Report: Rovers 0-2 Crewe Alexandra
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Npower League 1
DONCASTER ROVERS 0 Crewe Alexandra 1
Referee – Mr Scott Duncan
Attendance – 5,411 (168 visitors)
The Rovers made two changes to their starting line-up, Paul Quinn and James Harper replacing Andy Griffin and Sammy Clingan, who drop to the bench. Crewe made one change from their Cup winning team, loan signing from Fulham, Lauri Dalla Valle replacing Michael West, who dropped to the bench. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.
The Rovers kicked off and got a sight of goal in the second minute when Hume, on the right of the penalty area, fired across the goal and out for a goal kick. However, the Rovers were caught out in the 5th minute when they were found short at the back and DALLA VALLE beat the offside and ran through in the inside right channel before firing in off the inside of the near post. Three minutes on and a cross from the Rovers right was headed on goal by Paynter but there was no power in it and Martin saved easily. Over the next 15 minutes the play evened out and mostly midfield play ensued. Then, in the 23rd minute, a corner to the Rovers led to a clash of heads between Jones and Moore of Crewe. Jones came off worst and was substituted by Martis. Five minutes later Osman had a go from 25yards, with the ball bobbling as Gary Woods dived to his left but he managed to push it out for a corner. A minute later and Gary Woods was in action again to save a Crewe header following a free kick. Past the half hour and a corner from the Rovers right came over to Martin Woods on the left 15 yards out. He lifted the shot over the defence but just over the bar. In the 38th minute, Moore, of Crewe had a go from 30yards but Gary Woods saved comfortably. As the game ran down to the break, the referee saw fit to issue a yellow card to Syers and Osman of Crewe in separate incidents. Four minutes of added time brought one incident of note when Hume won the ball in midfield, took it on but skewed his shot wide from 20yards as the keeper came out. That signalled the end of a poor first half for the Rovers.
Half Time – Doncaster Rovers 0 Crewe Alexandra 1
Crewe went straight on to the attack from the kick off and Aneke tried to bundle his way through three defenders but he was thwarted. In the 51st minute the visitors won successive corners but they came to nothing. Two minutes later Aneke got a header on goal following a cross from Tootle on the Crewe right but Gary Woods saved. Then West, for Crewe, moved across the pitch from left to right to get in a shot from 25yards but he put it wide. At last the Rovers got into the game in the 57th minute when a long throw by Spurr from near the right corner flag was headed goalwards by Martis but Martin saved. Then a good cross by Husband from the left led to Keegan getting in a strike from 12yards that rattled the bar and his follow-up header was cleared. Past the hour and a 1-2 between Blake and Paynter gave Blake a shot from the edge of the area that Martin could only beat away and eventually Hume put over the bar. In the 67th minute the visitors got the ball in the net by Pogba but he was ruled offside. However, five minutes later POGBA had the ball in the net and this time it counted. The Rovers were up against a fit, young side who were first to the ball and they didn’t slack off even though they were two up. Murphy of Crewe shot well wide from 25yards and Mellor’s header to a free kick was well saved by Gary Woods in the 85th minute. The Rovers then went down their left where Blake crossed to the far post for Hume to shoot in but Martin blocked the ball at the expense of a corner. Aneke then fired well wide from 25yards as added time came up. He was then subbed. In the second minute of added time a good move by Rovers ended with Paynter, on the left, having his shot saved by the keeper’s legs as he came out. It was a bad night for the Rovers all round.
Result – Doncaster Rovers 0 Crewe Alexandra 2 (Dalla Valle 5 Pogba 72)
Teams – ROVERS – Gary Woods; Paul Quinn, Rob Jones ©, Tommy Spurr, James Husband; David Syers, Paul Keegan, James Harper, Martin Woods; Iain Hume, Billy Paynter
Subs used – Shelton Martis for Jones 27 mins; Robbie Blake for Syers 46 mins; Chris Brown for Harper 75 mins;
Subs not used –Michael Woods, Andy Griffin, Sammy Clingan, Neil Sullivan gk
Caution – Syers 40 mins; Harper 61 mins; Hume 66 mins; Quinn 68 mins; Keegan 82 mins;
Crewe Alexandra – Alan Martin; Kelvin Mellor, Mark Ellis, Harry Davis, Matt Tootle; Lauri Dalla Valle, Luke Murphy ©, Abdul Osman, Byron Moore; Chuks Aneke, Mathias Pogba
Subs used – Michael West for Moore 46 mins; Gregor Robertson for Aneke 90+1mins;
Subs not used - Adam Dugdale, Oliver Turton, George Ray, Brendon Daniels, Steve Phillips gk
Caution – Osman 43 mins;