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The Rovers made two changes for today's match at home to Crystal Palace, Sam Hird came in for Jordon Mutch and James Hayter started in place of Dean Shiels, with on-loan Jay Emmanuel-Thomas from Arsenal starting on the bench. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.
The Rovers kicked off but the visitors were the first to attack albeit without any result. In the fifth minute the Rovers forced a corner but nothing came from it. A minute later, the Palace made a substitution when centre half Davis was replaced by Hills. Coppinger then had a go from 25yards but Speroni saved comfortably. The match had not settled down yet and was rather a scrappy affairIn the 17th minute, Hayter cut in from the right but his thumping shot was blocked by Speroni and caught by him as the ball spun into the air. Two minutes later and the Palace won their first corner. The first 'goal' came after 21minutes from Hayter but he was given off-side. Then, a cross-cum-shot from Oster on the right touchline was narrowly wide of the far top corner. A corner to the Palace led to a cross coming in from their left to be tipped away by Sullivan. Another 'goal' to the Rovers was ruled out by the referee for a foul by Sharp. On the half hour, some good play on the Rovers right from Coppinger and Chambers led to Oster getting a crack at goal that was deflected for a corner. Two more corners followed, the last of which was punched away by Speroni. Minutes later, in a foray downfield by the Palace, Carle shot wildly high over the bar. At the other end Wilson was wide from 25yards. The Rovers were now getting into their stride and, in the 37th minute came the breakthrough. A throw-in on the Rovers right near the corner flag to COPPINGER, who cut in and from the edge of the prenalty area rifled a left foot shot into the far top left corner of the net. Immediately the Palace tried to hit back and gained successive corners. Successfully defended by the the Rovers the ball was played out to Hayter, who took it on but his effort at goal was blocked and Chambers following up shot wide from 25 yards. As the 45th minute came up, coppinger fed Sharp but his shot was blocked. Wilson's effort from the edge of the area was saved and with almost the last action of the half Coppinger tried to repeat his goal effort but Speroni was able to save it.
Half Time - Doncaster Rovers 1 Crystal Palace 0
The visitors set the ball rolling in the second half and showed they meant business by spending the first six minutes on the attack, with the only worthwhile efforts beings shots from distance by Ambrose and Carle that went over the bar. In the 53rd minute, Ward hit a high shot from 45yards that just dropped over the bar. The Rovers at last got going with Roberts hitting a shot from 30yards wideand then Hayter getting no power behind an effort from 12yards, which the keeper saved. Past the hour and a corner to the Palace came to nothing as the Rovers went on the attack with Oster, on the left, crossing to Coppinger, on the right, who chipped it in for Sharp to cushion on his chest before shooting on the turn straight at the keeper. Two minutes later and Clyne, for the Palace, went down the left before hitting a low cross across the face of goal and out at the far post. Ertl, on the Palace right, ran 30yards with the ball before shooting wide from 25yards. In the 67th minute, the equaliser came that the visitors had been threatening. Ambrose went down the inside left channel evading a couple of tackles before crossing low to the far post where DJILALI slotted the ball into the net. A minute later Sharp, with a clear run on goal, was brought down by Hill but only received a yellow card. Minutes later a long ball out of the Rovers defence by O'Connor found Sharp in the left hand corner of the Palace half. Cutting in he unleashed a terrific shot that Speroni could only beat out but then dived on the loose ball before Hayter got there. The Rovers tried hard to get the winning goal but the Palace were on for a point and weren't going to let go so easily. In the last minute of added time, Mutch was brought down in the penalty area for what looked like a definite penalty but the referee was close to the action and let it go.
After the Rovers had been well on top in the first half the Palace proved to be a different proposition in the second period and the home team were punished for their profligacy in front of goal.
Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, Sam Hird, James O'Connor, Elliott Ward, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Mark Wilson, John Oster; James Hayter, Billy Sharp
Subs used - Jay Emmanuel-Thomas for Hayter 76mins; Jordon Mutch for Oster 83mins; Dean Shiels for Wilson 90mins
Subs not used - Lewis Guy, John Spicer, Mustapha Dumbuya, Ben Smith gk
Caution - Ward
Crystal Palace - Julian Speroni, Nathaiel Clyne, Claude Davis, Matt Lawrence, Clint Hill; Danny Butterfield, Shaun Derry, Nick Carle, Kieran Djilali, Alan Lee, Darren Ambrose
Subs used - Lee Hills for Davis 6mins; Johannes Ertl for Hills 46mins; Calvin Andrew for Djilali 92mins;
Subs not used - Shaun Scannell, James Comely, Alassane N'Daiye, Charlie Mann
Cautions - Hill, Clyne, Lee
