead as substitute Martin Woods hit a low drive inches wide from 18 yards.
On 77 minutes, Gunnarsson unleashed his first long throw-in of the afternoon, finding McKenzie whose glancing header forced a fairly routine save from Sullivan.
With eight minutes remaining, Adam Lockwood replaced Gareth Taylor for Doncaster and he nearly scored with his first touch, heading over from close range.
There was to be no late drama in this match, City applying little pressure in the dying stages as Doncaster picked up a win they thoroughly deserved.
4thegame
A stunning first-half strike from man-of-the-match Richie Wellens earned Doncaster their first Championship home win.
Wellens unleashed a spectacular 25-yarder in the 31st minute and Keiren Westwood had no chance of saving as the ball rocketed into the top corner.
It was another important scalp for the newly-promoted surprise package from League One after winning at Derby on the opening day.
There had been little to choose between the sides up to the goal as both teams produced some excellent football although there had been little penetration into the penalty box.
But the goal brought the game to life and James Coppinger had a chance to add a second in the 39th minute but chipped over the crossbar after James Hayter had robbed Guillaume Beuzelin of possession.
Coventry stepped up the pressure just before the interval to earn a series of corners that caused the home fans some anxious moments.
Visiting skipper Scott Dann had a header cleared off the line by Brian Stock and then Neil Sullivan did well to claw another effort from Elliott Ward from under the crossbar.
Both sides continued to attack in the second half but Clinton Morrison miscued when well-placed to equalise in the 57th minute after Jay Tabb had created the chance.
Lewis Guy squandered a good opportunity when he fired wildly wide after Gareth Taylor had sent him clean through in the 62nd minute and missed another chance following good work by Coppinger a couple of minutes later.
Rovers should have won by a wider margin but James Hayter missed by inches in the 72nd minute and then Taylor headed wide following good work by James Chambers.
The home side finished on top with Adam Lockwood wasting another opportunity when he headed wide with the goal at his mercy seven minutes from time.
Doncaster Rovers: Neil Sullivan, Sam Hird, James O'Connor, James Chambers, Matthew Mills, Richard Wellens (Darren Byfield 88), Brian Stock, James Coppinger, Lewis Guy (Martin Woods 65), James Hayter, Gareth Taylor (Adam Lockwood 81)
Subs not used: Mark Wilson, Paul Heffernan
Goals: Richard Wellens 31
Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Daniel Fox, Scott Dann, Marcus Hall (Michael Doyle 72), Elliott Ward, Aron Gunnarsson, Guillaume Beuzelin, Jay Tabb, Freddy Eastwood (Leon Best 65), Michael Mifsud, Clinton Morrison (Leon McKenzie 69)
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Ben Turner
Attendance: 11806
Referee: R Shoebridge
Teamtalk
Richie Wellens produced a moment of magic as Doncaster beat Coventry 1-0 for a first Championship victory at the Keepmoat Stadium this season.
Wellens stunned Coventry after 31 minutes with a superb 25-yard drive which gave goalkeeper Keiren Westwood no chance.
Moments earlier, Freddy Eastwood missed from close range with the goal at his mercy at the opposite end to compound matters for the Sky Blues, who suffered a third defeat in seven days.
Michael Mifsud, substitute Leon Best and Scott Dann also went agonisingly close for the visitors, with the latter denied by a goal-line clearance from Rovers captain Brian Stock late in the first half.
Chris Coleman's Coventry side appeared content to soak up the early pressure as James Coppinger lashed over from 25 yards after six minutes.
There was plenty of industry from both sets of players but nothing in the way of clear-cut chances before the game sprang into life just after the half-hour mark.
Stock first tried his luck with an ambitious volley from the edge of the penalty area but failed to test Westwood.
Eastwood then spurned a gilt-edged opportunity to break the deadlock. Jay Tabb's cross from the right flank caused the Rovers defence problems and Clinton Morrison's near-post flick eventually ran into the path of Eastwood nine yards out, but the Wales international hit the side-netting with a clear sight of goal.
Coventry were left to instantly rue Eastwood's miss as Wellens opened the scoring in style.
The ball broke to the former Oldham and Blackpool midfielder 25 yards out and Wellens unleashed an unstoppable shot which nestled in Westwood's top right-hand corner.
Coppinger could have doubled Doncaster's lead six minutes before the interval but scooped over from 20 yards after jinking in from the right wing.
A series of corners late in the half almost saw Coventry haul themselves back into the game. Dann first powered a firm header just over after meeting Dan Fox's corner on the stroke of half-time and the same combination linked-up minutes later, with Stock this time on hand to hack the ball off the goal-line from directly underneath the crossbar.
The lively Mifsud fired another warning shot to the home side five minutes after the restart with a soaring 20-yard effort which failed to test veteran goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.
Sullivan had to be alert to smother Morrison's scuffed close-range shot from Dann's cushioned header after 57 minutes as Coventry continued to surge forward.
Lewis Guy twice spurned opportunities to ad a second for Rovers either side of a fine finger-tip save from Sullivan to deny Mifsud from 15 yards just after the hour.
The game was rapidly turning into a frenetic end-to-end encounter and Coleman hauled off Morrison and Eastwood and sent on Best and Leon McKenzie in a desperate attempt to muster an equaliser.
With 13 minutes remaining, Dann's header from Aron Gunnarsson's long throw-in was saved by Sullivan and Best could only watch on moments later as his nine-yard shot from Fox's corner rolled wide.
Goal-hero Wellens was given a standing ovation from the home faithful as he was withdrawn late on as Rovers clung on to record a first win since the opening day success at Derby.
CCFC
The Sky Blues are beaten by a goal to nil following a poor display against Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Richie Wellens' stunning first half strike was all that separated the sides but in truth the home side had a number of good chances to extend their lead and the Sky Blues now have to face a fortnight with no action on the back of a disappointing defeat.
Freddy Eastwood and Keiren Westwood both returned for the Sky Blues having recovered from injury and manager Chris Coleman was clearly on the offensive as City lined up in a 4-3-3 formation - Michael Mifsud joining Clinton Morrison and Freddy Eastwood up front.
But it was Doncaster who did the early pressing - Richie Wellens coming close to converting a deep cross from the right before he turned provider for the in-form Lewis Guy, whose shot was blocked by Marcus Hall.
City were showing very little as an attacking outlet, doing no more than forcing three corners in the opening stages, which came to nothing,
Doncaster, on the other hand, were playing crisp, lively football and continued to peg City back - Gareth Taylor going close on 26.
Three minutes later and Mifsud had the ball in the back of the net but he had long since been flagged offside.
City were pressing for the first time in the match and on 30 minutes, Freddy Eastwood was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance, blasting into the side netting from no more than 10 yards after Morrison laid a Jay Tabb cross back to him.
And the Sky Blues were instantly made to regret that missed opportunity when Wellens gave the home side the lead on 31 minutes in spectacular style. Picking the ball up some 30 yards from goal, no City man closed him down and he unleashed a ferocious drive into the top corner, leaving Westwood with no chance.
Slack play from City allowed James Coppinger to break from midfield but he blasted over from the edge of the box before Mifsud showed no composure, blazing well over after he had broken the offside trap.
Right at the end of the first half, Scott Dann came close to replicating his last ditch heroics against Newcastle, heading a Danny Fox corner towards the goal only for Doncaster skipper Brian Stock to clear off the line.
Coleman made no changes at the break, giving his players a chance to redeem themselves after a below par first 45 and on 50 minutes Mifsud fired narrowly over from the edge of the box.
Morrison was next to go close for City, but strong defending from Matt Mills prevented the forward getting a clean strike after he collected from a Mifsud cross.
Elliott Ward breathed a huge sigh of relief with half an hour left on the clock when his poor clearance allowed Lewis Guy a clear run on goal but the Doncaster man fired wide.
City broke and Mifsud brought a good save from Neil Sullivan but the game had become extremely stretched with Doncaster going close to scoring a second on the counter attack through Gareth Taylor.
Coleman made his first chance on 65 minutes, introducing fit-again Leon Best for a frustrated Eastwood who had failed to produce on his return from injury.
The Sky Blues boss didn't wait long to make his final two changes, bringing on Leon McKenzie for Clinton Morrison before Michael Doyle replaced Marcus Hall, with Aron Gunnarsson switching to right-back.
Amidst all the changes, Doncaster threatened to double their lead as substitute Martin Woods hit a low drive inches wide from 18 yards.
On 77 minutes, Gunnarsson unleashed his first long throw-in of the afternoon, finding McKenzie whose glancing header forced a fairly routine save from Sullivan.
With eight minutes remaining, Adam Lockwood replaced Gareth Taylor for Doncaster and he nearly scored with his first touch, heading over from close range.
There was to be no late drama in this match, City applying little pressure in the dying stages as Doncaster picked up a win they thoroughly deserved.
4thegame
A stunning first-half strike from man-of-the-match Richie Wellens earned Doncaster their first Championship home win.
Wellens unleashed a spectacular 25-yarder in the 31st minute and Keiren Westwood had no chance of saving as the ball rocketed into the top corner.
It was another important scalp for the newly-promoted surprise package from League One after winning at Derby on the opening day.
There had been little to choose between the sides up to the goal as both teams produced some excellent football although there had been little penetration into the penalty box.
But the goal brought the game to life and James Coppinger had a chance to add a second in the 39th minute but chipped over the crossbar after James Hayter had robbed Guillaume Beuzelin of possession.
Coventry stepped up the pressure just before the interval to earn a series of corners that caused the home fans some anxious moments.
Visiting skipper Scott Dann had a header cleared off the line by Brian Stock and then Neil Sullivan did well to claw another effort from Elliott Ward from under the crossbar.
Both sides continued to attack in the second half but Clinton Morrison miscued when well-placed to equalise in the 57th minute after Jay Tabb had created the chance.
Lewis Guy squandered a good opportunity when he fired wildly wide after Gareth Taylor had sent him clean through in the 62nd minute and missed another chance following good work by Coppinger a couple of minutes later.
Rovers should have won by a wider margin but James Hayter missed by inches in the 72nd minute and then Taylor headed wide following good work by James Chambers.
The home side finished on top with Adam Lockwood wasting another opportunity when he headed wide with the goal at his mercy seven minutes from time.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 11:42 pm
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