A breezy, cool but fine evening welcomed the Rovers to the magnificent Stadium that is The Hawthorns, where the Rovers take on League leaders West Bromwich Albion. It is the first competitive meeting between the clubs at the ground in 52 years when the Throstles, as they were then known, won an F.A.Cup replay. The last League games betweeen the two took place in 1947-48 when the Rovers did the 'double', winning 2-1 at Belle Vue and 3-1 at The Hawthorns and were relegated. A lot has happened in the intervening sixty-one years as we meet up again.

The Rovers showed two changes from Saturday, James Coppinger and James Hayter suffering knocks at Reading. In their place, The players to come in are Waide Fairhurst and Billy Sharp, who both make their starting debuts. The Baggies made one change from their win over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, Robert Koren replacing Simon Cox.

Before the start there was a perfectly observed minutes silence in memory of an Albion life-long supporter, L/Cpl Dale Hopkins, who was killed a month ago in Afghanistan.

The Rovers set the game going but it was the Albion who were the first to go on the attack, with Zuiverloon getting in a shot from 25 yards that was high and wide. A couple of minutes later and a corner to the home team was wasted when it was put straight out for a goalkick. Weathering the pressure the Rovers went on the attack down their right, with Oster hitting a low cross to the near post where Sharp, under pressure, touched into the middle for FAIRHURST to tap in from close range for the opening goal after 7 minutes. The home team had to make an early substitution on 11 minutes when Cech went off injured. Four minutes later and another corner brought a header from Brunt that Sullivan saved. A free kick in a dangerous position on the West Brom right was headed out by Shackell after 19minutes for another corner that OLSSON, at the far post, headed in despite the attempt of Spicer to block on the post. The match settled down to a fairly even game and a couple of corners to the Rovers just before the half hour brought little reward. On the half hour Stock was just wide with a left foot drive from 25yards. Roberts, for the Rovers, then went off injured. The Albion gained a couple of corners but they were hit too long and wasted and a free kick from 30yards by Brunt after 41 minutes was saved comfortably by Sullivan. Another free kick from Brunt on the stroke of half time took a deflection but was saved by Sullivan.

Half-time - West Bromwich Albion 1 Doncaster Rovers 1

Although The home team set the second half going it was the Rovers with the first strike at goal after 48 minutes when Stock, from 20yards to the left of goal, put a free kick just over the bar. A couple of minutes later at the other end from a similar position a free kick to the home team was overhit and went out tamely for a goalkick. Gradually the home team built up their attacks but never getting a sight of goal. A corner was cleared, Thomas had a shot blocked but another effort was deflected for another corner just before the hour. However, after 65minutes, the home team were awarded a free kick on their left touchline.Dorrans swung it to the far post where OLSSON planted a firm header into the net. Minutes later and Bednar had a shot from 30 yards saved easily by Sullivan. On 75 minutes, Zuivertoon chipped over the Rovers defence for Chris Wood, with the Rovers defence appealing for off-side, to have a free header high over the bar. At the other end Woods had a shot deflected for a corner, which he placed into the middle for Lockwood to run on to but he failed to get a full header and the ball skimmed off his forehead and out for a goalkick. The Rovers were trying hard to get back into the game but foundered on a solid Baggies defence. The final nail in the Rovers coffin came after 85 minutes when a screamer from 20yards by Chris WOODS slammed into the corner of their net. The Rovers battled to the end and had measured up to the leaders for a large part of the game but the whistle went on a three-one victory for West Bromwich Albion.

Full Time - West Bromwich Albion 3 Doncaster Rovers 1

Teams - WBA - Scott Carson; Gianni Zuiverloon, Jonas Olsson, Shelton Martis, Joe Mattock; Chris Brunt, Graham Dorrans, Youssouf Mulumbu, Marek Cech; Robert Koren; Roman Bednar

Subs used - Jerome Thomas for Cech 11mins; Chris Wood for Brunt 71mins; Filipe Teixeira for Bednar 92mins

Subs not used - Leon Barnett, Reuben Reid, Simon Cox, Dean Kiely gk

Caution - Mattock

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, Adam Lockwood, Jason Shackell, Gareth Roberts; John Spicer, Brian Stock, John Oster, Martin Woods; Waide Fairhurst, Billy Sharp.

Subs used - James O'Connor for Roberts 32mins; Dean Shiels for Oster 62mins; Mark Wilson for Stock 76

Subs not used - Quinton Fortune, Sam Hird, Byron Webster, Ben Smith gk