The first-ever F.A. Cup meeting between Derby County & Doncaster Rovers took place today at Pride Park on a cold but fine afternoon. The Rovers were unchanged from Tuesday's win at Brentford & Derby County made just one change from their last match at Peterborough last Saturday, Chris Porter coming in for D.J. Campbell, whose parent club, Leicester City did not want him cup-tied.
The home team kicked off but it was the Rovers who made the first incisive attack in the second minute when Coppinger crossed from the right for Sharp, unable to get high enough, to head wide. Derby riposted by winning successive corners, which were successfully defended although Shackell and Barker were both treated for head injuries following the second corner. In the 9th minute, Green, in Derby County colours, made a forceful run down the middle but his shot was diverted for a corner. The game settled into a midfield battle, with isolated incidents at either end. In the 17th minute a corner to the Rovers put the home team on the counter attack, with Pearson getting in a strike from 25yards that was wide. Five minutes later and Oster cut in from the Rovers right to the angle of the 6yard box but chose to play in Coppinger on his outside but the ball ran dead for a goal kick. Just before the half hour, another Rovers attack gave Sharp a shot from just outside the penalty area that Bywater had to go down to his left to save. As the game ran down to the break the only incidents of note were a corner to each side, with Hunt getting in a 30yard shot following the Derby corner that went high and wide. In the 44th minute a through ball for Porter had Sullivan going down at this feet to take the ball away and two minutes later, Oster, cutting in from the Rovers left fired across the goal and out past the far post. An even match was brought to a halt at the interval still goalless.
Derby County 0 Doncaster Rovers 0
The Rovers set the second half in motion but Derby were first on the attack without troubling Sullivan. Four minutes into the game and the Rovers forced a corner on their left. Shiels swung the ball well over to the right where Stock's volley from 25yards was diverted for another corner. Minutes later and Sharp had a crack at goal blocked, the ball fell to Wilson, whose left foot effort from 25 yards was saved. In the 55th minute a cross from Hunt on the Derby right was headed over the bar by Davies. The Rovers then made a substitution, bringing on Hird for Shackell. Two minutes on and Derby won a couple of corners that brought no reward. Past the hour and a good build-up by the Rovers had Sharp shooting on the turn from 15yards but Bywater made the save. Back came the Rovers down their right, Oster put a low cross across the face of goal to Roberts on the left byline but he fired back across goal and out the other side. At the other end a mistake by Hird let in Davies but he fired wide from the edge of the penalty area. Down to the Derby end where Shiels won a corner but nothing came from it. Savage then fired high and wide at the Rovers end. Then, following a corner to the home team after 70 minutes, Barker headed wide. Five minutes on and Shiels put a 20yard effort wide. Then a free kick on the Rams right touchline halfway in the Rovers half from Johnson was headed over by Barker. Into the last ten minutes and a sustained attack by Derby brought a series of shots that were blocked, with Chambers eventually getting it away off the line. The decisive moment came in the 89th minute, when, with Derby on the attack, the ball reached McEVELEY on the Derby left at the edge of the penalty area. A tremendous rising shot into the far top corner of the net had the Derby fans cheering wildly as they sensed that, at last, the Rams would gain a victory over the Rovers. At the end of four minutes of added time they were able to celebrate just that.
Result - Derby County 1 Doncaster Rovers 0
A good, typical cup-tie that one knew would only be settled by a single goal and it was the home team that got it.
Teams - Derby County - Stephen Bywater; Nicky Hunt, Jake Buxton, Shaun Barker, Dean Moxey; Paul Green, Stephen Pearson, Lee Johnson, Robbie Savage; Chris Porter, Steven Davies.
Subs used - Kris Commons for Davies 65mins; Rob Hulse for Porter 75mins; Jay McEveley for Moxey 77mins;
Subs not used - Gary Teale, Ben Pringle, Russell Anderson, Saul Deeney gk
DONCASTER ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, James O'Connor, Jason Shackell, Gareth Roberts; John Oster, Brian Stock, Mark Wilson, Dean Shiels; James Coppinger, Billy Sharp
Subs used - Sam Hird for Shackell 55mins; Lewis Guy for Shiels 77mins; Paul Heffernan for Wilson 90+1
Subs not used - John Spicer, James Hayter, Byron Webster, Ben Smith gk
