The Rovers, in their blue & white hooped shirts, got the game underway. The players spent the early minutes getting to grips with the pitch, white in places with frost. The home team then, after five minutes, went down their left, the cross came in from Teale to the far side where Green hit the ball across the goal but there were no takers in a white shirt. A couple of minutes later the Rovers won the first corner of the game but it was cleared. The next ten minutes was mostly midfield play but also mostly in the Rovers side of the halfway line. Then, on the quarter hour, Oster finished off a Rovers attack down the right by firing from 25yards that had Bywater going to ground to save. Minutes later, Derby gained a corner that was well defended and cleared. In the 21st minute, the Rovers attacked down the right, where Oster threaded a low ball through a line of defenders for SHARP to run on to, turn past a defender and shoot past the keeper for the opening goal to the Rovers. The Rovers pressed but it was the home team, through Teale, who tried a shot from 30yards that was well wide. Two minutes later and a good build-up down the Rovers right gave Chambers a crack at goal from 25yards but it was blocked. To the other end and Campbell got in a low shot from 20yards that Sullivan got down to well to save. Past the half hour and Coppinger, on the Rovers left, passed inside to Oster, who worked space for himself before firing wildly wide from 20yards. The game developed into an even contest over the next ten minutes. Then, as the last five minutes came up, the Rams won a corner that was cleared out to Shiels,who put the Rovers on the attack to win a corner for themselves. As time ran down another corner to the Rovers was cleared out to Wilson, who hit a terrific volley from 25yards that Bywater tipped over for another corner, which Bywater caught off the top of O'Connor's head. The break came with the Rovers holding their one-goal lead.
Derby County 0 Doncaster Rovers 1
The Rams got the game going for the second half and, as expected, put the pressure on the Rovers. A corner after five minutes was defended and then, only a good block by Shackell stopped Pearson getting in a good strike from inside the penalty area. A couple of substitutions were made in the 56th minute as Derby swopped their attack force bringing on two big men up front in Hulse and Porter. Immediately the home team won a corner which Hulse couldn't get a full head on so that Sullivan was able to save easily. Past the hour and great defensive work albeit desperate at times saved the Rovers as the pressure mounted. Hulse headed over from a free kick on the right touchline. Then Sullivan went down at Hulse's feet to block his attempt at goal. On 75 minutes the Rovers lifted the siege temporarily when Oster ran out of defence and to about thirty yards from the Derby goal before shooting well wide. Then, in the 78th minute, came a strange incident. The linesman signalled that Bywater had carried the ball out of his area but he only received a yellow card from the referee.The Rovers were under the cosh for almost all the second half but defended magnificently, with O'Co nnor and Shackell particularly effective in the middle of the defence. Into four minutes of added time and a poor clearance out of the Derby defence was picked up by Coppinger in a central position halfway in the Derby half. Whilst the goalkeeper struggled to get back into goal COPPINGER took the ball forward before slamming it into the Derby net for a priceless two goal win. Two real chances and two goals and a magnificent defensive display brought the points to Doncaster.
Final Result - Derby County 0 Doncaster Rovers 2
Teams - Derby County - Stephen Bywater; Paul Connolly, Jay McEveley, Dean Leacock, Dean Moxey; Paul Green, Robbie Savage, Stephen Pearson, Gary Teale; Dudley Campbell, Paul Dickov
Subs used - Chris Porter for Dickov 56mins; Rob Hulse for Campbell 56mins; Lee Croft for Savage 66mins;
Caution - Bywater
Subs not used - Jake Buxton, Jake Livermore, Lee Hendrie, Saul Deeney gk
ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, James O'Connor, Jason Shackell, Gareth Roberts; John Oster, Dean Shiels, Simon Gillett, Mark Wilson; James Coppinger, Billy Sharp
Subs used - Sam Hird for Shiels 59mins; James Hayter for Oster 82mins; Lewis Guy for Sharp 88mins;
Subs not used - John Spicer, Byron Webster, Robert Clark, Ben Smith gk
Caution - Roberts
